Milk (Cow's or Goat's) vs Formula for a 1 Year Old

Updated on June 29, 2010
G.G. asks from Los Angeles, CA
15 answers

I have exclusively breastfed my 1 year old, but now my milk is starting to slow down & I think we are going to have to supplement soon. Any advice on cow's milk vs goat's milk vs formula? She has never had any of the three. Also, she is a little on the low-weight side (15th percentile), if that makes any difference...

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Annie

My daughter still takes a bottle as part of her going to sleep routine, for naps and bedtime when I am not around to nurse her, and I'm not sure water would cut it! ;)

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Start on regular milk start with half milk and half water then gradualy advance to regular milk start with warm milk and granulary go to co,d mlk good luck raised 4 and now have 7 children A. no hills

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I breastfed all three of my children until one and then gave them whole milk from a cow. I introduced the sippy cup a few months earlier with water or pumped breast milk so that they did not have that additional challenge. She shouldn't need the formula any more. I know that the pediatrician reccomends whole milk because the fat content is good for brain development and it won't hurt her if she is under weight.

Good luck... on a side note, I found the Playtex sippy cups to work well. They do not leak and are easy to clean.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Denver on

Milk - cow's. Goat milk tastes nasty (sorry) and is VERY expensive. Soy doesn't have the same benefits as cow milk (fat & potein standpoint). I just buy it at the grocery store - now all are done w/o growth hormones (just read the label). If she's not been allergic to your breastmilk and you've eaten dairy, she should be fine. The fat in the whole milk will help too!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from Dallas on

Cow's milk is the most common allergen but we have a real attachment toward using it. Peds never tell us that removing milk can stop all the ear and sinus infections our kids get. Rotating isn't a bad idea.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Honolulu on

I gave my son goat's milk at 12 months. It's proteins are more similar to human milk proteins and therefore easier to digest. It tastes exactly the same as cow's milk. My chiropractor recommended it over cow's milk. If you could find unpasteurized cow's milk, that would be okay too. I'm not sure where you're at, but I know CA has it in a lot of stores. At 19 months I switched over to unsweetened almond milk so that's what he really likes now.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

If you knew about cow's milk, you would run so fast. Goat's milk - it would only taste 'nasty' as someone suggested if you were only use to cow's milk. Goat's milk is just fine as well as the other alternatives, Hemp, Almond, and Rice with Hemp being the most nutritious out of the last three (I've never compared with Goat). Do not use price as a deciding factor when you are talking about the health of your child:o)

Soy? Avoid as well.

Reasoning why? You've heard about the hormones and antibiotics with cows. There is too much big business in the dairy /farming that they will do what it takes to make the most money. There is also the 'lactose intolerance' factor and allergan. Most people with eczema would diminish the effects of it if they only removed this and/or wheat.

Soy - most of it from the USA is genetically modified. Enough said there. You didn't say if you have a daughter or son but with either one I do not need to be putting Estrogen hormonal disrupters that also have been modified with a pesticide in it.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is also something else you want to avoid or have in VERY SMALL amounts if at all.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

We did a combo of cows milk + formula from 12-18mo. Goats milk in our area is 6 times as expensive as cows milk, and as there was no allergy, we went with cows. My friends in the balkans though, about 1/2 do cows and 1/2 do goats... depending on what is readily available.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

From 1-2 years old, whole milk (cows) is recommended because the milk fat in it is crucial for brain development.
That aside, I know some use goats milk... but for me personally, I cannot stand the taste.
I don't know the milk fat content of goats milk.
Ask your Pediatrician...

and as is the trend now... use organic milk... without hormones in it.
It is readily prevalent in stores.

For her weight issues... it being low, has your Ped expressed a concern about it? If so, what does he/she suggest? Usually, a Pediatrician WILL suggest things or advise on what to do.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Houston on

I approached this topic from the point of view "too much of anything is not a good thing". Agreed with my pediatrician, I used a rotation of cow, goat, and soy milks. Since we weren't concerned about allergies, it was more about introducing as many new flavors as possible. My daughter was a little on the light side and their little brains still need the fat, so cow and goat milk were in heavier rotation.

Almost all goat milk is grown without hormones, so I loved that about it. Of course it is like, $12/gallon.

Today, I have a three year old with a great palate and will drink any "milk" that I serve her.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.F.

answers from Reno on

I had my kids do cow's milk. But, a few year's ago, my youngest (now 12) was diagnosed allergic to cow's milk so we switched to goat's milk. I love it! I'm lactose intolerant and I can guzzle the stuff with no ill effects. But, it's expensive. Give both a try and see what she likes best!

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from San Diego on

Hi there
Do you want to give your daughter milk? You don't have to if you don't want to. My son is 3 1/2 and he's never had a glass of milk. I give him yogurt and cheese and green vegetables that give him the calcium and nutrients he needs. My pediatrician wanted me to give my son milk but when I asked her if he didn't have it would he not thrive she said NO, he'd be fine.

People think milk is so good for you but in my opinion it's really not. Rice milk is good and almond milk is as well, in small amounts. I'm sure goats milk is good as well, I've never tried it but I have had goats milk yogurt and it's very good.

I have a 10 month old and don't plan to give her milk either. My kids are very healthy and thriving wonderfully with out milk.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.O.

answers from Detroit on

is she eating solid foods?? if she is eating a decent amount of solid foods.. she can switch to whole cows milk.. babies need formula until they eat solid foods because milk is not a complete food.. it does not have all the different nurtients in it.. formula is fortified with vitamins and minerals ..

I would recommend cows milk.. easy to buy at your corner store.. and you will need a lot of it .. babies drink 16-24 oz per day.. so a gallon doent last long.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.H.

answers from Hartford on

I also nursed my LO for the first year and actually still do and she is 18 mo old. I nurse her on demand which is usually only for bed/nap/comfort if she is sad or sick.....so after age one you really dont need a lot of breastmilk....but your body will continue to make as needed as some days, like now when she is sick, you will need to nurse more than other days. ANYWAYS lol.....I was told to add whole cow milk and she has been fine w/ that. she will either ask for momma milk or cow milk (very verbal tells me what she likes) she will also get water that she loves and likes more than milk and sometimes I will put just a splash of juice in the water, but I dotn think she cares about that. I have never given her goats milk, no real reason I just did not. there are other milks too like cocnut/almond but I just do cows. I personnally dont like formula...besides the cost it is filled w/ so much sorry but stuff that I dont really know what is in it, some might say we dont know what is in cows milk either but.......whats a mom to do. good luck and congrats on the nursing and the first birthday!!! enjoy the time it flies.

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I wasn't able to breast feed my baby, but recently she has had a bad reaction to cows milk. So the ped had me switch her to soy for awhile (we think she just had a bad reaction because my boyfriend is dairy sensitive so she might have got that from him), and she never mentioned goats milk as an alternative, although a lot of my old "country-type" family suggested it. I was reading up on it and a few articles I found actually said goats milk is closer to a humans breast milk, then cows milk is. I am not sure if this is true but I was going to ask my ped about it. I also read that the fat contents between cow and goats milk are very close, but again not completely sure. Since you are a breast feeding mom I just wanted to put that out there. Oh and most babies go off of formula at or around 1, so I would ditch the formula idea and go with one of the 2 milks. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Milk is NOT what is used to be.

I am a family wellness coach and here are two of the sources that I trust:

http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/dont-drink-milk.asp

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=milk&k=milk

Do your due diligence. My children are 14 and 11 the only “milk” in our house is almond milk.

If you want a healthy option: www.BestbreakfastEver.com My clients have chosen to feed their children the healthiest option available, instead of mil or formula. Check it out.

B.
Family Success Coach

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions