Whole Milk

Savannah - posted on 07/11/2010

I took my 11 month baby to her nutritionist yesterday, and she said to start weening her slowly. She told me to put an oz of whole milk with her formula, then every week put another ounce and less formula. That way, she's not shocked with the change and can get used to it easier. She did say keep her on formula until she's 1, but slowly transition her.

Justine - posted on 07/09/2010

my son will be a year old august 13th and i jus started giving him 2% milk i give it to him in between bottles, when he gets hungry between the 4 hours that he gets a formula bottle. also i only give him the milk in a sippy cup to help wing him off a bottle easier

Michelle Carpenter - posted on 07/08/2010

The recommendation is for at least one year. Cows milk is much harder to digest an makes the kidneys of these little tykes work MUCH harder. My son is 10 1/2 mo and occ has a few sips of whole milk in a sippy cup. Babies need the fat in whole milk for growth and brain development. Babies also need the calories of breastmilk or formula for the first year. I've never heard of anyone doing what Dana G in the above post did. As a doctor, I wouldn't recommend that approach for most any child. I'm glad she had no repercussions from it. Our daughter was allergic to cow's milk for a long time, but has outgrown it now. I know we all get impatient waiting that last 4-6 weeks for our children to mature a bit more, but 6 weeks out of their 52 weeks are very important in their development...think about what a baby can accomplish in that time. Their insides need to mature as much as thier outsides!! Good luck and God bless.

Dana - posted on 07/07/2010

I started my son on Whole milk when he was 6 months old, he will be 11 months on the 20, and has had no problem with it. I started him on solids when he was 4 months. It is whatever you are most comfortable with giving your baby,
The way I introduced milk to my son was, Stopped giving formula, and did 3/4 sterile water to 1/4 milk for a week or longer then do half sterile water, half milk for another week or longer, then onto 1/4 sterile water, 3/4 milk for another week or longer then finally full milk.

The only reason why I started my son so early was because I felt that he was ready for it and he never had an issue with any food that I had fed him.
But once again it is all with whatever you are most comfortable with. Your decision is all that matters not what someone else thinks of it.
Good luck, and I hope all goes well with the milk adventure :)

Jillian - posted on 07/07/2010

We gave out son a little at 10 months, but he seemed to struggle with it. We waited a couple of weeks and tried again and we did not have any problems! He was getting about 1/4 of a sippy Whole Milk and the other 3/4 formula. He turned 11 months today and we're up to 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 formula. We're going to keep increasing it until he's on 100% whole milk. I would just try a little and see how your LO handles it - they'll let you know if they're not ready!

Blackwood - posted on 07/07/2010

oh and make sure you give whole milk, nothing less.

Blackwood - posted on 07/07/2010

Recommendations are too wait one year. For a few reasons, they still need the extras in formula and their tummys might not digest it properly and allergies. I know children under one can have yogurt and cheese, but for some reason there is something different in the milk. If your nervous, then wait. There's no reason why you have to start him before he is one. Best wishes.

Jessica - posted on 07/07/2010

Since 9 months i have added 1/4 cup of homo with her formula. Its been fine. Now i am at 1/2 cup of homo milk for 10 months, 3/4 at 11 months etc.. She loves it and cant tell the difference. I would take her off the formula now but i dont believe shes eating enough solids yet for that.

Julie - posted on 07/07/2010

The reason why docs tell you not to give full fat milk (MUST BE FULL FAT, babies need the fat no diet!!!!) before one, is because there is not enough iron as opposed to the added iron in formula. CAlcium and iron are not good together as the calcium makes it difficult for the body to absorb the iron. LO is 11 months and I have started about a week ago just for her to taste - she gets it in a sippy cup for breakfast - she usually just drinks a bit a prefers her water. You can give but not substitute - that's the main thing. I breastfeed so I make sure she gets lots of iron in her diet (tofu, greens, cereals with added iron etc). HTH.

Shannon - posted on 07/06/2010

I forgot to add that my son has not taste whole milk...we use 1% or fat free. I'm not sure if I will ever give him whole milk.

Shannon - posted on 07/06/2010

My son has already had some sips of cows milk. He has never had a sippy cup full but he had a few sips of my milk. He is mostly breastfed still. I don't plan on giving him a significant amount of milk until he has weaned from the breast around 2 years of age.

Emily - posted on 07/06/2010

I'm not risking it. Won't give any whole milk til at least age one, maybe even later. She's still breastfed, so she really doesn't need whole milk anyway.

Suman - posted on 07/06/2010

Our Ped asked us to start my lil girl on 2% milk when she turned 9 months old! She loves it n drinks more than she used to drink her formula. He said 2% as the proteins n other supplements in this is broken down exactly like how it is in formula while this is not the case in whole milk.

Michelle - posted on 07/06/2010

I just went to the ped today and he said I could go ahead and start my lil girl on cows milk and we did and she loves it.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/06/2010

Great thanks so much for your responses!

Sarah - posted on 07/06/2010

It is advised not to give cows milk untill a year old, although ok to use in foods but not a replacement to formula/breast

Up untill 1year they should recieve 600ml of formula/ breast.

My daughter is 11 months and i give her whole cows milk in her porridge at breakfast and in her dinners sometimes just to moist it up a bit!

The follow on milks that are in shops are supposed to contain more sugar then needed for a toodler and also no advisable :o)

Kristina - posted on 07/06/2010

I do give my son 2% chocolate milk every now and then. But what I give him is Lactaid (ts for people who are lactose intollerant) and I only give him a little. My doctor said that was fine and not to worry about it. I think I started giving him that around 8 months and he is almost 11 months now. He loves the different flavor. But I never mixed formula with it, but like I said it was only maybe 2 oz that I gave him just to give him a different flavor in his mouth

Elisabeth - posted on 07/06/2010

my doctor was adamant that she not be given whole milk until at least a year old. I am not sure the reason, maybe breaking down the proteins in the milk, but he had whole milk on the list with strawberries and peanuts - not until at least 12 months.