To Early for Cow's Milk??

They really say to wait until 1yr old to start the cows milk. If you could hang in there until at least 11months then you could start mixing it. I would do 3/4 formula to 1/4 milk the first week. 1/2 and 1/2 the second week. Then 1/4 formula to 3/4 milk the 3rd week. Then on his first birthday go whole milk. They say WHOLE, not 2% until they are like 4 or 5....

It's too early. I don't think there are many pediatricians that would give you any earlier than 12 months and some are suggesting longer now. At 12 months, they have to go on whole milk too. Formula first of all is easier to digest, cow's milk is actually really hard to digest and giving it to soon can significantly increase the chances of milk allergies and intolerance. Also, there are supplements in formula to help these little bodies grow and develop properly, especially brain development that is not available in cow's milk. Good luck!!

They used to recommend cow milk really early, and heavens knows my GMIL and MIL both insisted it was fine at 9 months, but they really don't recommend it until 1 year because of the salt. Babies' kidneys can't handle the sodium level in milk yet. If your ped is ok with it, you could try soy or rice milk. Soy milk is usually fortified with A&D, but check labels because it's often quite sweetened, too.

I switched my son and daughter both over at 10 months to cows milk. I buy only organic whole milk. They both had no problems switching. I would just give your son half formula half milk for a few days before switching to all milk. I hope it goes smoothly for you too!

My first son stopped nursing on his own at about 10 months old, so we spoke with the pediatrician and he said to put him on whole milk. My son got VERY sick...as soon as we stopped giving him milk, he was back to his healthy self! When my second son stopped nursing on his own at 9 months, we started him on formula. I did not want to go through that again. We did let them have it around the time they were one, but when you are that small, a month makes a big difference :). good luck!

They should have formula or nurse for the first year. Then it's OK to put them on cow's milk, but their brain needs the fat of WHOLE milk.

They have to be one to switch to whole milk. The amount of formula he's getting sounds fine to me as long as his solids are well balanced. Stick it out to his first birthday. Their digestive systems aren't ready to handle the harsher proteins in cows milk this early.

A.,
Unlike most of the other parents/grandparents, I am going to tell you to find a good toddler formula and use that as long as possible, then switch to a non cow-based milk. I know that we were all raised on cow's milk, I had goats milk too, but my kids ALL(3) have some form of inability to tolerate cow's milk. The toddler formulas that are out now are great for the kids. Then you can introduce almond, soy, rice or whatever type of milk you choose, but look out for extra gassiness, tummy troubles, signs of allergies-runny nose, hives, red eyes. ALL of these can be seen with food allergies/intolerances as well as "regular" allergies. What ever you decide, enjoy your children while they are young.

HEllo A. - This really needs to be something you talk to your pediatrician about. I switched my first daughter over at one year (b/c that's what I'd read) but went straight from formula to whole milk. She kept throwing up. Talked to the pediatrician and he said I should have switched gradually, by mixing more and more milk into the formula. I had no idea! She's fine now (and 13) but probably would have been better had I checked with the doctor first!!

Hi A.,
Assuming your son is now taking solids it is not uncommon that he drinks less formula. As babies get older their appetites can lessen somewhat - this occurs because if they continued to take as much formula as they did when they were younger most babies would be gigantic:) I didnt give my son cow's milk until his first birthday. It is my understanding that it can cause allergy issues +/- stomach problems. However your son is approaching a year so you should talk to your pediatrician about it. A wise woman (who is also a pediatrician) once told me a child will never starve him/herself. I have found that to be very true (my son is now 2 1/2 years and doing great despite his picky eating:) As long as your son is growing appropriately and is healthy I wouldnt worry about the 2-3 bottles a day. And if he is drinking less formula then you shouldn't have to buy as much (hopefully). Hope that helps and I wish you the best:)

Do NOT switch to cow's milk until a trial at 12+ months. All other responses say the same thing for various reasons, but the reasons are tangential to the primary one. The developing human gut (mucosa) will bleed when the cow's milk is added too early. You will not see this; it is only tiny microscopic but constant amounts of capillary leaking undetectable except by lab smear. The small amount of iron in the milk is also not readily "bioavailable" meaning well-absorbed by the immature gut. Your baby will become more and more ill on the way to frank anemia through this insidious blood loss. Pale skin, lethargy and vomiting are usual signs and occasionally a darker stool. Just wait a little longer before introducing the milk. Balanced full formulas are fine in the interim if you wish to stop breastfeeding. In the next few months you can begin to mix the formula with simple cereals and soon you will be switching to only solids and cow's or soy milk. A few more months makes all the difference for the digestive tract to fully mature.

My dr. said switch at one year and not before. Good luck!

Hi Pam,

I am not a doctor, so won't pretend to know the ins and outs of the biology. This is how the pediatrician explained it to me, and it sounds like it goes along with a previous post. Formula (or breast milk) breaks down easier for your baby, so the nutrients and fats that they need are available. Without those, your child would slowly starve.

6-9mos is an acceptable age to start to supplement your sons diet with "more solid food." I always called it "already been chewed" food or "ABC" food. That could pick up that balance for the formula that he isn't drinking anymore to fill his tummy. Talk to the pediatrician to check and make sure that there is not some reason for your son to NOT start on some green beans or other starter foods. Don't forget the cereal as a good start for bulk.

FYI - I am the mom of 2 beautiful little girls. The oldest was 9mos and under 9lbs. Not because her birth parents meant to be mean, but they tried to give her food her body had no use for too early, and she was starving. One of those things was milk. She just hit the 50th percentile at age 4 <g>.

Have a great day.

S.

A.,
How about looking into starting your baby on Soy milk (SILK is good. This eleviates the issues surrounding Cow's milk and allergies, etc. My kids have been on Soy all their lives and do not suffer any allergies or weight issues. Just a thought!

Wait til the child is one year old or you risk life long health problems. AF

Hi A., indeed, it is a little too early yet to offer cow's milk instead of formula or breast milk. Your son might not be interested, but that is his way of getting ready to switch to regular "big people" food. My daughter did the same thing--more interested in food for awhile, then she suddenly wanted to drink her formula again. It's sort of an evolutionary practice, babies bodies are very in-tune!

The reason it is too early for cow's milk is because there are carefully measured amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other "brain-building" proteins in baby formula. That is why ped's say first year breastmilk or formula ONLY. After that 12 month period, then begin offering it.

I understand about finances...not sure about your situation, but when my husband lost his job (I am a SAHM, too), we joined WIC downtown Frederick and they were WONDERFUL. We had all of our babies formula paid for for her first year of life. You can also ask your pediatrician for samples, or go on freecycle.org and sign up for the Frederick group and ask specifically for your child's brand of formula--there could be someone with extra to offer.

From the website of Dr. Sears:

The answer is that if you give an infant under a year cow's milk, the infant can develop microscopic gastrointestinal bleeding (you don't see it in the diaper), and this can lead to anemia and other problems. Yogurt does not cause this same reaction. Now: WHY does this happen? It seems to be the milk proteins that are responsible for this mild allergic reaction. In yogurt or infant formulas, the milk proteins are "de-natured" by heat in such a way that this allergic reaction does not happen.

Dr. Jim

http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/fit23.asp

I know you are a good mama, but you can always ask your baby's ped for more advice! Good luck!

N.

My daughter is now two but I switched her to cow's milk around 10 1/2 months. She seemed fine with it and my pediatrician wasn't concerned about switching a month early.

He might be in between growth spurts, so he's not wanting as much formula at the moment. My son was not interested in solid food much until he was almost a year and a half. I would not switch until he has several solid foods he's eating well, since milk will not have all the nutrients that formula has. Once he's a year old, have you considered goats milk? You can find Meyenberg canned condensed or dried goat milk in the bakers isle in the supermarket. It's easier to digest than cows milk.