When do you start baby on real milk????

Angela - posted on 10/17/2009

My doctor had me starte my little girl on 3/4 formula and 1/4 whole milk around 10 months because they are suppose to be off the formula by the 1st b-day. Still need that formula for all the nutrician the baby needs. Then at 12 months whole milk. My daughter drinks 2% milk after a year old but that only because she wouls not drink the whole milk. That better than no milk at all.

Brandie - posted on 10/16/2009

I agree with others. Wait until your baby is a year old. Food aren't something to mess with. Enfamil has a Next Steps formula that can be used from months 9-12 as a transition if your interested. I wouldn't introduce milk yet. Good luck! =)

Limara - posted on 10/16/2009

Quoting Sarah:

i've been told not to give whole milk until my son is year old.

they make growing up milk now .. so i guess from them doing that you can tell that whole milk isn't that beneficial for a youngster (its good but i think growing up milk has more nutrients in it .. i'm still gonna go on to whole milk though .. because i doubt before me and my son would still want to have/make up "baby" milk.when he can have normal milk)
.since growing milk is designed for a toddler .. you can definately assume that whole milk isn't gonna be appropriate for a baby at all.

my son suffers from wind and spit up and we've had to change his milk several times .. he's currently and aptamil easy digest (since 4months old) and although he still has the same problems .. they're nowhere near as bad as they used to be .. hence why i'm not going to rush into giving him whole milk ..

though you can use whole milk in cooking now.

My son was on Cows milk from 8 months (after advise from my health visitor). He wouldn't drink formula milk, he just used to spit it out and throw the bottle at me. He also was sick alot on the formula but that has pretty much stopped since he has been on cows milk. My eldest was the same once we took her off the formula it stopped all together once we stopped sterilising her bottles. Babies can also be allergic to soy milk. Fromage frais are a good way to tell if the baby is going to be ok with cows milk.

Stephanie - posted on 10/15/2009

my doctor told me with my first 2 babys not till 12 months..

Dawn - posted on 10/14/2009

I just took my daughter to the doctor yesterday.she took a blood sample (little finger prick ) to check her iron level and if it was high enough I can wean her off the formula and start 2% milk.Well her iron level was still to low so she put her on iron supplements until her 1 year checkup then they will recheck the level,I still have to give her formula.

Katie - posted on 10/06/2009

Breast milk or Fortified Infant formula until 12 months of age.At 12 months,Homogonized (3%) cows milk can be introduced, actually if i'm not mistaken, I think it's *highly* recommended for toddlers brain development. I don't know for a fact (but assume..) that if you are a nursing mother, you continue to nurse and eventually ween to Homo. milk when you've decided to stop. However, i'm not sure what the alternative is for infants with a cows milk allregy or lactose intolerance is? I assume it's Soy Milk, but I'd run it by your childs doctor.

Good Luck! :)

Valerie - posted on 10/06/2009

I have been told by the Pediatrician to give formula until he/she is 1 year old. Then wean them to whole milk after that.

Kerry - posted on 10/05/2009

i would talk 2 my doctor

Rose - posted on 09/30/2009

The health visitors told me it has changed now. You can give a baby full fat cows milk from 6 months. This is only in their food though, not as a drink. To drink they can have it from 1 year. Hope this helps.

Hazel - posted on 09/26/2009

Is there any WIC Program(Women Infant Child) in your place?I benefitted from this program since i was pregnant til now.It doesn't supply all the one month supply of infant formula but at least it helps a bit.

Tasha - posted on 09/23/2009

I would try to see if you can get a couple of cans of formula from your local WIC office if you are not already on WIC . I get WIC and I was told do not start a baby on cows milk until 1 year of age . I also have a baby book that says the same thing . You could try to apply for formula coupons on the internet for the brand you use . ? I received 2 small free cans in the mail with a coupon . I hope this helps you out . !

Jami - posted on 09/22/2009

You are supposed to wait until their first birthday and then you can give them whole milk to start!! Dont go to 2% until the 2nd birthday. Thats what i did wit my oldest! My 8month old, I just started on Go and Grow for 9-12months...and he is doing great!!! its much CHEAPER!!!!

Sharon - posted on 09/22/2009

HI there - I was in the same boat as you - I gave my boy cows milk which was ok for about 2 weeks, then when he was getting only cows milk and food (no more formula) he got the worst diahhorrea, nappy rash and crankiness! Took him to the GP who said that it had burnt his little belly and gave him short term lactose intolerance. Its now costing me more because I have to buy LF formula. I'd wait to 12 months....

Korianne - posted on 09/22/2009

my son is a couple days under 8 months and I started giving him homo milk about a week ago. I started by just giving him a small bottle of it at lunch every day to make sure he was okay with it. He drank it no problem. I still give him his formula at night, but that's just going to be til I've used it all up.

Becky - posted on 09/19/2009

My son is 8.5 months old and I think I'm gonna keep him on formula as long as possible...Similac brand has a "Go and Grow" brand that is for 9 months-24 months and it's actually cheaper than the other formula...He's been on soy formula since he was born..and I'm nervous about switching to the cows milk too...that's something you could bring up at the baby's 9 month check up and see what they say about it...

Jaclyn - posted on 09/19/2009

my daughter is 8 months, my doctor told me it's ok to start her on homo milk, so i did and she's fine

Erin - posted on 09/18/2009

Doctors say to wait until they're 12months. I would listen to the Dr. :-D

Laurie - posted on 09/18/2009

I recently visited the public health nurse to ask questions regarding feeding my 8 month old. She gave me a new booklet published locally on caring for babies 6-12 months old. It has used the latest research and states "If you're using formula, formula will continue to be your baby's main source of nourishment until about 9 months. After that, you can gradually switch from formula to cow's milk."



You should consult your local doctor or public health nurse before you make the change, but I believe you can start around 9 months and introduce milk gradually.



Another controversial topic it addresses is waiting to introduce certain foods to babies. It states that you don't have to wait until a certain age to introduce these foods. "If your baby is allergic to food, she'll be allergic no matter when you introduce it." (This is based on starting babies on solids at 6 months of age.)



Just some "food" for thought! I would again suggest you talk to your local doctor or nurse if only for your own peace of mind.

Alison - posted on 09/18/2009

I think that 12 months is the right age as up until that age they need the extra nutrients added to formulas. I think it is ok to use small amounts in cooking though. Formula can be expensive but as they start eating more solids they will need less milk and most babies are on about 3 milk feeds by 9 months of age.

Lisa - posted on 09/17/2009

They say not to start a baby on milk until they are about a year old. I would suggest speaking to your pediatrician at her next appointment and see what they think about starting her on milk. If they give you the okay I would start right away, milk is so much cheaper than formula!

Aoife - posted on 09/17/2009

my baby is 8 months and im also afaid to give him reall milk i have been told to wait till he is a year old although my gran said it would be ok to give him little yoghurts to start him off!!!

Natalie - posted on 09/16/2009

I was told no cow's milk until 12 months, but they can have alternatives e.g soy milk from around 10 months... but you can use small amounts of cow's milk in cooking from 8-10 months...

Mandy - posted on 09/15/2009

i agree....not until one year old

Sarah - posted on 09/15/2009

i've been told not to give whole milk until my son is year old.



they make growing up milk now .. so i guess from them doing that you can tell that whole milk isn't that beneficial for a youngster (its good but i think growing up milk has more nutrients in it .. i'm still gonna go on to whole milk though .. because i doubt before me and my son would still want to have/make up "baby" milk.when he can have normal milk)

.since growing milk is designed for a toddler .. you can definately assume that whole milk isn't gonna be appropriate for a baby at all.



my son suffers from wind and spit up and we've had to change his milk several times .. he's currently and aptamil easy digest (since 4months old) and although he still has the same problems .. they're nowhere near as bad as they used to be .. hence why i'm not going to rush into giving him whole milk ..



though you can use whole milk in cooking now.

Allison - posted on 09/15/2009

You should't give them milk until 1 year. There are alot of milk allergies now and they recommend now not to give any dairy until they are at least a year old. If you REALLY want to start sooner i would ask your pediatrician. I don't believe milk has all the nutrition your baby needs without formula as well until they are a year old. Thats what my dr told me anyway. I wouldnt do it but thats just me. I know alot of babies that have had severe reactions and it's scary.

Morginn - posted on 09/15/2009

they say any where from 9-12 months as long as they are eating foods from all the groups. and mix them together first...more formula then milk to start... whole milk not 2%