Wise Ones

I am looking for your opinions about what you would advise a mother to feed
her baby if she were to abruptly wean at 6 months.  What is the healthiest
(or least harmful) breastmilk substitute?

(1) a follow-on commercially prepared formula
(2) home-prepared formula (the "mix" is 100ml cow's milk, 50ml water, 10g sugar)
(3) full strength cow's milk, with separate drinks of water occasionally?
(4) perhaps no milk at all - just increase the weaning foods, and give water?

I was "consulted" by someone involved in a research study.  The babies will
have been exclusively breastfed for the first 18 weeks, then introduced to
some weaning foods and the plan is to stop breastfeeding completely at 24
weeks. In practical, nutritional terms I can't see the difference between
(2) and (3) above for an older baby, but in fact my feeling is that (1)
would be least harmful.  I also tried to sell the possibility of EBM, but I
don't think it will fly. I said I would ask "my colleagues overseas!"  What
do you think??

Thanks for any and all opinions.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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