Question: Hi Doctor,
My gynae recently confirmed my pregnancy and have advised me to stop breastfeeding as I have a weak uterus. My first born is 1y5m and he has been fully breastfed, eats well, and I am also currently supplementing him with nutroplex. My question is now that I have stopped breastfeeding him, what milk can I offer him, how often and at what quantity? I have been direct feeding all the time, i have never used bottles so I don’t know how to go about this. I have been offering him fresh milk in sippy cups before his nap and bedtime. Is that sufficient or do I need formula? Thank you. (Els)
Answer: Dear Els, It’s good that you have breastfed him thus far, and now it’s time to introduce him to complementary milk. I wonder how is his weight and height, because a very practical way to see if you are feeding him enough is to see if he’s growing well or not. It is not an issue whether to use a sippy cup or a suckling bottle, as long as he drinks it well. A general rule of thumb would be feeding 200-400ml/d or 350kcal of milk if other animal sources of foods are included in the diet. It is NOT advised to give skim milk or low fat milk to a child below 2 years old, as they will need the fats for their growth at this age. You can choose from the wide range of milks which are specially formulated to cater for the needs of a growing child.