Gving Whole Milk

Updated on March 25, 2009
R.M. asks from San Antonio, TX
22 answers

My beautiful daughter is turning 1 in about two weeks. Her doctor wants her to start driking whole milk. We have already started giving her some. What the doctor wasn't clear on is : How much do I give her in a day? She has taken to the whole milk really well. No problems with her switching from formula. I just want to be clear on the amount. I am also concerned about her getting enough vitamins ect... like she got with her formula.

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?

thank you for all the wonderful advice! I am going to ask her doctor when she goes in for her wellness 12 month check up which is in two weeks. right now- we are just giving her milk in the bottle. Juice and water in the sippy cup.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Houston on

I was told no more than 16oz a day by my pedi, and to help with the minerals/vitamins, add a daily vitamin to her diet, and a great book to help balance her diet and also provide great recipies is SUPER BABY FOOD by Ruth Yaron. Available at Borders, and superbabyfood.com. Hope that helps. Also great milks are rice, almond milk!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Houston on

If the doctor said whole milk, he most likely meant to stop the formula completely. It wouldn't make sense for her to be on both. The whole mile has plenty of vitamins in it. You probably give her vitamins anyway, and if she eats a balanced meal she's getting what she needs. Cut out the formula and you'll save some at the grocery store.By the way, about any brand of milk is OK, you don't have to buy the mose expensive brand because it really isn't any better.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.T.

answers from Austin on

Definitely talk to your daughters pediatrican. Maybe I am too trusting, or it could be the fact that my daughter has an AMAZING pediatrician, but I trust what the doctor tells me. Granted your doctor is up to date on what the AAP recommends, they should be able to tell you what your daughter needs.
I think the only vitamin concern with the switch to cows milk is Vitamin D. The AAP has a new stance on how much Vitamin D an infant/toddler should be getting. Talk to your doctor to see if they recommend a vitamin supplement. Good luck to you and Happy Birthday to your daughter!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I believe at that age 8 to 16 oz is appropriate. But, you could call and ask the nurse at the dr's office. My doctor said 2 bottles was fine.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Houston on

If you are going to give cow's milk to your human child, please make sure that you are at least going organic.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.R.

answers from Austin on

Whole milk is like, "The perfect food". Which is why it is called Whole. The irony is that anyone would think that formula is somehow better for any baby shows how far down the advertising path we have gone. Did you know that today, there is good evidence that better than 3/4 of the population of the USA is deficient in vitamin D? The health experts are promoting vitamin pills. All we have to do is start using whole milk and those products derived from whole milk to augment this dietary deficiency. As far as how much milk to give your baby, they will let you know when they are full and when they are hungry. I know because I raised three kids. I still drink whole milk, and don't have heart, or fat problems.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Houston on

My understanding is that 18-24 oz is best, but certainly no more than 30 oz. Too much milk can inhibit the absorption of certain nutrients.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Houston on

I believe she should be drinking anywhere from 24 oz. - 30 oz. a day. If she is not a good veggie and fruit eater, start her on the gummie daily vitamins. My little one loves them...break them in half or threes. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Houston on

Hi R.. I never paid attention to the amount of milk I gave my daughter...I just kept her sippy cup replenished with milk or water thru out the day so I could ensure she was drinking enough fluids. With her milk, I mix Pediasure (vanilla flavor) with her whole milk. She loves it and it's a great vitamin source. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Houston on

Hi, my doctor recomended 18 oz a day, and keep with fruits and vegetables, and don't get frustated if she only wants to take milk now she is getting in a picky age.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Killeen on

By one your child should be well into a meal schedule and table foods...

Milk at meals and juice at snacks with water all other in between times is what's normally recommended for your kid...

Good luck... ;-)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from Houston on

I used to give my daughter milk in a cup with her meals and maybe one other cup during the day, but you don't want to give them too much or they won't eat enough, which is where she should be getting a lot of her nutrients now. So, make sure she is eating balanced meals with fruits, veggies and some protien and let her drink the milk when she wants it. If you notice her appetite dropping off, cut back on the milk and that should help. I'm not sure how many ounces to give, but I would think if she drank 3-4 small cups per day, that would be more than enough. If you don't get any answers that you are comfortable with on here, you could google it or call the pedi's office. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Houston on

The WIC office is the one who advised me on how to make the switch. We started 4 weeks before his 1st b-day. His bottles were 8oz. Week 1 - 6oz. formula, 2 oz. whole milk. Week 2 - 4oz or each, Week 3 - 2oz. formula, 6oz. whole milk, and Week 4 - straight whole milk.

At the time he would drink 5-6 bottles a day. One in the morning, one for mid-morning, the day care would give him sippy cup of milk at lunch, another bottle mid-afternoon, one around dinner, and one before bed.

We switched off the bottle at about 18 months. Had a little difficulty with that one.

As for vitamins, whole milk provides a lot. Then if your child is a good eater of healthy foods, she should be getting what she needs. Our pedi always recommends a multi-vitamin for children, especially ones who don't eat well, to supplement what they may not be getting.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.M.

answers from San Antonio on

The idea is that she will now get all of those nutrients from food and not the formula, so you will need to choose her food wisely. Go to www.mypyramid.gov and you can enter your baby's weight and amount of activity and it will provide you with suggested menus. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from Houston on

I used to worry about the same things, and try to force my daughter to drink. My daughter doesn't drink a lot of fluids as it is. I could only get her to drink about 12 ounces a day, and she's perfectly healthy. My doctor did tell me 16 ounces, but I couldn't get her to drink that, and I still can't at 2 years old. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Houston on

Hi R.,

I would give her milk when she asks or at mealtime or snack time. Food is where she is getting her vitamins. If milk becomes a substitute for food, cut back on the milk.

Peace,
C.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from Austin on

From 1-2 years she should have at least 16 oz. but no more than 24 oz. of dairy per day. This can include whole milk, whole milk yogurt, cheese... At two, they will switch to skim or low-fat milk.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Houston on

My doctor said up to 24 oz of whole milk.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Austin on

Our pedi recommended 24oz per day for our son. We did morning noon & night. Hope that helps :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Austin on

My baby girl is 16 months and I asked this same question at the last two pedi appts. Dr said between 12 and 24 oz but emphasized no more than 24 oz. The majority of her diet should be solid foods. Dr is anti-vitamins unless there is a deficiency. These, too, should be coming from food so it's important to try to get her to eat a variety of healthy foods. Our current schedule is a 6 oz bottle in the morning and before bed plus small sippy cups with meals and snacks. I like the poster's suggestion of giving the sippy cup after the meal so they don't fill up on it. We need to transition away from bottles, but that's where we are in the process right now. Don't hesitate to call the dr office if you're unsure about anything - nurse lines are usually free during the week. All the best to you.

J.B.

answers from Houston on

I have read that anywhere from 18-24oz is good, depending on the size of your daughter of course. I give my son three sippy cups about 8oz a day and then a sippy cup of 1/2 juice 1/2 water and then just water if he is thirsty after playing etc. But he is HUGE!! He is about 37 inches tall and 28lbs:) So I think you can just feel it out and watch how her weight goes. If you offer milk at meals she should get enough. I personally don't offer milk until the meal is over however so that my toddler's little tummy isn't too full to eat. Hope this helps!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.T.

answers from Houston on

I give my 14 month old the same amount I was giving her with the formula and breast milk. My pedi told me still to give her the rice cereal for the vitamins. She has rice cereal with every meal.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches