Milk Dilemma

I'll say up front that I'm a bit unconventional and I'm really into all-natural healthy living. In my opinion from all the research I've personally done, never introduce cows milk. A lot of problems come with consuming dairy- especially 'normal' milk and dairy prodcuts that are sold at most grocery stores. Antibiotics, hormones, digestive problems, the list goes on. When we need to substitute for milk, we use coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, etc. It's fun and we love them all! Email me if you have any other questions for me!

sorry, i don't mean to be snarky, but imho, cow's milk is just another food -- not some kind of required supplement. it might be a good substitute for water, but not for human milk. what is it about cows that makes their milk so sanctified? it's a source of protein and calcium, and not really the best source of either. most of the population on this planet can't even drink cow's milk...*shrug smilie*

See Dr. Sears' web site. He has a section on allergies. An eye opener!

Cow's milk is not really a necessary or ideal food for baby humans. If you were feeding him formula or weaning him at 1 year, then you could switch to cow's milk no earlier than one year, if you wanted to. However, you can get all the same nutrients from yogurt, spinach, etc.

I'll coment on this because I was in your shoes not too long ago. I'll try to keep it short but I tend to ramble.

My kids' pedi (he is actually a family dr specializing in kids) has two very young sons himself (so he has been here recently, and his wife is a dr too), is very good at what he does yet very practical, and HE told me that some kids can handle cows milk at 6 mos. and some not until 1 year due to their digestive tract's idividual maturity and THAT is the reason that 1 yr is recommended by all the books and pediatric guidlines (better safe than sorry in their minds and writtings). He (the dr) started his kids very slowly on cows milk around 8 or 9 mos. and said we could do the same if we wish. Now, he did stress that if food allergies, esp. milk or those related to milk, are in your family, to wait until AT LEAST 1 year; otherwise you can start slow at 8-10 mos. He also said that cows milk is not really neccesary though except for the kind of fat in it for brain development, which can be found in other sources. Calcuim is rich elsewhere. He said "Look at the biggest boned animals on earth: do they drink milk beyond suckling? Humans are the only mammals that drink other mammal's milk."

My DD, now 3.5 yrs, handled it great around 9-10 mos. My son had a milk allergy and is 21 mos and still on goat's milk. I never suspected or even thought about milk allergy in our family (even though the dr said to but the allergy is on my hubby's side) until I just knew by gut feeling that my son did not do as well on reg (milk based) formula (he was primarily nursed but suplemented formula) as soy. Don't ask me how I knew: I just did. Even my allergist, who tested my son, said "Nah....doubt it" but tested son anyways and my allergist walked back in room saying "how did you know?" All I can say is mommy gut feeling!

So, what I got out of all of this: I know all guides say wait until 12 mos but they are probably covering their buts a bit: some kids can handle it before then and some can't and some never will. If no milk allergy runs on EITHER side of the family (and ask because you may not know if they had it as babies), you can start slowly around 8-10 mos and see how the child does. If there is milk allergy in the family, maybe wait until 1 yr+ (most babies outgrow it by age 2-4). But don't stress milk as the only source (or even one of few) for brain development and calcium. The pedi also liked rice milk. Any way around it, when you do start cows milk, be SLOW and WATCH vidually. If at any time, whether you start at 8 mos or 2+ years, there is any gut feeling or clues from baby that there is an issue, back off. And know that they don't have to drink straight milk all the time and every day to be healthy!

I am going to have my son re-tested for milk allergy soon. Allergist said most babies grow out of it by age 2 (that is exactly what happened previously in hubby's family, thus the reason I did not know there was ever an issue there and thus the reason I will re-test soon as milk is in everything!!!!) but statistics say they will most likely grow out of the allergy even more so by 4. Those allergic beyond age 4 prob. always will be (fingers crossed for son)!

GOOD LUCK! Hope I helped!

i intoduced 2% at 10mths and about a year i switched over to whole. he's never had a problem with either. i would recommend giving whole milk. the only reason i started on 2% is b/c i wanted to make sure he could handle the milk.

12 months unless he has any milk allergies. The only reason not to switch to milk would be problems digesting the milk proteins and allergic reactions. However lots of baby food has milk proteins in them. I know, because my son was allergic. So, if he's eating all of that just fine he should be okay. Use whole milk. Their bodies and brains need it to develop. At age 2 decrease to 2%.

the Academy of Pediatrics recomends waiting until at least 1 year of age to introduce cows milk, there are so many alternatives from rice milk to oat milk that are healthier.You are blessed to have a happy eater, enjoy nurturing your little guy.

