12 Month Old Switching to Cow's Milk...

We just switched the twins who will be one in a couple of weeks, over from formula to whole milk a couple of weeks ago. I was told with the older two kids to start on whole milk so I didn't even ask the ped for the twins. If you continue on formula for a couple of days and everything resolves then you will have a better indication it could have been the milk, but it may take a couple of days to see. My oldest one had some trouble with milk initially - was slightly lactose intolerant and we had to use Lactaid drops - but she outgrew it.

I would talk to your daughter's Doctor. But when i switched my daughter to cow's milk they told me to use whole milk... They said it still had most of the vitamins that a baby needs and that babies younger than 2 should be on whole milk. I hope this helps.

Your pediatrician is wrong. All current medical/nutritional advise is that children get WHOLE milk and whole milk dairy products like cheese and yogurt. S/he needs to read up on the literature:( They need the fat for brain growth.
"Best Milk for Toddlers
For toddlers without food allergies and who aren't overly picky eaters, they can begin drinking whole cow's milk once they are twelve months old. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you not give your toddler low fat milk until they are two years old.

A toddler formula is a good alternative if your toddler isn't able to drink whole milk, since they are available in soy formulations, such as Isomil 2 and Enfamil Next Step Soy. Since they are iron fortified, they may also be a good choice if your toddler is a very picky eater.

Although not recommended for infants as a substitute for an iron fortified infant formula, you could also give your toddler pasteurized goat's milk if you wanted to. Talk to your Pediatrician first if your toddler has a milk or soy allergy though."

You're pediatrician should be following the AAP guidelines and s/he isn't. That can be detrimental to your child's brain growth:(

If your child doesn't have trouble with milk-based formula, I'm surprised there is an issue with straight milk. I also haven't heard of a fever being associated with milk intolerance. At her age, it's most likely that it's a cow's-milk protein intolerance, not a lactose intolerance which means she'll grow out of it in the next year or so. It it were an actual allergy, she wouldn't be able to have a milk-based formula.

We're the only species that weans from our own milk (or fake version of it) to another species'. It's really not natural and understandable that so many children, and actually whole races of people, have trouble with it. You can try other animals' milk if you want. Buffalo and goat milk are the closest to human milk. Or, you can use other "milks". Almond is very high in natural calcium and good fats. Soy is quite over-processed, but also has most of what she needs from cow milk. Rice milk is an easy alternative to use for things like cereal, but it doesn't have the nutrients she needs.

When a breastfed infant has trouble with the milk his/her mother is digesting, it is suggested that she stop all dairy products for 3-4 weeks before a difference can be seen. So, if your daughter is having trouble with milk, it will take MUCH longer than just one day back on formula to change it. Many kids can have processed dairy (cheese, yogurt) but not straight dairy (milk, ice cream). So if she's been eating cheese and yogurt and never had trouble, don't cut those out. Do make sure you're giving her whole-milk cheese and yogurt though. It's important she gets the "good" fats.

Good Luck:)

I second checking with her doctor. She should be drinking whole milk until she is two, not 2%. Babies need the extra fat of whole milk for brain development.

i'd give her rice milk for a few days and see if it makes a difference

I made sure my son got a nice filling supper, and then his bed time bottle and the other bottles would be half milk, half water, and then slowly eased it into full milk. It could just be upsetting it a little, if she's running a fever, she could just be cutting a tooth, but I would definitely go ahead and make a follow up appointment, because you just never can know. Have you tried giving her a dose of tylenol to cut the fever? The very yellow stinky poo - well, unless it's diarrhea, I wouldn't think much of it, could be whatever she ate and just processing it that way. Definitely get a check up appointment for her to make sure nothing else is going on!! Better to be safe than sorry right?

isn't poo usually stinky? :) it usually does change color/smell with diet changes...

could she be teething? or sick? maybe it's something besides the milk?

I wouldnt' think it's the milk as she was on milk based formula. Try to add some probiotics to her diet to balance her gut. You can get them in powder form at the health food store. Also, ask your Dr. why this might be happening.

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's distress. Being that she is only 12months old, her digestive system is clean, pure, and delicate. It sounds like she has a sensitivity to the 2% cow's milk, and she may have developed a lactose intolerance to the cow's milk that is just revealing itself. You have to remember that there are growth hormones, antibiotics, bacteria, and hard-to-digest proteins in cow's milk- even pasteurized milk. Your daughter can't handle all of those unatural additives and toxins. I would suggest that you switch to soy, rice, almond, or hemp milk. You can find these varieties in the health food stores. They are fortified, easy to digest, and tasty.

Hi there,
Well it could be a milk allergy, but maybe her system isn't ready for an abrupt switch. I did 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk for a week or so, then 1/2 and 1/2 then 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk then all the way to milk. I just watched and made sure that he was doing good and by the time he was a regular milk, my son did great. So maybe try a slower approach and see if that works. If she can't handle milk, cheese and yogurt are also great calcium sources, I am sure the dr can help you at that point. Best wishes!