Anyone starting whole milk early?

Elishua - posted on 01/13/2010

Hello my daughter has been on whole milk since 9 months and she is enjoying it I see no problem starting early!!

Kari - posted on 01/12/2010

i have been putting my daughters whole milk with her formula she just went to formula last month so lol she doing good with it though so i dont see why you cant put it with soy formula

Kari - posted on 01/12/2010

i breastfed for 9 months and it started to hurt she didnt have teeth yet but it just hurt and i thought maybe just maybe my breast would stay the same size and now since they have finally gone down from the swelling im smaller than what i was before i got pregnant, very depression, because i am now barely an a lol if you have some stored milk try him on one ounce of whole milk for a little and work your way up my daughters tummy still hasnt gotten quite used to it but we working on it lol

April - posted on 01/06/2010

I am still breast feeding too and I am in the same boat with you. I just started introducing him to it and he drinks a little bit but hasnt taken to it completely yet. Thats all the advice I have so far. So if anyone else has more advice, I hope to hear about it as well

Kylie - posted on 01/05/2010

Hey there Jackie, I my self have started my little girl on whole milk, (as she wasnt holdin down anything else) With this i started a 50/50 bottle t c how she would take it. What i mean by 50/50 is Half milk n half water as she got better i jst used less water n more milk. Now she is doin so well i would not look back either.. Oh yea i forgot to mentoin that when i started her on it she was 7 1/2 months old.. She is now 1 next month. if u dont want to go the full milk give the kids milk a try n see how u go on that.. Good luck N all the best with Oliver

Valerie - posted on 01/05/2010

To Joy, we had some milk intolerance issues with my daughter and I was breastfeeding and had to go off dairy myself. When we started introducing it again into her diet our doc recommended things like cheese and yogurt first. Look for signs of intolerance (gassy, upset stomach, REALLY foul stools, and mucas in the stool) if there are none then I would go ahead with the mixing of whole milk and soy formula when he's one. Start slowly and work your way up and keep an eye on how he handles it. Good luck!

Joy - posted on 01/05/2010

Hi moms! I'm reading all of these posts and I'm annoyed with formula as well. However, is it possible to switch from soy formula to wole milk? Or can it be mixed, or will I upset his stomach if I don't buy a special milk?

Naomi - posted on 01/05/2010

hello. my daughter eve is 11 months and has been on cow's milk since 9 mnths as she wud not take it ,the health visitor advised me not to but she likes it and i have had no problems xx

Jennifer - posted on 01/04/2010

I have also heard that you are supposed to wait until 1 yr, but I have to say that my daughter, who is 11 months, has been on completely solid foods with her bottles for about a month now and I noticed that she would rather eat the solids than drink the formula so I am going to see about changing her over to milk now, seeing how its really only a month away.

Valerie - posted on 01/04/2010

Our doc was pretty adimate that we wait till our daughter was 12 months. After a kidney stone my supply started dwindling. We have frozen breastmilk from the beginning when I was pumping like a dairy cow (lol) and we were running out but my daughter was only ten months so what were we to do? Well we saw our doc and a lactation consultant and they suggested cutting the breastmilk with formula until one year. My daughter is very picky and I doubted she would take formula but we started out 25% formula to 75% breast milk and she didn't even notice. Once we hit one year we will begin to cut the formula with cow's milk. So far so good and only 1 and 1/2 months to go!

Shelley - posted on 01/03/2010

Hi my daughter is 11 months now and started her on whole milk at the age of 8 months and she's going good on it. I hope it helps you out some.

shelley

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

I feel silly but to clarify about the age is your son on the close to or 11 months or like my daughter just barely 10 months (born on the 24th). It can make a difference. That's what I was getting at for the age thing.

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

I think it depends on how early you're talking about. I didn't notice how old you said Oliver was. Talk to your doctor. I think that it depends on how early you're really talking about and if there are any allergy/ digestive issues that could be made worse by starting earlier. It can also be the cause of allergy or digestive issues if it's started too early in some (but definitely not all) children. I know people do it and are fine and others are not. It's all a case by case basis. I'd do it gradually either way so his little body can appropriately adjust to it.

RHONDA - posted on 01/02/2010

Hi, my first child was started on whole milk at around 10 months. Although she also got formula. I gradually switched her to milk by 12 months. I didn't want to start milk till 12 months but husband and i went on a 4 day vacation and left her with his mom and dad. his mom thought she should have milk after i said only formula and gerber juice. while i was soooo angry with my mother in law for this my girl was fine. she is now 2 and a quarter years. i also have a 10 and a half month old and i am starting the transition from formula to whole milk. i will keep her on some formula till after 1 year. hope this helps a little bit.

Holly - posted on 01/01/2010

I would ask his Doctor!

Amy - posted on 01/01/2010

My lil girl is 10 months and I have wondered the same thing. She gets formula now, but I give her whole milk in a sippy cup during feeding time and throughout the day. She has formula only when she is bottle fed. I plan on completely switching her to whole milk the first week in February. Good Luck and I hope it all works out for you and your little one.

Melissa - posted on 01/01/2010

I am sooooo glad I read this.. My son is 10 months and does not like to drink his formula.. I think i am going to transition him as well.. My mom has been telling me too, but I have a few cans of formula left, but what the heck it's getting expensive...
Thanks ladies..

Tarah - posted on 01/01/2010

I started introducing my son to whole milk i would put 2 oz formula and the rest whole milk he is 10 months old and is on whole milk all the time now no formula his dr did not have aproblem with it

Stacey - posted on 01/01/2010

I heard to do it gradually also.

Myndi - posted on 01/01/2010

I live in Canada and the guidelines say you can start them on whole milk at 9-12 months. I started both of mine on whole milk as soon as they were nine months old and both of them tolerated it well. I did, however, wean them onto it gradually. I didn't just start giving them 8 ounces of whole milk in one serving. Good luck!

Michelle - posted on 01/01/2010

Hey, I think it is alright to start them on milk early. My son has been on 2% milk since he was 9 months old. Due to continueous vomiting on every formula I would try. He is now 11 months and I think he is doing great. I really dont think it will effect him. I talked to many mothers at the time I was gonna switch him and they all said they switched them early.. Hope this helps!

Melissa - posted on 01/01/2010

I don't think you should start yet..I have a 5 yr old and we started her around 11 mths. Just mixing whole milk and formula according to the doctor. And with my lil one who will be a year in February I don't plan on it because your supposed to start them on whole milk. And whole milk has a lot of fat and if he is still eating mostly baby food that's not good. I would suggest starting with formula in a sippy cup because if he has never really known a bottle, there is no need it starting it now. It will be a waste of time to eventually get him off the bottle in the long run. Keep away from him as well and as much as often. Try bundling yourself up too this way he realizes there is no access to your breast and eventually if he is thirsty he will take the cup. I hope some of these options work for you! Or hopefully someone else gives a better suggestion. Good Luck!

Sarah - posted on 01/01/2010

My son is eleven months at 91/2 he decided he would no longer drink formula, so we sstarted him on whole milk and he has tolerated it well.

Marija - posted on 12/31/2009

Hi! I`ve tried it and it`s OK!!!! Everything I read too also said NOT BEFORE 1ST BIRTHDAY,BUT I DID IT ANYWAY! I started when my baby was 9 months old and nothing bad happened-no allergic reaction or constipation and my baby liked it!

Crystal - posted on 12/31/2009

I was thinking about it just today. I dont really think that two months is really going to hurt much. They say to wait because of allergies, and not just food allergies either, its also for hay fever and allergies like that, but if you are comfortable with it I dont think anyone is going to give you a hard time about it. And if the dr does, just say well this is what I am comfortable with doing, and they usually back off... besides he is yours to do with what you would like, Drs are just there to guide you, I say. And you did great on breast feeding until ten months! I am pround of you! I only made it two months with this one, but I am going to do what I think is best and not the DRs... ( I went in for my 6 wk.check up and I was told to breastfeed differently and lost my milk) Just goes to show you what mommy knows about her body and her baby! Good Luck!

Nicolene - posted on 12/31/2009

At Kyle's 9 month check up my doctor said I can start him on whole mild. He's currently on Formula. To be honest I haven't tried it yet, but will start introducing it slowly.

Sara - posted on 12/31/2009

I started my daughter on Sweet Acidopholus milk when she was 9 months old. Formula got way too expensive as a single mother, but she also would spit up A LOT. I noticed a difference in her GERD within almost 1 week. She doesn't spit up at all anymore. She is running around. I do however give her foods that are rich in Iron because that is the main vitamin she is missing in formula.

Melissa - posted on 12/31/2009

Sabrina turned 10 months on the 16 of Dec is on organic whole milk and has been for a couple of weeks.

Melissa - posted on 12/31/2009

Reading all of these posts has been helpful to me too! Eli is almost 11 months, and I am so sick of buying formula! I've decided to make the switch....I'll do half and half bottles until the formula is gone. Anything to reduce the expenses!

Brittany - posted on 12/31/2009

At first, I wasn't sure why they couldn't be on milk until they were one. So I asked my doctor and she told me it can causes their intestines to bleed. I'm not putting Karson on milk until he's 1.

Rany-Lee - posted on 12/31/2009

Also if you find that your son is getting a little constipated mix up some fruit cocktail and feed it to him and it should help it greatly, it did with my daughter plus she loved the taste.

Rany-Lee - posted on 12/31/2009

My daughter has is ten months old and I've started her on the homogonized milk. I haven't stopped giving my baby formula. I give her formula for her morning and night bottle and then give the homo mild through out the day. Some people also give their child half homo mild and half formula. Technically any physician will tell you not to start giving your baby homogonized milk until their 12 months old, I've found that depending on the weight of the baby as well they may tell you to start them on the homo milk earlier to help them gain weight a little quicker. As with my child she was getting bored of the formula and needed a change, she would only drink a few ounces here and a few ounces there.

Sara - posted on 12/31/2009

Jackie - please let us know how it goes. I have been wanting to switch my son over as well. I have one can of formula open in my house right now and I plan on it being the LAST formula I ever give him! I'm anxious to see how it goes for you. Please keep us posted!! :) thanks for the post!

Jackie - posted on 12/31/2009

Thanks everyone!

Stacey - posted on 12/31/2009

My pediatrician told me not to start her on whole milk until she was a year old because of her ability (or inability) to digest it. I am also fed up with breast feeding. Being a working mother and pumping do not go well together! My mom also told me we were all started on whole milk at 4 months. Thank you for all of your posts! I am going to introduce her to it today!

RoseAnn - posted on 12/30/2009

I started my daughter on whole milk at 6 months. She was a little constipated at first but within a two weeks she was good to go. My friend started her son at the same time and it really messed up his boules and his stomach. So i really think it depends on the child. My first daughter is 3 now and my second is 10 months and she is just fine on milk

Jessika - posted on 12/30/2009

I started giving my son half formula half 3.25% milk at 8 months. Luckily for me he doesn't have a weak stomach and seems to take to almost anything. I supplement with vitamins called Tri-visol. It's a mix of vitamin A,D and C. Before I introduced the whole milk though I gave him small amounts of yogurts. I started with "lil Ones" then after a few weeks gave him whole milk. Good luck.

Kristy - posted on 12/30/2009

This is going to be a LONG post lol BUT its worth the read!!!! IF you choose to give them milk you may want to try goats mild. Its the closest thing to human breast milk you can give a child. Plus ALOT of children have an allergy to milk.... READ BELOW



Almost all infants are fussy at times. But some are excessively fussy because they have an allergy to the protein in cow's milk, which is the basis for most commercial baby formulas.



A person of any age can have a milk allergy, but it's more common among infants though most outgrow it.



If you think that your child has a milk allergy, talk with your doctor about testing and alternatives to milk-based formulas and dairy products.



A milk allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly sees the milk protein as something the body should fight off. This starts an allergic reaction, which can cause an infant to be fussy and irritable, and cause an upset stomach and other symptoms. Most kids who are allergic to cow's milk also react to the protein in soy milk.



Infants who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing a milk allergy than those who are formula fed. But researchers don't fully understand why some develop a milk allergy and others don't, though it's believed that in many cases, the allergy is genetic.



Typically, a milk allergy goes away on its own by the time a child is 3 to 5 years old, but some kids never outgrow it.



A milk allergy is not the same thing as lactose intolerance, the inability to digest the sugar lactose, which is rare in infants and more common among older kids and adults.



ContinueSymptoms of a Milk AllergySymptoms of cow's milk protein allergy will generally appear within the first few months of life. An infant can experience symptoms either very quickly after feeding (rapid onset) or not until 7 to 10 days after consuming the cow's milk protein (slower onset).

The slower-onset reaction is more common. Symptoms may include loose stools (possibly containing blood), vomiting, gagging, refusing food, irritability or colic, and skin rashes. This type of reaction is more difficult to diagnose because the same symptoms may occur with other health conditions. Most children will outgrow this form of allergy by 2 years of age.

Rapid-onset reactions come on suddenly with symptoms that can include irritability, vomiting, wheezing, swelling, hives, other itchy bumps on the skin, and bloody diarrhea. In rare cases, a potentially severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur and affect the baby's skin, stomach, breathing, and blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is more common with other food allergies than with milk allergy.

Diagnosing a Milk AllergyIf you suspect that your infant is allergic to milk, call your doctor, who'll ask about any family history of allergies or food intolerance and then do a physical exam. There's no single lab test to accurately diagnose a milk allergy, so your doctor might order several tests to make the diagnosis and rule out any other health problems.

In addition to a stool test and a blood test, the doctor may order an allergy skin test, in which a small amount of the milk protein in inserted just under the surface of the child's skin with a needle. If a raised spot called a wheal emerges, the child may have a milk allergy.

The doctor may also request an oral challenge test. After you stop feeding your baby milk for about a week, the doctor will have the infant consume milk, then wait for a few hours to watch for any allergic reaction. Sometimes doctors repeat this test to reconfirm the diagnosis.



Treating a Milk AllergyIf your infant has a milk allergy and you are breastfeeding, it's important to restrict the amount of dairy products that you ingest because the milk protein that's causing the allergic reaction can cross into your breast milk. You may want to talk to a dietician about finding alternative sources of calcium and other vital nutrients to replace what you were getting from dairy products.

All food makers must clearly state on package labels whether the foods contain milk or milk-based products, indicating this in or next to the ingredient list on the packaging. This law applies only to foods packaged after the start of 2006, so some foods packaged before then may not have any information about food allergens.

If you're formula-feeding, your doctor may advise you to switch to a soy protein-based formula. If your infant can't tolerate soy, the doctor may have you switch to a hypoallergenic formula, one in which the proteins are broken down into particles so that the formula is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.

Two major types of hypoallergenic formulas are available:

Extensively hydrolyzed formulas have cow's milk proteins that are broken down into small particles so they're less allergenic than the whole proteins in regular formulas. Most infants who have a milk allergy can tolerate these formulas, but in some cases, they still provoke allergic reactions.

Amino acid-based infant formulas, which contain protein in its simplest form (amino acids are the building blocks of proteins). This may be recommended if your baby's condition doesn't improve even after a switch to a hydrolyzed formula.BackContinue

Unsafe Formulas"Partially hydrolyzed" formulas also are on the market, but aren't considered truly hypoallergenic and can still provoke a significant allergic reaction.

The formulas available in the market today are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and created through a very specialized process that cannot be duplicated at home. Goat's milk, rice milk, or almond milks are not safe and are not recommended for infants.

Switching FormulasOnce you switch your baby to another formula, the symptoms of the allergy should go away in 2 to 4 weeks. Your doctor will probably recommend that you continue with a hypoallergenic formula up until the baby's first birthday, then gradually introducing cow's milk into his or her diet.

If you have any questions or concerns, talk with your doctor.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Date reviewed: November 2008

Originally reviewed by: Ramaan Sreedharan, MD, and Devendra Mehta, MD, MBBS, MS, MRCP

Suzanne - posted on 12/30/2009

Hi, I put my first son on whole milk by about 10 months and he loved it. By the time he was 3 he was drinking a litre a day. He is now nearly 11 years old and almost as tall as me - 5'7". The ped said that his bones were really strong from all that milk and he had a very early ( and sustained ) growth spurt. That might just been his genetics rather than the milk though :) Charley is still happily breastfeeding, although he can nip me with his teeth sometimes. I am hoping to get him to 12 months before I wean him on to cows milk.

Christine - posted on 12/30/2009

I think the vitamin is Polvisol (sorry for spelling) because I was told the same thing. It's basically for the iron because milk can block baby's absorption of iron when they get whole milk. :)

Dawn - posted on 12/30/2009

Just saw my GI specialist this morning and was told I could start transitioning my son when I felt comfortable (my son is formula feed however). I think the biggest concern is nutritional values and vitamins.....he recommended liquid vitamins, wish I could remember the name...Poly-sorbil something????? Also consider the calories (we are battling with weight gain) so make sure your son is eating enough solids as well. The doctor actually suggested peanut butter for my son, which I had always read to wait on! Good luck!

Christine - posted on 12/30/2009

My doc said to start giving my little one milk with his breastmilk/formula when we went for his 9 month check up. I started giving him a little at a time and he does great with it. I plan to transition him to full milk by the time he his 1 year old. Good luck and hope this helps

Christine - posted on 12/30/2009

My doc said to start giving my little one milk with his breastmilk/formula when we went for his 9 month check up. I started giving him a little at a time and he does great with it. I plan to transition him to full milk by the time he his 1 year old. Good luck and hope this helps

Gemma - posted on 12/30/2009

Hi there! I started my daughter on full milk at 8 months, as she was biting when breast fed and formula was making her constipated. She still had her constipation for a few weeks after, as her body was getting used to the change. She is absolutely fine now and has 3 bottles of milk a day. I heard the same advice you did... People telling me to wait until she was a year old and others, my mum in particular, saying to put her on full cream milk straight after she was finished on the breast. I decided to put her on formula but I just couldn't stand to see her struggle doing number twos. There was nothing else I could do but to put her on whole milk and I wish I had of listened to my mum. But ultimately in the end its totally up to you and what will benefit yourself and your son. I hope this helps you (",)