Drs. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Mike Roizen
Dr. Mehmet Oz is host of the popular TV show “The Dr. Oz Show.” He is a professor in the Department of Surgery at Columbia University and directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Mike Roizen is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, an award-winning author, and has been the doctor to eight Nobel Prize winners and more than 100 Fortune 500 CEOs.

Dr. Mehmet Oz,Dr. Mike Roizen

Tags: nursing | formula | breast milk | Dr. Oz
OPINION

Breast Milk or Formula for Six Months

Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D. and Dr. Mike Roizen, M.D. By Tuesday, 30 January 2018 03:20 PM EST Current | Bio | Archive

Breastfeeding moms have been harassed for feeding an infant in museums, on planes or trains, and in shops and restaurants.

One was even arrested last year for breastfeeding in a secluded section of a Walmart in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Such disapproval of public breastfeeding makes it easy to understand why so few women continue exclusively breastfeeding an infant for the first six months, as is recommended by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

In fact, only 51 percent of moms are breastfeeding at all by the time their baby is 6 months old — and fewer maintain an infant on only breast milk or formula for that long.

New data gathered from 2009-2014 find that only 32.5 percent of babies in the U.S. were introduced to complementary foods (including cow's milk, juice, sugar water, baby food, water) at 6 months, when it's recommended.

Around 16 percent got such food before 4 months; almost 39 percent at 4 to 5 months.

To make it possible for you to continue feeding your baby only breastmilk or formula for the first six months:

• Develop strategies for pumping: Employers are required to provide a private, clean space to do so.

• After a few months, consider using formula to complement breast milk when heading into potentially difficult situations.

• Ask your doctor when it's time to add complementary foods, and what they should be.

At least the Pope gets it: He just issued a statement declaring that women are welcome to breastfeed during church services in the Sistine Chapel. Hallelujah.

© 2026 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.


Dr-Oz
Only 51 percent of moms are breastfeeding at all by the time their baby is 6 months old — and fewer maintain an infant on only breast milk or formula for that long.
nursing, formula, breast milk, Dr. Oz
258
2018-20-30
Tuesday, 30 January 2018 03:20 PM
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