I've always heard after one year...

Having not read the cons when my children were this age, I already had put them on whole milk at 8 months. they seemed to do fine.

One year is typically the standard, partly due to immature digestive systems and mostly due to nutritional value. Even though he loves food, he's still getting the bulk of important vitamins/nutrients from formula/breastmilk.

Everyone (including her doctor)has always told me at 1 year old.

P.,

All the doctors that I have spoken to said to wait till 12 mos since there are nutrients in breast milk and formula that is not in cows milk. We ran out of formula the day before our son's 1 yr and it worked out great. At times I wish he was still on Formula due to all the additional nutrients. My son is a wonderful eatter but there is only milk, vitiam D and Clcium in Cow's milk. Good Luck

K.

I've been told and through research learned that cow's milk can start at 12 months. We started yogurt and other dairy after 6 months, but only began cow's milk after the 1st birthday.

My pedi says after they turn one.

The earliest Is 9 months but I would wait until 1 if you can... he should be on formula or breast milk though right now as long as he will take it.

HTH
A. J

Normally, you should wait until 12 months to introduce straight vitamin d milk. Your babies digestive system is not ready before that. You can begin to introduce yogurt and other foods with dairy in them before 12 months, but I would wait until a year for milk.

Not until he is 12mo and then only whole milk as the growing body needs the fat in the whole milk.

No you should not introduce cows milk until 1 year of age. Babies under 1 year need the iron in formula. Plus if you start them on cows milk too early, they will develop allergies.

My doc, and everything I've read and everyone I've talked to, has always said 1 year. I introduced it about 2 weeks before his birthday, so I could start weaning him off breastmilk. He won't drink whole milk though, only 2%. I would wait to start him on cow's milk til he's close to 1, b/c you don't want him to form any kind of allergy. I also have a son who loves to eat everything! Enjoy it!

Hi P.,
A good Doctor will tell you 1 years old and so do baby books. Anything sooner is to rich for their system and they will get sick from it. If you are giving your baby formula the formula has all the things that your baby needs at this age.
Good luck
Debra

I started cow and soy milk at 10 1/2 months.

Rule of thumb is no cow's milk until the child is 1 yr old. Then, mix 1/2 and 1/2 milk and formula. Reduce formula until the kiddo is only on cow's milk. Little tummies have to grow to produce a digestive enzyme to digest the milk. I've had 5 kids. lol That's how I know this.

hi P.,

i have 11 m/o twin boys & they've been on organics cows milk for several mos. i still give them their formula bottle in the morning & at night. the in between bottles are half milk, half water.

hope this helps!

The food program we are on for Day Care says 1 yrs old for reg milk. I use 2 % approved by WIC. Make sure it has Vita A and B in it. Also foods need to be introduced one at a time and for a period of time so if he becomes allergic to something you can pin point it. My friend had to start all over. She also knew better and was older. She had such severe allergies she was in the hospital over and over yet she did not take that precaution for her own child which also had them. Good he is eating good. That is such a plus and going out to dinner is so much better too. God Bless moms who are enjoying their little ones. G. W

my baby doctor said at 1yr and then at that it is whole milk.

According to my son's pediatrician and my baby nutrition books, you should wait until one year to give your baby cow's milk. However, yogurt and cheese is okay around 7 or 8 months.

My daughters both had breastmilk only until they turned 1. Then, we added whole miik. I believe WIC suggests whole milk at 1, and switch to low fat milk at 2. That is awesome you have such a great little eater. If you introduce milk earlier than 1, there is a better chance of developing allergies to milk. It is best to wait until their little tummies are ready.

I hope this helps!

~B.
a fellow miliraty wife

I have always been told that they should have formula until 1 year and then switch to milk.

It's usually around 12 mos. I introduced it around 10 mos. to get them (18 month old twins) used to it so by 1 year they would be drinking it pretty regularly.

Whole Milk at 12 months, you can reduce it to 1% or 2% at 24 months. Ideally, 9 months old for yogurt and cheese.

AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends one year to start cows milk b/c of allergy.

12 months is best. If you do it to early you can trigger allergies (or so the experts say)