Our pedi told us last Friday to start giving my 9 month old daughter whole milk and cheeses. I didn't think you could before a year, but she said it's a good thing to start doing now. So far my daughter is doing fine with it...she doesn't really like the milk all that much, but she hasn't had any side effects.
I had my first son on whole milk at the end of 9 months (doctor approved) because he refused to take a bottle or formula anymore. I nursed him until he was 6 months and he took a bottle of formula fine after that, but around 8 months he would take less and less each time, coming to the point where he would only drink a couple ounces at a time. But, this boy loved to eat. He wanted table food, not baby food, the real deal. There were no weight issues since he was eating so much and the doc said go ahead and take him off the formula and give him while milk. I did it the same way I weened him from nursing. 3/4 formula, 1/4 whole milk for a week, then 50/50 for a week, 3/4 milk and 1/4 formula for a week, and then all milk. He loved the milk and is still a really good milk drinker. Some kids are ready earlier than ohters, and mine happened to be. My daughter wasn't like this at all, but my first boy has thrived from it. As far as side effects go, there weren't any. He loved his milk and there were no stomach issues or anything like that. Good luck.
Yes, It has been common in the past to give a baby some whole milk before they turn one year. Any of those ways work-and it is good to find out how little systems will tolerate milk before they have to drink it. Many parents do half and half in bottles or cups before the first birthday. Some do one bottle or cup formula, one bottle or cup milk and alternate that way. Some put milk in the cup and formula in the bottle. There are several ways to transition. Usually if babies are eating table food, they can tolerate the milk well.
I have heard that if you give a baby milk before they are one it can increase their chance of allergic reaction. Also, their little digestive system is not ready for that and could cause some major discomfort for the baby.
Both my present husband and I started our children out on whole milk by the age of 6 months, as did most of the people we know. My daughter has now started giving her 10-month-old whole milk at least once a day and when I daycare she receives a little whole milk in a glass or sippy cup for lunch. None of these children have had any problems. I told one woman this and got a return answer to totally rip me a new one. The funny part of it is, everyone I have told about the episode has made the statement that she does not know what she is talking about and that she apparently does not talk to her children's doctor. This has come from young couples also. Good luck with your little one.
You might want to check out these websites:
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/print/2003-No2-Milk.htm
http://milk.elehost.com/html/why_does_calcuim_leave_the_bon.html
(This is just another site for FYI: http://www.safeminds.org/mercury/ )
The above are just two of MANY sites with this information. One option is to find products that are hormone-free.
Best wishes!
Yes, i've heard this advise & used it! It worked! I have a 2 year old, I was asked to mix it in with formula, gradually increase the whole milk, and he handled it very well! He loved the taste of whole milk by the time he was 11 months and refused his formula, he gagged on it! The taste! :D Also my 1 year old couldn't stand the taste of formula too, once he got a taste of his brother's sippy cup! So I guess for me it went quite well, no allergic reactions of any sort & they both love milk! :D Good Luck!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting till a year because most kids can handle it by that age. Many kids can handle whole milk prior to the first birthday but you never know if your kid is one of those.
If you are doing a very small amount mixed with food, it is probably fine. The main thing is not replacing breastmilk/formula. Milk at a young age could cause food allergies and annemia (low iron).
Neither of my boys had cows milk until they were closer to 18 months old. THey had breastmilk only before that. no need to rush.... cows milk isn't necessary.
My children are grown, but, all three of them were on whole milk at 2 months. "Back then" we got liquid vitamins from the doctor to put into the milk.
You need to make sure they are getting the vitamins they need and if you live in the country, floride. That was the way it was back then. Formula includes all of that, right?
I would consult a nutritionist or doctor and listen to what they have to say about this.
I started 2% at 11-12 months. I never used whole milk.
Hello,
I did daycare for 5 years and almost ALL my parents started their babies before they turned 1. Some were even completely off formula and only on milk by 11 months. None ever experienced a reaction. The babies seemed to prefer regular milk to formula once they got used to it.
For my daughter, she was drinking formula and regular milk at around 10 1/2 months and was off formula completely by 11 1/2 months. My son was and still is only breastfed (for milk) and refuses any milk (regular or breast) out of a cup. He will only drink water from a cup. He is 14 months old.
Hope this helps. Good luck!!!
Go for it, my only suggestion would be to water it down some, as they do tend to get constipated when you switch. Or try 2% to start (since it's already watered down) Switch to whole. Formula hasn't been around forever I give my 9mth old milk rather than juice, she's breastfed and won't take formula and she takes vitamins with flouride, because we don't have it in our water.
We did it when we started weaning from breastmilk, and there were no side effects. Your child should be fine unless he has a milk or dairy allergy.
Your pediatrician can help you decide if your child is ready. If you are concerned about nutrition, you can use liquid vitamin drops to ensure he's getting all the vitamins and iron he needs in safe amounts for his age and size.
I wouldn't suggest it....the babies tummy isn't ready until they are closer to 1 yr to digest cow's milk.
I also ended up allergic to cow's milk when I was young and that totally sucked! If you have ANY allergic tendencies in your or your husband's family, I strongly suggest not to introduce whole milk quite yet. You've waited this long, whats a few more weeks?
Hi, My 10 month old would simply not take formula and I wasn't up to pumping. As I cut down her daily breast feeds, I gave her organic whole milk in place. Our doctor said as long as she wasn't reacting to it in any way with intestinal discomfort/ change in stools, then it was fine. She is doing great with it- we tried a little at a time- she is still nursing at night and really likes milk. She never took a bottle, went straight to a sippy cup.
I used the method of 3/4 formula to 1/4 milk and gradually switched it to 1/4 formula nd 3/4 milk eventually to 100% milk. You will find if they react to it then you just back off. My daughter was totally off formula by 11 months and was on whole for the next year. My son took longer. He had roto virus at 4 months and they put him on a lactose free formula so it was a little bit longer before we could switch him. Anyway, my daughter turned out just fine!! I would just do it slowly! Good Luck!
I gave my daughter whole milk at 11 months just to get her started and it went great and helped her make the transition to milk from a cup (as opposed to breast-feeding.) Cow's milk is considered nutritionally inadequate so babies still need breast milk or formula until one year but I wouldn't worry about adding a little bit at 10 months.
(My mom said I was drinking cow's milk at 3 months or something ridiculous like that. I'm smart and in good health. :-))
I was on 2% milk and vitamins when I was 2 months old...I'm 28 now and have no food allergies at all :) Its amazing how we all survived before the internet and information overload isn't it? My mom always laughs at me when I'm questioning things like this (i.e. starting solids) for my 6 month old.
certianly give your baby whole milk before a year. whole milk is great for you're babies brain development. use it in his cereal and give it to him in a bottle. don't use any other milk than whole. the baby needs the fat content that's in it. i guess the only drawback would be if he's lactose intolerant. go for it