babies and cows milk

[jockey]

What is the youngest age you have put your baby on cows milk. In the UK 12 mths is the recommended age but I have known people to make the change at 10 mths. TIA

 

[mom2princessj]

I started introducing it to my kids at about 10 months and made the switch entirely at 12 mos (11 mos for my second). Honestly they were only taking two bottles per day anyway at that point and we only gave them the milk out of the cup at meals. Once we made the switch the kids wanted the milk in the bottle warmed just like their formula was but they drank it out of cups cold We switched to whole milk for them at 12 mos and then at 2 they went to 1% which is what we drink.

 

[perkinsrose]

In US, rec. age is also 12 months. Yogurt is okay early because of different make-up. I switched from formula & breastmilk to organic whole cow's milk at 12 months. Not sure when made switch to 2% cowmilk--maybe age 2?

Here's a quote I found--I hadn't understood the difference between straight cow's milk & milk-based formula...

"Do NOT give plain cow's milk to your baby.
Cow's-milk-based formulas have been processed so that babies can digest the protein in the milk more easily. Plain cow's milk can irritate the intestinal wall, resulting in some cases in microscopic bleeding -- you won't see blood in your baby's stool, but it's there, and your baby will become anemic as the bleeding increases. Also, it's hard for a baby to absorb iron from cow's milk, even if extra iron is added. (Breast milk actually has less iron than formula does -- but a baby will absorb more iron from breast milk than from formula. The amount of iron doesn't matter nearly as much as how well the iron is absorbed.) Generally, babies' intestines aren't ready for cow's milk until they are about 1 year old."

 

[tlh0726]

I waited and started at 12 months. For the first week or two I mixed the formula and milk. I started out with 3/4 formula 1/4 milk, then went to 1/2 and 1/2, and so on. Everything went smoothly.
My friend switched her son to milk totally, the day before leaving on vacation because she did not want to have fool with carrying and mixing formula. We both used powdered Well, the kid ended up with severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. The 4 hour plan ride was not fun!!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I started with soy milk at 12 months - they have never had real cows milk, and the one time I tried to give it to them, they didn't like the taste of it!! Though come to think of it, I think they've had chocolate milk with real milk, and they like that!

 

[perkinsrose]

I waited and started at 12 months. For the first week or two I mixed the formula and milk. I started out with 3/4 formula 1/4 milk, then went to 1/2 and 1/2, and so on. Everything went smoothly.
My friend switched her son to milk totally, the day before leaving on vacation because she did not want to have fool with carrying and mixing formula. We both used powdered Well, the kid ended up with severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. The 4 hour plan ride was not fun!!

I always thought formula was easier than milk--you can carry the powder unrefridgerated and mix with room temperature water anywhere/anytime once baby doesn't need sterilized water/bottles.

 

[Miss LD]

We started on whole milk at 10 months.
My son wouldn't take a bottle at all, and would literally spit the formula at me. (he was breastfed until that point) My doctor was the one who suggested it. But, he was a healthy and big and she said it was fine.
I wish I'd switched to organic milk though. With DD we're going to do organic.

 

[Cinderella Warenwirt]

I have put my daughter on cows milk at the age of 18 months.

 

[MommyBryn]

If you're going to give a child cow's milk, would definitely wait until after a year if possible. Cows milk can be an intestinal irritant to a babies newly forming gut, and you definitely don't want to mess with that!

 

[nessz79]

We waited until 12 months. We then introduced it slowly- 3/4 formula, then 1/2, 1/4, until it was all cow's milk.

They drink only Soy Milk now. Turns out they are both intolerant of cow's milk. The eldest much more severely. He becomes chronically/severely constipated. Took us until he was nearly 3 before we were able to figure out what the problem was. *Sigh*

 

[barnaby1]

You can actually start cows milk in cooking and on cereal from 6 months. I think I went over to dd drinking whole milk at just over 11 months as I had finished a can of formula and wasn't going to buy another one for just 4 weeks. Their digestive system doesn't suddenly mature at the magical 12 months so as long as they are a good size baby then 10 - 11 months should be OK. I wouldn't personally do it much earlier than that.

 

[daleswife]

i waited until 12 months for my DD. But I took her bottle at the same time so all she got in her sippy was cows milk. WHOLE. My DS, the same. Binkys are a whole different story though....LOL

 

[Tiger926]

You can actually start cows milk in cooking and on cereal from 6 months. I think I went over to dd drinking whole milk at just over 11 months as I had finished a can of formula and wasn't going to buy another one for just 4 weeks. Their digestive system doesn't suddenly mature at the magical 12 months so as long as they are a good size baby then 10 - 11 months should be OK. I wouldn't personally do it much earlier than that.

I'm not sure where you got this info from, but Canadian and US Pediatrics do not recommend this at all. It's recommended at 12 months for various reasons: intestinal and kidney issues being the most important ones. Our bodies are not meant to digest cow's milk, so introducing it a very young ages such as 6 months is not good at all and in fact, can be very serious for the infant.

I would do some research, talk to pediatrician and health unit nurse and base it on the minimum recommendations which are 12 months and up.

Tiger

 

[greeninspired]

I would wait as long as you can. I know formulas can be expensive, but milk has been waaaaay more expensive for us.

I switched my son over to milk at 12 months. After constant ear infections, tubes, antibiotics, severe eczema, steroids for eczema, etc we finally took him back off milk at 18 months. Guess what- he is almost 3yr now and he hasn't had an ear infection since. He gets all the calcium he needs from his soy milk & rice milk now!

 

[GoofyFairie]

12 months is recommended because of food allergies. Some children just can't tolerate it. You are better of waiting as long as you can.

 

[adoptionmomma4]

I waited until 18 months to switch my DD to organic cows milk. I gave her whole milk for while then switched to 1% and now to skim (at almost 4) since this is what we drink. I really didn’t want to switch her to milk. She just stopped taking to formula for some reason. I am thinking she liked the taste of chocolate milk she got at grandmas! Gotta love MIL's

I also waited to introduce solids until around 10 months. DD was not a big eater and the formula satisfied her. We never did the baby cereal. She was and still is a light eater, so this worked for us.

I do remember stressing so much over what she ate. When we left the hospital with her I remember asking the nurses "how will I know when to give her more formula"? They must have thought they were sending that baby home with an idiot. I was so picky I made all of her food, and it all had to be organic. My how things have changed!

i waited until 12 months for my DD. But I took her bottle at the same time so all she got in her sippy was cows milk. WHOLE. My DS, the same. Binkys are a whole different story though....LOL

I took the bottle at 12 months also. As far as binkys.... Let’s just say she still it was difficult addiction to overcome. It is finally gone.

 

[puffkin]

I started mixing in milk with his formula when he was a little over 11 months old. I didn't want to buy anymore formula at that point and was just trying to use up what we had left. As soon as I went to straight milk (with no formula) I gave it from the cup and took all the bottles away. It was a very easy transition.

My son has always been big for his age, so we started him on 2% milk. At two we dropped him down to 1% and I just started giving him skim milk now at 32 months old. He is in the 95% for height and 90% for weight so I don't think he needs all the extra fat. We only drink skim so it was just easier to have to buy only one milk. At daycare he does get a cup of whole milk at lunch and he gets cheese and other dairy products throughout the week so I think he is ok on the skim at home. We also limit him to about 16 oz. of milk a day.

 

[RadioFanatic]

when you say cup - do you mean sippy cup or regular cup? DS is 10 months and he has trouble with the sippy cup and really uses the bottle mostly.

 

[puffkin]

when you say cup - do you mean sippy cup or regular cup? DS is 10 months and he has trouble with the sippy cup and really uses the bottle mostly.

I know at that age I personally consider a cup to be a sippy. My DS had a hard time with any of the cups where he had to tip his head back to get a drink. He just didn't like that. We found some soft straw cups (Nuby brand) that he loved and that is what we used for a long time until he was comfortable with the regular sippy cups. It seems pretty normal for parents to try a bunch of different cups until you find one that your kid likes. Now at 2 1/2 he will drink out of any of the sippy cups but at daycare they make them drink out of regular cups now. They are preparing them to transition to preschool. At home we make him use a regular cup at the dinner table, but the rest of the time we use a sippy because I personally don't want to be wiping up spills all day long.

 

[crisi]

There isn't anything magic that happens at 12 months - the recommendation is there because cows milk doesn't contain the same proteins as formula and/or breastmilk and some children will not tolerate it or thrive on it young - but some will. Unless your child has a milk allergy, there probably isn't a lot of harm that will be done by gradually mixing it in formula and seeing what happens. If there is a change in temper or digestive habits for the worst, then stop. The gut will quickly heal and the reaction will pass - try it again in a few months. But I wouldn't completely stop formula or breastmilk until a year old AND eating a varied diet of solid foods at least due to the protein/fats difference.

Do talk to your babies own doctor or peditrician first however, because none of us know your kid and there may be indicators that are contrary to introducing milk early.