Ideas For Introducing Soya Milk?
QUESTION
Dear Lactation Consultant,
Hi. Coral has started this strange thing while nursing. It just started a month ago and I am not sure if it's do to the heat or she is just too busy now. I will lay her on her side in my lap to nurse and she wiggles off and stands at the foot of the couch in front of me and nurses while standing. I am sitting on the couch and she is standing in front of me. The first time she did it all I could do was laugh and say this is now a self serve pump. I am not worried about it. I just think it's funny.
I wanted to ask if anyone had any idea's on how to get her to take other liquids. She will only drink breastmilk and water and I would like her to start on soya milk and or juice some time soon. I have tried both and she just won't drink them. My mother wants me to put sugar in her water to get her used to juice but I really don't like that idea. Any other suggestions? We are almost a year now and I am not sure but I think it's time for other liquids, especially with how hot it is and I was told only 4ounces of water a day.
Thanks for all your advice as always,
Samantha
ANSWER
Samantha,
Congratulations on breastfeeding for nearly a year! Coral is a very lucky baby. In answer to your question about how to encourage her to take soy milk, one way that has worked well for other mothers is to add just a little soy milk to your expressed milk, which you say she is happy to take in a cup. You may only add a teaspoon or less the first time. As time goes on, very gradually increase the ratio of soy to breast milk until she is taking all soy milk. For some, this works well only if the transition is *very* gradual. A gradual introduction is also a good way to know if she happens to be allergic or sensitive to soy before it becomes too big a part of her diet.
Your milk will always provide good nutrition for Coral, but research indicates that juice should be given with caution. Some toddlers have had growth issues when they get more than 4 ounces of juice per day. It fills them up but doesn't offer much nutritionally. It is the displacement of other foods in their diet that can compromise growth.
I got a kick out of your description of Coral nursing standing up. My children all did that at this age, too. Acrobatic nursing is very common in toddlers. One of my favorite books that addresses this subject is Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner. It is a great resource and includes everything you need to know about nursing children age one and above. The cartoons are very funny, too!
Hope this helps,
-- Nancy, IBCLC
Kathleen Tackett
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Research Associate Professor of Psychology specializing in women's health at the Family Research Lab, University of New Hampshire. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both the Divisions of Health Psychology and Trauma Psychology. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a La Leche League leader, chair of the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Taskforce, and the Area Coordinator of Leaders for La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is author of more than 140 journal articles, book chapters and other publications, and author or editor of 15 books including The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood (2005, Hale Publications), Depression in New Mothers (2005, Haworth), and Breastfeeding Made Simple, co-authored with Nancy Mohrbacher (2005, New Harbinger). She is on the editorial boards of the journals Child Abuse and Neglect, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse and the Journal of Human Lactation, and regularly reviews for 27 other journals in the fields of trauma, women's health, interpersonal violence, depression, and child development. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is the "Ask a Lactation Consultant" columnist on Pregnancy.org and serves on the Board of Directors of Attachment Parenting International.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in psychology from California State University, Chico, and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University in social and developmental psychology. She has won several awards including the Outstanding Research Study Award from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and was named 2003 Distinguished Alumna, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, California State University, Chico.
