Starting Whole Milk in Child Under 1

I have three kids and was told to wait until 1 with all of that as well. If I ran out of formula and they were a week or so shy I would switch. I would stick with formula until 1 year old. I would also wait to try those foods until 1 as well.

I think it is up to you and what you want to do. I have 4 daughters-my twins started 2% milk when they were about 6 months old-I used poly vi sol vitamin drops(the girls are healthy and have had NO problems)...my younger 2 both started milk around 8 or 9 months(extremely healthy as well)-no real reason other than we just had formula left over....go with what you feel and you will be fine...just think that a lot of things that you make already have milk in them(I guess I am just assuming)....good luck!

Hi L.,

I have 4 kids spread across the board in age - 18 yrs., 14 yrs., 8 yrs., and 5 1/2 yrs. I have had 2-3 different pediatricians over the years and all said the same thing...wait until 12 months. I don't think their digestive tract is able to handle whole milk prior to that age. I put my kids on 2% milk. There is too much fat in whole milk. They have all developed fine on 2%.

C. T

L.,

You have gotten a lot of responses and I only had time to read a few, so I apologize if I am duplicating answers. My husband is allergic to milk and has been since he was a baby, so we were very concerned about allergies. However, I am a total worry wort so we went with a pediatrician that has been in practice a long time (over 40 years) and is very calm. He told us not to stress that our daughter would have food allergies, that the odds are still strongly against her having an allergy.

We took my daughter to an allergist at about a year old before we gave her any milk. He said that they don't test children before they have a reaction, because if they haven't been exposed to the food, they won't have developed an allergy to it. What he had us do with milk was first put a little on the outside of her cheek. Then we gave her a small amount (about a tablespoon) to try after about a half an hour without a reaction on her cheek. We did all of this in the morning. The next day we gave her a little more milk, probably about a quarter of a cup. After she didn't have a reaction to that we let her have as much as she wanted the next time.

Like I said, my daughter's pediatrician has never been overly worried about her having food allergies, but we still have had more of a schedule than your doctor has given you. Before she was a year old, she was more limited. Definitely no milk. We were on no cherries, berries or melons after a year along with no chocolate and nuts. Supposedly melons can cause pretty bad gas in infants. Berries are an allergen. My daughter was okayed for melons at 18 months, but to watch her for signs of gas pains, and for cherries and berries at 21 months. She is still not allowed chocolate or nuts, but other than that she is okayed for everything.

If you are worried about it, I would follow your own schedule. The doctor can't make you feed your child anything you don't want to.

Good Luck,
D.

eggs are fine at 10 months. start with the yolk only, then move to the whole egg. you will find that your child has likely already been exposed to eggs since they are in some breads and other foods. With milk, it is the processing of the proteins that can be difficult for a young child. I would wait until age 1. My doc advised waiting and most of the pediatrician books do likewise. For finger food, I also included some fish such as salmon and others rich in omega 3. I have avoided tuna and a few that are more likely to have mercury.

If your child is on regular formula, not soy or any other speciality one, than milk will be fine. The only caution I would have would be the whole part. If your child is of average or above average weight according to the charts, I would say 2%. The only difference is the fat content and my docs said the kids did not need to extra fat. Both my kids started 2% around 9/10 mos. I started it in one bottle making it half formula and half milk. If they tollerated that for a week, then I moved on to one full bottle (by this age both were down to 2 bottles a day). Then by 11 months both were on full milk and no formula. As far as eggs I would not worry again if they are on regular formula. Strawberries I would wait. FYI my oldest child's, 5, doc said no milk until 1, but did it anyway and she is perfectly healthy, and my son's(2) doc, a different one, said go ahead like yours. Good luck!

I think you should wait if that is what you are most comfortable doing. I was surprised to find that my second child (2.5) had food allergies to milk, egg and peanut. I discovered both the milk and egg prior to age 1 and the peanut via allergy testing. It may have not changed anything for us but I really wished I had waited longer to introduce those foods.

Hi I started both my children on whole milk at 9 months, they were both eating table food only and I was just wasting the formula and baby food. Both my kids are healthy and have no food allergies. Every doctor is different. I really wouldn't worry.

Do you trust your Ped.? Then listen to her! This baby may need more than what the last child needed at the same age. Your instincts may have nothing to do with anything right now. Just question the Ped. about your concerns to ease your mind.

