Suggest Alternative To Breast Feeding

Posted on Wed, 12 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 Answered on

Tue, 1 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My Daughter is 4 month old and I started my office again. So I am not available to feed her. Apart from my milk we tried giving her formula milk. But she refuse formula milk. What are the option to feed her at that age? What all we can give her?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Early weaning can be done.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I understand your situation. Breast milk is the best feed for a baby upto 6 months of age. So, if you can express your breast milk in advance, you can store it in the refrigerator. If you are going to give it within 24 hours, it can be stored in the refrigerator door. Else, if frozen, it can be stored upto 6 months until it is thawed. Formula milks are difficult to digest and hence many babies do not prefer it. Moreover, babies like the close touch of the mother, lacking which may make them refuse external feeds.

Another option is to go for early weaning with semisolids. Even though weaning is recommended from 6 months of age, introduction of semisolids at the age of 4-5 months is acceptable. You can try introducing rice based formula and see if that is tolerated well. Alternatively, rice and pulses along with vegetables can be boiled together and given in mashed form.

Try and see if these help.

Feel free to write back in case of further queries, if any.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad