Skim Milk / Whole Milk

With my son, I was told to introduce milk at 1 year and to give him whole milk until 3 years. If I recall, the reasoning for the whole milk is that babies need the fat for brain development. Hope that helps!

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Our pediatrician recommended keeping our babies on formula for the first year. After that, we switched to whole milk. Definitely not skim. Babies need fat for brain development for the first two years and should drink whole milk.

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No milk whatsoever until a year. When they are a year they get whole milk. Then once they're 2 years old they get 2%. Giving milk before a year can cause terrible damage to the stomach and GI tract as their tummies don't now how to digest large fat molecules that the cows milk has.

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My pediatrician reccomended waiting until the first year.
Knowing the history of allergies we waited until he was a year and a half and interduced slowly, adding 2 0z milk to 4 oz formula. He did fine no allergies.
I would talk to your doctor.Good luck.
B.

I started both of my kids on whole milk when they were 9 months old. They both did fine with that. I know that alot of people listen to the doctors and think that it is horrible to go against what they say, but you are the mother and if you think that your child will do okay with the milk try it. I agree with the responder that says she doesn't buy into all of the allergy and obesity claims--I don't either. I'm sure they didn't have formula back in the 1800's so they probably put their children on milk earlier than we do today. I don't mean to go on and on it's just I feel strongly about some things. Just remember you are the mom and you know what's best for you and you child. God bless!

At about a year you can switch to milk. And our doctor had us give whole milk. He said they needed the fat in the milk. We actually switched our girls to whole milk at 11 months, we had finished off a can of formula and the doctor said it was OK to make the switch instead of buying another can of formula. Make sure that you mix the formula with milk at first to keep them from getting an upset tummy. But before you do anything, check with your doctor. Good luck!

I think we all hate buying formula! Unfortunately, for the health of your baby, don't switch till she's 1 year and then make sure it's whole milk.

Check with you ped. but I think you need to wait til a year to start giving milk because before that the sodium content is too hard on their little kidneys. Also up until two babys brains need the extra fat in whole to develop properly so no low fat milk before two. Also the lower the fat the higher the sodium in milk.

Hi A.! With my now almost 3 y/o daughter, her pediatrician at the time suggested transitioning over to cows milk around 10 months and since I have a history of high cholesterol he had me give her 2% milk. BUT, before you start to transition her, make sure to clear it with her doctor.

As far as the price of formula - if you are using a name brand it is expensive. Store brand formulas cost half as much and they are just the same. My pediatrician tells me the reason for the huge cost difference is that the store brands aren't paying for all the marketing, advertising and free hospital giveaways - the quality is the same. I have been using Targets formula for several months now - $13.69 compared to $25-26 for Enfamil or Similac. Hope that helps!

12 months for whole milk and then you can switch to skim at 2 years.

Children shouldn't have cows milk until they're one year old. Whole milk is best at that age.

If you give an infant cow's milk before a year, the chances of developing a milk allergy greatly increase. Even though formula is extremely expensive, wait until she is a year old. Then start with whole milk for about another year because babies need the fat that comes with whole milk.

You're supposed to wait until they are at LEAST 1 year before introducing milk. And whole milk is nutritional better for toddlers. Good luck!

They say not until 1 year old. Always give whole milk, it has many more vitamins and nutrients in it. Skim milk is actually just watered down milk!!! I wouldnt give regular milk until 1 year and stay on the formula until then. Breast milk is best for baby, then formula, then cows milk. Hope this helps!!

Good Morning A., I put both of our son's on whole milk at 6 wks. That was over 30 yrs ago though.
Our youngest grandson just now turned one, and we started him on 2% about month and a half ago. We used up the formula first( so expensive ). He had only one time where he didn't like it, but grubs it up now. Uses sippy cups alot now too during the day.

Most Ped's say to not give them whole mike until they are a Year old. A lot of us didn't adhere to that and our kids are big and healthy. Zane will take 2% or Vitamin D whole milk.

God Bless you and your family.
K. Nana of 5

Your pediatrician should have told you that you shouldn't give cow mild until childs turns 1 yr old. And then you should give whole milk until age 2. They need it for their brain development. You might want to check with your childs dr. to see how much formula he is supposed to be drinking in a day. On the cow milk thing, their bodies aren't developed enough to handle the milk.

From my experience and doctor's recommendations, I believe most recommend formula for the first year...or at least up until 9 months or so, then placing the child on whole milk until about age 2. After that, it is usually recommended to switch to either skim milk or 2%. I was told that whole milk helps the young child's brain develop and that is why they want you to give whole milk; however, then at age two through adult it is better to be on skim milk to manage weigh. For those who don't care for skim milk, 2% would be the next best option.

Hi A. - everything I read and what our pediatrician said was, do not switch to whole milk until 1 yr. The baby still needs the extra fat that whole milk has for brain development at 1. Then at 2 yrs you can switch to 2%. I think once they're 3 it's ok to give them 1% or Skim if you prefer. Good luck!

Your peditrician will tell you as well as any baby book that your baby needs to stay on formula or breast milk until the age of one. From age of one to two you give your baby whole milk. They need the fat in whole milk for proper growth. Formula is expensive, but it is absolutely necessary for your baby because he/she needs the nutrients it provides. I breast fed both my kids and supplemented with formula. It is a big cost saver when you don't have to buy formula anymore.

The recommened age is 1 yr old and your dr will advise you at that 1 yr well baby check up to do the same and at that time it is whole milk.

From age 1yr to 2 its said to give them whole milk for the fat and vitamin D

You should start whole milk closer to 12 months old. Do not use skim milk, because until a child is 2 years old they need the extra fat in whole milk for brain development.

Based on recommendations from my children's doctors - they don't recommend starting cow's milk until the child turns 1 and then they want whole Vitamin D milk for the year following that. You should probably ask your child's doctor to see what they recommend.

You shouldn't give milk to a child until they are 1. I couldn't wait until that day came so we could stop buying formula. Babies can't break down milk until they are one. It has been awhile but I am pretty sure that the first milk we gave both our boys was whole milk they need all the extra fat and vitamins in it. I think it was age 2 that we went to one percent. The nurse/dietician that I talked to did not agree with giving him skim milk. She seemed to think that 1% at age 2 was the better way to go.

I'm sure you will hear many opinions, but I think whole milk is good until at least age 2, babies need the extra fat, the brain needs fat. To be honest though, I don't remember ever giving my kids anything but skim milk.

Due to food allergies, you're not supposed to give your little one any type of actual milk until they are 12 months old. At first my pediatrician told me she would go on whole milk. Then when we went in for her 12 month check up, she told us that studies have been done and I could start her with 2% or Skim milk if I preferred it over the whole milk. I, myself, can't drink whole milk, it really bothers my stomach. So I was happy to hear that I wasn't going to have to buy both whole and 2% milk. Trust me, I remember counting down the days to where I wouldn't have to buy formula anymore!! I know it can get costly!! But just stick in there and switching to milk will be here faster than you know it!!

As a child care provider on a food program I am required to start the babes on whole milk at 12 months but I do start introducing them to it as early as 8 months a little at a time. They do need the whole milk for the nutrients. Barb K.

I don't think your suppose to give babies milk til they are a year old. And then they recommend whole milk for the nutrients. I think that they have you wait til babies are 1 because they may have allergies to milk products or they could develope allergies if given before the age of 1.

I'm not sure about skim milk. Our pediatrician told us to go to whole milk after one year then I think at the age of two you can go to at least 2%.

She can have milk after she is a year old. She needs whole milk. The fat is necessary for brain development. Do you qualify for the WIC program? You would get vouchers that would pay for the formula through it.

My family loves skim milk, we just started drinking it earlier this year. However my mom is in nursing school and called to tell that her book (sorry not sure of the title) said that children under the age of five should not drink skim because they need the fat thats found in whole milk.

If you have WIC, you don't give them milk until they are a year old. Then you give them whole milk for that first year. When they turn two, they can have skim to 2% milk. These are the guidelines the government gives WIC to go by.

I wouldnt start with milk until about 10 months old, unless they seem to not want the formula any more, i have to use the 2% becuase my kids cant digest the milk fat in whole milk, i would suggest trying whole milk or what ever milk you have for the rest of you, and gradually put some in each bottle, a little more each week.

You should not start until 1 year, and you need to give her whole milk. Her brain needs the fat in whole milk to help her growing braincells. You can cut it down to 2% or skin at around age 2.