I gave my 1st eggs before 1 and my 2nd is 11 months and just started giving her eggs occasionally and she seems to be fine. As for the milk, what I did with #1 and am currently doing with my 2nd is when they turned 11 months, I started supplementing their formula with milk. Week 1 would be 6oz formula, 2 oz. milk, week 2 1/2 and 1/2, week 3 6 oz milk and 2 oz formula so they got used to it gradually. It went well with my 1st and is so far going well with my 2nd. I have also heard of people putting their children on milk totally before they were 1 but I have always done it this way. Hope this helps.

I'm reading this wonderful book called Mother-Daughter Wisdom by Dr. Christine Northrup, OB/GYN, she recommends that kids do not drink whole milk under the age of one due to allergies. She stated her girls never drank milk and there are other ways to get calcium and fat. When you feel you are ready, make sure it is hormone free, I just watched a You Tube video on how the hormones pumped into our cows are becoming a health danger for the American population. My daughter will be one in two weeks and have begun mixing rice milk with her formula to transition her to rice milk.

The book is a wonderful read and highly recommed it for all moms, she covers everthing from health, nutrition, vaccinations, building self-esteem, parenting teens and college-age women. It is a book that you will use throughout your lifetime as a mom!

If your child is drinking formula then you would already know if she was allergic to milk, formula is made out of milk (obviously unless you are using soy or hydrolyzed protein). That said, the main concern with replacing formula or breastmilk with whole milk prior to age one is that the child could become anemic as whole milk does not meet the iron requirement. So it's fine for a formula-fed child to have whole milk before age 1, but you shouldn't replace any formula with milk.

go with your gut. there is no reason to introduce dairy before a year, especially whole milk, if he's still on formula. formula or breast milk is the best thing for the first year, or until the baby starts asking for other solids. things have not changed that much in the last year, but dairy gets pushed because it's a big business with a lot of funds.

My daughter was on whole milk around 11 months. She is a teen, now, and healthy but she has never been fond of milk. Neither of my children have food allergies. Both of my kids love yogurt and other dairy products - and they did back then, too. My children also ate a large variety of healthy table foods, starting before 1 year old. The dr. said to introduce foods slowly but by, 18 months, both children really ate a lot of different foods. I was concerned about introducing honey early and didn't introduce it until 3 years old. However, always follow your instincts if something doesn't make you comfortable. I hope you really trust your pediatrician. Mine has always been wonderful - he errs on the side of caution, is pretty conservative in his methods & advise and knows my children well. Best of luck to you.

The book "Super Baby Foods" is a great resource on what food is appropriate for a baby and when.

I would definately wonder why he is suggesting this. I know 19 years ago with my son it was not recommended to do this until 1 year or later but if I really wanted to I was able to at 10 months with skim milk (because of it being more gentle)- things have really changed in those 19 years!

Now with my daughter, she is 23 months old, they said to wait until after she was 1 to start the whole milk. Is he an older Dr who is not up to date on what is recommended now?

You are the Mama! Follow your gut instinct as you said, you know what is best!

Many blessings to you and yours!

my doctor told us to start with two percent that they don't need all that fat that is in whole milk unless your child is under weight for their age and height.
so start with the basics you don't have to give them everything right away

Hi L.,
Being a mom of a boy who is allergic to all of those things you mentioned (milk, nuts, eggs, fish, corn and more...),I have read alot and spoken to ceritifed nutritionists about many foods and milk products and I found there are truly some issues to sort out before you introduce new food and whole milk to your child. I even found out that there could be negative effects from soy and corn. (Our previous pediatrician told us my son's ezcema, constant sickness and projectile vomitting had nothing to do with what he was eating.. I think they were wrong!) I have consulted with dAN and Homeopathic Drs. and found they have steered me in the right direction; a diet free of all these things but still greatly nutritional and supplemented to ensure he gets all the nutrients and vitamins/minerals he needs. My son is now 4 and still allergic to everything so he stays healthy by sticking to his diet (free of gluten and all above). I know there are kids out there who drink cow's milk and eat whatever and "seem to be fine"; I can only that you might talk to different types of Drs. and research before you make a decision. Good luck to you and the health of your children.

I just took my 9 month old for her doctor visit and my pediatritician told me the same stuff he told me for my first child. No whole milk, fresh berries (berries that are cooked or put in like yogurt and baby food are ok), eggs, honey, nuts and shellfish. I think that was it. I would just stay away from those even if your doctor says she can have them.

I just took my twins in for their 9 month check a couple weeks ago & the peds said to wait on starting whole milk until 1 year.

I know that some doctors do a test, when I asked mine about this he said they had too many false results and no longer did it - just said wait until a year. And I did, what is an extra 2 - 3 months of formula versus a possible lifetime of no milk????

We were also told until 1 year no berries (careful a lot of those baby foods have berries), no whole eggs (only yolks), no seafood and no chocolate. And we were also told no honey until at least age 2 and no nuts - best to wait until 3 if you can 2 1/2 at a minimium. The avoidance was in my docs belief more than just choking/safety because of the difficulty some can have processing as well as them being allergy prone foods.

My youngest had mild hives when given regular formula at 6 months(never established as true allergy on blood & scratch test), but after being on soy formula and then soy milk he seemed to out grow it around 2 1/2.

Trust your gut.
M.

Following your doctors advise is great but remember that they are people to and just like you and I have their preference, I bet this is not the same PED. that you took your son to (with insurance changing yrly we loose the luxury of keeping doctors we like)...if you didi something with your son that worked well and your daughter is healthy there is no rule that says you have to change what you already tried and tested...you could also introduce the milk slowly many children are allergic to formulas and are but on whole milk while infants so at the end of the day its up to your comfort level and what you know works.

a little about me: a mother of 5 (18-26 yrs)and a grandma of 3 (1.5 to 3 yrs old)

Given that it wasn't so long ago that you were introducing table foods to you son, I can see why you'd feel uncomfortable with changing the rules for your daughter. There are so many foods to introduce that if you just don't get around to introducing eggs or honey until after your daughter is one, that's your perogative, as I am sure you already know. It does seem like the guidelines are always changing, and it's sometimes hard to know what to do when you are simply trying to help your little person develop to his/her best potential. My husband told me that when his oldest, now 20, was a baby, the pediatrician advised to take the boy off formula and to use whole milk and liquid vitamins at the age of 6 months. Weird huh? His son was on the honor roll all thru high school. I think you have to go with whatever is going to make you feel the most confident as a mom in terms of doing what's right for your daughter. Less chance of worry and regrets that way.

Hi,

She is YOUR daughter. I would say go with your gut.

HTH

S.

Just because your doctor said so does not mean you have to do it. There is no reason why you cannot introduce foods in a way that is comfortable to you. Your daughter will not become malnourished because you waited two more months or longer to give her certain things. You are the mom. You rule. If you want to wait a bit, do it.

just some thoughts from a mom of 3 young ones-- i think if your child hasn't shown evidence of a dairy allergy, (e.g., is your baby tolerating yogurt and cheese?), than perhaps a little dairy in a sippy cup might be ok now and then. our ped told me that they just don't want dairy to replace formula for babies under 12 mths. as for honey, i think the doctor is out of his/her mind. every honey label i have read states to NEVER give honey to infants under 1 yr of age. i agree you need to proceed with caution on some higher risk foods. hope this helps.

I used to work at a peds office and both Dr.'s were big on waiting until one. Not only for allergy purposes but also because of the iron needed for babies. They do not get as much form cows milk

If you are not ready to start the baby on whole milk don't feel pressured because your doctor told you to. It's your child and you know best.We didn't start our twins on whole milk until they were one and it took a month to get them on all milk because we had to do it slowly (they hated it).Also they weren't on all table food right away. Follow your instincts.Good luck!

My doctors said whole milk can be started gradually before 1, but the vitamin D in whole milk can affect iron absorption, so either you need to keep up with some formula, or foods extra rich in iron. Strawberries were given the okay by my doctors even with my first 5 years ago, by 9 months. Egg yolks were fine at 6 months, and whites at 9. My doctor gave the okay on peanut butter at 18 months with my second and third. That's why you may be getting what you feel is conflicting advice, because usually in later children, with no indications of allergies in the first, or in the family, the might give the go ahead a little earlier than the first. At least that's what happened with my 3. Also, remember, just because the child turns one, it doesn't mean that suddenly they are immune to allergies. Kids develop over time and their immune systems get stronger. So, your doctor might feel that your daughter will be fine starting some of the less risky foods earlier.

You are right about going with your gut. I have a one year old and a two year old, and my doctor said NOT to give them whole milk until they were AT LEAST a year and definately not honey since honey can get babies very sick. Babies under one are not able to properly digest milk, and it can be very damaging on their little systems. I would stick with formula and find a new doctor.
For more info on starting milk, check out babycenter.com....they have a lot of useful articles.

Honestly, if you're not comfortable with it then hold off until the baby is 1. There's no need to get in a great confrontation with your pediatrician over this; I really don't think it is worth the trouble. Just wait to give him the whole milk until you and your baby are ready for it.

My daughter is three and i was told the same thing. I started her on whole milk around that time but in small amounts. I still gave her formula too. If your not comfortable starting her until she is one go with your cut instincts, especially if there is allergies in your family.

I totally agree about the worry with allergies. Go with your gut and don't give your child honey til 1 yr old, as for eggs they say not to give them til 1 but gave my daughter a lil before a yr old and she isn't allergic. I also gave my son and daughter 2 oz of whole milk every day at 10 months to 12 months to get used to the taste and it never had an allergic effect on my children. I believe giving kids whole milk will be ok as long as its not started to early.

I would wait until she is at least a year. My ped said you dont have to supplement breastmilk or formula with anything at that point, just water:)
Good luck!

I would strongly caution you against starting honey with your child until he/she is older than 1. There are bacteria (as I understand it) in honey that a baby is not able to handle and it could make your child extremely ill.

I recently read that there is new research debunking the idea that the earlier a food is introduced the more likely it is to cause allergies. In other words, if you're going to be allergic to something, you're going to be allergic to it regardless of when it is introduced. It is true, however that some babies will react (hives, usually) to certain foods that they will not react to when they are older. This is different than having an allergy that means you have to avoid the food for the rest of your life. I can't find a link to the info I read before. It was an article in a magazine.

If you are concerned about eggs -- it is the whites that are the problem, so just separate the eggs and use the yolks. I used to make egg yolk and parsley scrambles for my babies. Parsley has a lot of iron in it. Just always cook the eggs thoroughly and you're fine.

Milk -- many kids are sensitive to dairy and then outgrow that later. It will not hurt her to introduce milk early. If you notice that she is getting constipated, cut down on the milk. If you are breastfeeding, then breastmilk is always better than cow's milk so I would ignore what your ped said. I don't know anything about formula because I didn't use it, so you'll have to ask others about that.

honey -- never before 1 year because of botulism. If your ped doesn't know this then I'd switch to another ped. out of concern for other things he might not know.

strawberries -- biggest risks are choking and food poisoning because of all the seeds on the outside. The seeds make it hard to properly wash strawberries. I did give them to my daughter when she was about 11 mos because they are my son's favorite and she wanted to try them, too. I chopped them up and she was fine.

So, overall I'd say your ped just has a looser philosophy about introducing foods. This is one of the areas that parents freak out about and doctors are generally not so concerned about because it is rare for a baby to have a severe problem from food.

Things haven't changed that much, but you do have a little more freedom than you thought... A magic switch is not flipped as soon as they turn a year old. Everything is gradual.

Whole milk should come around 1. A week or two early is not a big deal, but 2 months is. It is also not a big deal if you wait a few weeks because you don't think she's ready.

Egg yolks are totally fine for your daughter to have right now. It is egg whites that you need to wait a little longer for. The protein that triggers the allergy in most people is found in the white, not the yolk.

We were told strawberries and other berries were fine around 9 months.

Honey is somewhere after the 1st birthday (some say 2nd birthday). We gave her things with honey as an ingredient at 1 year, but didn't give her actual honey until closer to 20 months. There is concern that actual honey can have botulism toxin in small amounts, which is why they tell you to wait. If it is just a tiny bit to flavor food, it isn't going to matter...

Peanut butter and shellfish are the only two that ever scared me. Doctors will tell you anywhere between 1 and 3 years depending on how cautious they are and your family history. We got the okay for peanut butter around 15 months, but I didn't give it to her until 18 months. We've been told to wait until she's 3 for shellfish because we have a history of allergies to it on both sides of the family. They aren't *wrong* if they tell you 1 year, because statistically that is enough time for most people to avoid problems. If there is any history though, you should ask more questions.

How much does your daughter weigh? Sometimes the doctor's decision can be based on weight if your child is growing big. Whole milk doesn't have as much fat in it as formula or breastmilk and if you have a larger child, it can be safe for them to start milk.

If you have concerns about starting at less than the age of 1, just go ahead and wait the couple of months. You should do what is comfortable for you. I guess just knowing that the doctor said it was ok to start now, doesn't mean you have to drop everything and do it. Is it the same doctor or a different doctor. that might explain the difference in the couple of months.

Hi L.,

I have read a few responses and there is a lot of great information. I am a peds nurse and the AAP recommends whole milk from 1-2 years of age. The whole milk is for inter-cellular fat not tissue fat. So even if your child is of average or slightly "over" weight, whole milk is still recommended until 2 years old. 10 years ago whole milk used to be recommended at 9 months of age. The guidelines were changed because babies were becoming anemic. Regarding allergies, it is always good to go slow and take your time w/foods. Good luck!

Jen