Milk... did everyone really wait til 12 mo.?

[deleted account]

I gave my kids milk products like yogurt and cheese earlier, but milk itself I actually weighted until 12 months for. Three of my kids handled milk with no problem. My one sons though is lactose intolerant. He started getting severe diaper rashes. It took us a while to make the association. He was fine once we switched him to lactose free milk.



Do what you feel is right.

Michelle - posted on 05/19/2010

my little boy is ten months at the end of the month and he has full fat milk on his cereal in the morning and he also has yogurts made with full fat milk, rice pudding, custard. i introduced these when he was eight and half months and hes been fine. i dont give him milk as a drink though he still has his formula milk.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/06/2012

my little boy is about to be 7 months, and i have been using cow's milk on his cereal and i have gradually been mixing cow's milk with formula, and i breastfeed at least 3 times a day, i have a 20 month old little girl, and dealing with her while trying to breastfeed is a hassle and it puts me under stress and stress doesnt go well for your milk flow, so i breast feed while she takes her naps and in the mornings since she wakes up after him. pumping is also very difficult with 2 babies but i try to do so when i can. He has taken cow's milk very well and he shows no signs of indigestion or any kinds of side effects. I was very hesitant at first to even expose him to it, but no fussyness afterwards, which would be a sign of a stomach ache or bad reaction. But as a mother if you dont feel comfortable than dont do it, if your happy with your choices he will be happy as well. Marcus is a very healthy and happy baby.

Jennifer - posted on 06/07/2010

My son is still doing the formula and I don't plan on giving him cow's milk until he makes a year old. He will eat milk products, such as yogurt and ice cream, but I give it to him until he doesn't want anymore. I'm waiting until his 1 year old visit with his pediatrician and will see from there.

India - posted on 05/28/2010

hi ive giving ny daughter milk and milk products like yogurts and she loves it so like everyone said do what u want and dont be pressured

Tiffany - posted on 05/24/2010

i have been giving mark cow's milk for a few months. he is 10 months old now. i mix his cereal with it because formula is to expensive to use when sometimes he doesn't eat it all and water adds like no flavor. i thought giving him cow's milk a little early was a good idea that way when he doesn't need formula anymore the taste of cow's milk won't be a huge adjustment

Natalie - posted on 05/24/2010

My son has been drinking cows milk since he was 7 months old. He just would not take formula so my doctor told me to put him on cows milk. I still breastfeed him once a day but his other 2 bottles are cows milk. Ive had no problems but all babies are different. Do what you feel is best

Natasha - posted on 05/23/2010

My daughter has just turned 10 months and im going to start weining her on to cows milk she has had it on her cereal since 4 months and had no reactions. she eats 3 meals a day so im not concerned at all about her iron levels shes a big meat eater. go with your gut instinct

Ashley - posted on 05/22/2010

I never really listened to that, I gave yogurt, cheese, and other cows milk products early. He is 10 months old now and eats everything. I dont give it to him regularly but he does fine with it every once in a while.

Theresa - posted on 05/22/2010

i tried my 9.5 month old daughter on cow's milk, she drank it but she didn't like the fact that it was cold.

Gemma - posted on 05/20/2010

All 4 of my children have started to drin cows milk at 10 months and all been fine, as long as they have a balanced diet i think there no problem - with my first i did this on the advise of his dietition so cant be that harmfull

Staceyanne - posted on 05/19/2010

my sons 10 months of age and he gets cows milk on his cereal and yogurts etc.etc. he still has formula though.

Within the last week we've been giving him 100mls of cows milk here and there.



If you have any real concern just follow up with your GP but do what you feel comfortable with

[deleted account]

I was giving my daughter a little cow's milk here and there while I breast fed, mostly because I heard it could give her diarrhea if I gave it to her all at once. She stopped breastfeeding fully at 7 mths because she would not stop biting me and was drawing blood. Then I started to give her cow's milk. She's as healthy as an ox, too!

Rachael - posted on 05/19/2010

the nutritionist at my local WIC office told me that milk is waited on because babies don't develop the necessary digestive enzymes until around one year, but she told me that at 11.5 months to start making six ounces of formula and then adding milk to the 8oz mark and slowly making it so that there's more milk with the formula until the first birthday so that they'll be ready

Sabra - posted on 05/01/2010

My first daughter was allergic to it until about 28 months. ( I have a milk allergy as well). My youngest (9months) is on a special formula that we are weaning her off of due to her interest in dairy foods already. She hasn't shown any signs of allergy (yet- let's keep our fingers crossed). Just be careful!

Emily - posted on 04/30/2010

I started my son on whole milk just this month. He loves it and doesn't have any problems with it, plus I'm still nursing him (but working on wheening him). My mom had me and my 3 sibs on whole milk by 6mo. I just have to give my son iron suppliments because he doesn't like any kind of cereal. No biggy. I'm ok with it because he's my second (7yrs apart). But, absolutely do what you are comfortable doing. Don't let anyone push you into doing something with your munchkin until you're ready. He is YOUR baby after all. Good luck!

Suzi - posted on 04/29/2010

I think it is fine to introduce small amounts of everything from nine months. just a few sips of milk here and there to get them used to the taste so you don't suddenly expect them to guzzle a cup full when they turn 1. I believe that allergies are often started because the body has not had a chance to build up any tolerance to certain things.
My partner and his family are all lactose intolerant but my Dr said that I mustn't label my baby until there is proof. I need to introduce small amounts of milk to her to see if she can build up some kind of immunity. Its the same thing as the vaccinations for all those horrible diseases.
I BF her a lot and in between I give her a sippy cup with some milk in it just to taste. And plenty of water.

