Okay to give my weaned toddler breastmilk?

[starbuckmom]

Originally Posted by Ooey Oh I hadn't even thought of that. Are you suppose to re-refridgerate it again after it's thawed...? I thought you had to use it right away or dump it.

I used to thaw my milk in the fridge if I was going to use it that day or night. I would heat it up in the bottle in a cup of warm water. Once in a while, I would heat it up w/o thawing it in the fridge. Took longer to heat up, but it still worked.

[1bigfamily]

I would do it.

[tinab]

I did when ODD was 3 and sick. Knocked that illness right out! And no, no funky BMs, she was fine in that way.

[My Sweet Blessings]

the wheels are turning in my head!!! thanks for this post. I think I am going to pump some in a few minutes to feed to my 3 year old in the morning. he came down with a runny nose and cough yesterday... hope it helps him! He only got BM supplemented for 3 months and the guilt kills me. I never thought to pump and sneak it into the regular milk for him

[bjaneen]

Sure! You've gotten some great suggestions for how to give it to her as well.

[Terra]

Originally Posted by Ooey ah thanks great idea! She saw me pour it from the baby's bottle into her sippy cup and had this confused look on her face then she only half tasted it and said no thanks! lol Yogurt is a great idea.

Observant girl!!

I think it is a great idea too!! If I pumped enough I would sure give my toddler some. I've been tempted to even give him the 1 ounce or so that I pump to help his immune system!

[bellarose4]

My sister has given her son BM before..he is almost 3.

[kezoo]

Originally Posted by Ooey Another failed attempt at getting the baby to take a bottle has left 4 oz of thawed breast milk that I have to toss if it doesn't get used in the next few hours. Do you think it's okay to put it in my toddler's sippy cup? Is that a weird thing to do I figure it's a shame to waste it and it's pretty good for her right? Poor girl has been very politely asking to nurse every day for the last week (after 3 months of not nursing) and I keep having to turn her down because I don't think I could handle nursing a toddler and an infant. I feel like at least she would be getting some milk this way, that is if she would even take it from the sippy cup.

Kaela, if Whilder hasn't nursed for 3 months, she very likely won't know how to do it anymore anyway. Claire weaned in December (she was 2 1/2) and when Oliver was born in April, she asked to nurse and & I said "Okay" and when she tried, she did it all wrong and couldn't get anything. She never asked again. My LLL leader has said that is very common - once they wean, they forget the complex mouth/tongue motions needed to get any milk.

[cuddlebunny_24]

I have been thinking about giving my toddler breast milk again, due to his extensive number of allergies and illnesses that he has come down with. He keeps getting sinus infections and pneumonia. I figure if the breast milk will help keep him healthy then I would rather do that than constantly on antibiotics since he can become immune to those, and he already has a limited number he can be on due to allergies. I know he will not care, there is a kid in his class at day care that is still on breast milk and he is always trying to steal her sippy cup and give her his. So I know he will be fine with it. We will see how he does once my supply is back after the end of this week.

[4MileLove]

great question. I dont have a toddler yet, however I wonder if I could give them BM after they have weaned.