By Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA
Fan Question:
“I have a baby girl who is almost 6 months and was EBF(Exclusively Breastfed). Her MD wanted me to try formula 1-2x/wk & baby food 1x/day because of her acid reflux. My baby now eats every hour at night, going back and forth on the boob acting like she wants it. But she cries when she’s on then takes herself off. How do I know if she’s trying to wean? I want to nurse as long as I can.”
Babies under 1 year are too young to be ready to wean, because they still have a physical need for either breast milk or formula. When your baby is fussy at the breast, try laid-back feeding positions, which may make it easier for her to get on and stay on. Positions in which baby’s head is higher than her bottom also make feedings less painful for babies with reflux. See how to do these positions here. Regarding formula, I’m puzzled that your baby’s MD recommended it. Research shows that because formula stays in baby’s stomach longer than mother’s milk, it aggravates reflux rather than helping. Your baby is very lucky you’re nursing her. Also, many smaller feedings are easier for the baby with reflux to handle than fewer larger feedings. You don’t say whether or not your baby is on reflux medication. If she is, discuss with her MD whether this behavior may be a sign her medication dose needs to be increased, which may be needed as baby gains weight.
Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA is a board-certified lactation consultant in the Chicago area who has been helping breastfeeding families since 1982. Her books for professionals are used worldwide. Her books for parents include Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, which she co-authored with Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, and her tiny problem-solving guide, Breastfeeding Solutions In 2013, Nancy released her Breastfeeding Solutions smartphone app (available for Android and iPhones) to give mothers a quick, go-everywhere source of breastfeeding help. Nancy speaks at events around the world.