Christine - posted on 04/29/2010

I'm not sure when i'll introduce my son to milk. He's 9.5 months old and I feed him yogurt, which is his fav breakfast, and cheese all which the doctor said was great but he told me to hold off on milk til a year.

Jenni+shane - posted on 04/29/2010

i give cows milk in food only as i was told my health centre i could i be waiting toshe 12 months old and slowly introduce it to her then

Vicki - posted on 04/29/2010

I don't see any reason to give milk earlier? It's apparently harder to digest than breastmilk or even formula. My boy only ever has breastmilk and a few sips of water here and there.

Shalaina - posted on 04/29/2010

Debbie, of course it is always a good thing to do a slow transition but I will wait until he is at least one to start the same transition that you have. If you wait until 12 months that doesn't mean you have to suddenly stop on their b-day.

Debbie - posted on 04/28/2010

I started every one of my children on milk at 9 monthes. I have 8 healthy kids from 14-3 and one little guy that just started on milk and is doing fine! He still takes formula but I think getting them ready for the transaction is better than just stopping.

Chantelle - posted on 04/28/2010

I give my 9 month old cows milk, he's happier on it. the formula was making him ill and the pediatrician said to switch him. It all depends on your kid... follow the docs advice and you'll be fine. Also, my son eats less now that we've switched him... which is apparently normal. When we switched him he started to get constipated, which is apparently a normal thing... so you for sure gotta watch for that

Annette - posted on 04/28/2010

I give my nine month old cows milk in her weetbix and it seems to fill her up more, she does however have formula in her bottles though. but like the other mums have said, do what u think is best and don't let anyone tell u any different. its your baby! good luck.

Colleen - posted on 04/27/2010

My Pediatrician told me the reason for holding off on cows milk is because it does not have Iron in it and babies can become enimic if they aren't getting enough Iron in the solid foods you are feeding him. My daughter weened herself off of my breast milk at 9.5months and has been on whole milk, juice and water since. She is THRIVING!! 90% in height and weight and she is even reading (thanks to the your baby can read program)....I also give her vitamins (Poly vi sol) that give her essencial vitamins A B C D Iron Thiman Riboflavin and other good stuff.

Lori - posted on 04/27/2010

We have baby humans not baby cows. My son will not be introduced to cows milk at all. At least not as a drink. We will be doing Almond milk. Cows milk is way to hard to digest for little tummies.

[deleted account]

I didn't start to introduce cows milk to my older 4 until they were nearly 11 months old and then it was mixed with formula and not full strength. I plan to wait until my (now) 9 month old is closer to 11 months before introducing milk to him.

Christi - posted on 04/27/2010

Thank you for all your comments.... you all have been great ♥ I think i will keep sticking to formula for a while anyway.... thank you all again!!!

Christine - posted on 04/27/2010

Milk is hard for a baby to digest, thats why they say to wait until 1 year old. I'm waiting until then. Don't let anyone pressure you about how you raise your child. You do what you think is best

Genia - posted on 04/27/2010

cow's milk is very hard to digest and made for baby cows, not baby people. you should wait as long as possible before giving cow milk.

Krissy - posted on 04/27/2010

ive been giving my little girl milk on her weetbix breakfast instead of formula to see how she went and now ive put formular in a bottle with just milk as well the rest of the time about 2-3 feeds she still has water and formular powder. she also eats 2-3 times a day but i would do what you want to if you want to take it slowly til his 1 then do it, let them annoy you and if it gets too much id just tell em to back off you just want to do ti the way you want to.

Kerry - posted on 04/27/2010

do what you want, i got alot of i would do it that way with my first.. my son is still on formula milk and will be till around 12 months, he has cows milk in his breakfast and when cooking. my daughter was much older and had trouble getting her on to cows milk, health visitor suggested to me to mix formula with cows to get her off the formula.. 6oz form and 1oz milk then the next week 5oz form and 2oz milk and so on.. got her swapped over in less than 2 weeks.. Now my daughter wont touch milk unless its in her breakfast.. good luck and do what you want ..

Shalaina - posted on 04/26/2010

We are absolutely waiting to give him milk/milk products until he is one. Like you said, I don't want to give him anything that can affect him negatively. I would hate to bring on something like allergies, etc. that could have been prevented. Good luck and if you really don't want to do it...don't let them pressure you! It is your and your fiance's child!

Gail - posted on 04/26/2010

Did speak to my health visitor first and he has Full fat milk on his weetabix morning which is fine, as long as they are still having their formula or breast milk (500mls) each day.

Victoria - posted on 04/26/2010

I'm following my peds advice and waiting until 1 year, formula (was breast milk until 6 months) is supposed to be their number 1 source of food until one year old. The iron is important to help their bones get strong. If you want to do a little, that's your choice, I would just make sure his main milk is breast or formula.

Natasha - posted on 04/26/2010

I just went to my doctor and she said that it is fine to start offering small amounts after 9 months unless your child has an allergy. My son has eczema, so she said that I need to wait closer to 12 months. If he did not have the allergy, I would have begun to introduce it at 9 months. Good luck!

Jessie - posted on 04/26/2010

I wouldn't but that's me. My son isnt getting it until he's at 12 least months. Currently the only drink he gets is breastmilk, it's all they need. of formula whichever you use. Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something. speak with you pediatrician also if you need more help

Jessica - posted on 04/26/2010

i plan on starting haylee when shes 10 months. she eats 3 meals a day and ive given her cows milk and shes fine on it, do what you feel is right =)