Breastfed babies get the best form of milk from their mothers - a gift from Allah to mothers to bond with the babies. Hence, I deduce a conclusion that to continue with the bond, most nursing mothers face challenges in weaning their babies to formula milk. Babies miss that very intimate bond with their mothers during their breastfeeding moments. Milk time is bonding time. We can only guess the hikmah, but Allah Ya 'AAlim, Ya Khabeer is the Knower to All Hikmah behind this.
The following are some pointers that I will remind myself and to share with nursing mothers based on my experience with 32month(2 years 8 month) Mukhtaar since he started to wean from breastmilk at 1 year 3 months, with the help of Zauji and lots of brainstorming.
MILK VARIATIONS
Most of the time, the b/f babies dislike formula milk. Why? Allah knows.
But it pays to try all types of milk that the b/f babies will take from fresh milk to flavoured milk like soy, strawberry and chocolate. Do lots of substitiutions. For example, if your baby can drink milo, do substitute it with chocolate milk. If your baby drinks bandung, give him strawberry milk instead. Why the need to? The answer is the baby will get the necessary nutrients from drinking milk that is flavoured when compared to other sweet drinks especially CALCIUM. The amount of milk that Mukhtaar needs to take from Friso 3 is about 8 scoops per day, in addition to other meals.
Others that I can recommend based on the input given by dieticians - yoghurt and cheese. Do look out for the content to give the proper amount of food. For example, although a slice of cheese is equivalent to a cup of milk, the calcium content is much lesser. To get about 180mg of calcium, a person/child needs to take 3 slices. Thus we also need to watch how much our child can take at a time.
In addition, instead of giving the same milk for the day, do feed/serve milk of variations, for example
Morning - soy milk
Afternoon - strawberry milk
Night - plain milk.
Oh yes! Yesterday, I came across a calcium supplement in gummy chewable form sold in a pharmacy. Yet to look at the content. You may want to purchase that to increase the calcium intake in your child. Or even skip one milk feeding!
According to dietician, a preschool child requires about 350mg of calcium intake per day.
MILK FEEDING METHODOLOGIES
The following are mainly trials and errors during my time with Mukhtaar in his milk drinking sessions. Again, a reminder that the final methodologies that I applied are partly what Mukhtaar might want - bonding time! Each new method is tried after I faced the most stress moment in feeding Mukhtaar. Only recently that I see the pattern when a friend's son having difficulties to drink his milk too. Thank you for that, that it makes me reflects all the challenges that I face/d during milk drinking sessions with Mukhtaar.
***Take note that the amount ranges from 60 ml when Mukhtaar began to take formula milk to about 200ml per feeding.
Since Mukhtaar did not drink from bottle, I use cup instead until today. There were times when I tried to get him drink by himself, but they did not work, even to the extend of forcing. Only when he was about 30 months, then negotiations play a great part and he is willing to cooperate.
The first time when Mukhtaar took in formula milk was by spoon on his high chair, I faced him, and he faced me. It worked so well that he could finish all.
Second, include cereals with milk. This method is also the feeding method.
Third, I fed him using cup until the last sip. This is also time consuming. Ever, Mukhtaar took about an hour to finish it.
- There were times when straw was used, but I noticed Mukhtaar knew how to control the milk flow. This was not very successful at the early stage as he sucked only about 2.5ml each time. Imagine 150ml / 2.5ml = ..... number of sucks.
Fourth method was just implemented when Mukhtaar was about 31 months. This method is requires turn takings. The milk portion is divided into 2 cups. I feed him from a cup, then his turn. This is done sip by sip. At times this method does not work when Mukhtaar refuses to hold his cup. So I came up with the fifth method.
Fifth method is having 2 portions and having 2 persons to feed in turn taking manner.
Sixth method is just implemented about 2 weeks ago. Thanks to Zauji's input when Mukhtaar wants Abi to feed him instead. Again the milk portion is divided into 2 cups, but this time, the feedings are at random. The most effective for me at the moment. (Still in used till today)
Seventh method is also implemented alongside with the fifth one. Again the milk portion is divided into 2 cups. Mukhtaar will feed him first before I do the feeding. At times, it is vice versa. The challenge that I face in using this method is that I have to prompt him to drink. (Still in used till today)
Eighth method is a relief to mothers. The child drinks the milk all by himself. (Yet to implement and anxiously waiting...)
Its the effort, dear mums and the time that our child wants to spend time with us.
Last but not least, the child may choose the person that he wants to sit with and feed him during milk drinking. As for Mukhtaar, he will choose his grandparents (when they are present), Zauji or myself.
- Final pointer, watching the child's favourite show/cartoon during the feeding sessions be it food or drinks works wonders. Worth a try!
Alhamdulillah. Allah has given me the opportunity to pen this experience down.
Ummu Mukhtaar
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