Has anyone given their baby cows milk before they were 1 yr old?

Question

My baby wont drink formula, it makes him gag, and my breastmilk is strating to dry up. Hes almost 9 mo. he would still get mostly breastmilk, maybee just one feeding a day of cows milk. I know the doctors dont recomend it but sometimes i think they are getting a little rediculous when it comes to what and when our babies can eat. I mean all these stipulations wernt around 30 years ago when I was born. So mom to mom tell me what you think...

Answer 1

Do not give your baby cow's milk until they are one. 30 years ago they didn't have the technology that we do today. We now know that babies do not tolerate cow's milk well. Also they need the nutrients in breast milk/formula until they are a year old. Giving a baby that young cow's milk will only have negative consequences.

just wanted to add that your baby probably will turn out OK if you give him milk. But why chance it? As parents, we always want what is best for our kids.

Answer 2

Hmmm. I'm a kind of "by the book" type mom, so I wouldn't switch to cow's milk until all of my options were exhausted.

Have you tried every different kind of formula out there? My daughter definitely had preferences. You mentioned that it makes him gag -- are you sure it's the formula and not the bottle/nipple (that is assuming you never pump and give him breastmilk in a bottle)?

My biggest concern would not be the allergy aspect (though that could be important if allergies are common in your family), but the fact that formula is fortified with all kinds of nutrients that cow's milk does not have. To deprive your baby of those for three months seems like a long time to me, especially when they say babies get the majority of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula in the first year. Food wouldn't be enough to supplement the loss of those nutrients.

That's just my opinion. In the end, it's your baby and your decision, and you need to do what works for you and your baby. Good luck!

Answer 3

I gave my son cows milk when he was about 10 months old. He also got breast and formula more often. I also made sure he got at least three or four meals of baby food a day just so he wouldn't want milk all the time. I think it also depends on how big your baby is. My son weighed 8lbs. 9oz. when he was born and by the time he was 10 months old he almost weighed 20 lbs. Of course, I never told his pediatrician about the cows milk. I also gave it to him closer to bed time and I warmed it up a little in the microwave. Make sure to shake it real good after that, too. Just don't give more than 6oz. a day to begin with. Hope it helps a little.

Answer 4

You can make the switch now your child is 13 months. I made the switch around this time, and no problems. I made the switch by gradually introducing cows milk - just make up 7oz formula and add 1 0z cows for the first few times, then gradually up the cows and less the formula until it is all cows. Worked a treat. Make sure the cows is full fat, though - they need the full fat milks. Semi skimmed can be given much later on - after 2 years, I think, but check on that (I stuck with the full fat since I prefer it!).

Answer 5

Both my son's had cows milk before they were a year and they are fine!! One is 5 and the other is almost 1. The way I think of it is you don't have to listen to EVERYTHING that the doctor tells you to do. But that's just what I think. If I were you I would just jump right into it and start giving it to him whenever you are ready. It should be whole milk as well.

Answer 6

One of my best friends switched her baby at 9 or 10mos to cow milk (Whole, of course) and she said for a few days her baby spit up a lot and was extra gassy and fussy and had a hard time, but after a week she was perfect and it was no big deal. Really babies should have the nutrients found in formula/breast milk until they are 1year, but if your breastmilk is drying up (mine did) then maybe switch to formula. Only 3 months to go! I had to switch my son to Similac Isomil Advance, and it only takes 3 to 4 days (4 days max) for them to adjust. You get gassy fussy periods for like 3 days and then they're fine.

Answer 7

Both of my babies were off of the bottle at 9 mos old. But my daughter still won't drink milk unless it's with her cereal. I started my son on cow's milk at 9 mos with his sippy and he has 6-8 cups a day if I'll let him. Try it your baby will let you know if they like it or not.

Answer 8

I think you would be okay giving your child cows milk now, just make sure it is whole milk and maybe kinda wean him to it, little at a time or give him some with your milk mix them together starting with just a little milk at a time. My son was 9-10 months old and was drinking it with no problems.

Answer 9

I started both my boys on whole milk at 9 months old. As long as he will still eat baby food he should be fine. Just monitor his bowel movements. My kids are 9 and 14 now and they havent had any problems associated with whole milk. Good luck

Answer 10

If you don't mind possibly setting your son up for anemia, allergies and diabetes, go for it.
Babies digestive systems are not mature enough at this point to handle straight cow's milk. If you're concerned about calcium, offer yogurt or cheese, where many of the proteins are already altered.
I'm always amazed by people who say, "Well, I did (fill in act contrary to recommendation) and my son/daughter is fine". Good for you. I also know people who drank during pregnancy whose babies turned out fine, but do you want to chance it???
The reason these stipulations weren't around 30 years ago is that science hadn't discovered the info yet. The infant mortality rate continues to decline, so there must be something to all this new-fangled advice and guidelines.