Milk and Formula

Updated on August 05, 2010
A.M. asks from Connellsville, PA
15 answers

is it bad for a baby if you run out of formula and give them milk if they are 6 months old. i haven't been able to go get his formula and was told that i can give my son milk if i water it down is that true?

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D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

yes it is bad. He is too young to digest the proteins and enzymes in milk. I would see if you could borrow some money and buy him some formula. If you are income eligible apply for WIC.

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J.O.

answers from Chicago on

No way do not water down milk and give a little juice or water. Then get your but to the store get him what he needs.
J.

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

NO!

Esepecially not watered down. A baby shouldn't have anything but breast milk or formula before their first birthday.

If you don't have formula, please call your pediatrician's office and see if you can get some samples free. They don't get as many as they used to, but it's critically important at that age that they have the extra fat, protein, etc. in products intended for babies.

Good luck.

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

No , there is a reason that baby's cannot have cow's milk until they are a yr old , it has no nutritional value for them at all , you should make sure you don't run out of formula , do you let your food run out so you have nothing....I bet not!. Now get to the store and buy some formula

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

You absolutely *can not* give a 6 month old regular cow's milk! It has far too much sodium and not enough essential nutrients and fats that your growing baby needs. You need to plan ahead. You can not run out and you can't substitute. You just can't.

"Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old. Infants fed whole cow's milk don't get enough vitamin E, iron, and essential fatty acids. They also get too much protein, sodium, and potassium. These levels may be too high for the infant's system to handle. Also, whole cow's milk protein and fat are more difficult for an infant to digest and absorb." Taken from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002448.htm

Like Dana said-call the pediatrician, call WIC and get on their program if cost is an issue for you but whatever you do you need to do it now.

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B.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

no,no,no! babies that age are not physically ready to digest milk and if you give it to them you can give them an allergy

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A.C.

answers from Detroit on

NO! Do not give a baby cow's milk (or soy, almond, etc). If nothing else, he will be malnourished. Cow's milk does not have the fats, calories, and nutrients a baby needs, especially if you also water it down. That's the same reason you aren't supposed to give babies water to drink. It will fill up their tummies without giving them nutrients and calories.

Babies must have breast milk or formula until 12 months. Their little digestive systems also can not handle milk. It could even cause them to develop an allergy to dairy proteins.

If you are having trouble affording formula, contact your local WIC office (Women Infants and Children). If you qualify, they can help you feed your baby. The number for WIC in Connellsville is ###-###-####. Here is also a link to their website.

http://www.fccaa.org/programs.jsp?pageId=2090611881251049...

If you can afford the formula and it's just inconvenient to get the store, find a way. Ask a neighbor a friend or a family member. Heck, if I lived there, I would go get it for you.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Who told you that? If it was your pediatrician, SWITCH. That person does NOT know what they are talking about, and that kind of advice is dangerous! For goodness sake, you could create severe allergies in your child, cause them to become malnourished, mess up their digestive system - the list goes on an on. Your baby could be fine, but why risk it? There are too many potential risks. If you are unable to get your child's formula for some reason, use another brand of formula. It is not good for a baby to switch formula regularly or suddenly, but it's a heck of a lot better than giving the baby milk!

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

That is ABSOLUTELY WRONG! Go to the store. Babies that young can't digest cows milk. PLUS, it doesn't have the vitamins and nutrients in it that he needs. Formula is more than just milk. It has all kinds of nutrients and vitamins in it that your baby NEEDS. If you give him milk he can become malnourished. If that happens you are looking at a whole barrel of problems. Go to the store and buy your baby formula. If you can't afford any, call your doctor's office and see if they have samples.

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J.J.

answers from Allentown on

As others have said do not give cows milk especially not watered down. If you have nothing else else make sure you give whole milk, but only if you have nothing else. Milk should not be given if at all possible. Now the baby will not die from it, but it is not good. I had cows milk given to me before my first birthday, back then they did that routinely, now I have many physical problems from this(hypoglycemia which will eventually be diabetes, and milk allergy, to name just two). If money is an issue, you can get free formula from WIC. You do not have to be super low income for this, many working class families qualify but don't know they could. And as others have said, ob/gyns and pediatricians will give samples. Call them and tell them your situation. Then get on the phone to WIC asap. Call the hospital where you delivered and tell them your situation, they may have some samples as well. Post a wanted on your local freecycle. And anywhere else you can think of. Ask other Mom's for help, some Mom's have extra stored breastmilk they would be willing to donate to you and some have coupons for formula. You can also do a web search and get some free samples of formula. Now it is not good to use a variety of different formulas, so this is only in an emergency. Good luck!!!

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P.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

If you are unable to get the formula, most pediatricians have a supply on hand and will be happy to give you some if needed.

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L.P.

answers from Philadelphia on

NO! No cow's milk before 1 year.

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J.E.

answers from Allentown on

It seems someone has misinformed you. You will need to get him back on formula TODAY. Call WIC if you need assistance paying for it. Formula contains iron and other nutrients that your baby needs to develop properly. Cows milk does not contain the essentials your son needs, definitely not when it's being watered down. It's too h*** o* his still-developing digestive system. He needs formula until the age of one year or later if that's what your pediatrician recommends.

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E.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I'm going to agree-- babies need breastmilk or formula. One bottle is not going to hurt, but you must get some formula today. If you can't afford it, call WIC immediately-- and call your pediatrician for some samples. You could seriously hurt your son without meaning to. Babies need the extra calories that are in formula, along with the iron, and fat, and cows milk has too much sodium. The mix your own formulas that our moms used were less than ideal, and Kayro syrup can contain botulism and should NEVER be given to a baby under 1.

I know times are tough, but formula must be a priority. You did the right thing by asking the question-- that's what Mamasource is here for, but you should also consider calling your pediatrician for feeding questions.

Best of luck!

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J.M.

answers from Scranton on

wow i just read all of the other anwsers and am just like wow! I have given my children cows milk in a pinch when they were young and they are now 7 and 3 and alive and healthy. Note i said IN A PINCH. Like if i ran out of formula or was out and had no formula but it wasnt like i kept giving it to them it was not often i did this. now my little guy (he is almost 2) i never did this because he had reflux and problems keeping down formula. i had to have him on a special formula even. so i didnt try it w him. but the other two didnt have a problem like he did so i didn't see a harm in giving it every now and then.

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