Question for experienced mothers who bottle fed....

Amy - posted on 04/02/2010

Here is a link I got from the American Academy of Pediatrics, it explains why you definitely need to wait to give your child cows milk. Maybe if you shared it with her, she'd get off your ass about it and respect your wishes.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/a...

Erin - posted on 04/02/2010

i didn't start giving my daughter WHOLE milk until she was one year old and i waited until her dr. approved her to have it.... and she adviced me to not give her 2% milk.... she also told me to slowly introduce cows milk to her, and continue on formula. 2% milk can be to rich for their digestive system and may upset their stomachs... i would recommend holding off on the cows milk until your dr. gives you the ok which will be around the first year check up. and i would personally be mad if someone went ahead and gave my child cows milk with out my consent....

Stef - posted on 04/02/2010

OMG... my son is 8 months old and i wouldnt even dream of giving him cows milk just yet! its too much for their little stomach.. but their is a milk you can buy to wean them off formula milk, but even soo, i think 8 month old is too early to wean, the weaning milk is called follow on milk.... if you have heard of it? me personally would tell her that he is my child and i dont think it is right for him to drink it yet, i would wait untill he is 12 months old =]

Crissy - posted on 04/01/2010

i gave my sons watered down or lactose free milk when they ate regular table food meals but still gave them 8oz of formula in between meals they are fine and thriving its safe for most babies although not "recomended" however its your baby and you make the choices if you dont feel comfortable then thats all that matters

Tracy - posted on 04/01/2010

Don't switch to cows milk until 12 months of age! Talk to your SIL and tell her that you feel strongly about no cow's milk, and that your pediatrician has said "no cow's milk until 12 months." Just to be safe, don't keep any in the house when you know she's going to be sitting for you. Maybe have some formula bottles already prepared and in the refrigerator so she can just warm them in the bottle warmer. When we give infants foods they aren't ready for, they tend to develop allergies to those foods! You don't want a milk allergy for sure!

Ashley=) - posted on 04/01/2010

No full fat cows milk under the age of one is not recommended.I took my little one off it at one and shes nearly 15mths now and i had to put her back on the baby's growing up milk from a year+ because shes not a good eater and was lacking in some vital nutrients.Your son needs iron and vital nutrients that are key to good growth and development so i would say no.

Connie - posted on 04/01/2010

You should ask your doctor but mine says that formula is the only milk until 12 months and at 8 months he should also be drinking juice and water and other stuff but never whole or 2% milk and his doctor will let you know when he should be drinking real milk but at 8 months he still needs the vitamins that are in formula

Iridescent - posted on 03/31/2010

First off, it's your baby. Second, at 8 months they need formula. Period. Not a toddler transition formula and NO type of milk.

Beth - posted on 03/31/2010

Keep it to the formula until he's one-but I think you've got that covered-LOL! The question now is how to make sure he's being given it. First of all, politely and respectfully thank your sister-in-law for all the help she is giving you. Make sure you have everything ready in your baby's diaper bag-bottles filled and ready to go-and just be polite and ask that she only give what you've brought. If she seems offeneded, just make sure to reassure her how much you value her, but that you are firm in giving only formula at this point. Good luck keeping those family ties happy!

Natalie - posted on 03/31/2010

I agree with the others. He's way to young to be getting cow's milk. Any doctor will tell you to wait until age 1 AT LEAST to start full milk, and then with 2 2% milk.
I would tell her that it's your child and you don't give him cow's milk until he's 1. It's not her child and if she doesn't respect what you tell her i wouldn't take him over there anymore. Even though you don't have anyone else to watch him, it's just wrong. You can't baby sit a child and then do whatever you want although the parents told you they don't want it. It's disrespectful!

Krystal - posted on 03/31/2010

hi my son is 11 months and is now drinking whole milk as well as formula but that is because he is going off formula, but if your baby is still drinking the formula then continue with that for as long as baby will take it or 1 yr old which is when they say to go to whole milk. i did ask my doctor and she said to go ahead because of his lack of interest in his formula. but give whole milk first not 2% or 1% because babys need the fat. my son has been having whole milk since 8 months in his food and cereal but he now has 2 bottles of 6oz formula, 1 bottle of 6oz whole milk and 1 bottle of 4oz whole milk. but that is only because he is going off formula i did try mixing it in with the formula but would not take it so i did it on its own and he drank it all so thats what iv been doing and he has been fine with it, he hasnt had any tummy aches and he hasnt been constipated either. whole milk is what they go onto after formula, they should stay on whole milk till 2-3 years then you can give 2%. if you do not want your SIL to give him 2%, provide her with the feeds he needs. he is your baby and she needs to respect your wishes wether she likes it or not. tell her exactly how you feel and make it clear not to give him the 2% milk. hope this helps, good luck and best wishes. :)

Maria - posted on 03/30/2010

You should not give your baby cow's milk or dairy products until your baby is six months old. From the age of six months, you can use small amounts of full-fat cow's milk in cooking, for example in cheese sauces or custards. Never give cow's milk as a drink until your baby is a year old, because it is too low in iron and other nutrients. Half-fat milk is not a suitable drink for children under two years old, but it can be introduced from two years if your child is a good eater, has a varied diet, and is of normal weight. Otherwise, use full-fat milk until your child is up to five years old. Skimmed milk is not suitable for children under five as it is too low in calories, and essential vitamins. Babies under 12 months old should never have cows milk. You can buy "follow on" milk (there are several good brands, my daughter prefers Cow & Gate) that complement weaning, you will find them in your supermarket; they are specially for infants who have started solids but still need milk. As for your sister in-law you must not let her give your son anything you don't want him to have. He's your son and she must respect your wishes. If necessary give her the powder to make up the milk when she watches him, or make it up ready so all she has to do is give it to him when he needs it. You can always ask your pharmacist at the supermarket or drugstore if they could recommend a follow on milk but they're all generally the same and they're all good. Good luck!

September - posted on 03/30/2010

You're welcome! Most if not all doctor's will tell you to wait until 12 months :) Stand your ground and make her respect your wishes, he is your child afterall :)

Cindy - posted on 03/30/2010

Thank you September! Thats What I was thinking, was I should wait till he is at least a year old. I definitely think I should say something then!



And no his doctor hasn't mentioned anything about whole milk yet. His next appointment is in April. But I guess then I should probably call his docotor now and ask him about it. Thank you!! :)

Carla - posted on 03/30/2010

Hi Cindy... What milk are you feeding him... Cause what you could do is make up a batch and put it in a thermos and just let your sister in law know that everything your son needs is in his nappy bag.. milk, water, all the food he needs so she doesn't have to worry about anything. However both my kids got over the taste of formula by 6-7 months and the way i changed them over was to mix the full cream milk half half and then gradually changed the split till it was all full cream milk... Just talk to your sister in law and let her know you respect her and how she took care of her kids but you feel that your son isn't ready for the change in milk and you are going to keep him on what he is on now. I hope this helps...

D - posted on 03/30/2010

Don't give a baby cow's milk until they are at least a year old. And when you do, it should be homo (whole) milk. When I started the switch, I would fill the bottles with half formula and half milk. Your baby is your baby, if she is going to be watching him, provide her with his bottles that he will need. If she isn't going to follow your directions about that, who knows what else she may be doing that you don't approve of.

September - posted on 03/30/2010

No way! An 8 month old baby should not be drinking 2% milk. Whole milk is actually recommended and that's not until 12 months of age! If I were you I would not let someone watch my child that does not respect my wishes! In my opinion you should wait until your child is 1 and then introduce WHOLE MILK. Hasn’t your child's doctor talked to you about this at any of your well baby check up's?