Milk Replacement

[moonlovers812]

HI, my son is turning one year old, and I have breastfed him thus far, but always planned on stopping at a year (now I'm not sure). I don't want to put him on cow's milk, but am having trouble find nutritional information on how much fat/calcuim/protein/etc.. he needs that is normally found in cows milk. I am not raw yet, but have made up my mind to start 100% in Sept. So any advice on what to give him? I've heard wheatgrass/seseme seed milk, but I am so new I'm not really sure how to do it all? I just what to make sure he gets the vitamins and nutrients his body needs. Any help would be great! Thanks

[Rawkinlocs]

If you can go longer with breastfeeding, please do!

If not, you can give him nut milk. Almond milk is good...soak 1 c. of almonds overnight, drain and rinse then blend in blender with "appx. 3 cups water and you can add a date for a little sweetness or a little agave nectar (can be purchased at alissacohen.com) and then strain through a nut milk bag (or you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get a "paint strainer bag" for less than $1-2 or you can use cheese cloth to strain) into a bowl and store in the fridge for 2-4 days in a tightly sealed mason jar.

Also, you can feed him green smoothies (fruit-based smoothies with greens such as kale, baby spinach, etc. blended in).

Fruits and veggies have lots of nutrients that are more easily assimilated than from cooked food or animal products. Please, at all costs try to avoid cow's milk, though...that will set your baby up for getting colds all the time, possibly skin problems, asthma and more.

Check out some of the discussions in the "Raising Raw Kids" forum as I'm sure you will find much information to assist you!

Also, keep in mind that that RDA standards are based on cooked food and not raw food so it's set pretty high because cooked food loses so much! Check out the forum on here entitled, "Need to know more about raw" as there are articles there about protein and calcium that will help you feel a little more confident. He (and you) will be just fine! :)

Oh...and welcome! :D

[Naiad]

I've heard coconut water is a good replacement as well, as it contains lauric acid which is in breast milk.

[vgloveforlife]

I would continue breastfeeding! I did it for 3 yrs and it was great-it's the perfect milk!

For plant milks, I would recommend almond milk or even almond milk mixed with coconut milk. Add a little honey if you want and it's just plain delicious!

[moonlovers812]

Thanks so much for your reply. What is the difference between a nut milk bag and a strainer??

[JEN]

Im not sure what the difference is in the nut milk bag and paint strainer but if Rawki says it works then Im sure it does. I use a nut milk bag but cheesecloth will work too. My 3 yr old drinks almond milk and loves it. I would give anything to have found raw sooner and for her to never have had cows milk. She had terrible eczema everytime she drank cows milk. Its great youve found an alternative so soon. Good luck!

[Tirza]

My daughter in law nurses for about 3 years. In fact this time, she still had a 2.5 year old nursing (once in the evening) when she gave birth to her next. It was rather startling to see her nurse the newborn, then the toddler who was feeling a little displaced, climbed right up and nursed a bit after the baby was done. She didn't make a big deal of it and I think the toddler just got bored finally when she realized that it was available if she wanted it.

Between her first and second it was different. The oldest stopped nursing on her own sometime later in the pregnancy as the milk started to change flavour for her I guess. (And "they" say you can't get pregnant while nursing!) I know several - many who have.

About the green smoothies: I have a friend whose two toddlers used to carry bottles of this bright "green juice" around with them all the time when small. This was about 35 years ago. It was pineapple and some greens, parsley for sure, maybe spinach. Healthy kids!!!! They loved their juice and didn't know that it was different from the sweetened artificially flavoured stuff some of their little friends were drinking. They had juice too, so it was good enough for them.

[Tirza]

My daughter in law nurses for about 3 years. In fact this time, she still had a 2.5 year old nursing (once in the evening) when she gave birth to her next. It was rather startling to see her nurse the newborn, then the toddler who was feeling a little displaced, climbed right up and nursed a bit after the baby was done. She didn't make a big deal of it and I think the toddler just got bored finally when she realized that it was available if she wanted it.

Between her first and second it was different. The oldest stopped nursing on her own sometime later in the pregnancy as the milk started to change flavour for her I guess. (And "they" say you can't get pregnant while nursing!) I know several - many who have.

About the green smoothies: I have a friend whose two toddlers used to carry bottles of this bright "green juice" around with them all the time when small. This was about 35 years ago. It was pineapple and some greens, parsley for sure, maybe spinach. Healthy kids!!!! They loved their juice and didn't know that it was different from the sweetened artificially flavoured stuff some of their little friends were drinking. They had juice too, so it was good enough for them.

In the late 60's I used to make almond or cashew milk or a combination for my kids when they stopped nursing. They loved it. We all did. Still do.

[Spectatrix]

(And "they" say you can't get pregnant while nursing!) I know several - many who have.
Women are less likely to get pregnant while nursing, but it's not 100% reliable "birth control". If I recall correctly, ovulation suppression by nursing starts to wane after 6 months to a year.

[firefaery]

I'm nursing 2 right now! my babe who is 5 weeks and my 2.5 year old. It's the best source of nutrition for them. No other animal drinks milk from another species, and no other animal drinks milk at all past the natural age of weaning (which is still 4 by the way. Nursing until 2 is recommended because babes recieve the immunoglobulins in your milk to close up their naturally permeable gut-it's healthiest to nurse until at least 2 years) Kiddos can get plenty of fat from other dietary sources.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Between her first and second it was different. The oldest stopped nursing on her own sometime later in the pregnancy as the milk started to change flavour for her I guess. (And "they" say you can't get pregnant while nursing!) I know several - many who have.

About the green smoothies: I have a friend whose two toddlers used to carry bottles of this bright "green juice" around with them all the time when small. This was about 35 years ago. It was pineapple and some greens, parsley for sure, maybe spinach. Healthy kids!!!! They loved their juice and didn't know that it was different from the sweetened artificially flavoured stuff some of their little friends were drinking. They had juice too, so it was good enough for them.

In the late 60's I used to make almond or cashew milk or a combination for my kids when they stopped nursing. They loved it. We all did. Still do.

Well, you are definately a happenin' chick! I didn't know that nutmilks were even in the know back then!

Hey, I also got my period while nursing (with all three of my children) so I know it happens too.

[Tirza]

Well, you are definately a happenin' chick! I didn't know that nutmilks were even in the know back then!
Yes, weeeeeeeeeell, :o It's one thing to know about and do it for awhile, and another to keep it up. As most of us know. I might not be in the situation I am now (overweight, ovarian cancer) if I had kept what I knew and built on it. So a word to the wise.