bottle-fed Nutritious Breast Milk Substitutes

We know breast milk is the perfect food for babies, but what should you do when you need or want to stop nursing or you need something to supplement breast milk?

Breastfeeding for a minimum of several months should be a mother’s goal, but this isn’t always possible.  Moms may have problems with milk supply, they may need to return to work and are unable to pump, some babies fail to progress satisfactorily while breastfeeding, and some babies just lose interest.  Before throwing in the burp cloth on nursing, read this article on how to maximize milk supply.  If you’ve exhausted all attempts at keeping baby on the breast, here are some suggestions to insure baby is nourished and thriving.

Supplements for Babies Too Young for Solids

There are several options for moms aiming to wean babies that are still too young for solids.

  • Commercial Formula – Made popular in the 1950’s, most baby formula is extremely processed and not a great substitute for mother’s milk on its own.  If you choose to go this route, here are some guidelines:
    • Organic Only- to avoid feeding toxins directly to your baby.
    • Avoid Soy which can be a major disruptor to human hormones
    • Supplement with probiotic powder for optimal digestive health and omega 3’s for brain and nervous system development.  You can also add one egg yolk if this is in your comfort zone.  Read more here. 
  • Homemade Formula – This is time consuming and will turn your kitchen into a bit of science lab, but the benefits are that you get to control exactly what goes into your baby’s only sustenance.  Westonaprice.org provides a recipe that can be modified for cow or goat milk as a base.
  • Happy Medium - If you’re still breast feeding and are just looking to supplement your supply, I first recommend that you try these suggestions for increasing milk supply.  Then, if baby still needs more because she is not gaining weight, you can avoid commercial formula and opt instead for a simplified version of the homemade formula above.  Use raw cow’s milk or goat milk with the following additions:
    • The probiotic bifidobacterium infantis. (Jarrow’s Baby probiotic from Whole foods is a good option)
    • One egg yolk per day for a healthy dose of fat, cholesterol and iron.
    • Carlson’s brand cod liver oil (The only brand with Vitamins A and D in proper proportion)
    • Unrefined coconut oil
    • Nutritional Yeast (especially important for B vitamins if using goat milk).

If this supplement list seems like it includes a lot of fat, remember that fat and cholesterol are crucial for baby’s growth and development.  Milk and animal fats help babies build bone and muscle, and animal fats also provides vital vitamins A and D.  Babies need a source of stable, saturated fats, too, such as those in unrefined coconut oil and egg yolk.

What to Give Weaned Babies Who Eat Solid Foods

The question of what to give weaned babies as a nourishing substitute for breast milk is dependent on the specific child and more so the comfort level of the parents.  Keep in mind that the milk and formula industry would have us believe that children cannot possible survive without the calcium and other nutrients their products provide.  Everyone knows…”Milk does a body good” and there are scores of celebrities with milk mustaches to prove it!  Here are some general guidelines you can follow to make the best decisions.

Assuming that the child is growing and thriving and she is eating mostly solids augmented by breast milk, it’s fine to wean from breast milk and supplement with filtered water.  She will naturally start eating more foods if needed.

At around age 1, many kids will start to eat:

  • Green veggies like spinach that are high in calcium - prepare with butter or coconut oil for extra fat.
  • Full-fat cow or goat yogurt if it’s well tolerated
  • Greens powder mixed in a fruit smoothie if a child’s veggie intake is limited.

There is no nutritional need to supplement with milk or milk substitutes at this age. Cow’s milk often causes more trouble than the nutrients that you get from it, so it’s best to avoid it if possible.  Commercial nut and rice “milks” (even the organic ones) don’t have the same nutritional components as human and animal milk and are filled with all sorts of random sugars and preservatives.  Soy can be a major disruptor to human hormones, so I recommend avoiding soymilk altogether. 

If you feel like your baby needs the ritual and comfort of a bottle, I would first try raw cow or goat milk (if not raw, add probiotic powder) and see how her digestion does over a few weeks.  Other options are making almond or rice milk from scratch.  It will be less nutrient-dense but also easier to digest and not as much work as you might imagine.  The best option may be gently breaking the dependence on food/bottle for comfort and substituting a soft blankie or a lullaby on the rocking chair with mama or daddy before bed.

I follow the lead of Weston Price on the topic of breast milk substitutes and alternatives.  You can find out more about this topic by visiting the Weston A. Price Foundation website here. Whatever decisions are made about breast milk substitutes, parents should confirm their choices with their health practitioner to be sure their child’s nutritional needs will be met.

**If your little one has been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive or you or your pediatrician is concerned about your child’s delayed growth, talk to you Chinese medicine practitioner immediately.  Chinese herbs and other therapies often have excellent results in getting babies back on track.**