When do you plan on starting your baby on cows milk?

Krystal - posted on 04/24/2010

You need to trust yourself, and your doctor.
Everyone and every doctor is going to have a different answer.

If you do try "early" go slow.
Don't just give him a big drink, mix it into her food - keep an eye on any reaction to it. (some say hard to digest etc)

My girl is 10 months, and has only ever been breastfed.
She is now down to 3 feedings a day (morning, naptime, and bedtime)
There was NO WAY I was giving her a freakin' bottle at 8 months
(when she slowed down nursing)
So I started giving her Whole Milk in a cup at each meal.
Only drinking maybe an ounce at first (more would get on her than in her mouth)
She is a very good eater, eating chicken, beef, fish, liver, eggs all veggies, fruits etc. She was on a good variety of foods, and I felt fine giving Whole Milk to her at meals. Being 10 months now, she chugs back that cup of milk during her meals.
Milk at meals, and water throughout the day.
Morning breastfeed, nap time, and bedtime.

Amber - posted on 04/08/2010

Babies need the nutrition that breastmilk/formula provides up to a year, after that whole cows milk can be given. Goats milk is also a great option because it is easier for babes to digest, but the downsidde is that costs more :(

Beth - posted on 04/08/2010

Babies are not able to properly digest the proteins in cow's milk until about 1-year-old, so I would wait until then. also, don't let them drink too much because it does not have the nutrients and vitamins that breast milk or formula does.

Angie - posted on 04/08/2010

My son is just over 9 months now and we just started introducing him to Homo milk. We've started with just 1 bottle of cows milk a day and will continue to increase it every week. So far he loves it!

Melissa - posted on 03/05/2010

Hi Melissa K is right (first response), but, you can give them some (ex., 4 ounces a day) after 9 months, it's just that formula is better. It's sorta like juice, they can have some but not too much, because it shoudn't replace formula which has what they need...

Fiona - posted on 03/05/2010

Ive started putting cows milk on the twins breaky and also in their veggies. They dont seem to have any trouble with it. Going to start giving them cows milk mixed with fomula when they are nine months.

Lindsay - posted on 03/04/2010

I haven't really decided yet since she is still breastfeeding. I plan to let her wean herself so whenever that is, is fine with me.

We started our son on whole milk just after his first birthday at his doctor's recommendation, but he was already on formula by that point. We slowly introduced it to him mixed with his formula.

Adrijana - posted on 03/04/2010

I'm putting my son on cow's milk when he is 12 months old. I did the same with my daughter as well.

Kris - posted on 02/23/2010

when he starts to wean we'll begin to introduce cow's milk. for now, his mama milk suits him just fine. i think his sister was 18 months or so before we tried cow's milk, and she weaned at 2 yrs.

Kerri-Ann - posted on 02/23/2010

My doctor recommends waiting until 1 year. I didn't start my older child until she was 1 year old and she was fine but every doctor has their opinions and every child is different. Trust your doctor and your own instinct neither will let you down.

Marion - posted on 02/23/2010

I will wait til at least a year as recommended by our dr. Maybe longer. My daughter is 8months and still just does breastmilk and baby food.

Lela - posted on 02/23/2010

yes all the books thath I read and the classes that I attend for nutrition all say 1 yr whole milk and 2% after 2, but what did are parents,parents do befoere formula and when they were not breast feeding? hmmmm, but I will be asking my doctor on the 5 if I t would be a good idea to start cows milk now at 9 months, formula is so expensive. Personally I was brought up on goatsmilk. no formula.

Laura - posted on 02/22/2010

I was planning on that around 12 months as well as that's what I've read in most baby books.

Shannon - posted on 02/22/2010

the health nurses that i've spoken to say its ok to put them on homo milk when theyre 9-12 months, but dont give them 2% until theyre at least 2. im hoping to start my daughter on homo milk after her 9 month checkup (if i get the green light from the doctor). but like always with everything, check with your pedi or family doctor before changing her diet... good luck though!

Sheree - posted on 02/22/2010

They need the formula until 12 months, but we were advised by our dr that we should start to introduce cows milk from 8 months, not for bottles but in sauces on their food and in meals. I have also given my daughter little sips, but not a full bottle yet.

Melissa - posted on 02/22/2010

I breastfeed my daughter and am going to do so for as long as I can but everyone does say to introduce cow's milk at 1 year or older. The reasons I have heard is because it doesn't have a lot of the nutrients that formula/breastmilk provide, it can increase risk of diabetes, eczema, allergies, and anemia. Also, it is too low in iron and is more difficult for an younger child to digest. Granted, I am not a doctor and this is just what I have heard and read so I would call your pediatrician and ask them for sure if you are still debating.