Milk and dairy question??

Question

At what age are you supposed to give your baby cow milk and other dairy products? Just curious as my daughter has been on solids for quite a while and now I think she is ready for it. She is nine months old.

Answer 1

wait until she is one year old. don't rush her because she really may not be ready for it as she seems. use formula for a while but still it doesnt hurt to give her a taste of ice cream every once in while.

Answer 2

I might seem silly to say or to wait, but you cannot put her on milk until she is 1 year old. She still needs the nutrients that are in the breast milk or formula that you are giving her.

I have four children, and my third one was a big eater. At about ten months she really didn't want her formula. She liked solids and wanted those all the time. I would give her the formula between meals and in a cup with her solids as her 'drink'.

So, after all that, you just cannot give her milk regardless of whether you think she is ready or not. Her body just isn't ready to digest the milk and she still needs that other.

Answer 3

12 months, let her continue on the formula for a while yet, because it has the vitamins in it she needs for brain development. Try mixing her bottles 1/4 milk to 3/4 formula to get her body ready for the change though. If that constipates her she is not ready. You should never just switch, her body has to adjust to it first, and learn how to break it down. Then go to 1/2 and 1/2, then just milk. The best is whole milk until they are 5 years. The extra fat from the milk is also good for brain development. After 5 switch to 2%.

Answer 4

My daughter's pediatrician recommended that we wait until she was at least a year old before starting her on cow's milk. Reasons:

Early introduction of cow's milk has been shown to increase the chances that the baby will develop diabetes later in life, especially if there is already a family history of the disease.

Cow's milk is hard for your baby to digest.

Cow's milk may not support optimal growth and development.

Cow's milk has a low iron level and the iron is not well absorbed.

Answer 5

Pediatricians say to wait until the baby is a year old, however, If you feel your baby is ready....then try a little bit at a time.
I started my son on whole milk when he was about 9-10 months old and he did fine. I didn't give him a lot - just a little at a time - increasing the amount every time.
I would also ask your pediatrician as well - just to be sure. Tell him/her that the baby is on solids and you feel that she is ready for regular milk.
Good luck!

Answer 6

Experts don't recommend introducing babies to cows milk or dairy until they are 12 months old. Supposedly this is because their digestive system can't digest the protiens in cow's milk, and it has things like sodium, potassium and chloride in amounts too intense for your baby's kidneys. Also, it lacks the crucial vitamins and minerals (Vit. E, Zinc, Iron) that they need for growth.

They also say it can increase the risk for allergies later on, but I don't believe that. I've found sources arguing both points.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Jack is allergic to regular formula (he has to have soy) but every once in a while I share a few bites of yogurt with him. I tend to listen to his adopted "Grandmothers" (the older ladies in my Church) and they say it's fine. I figure if their kids survived, then mine ought to be fine, too, right? Science is great, but you can't beat the time-tested methods.

Answer 7

Your daughter can graduate to cow's milk only after her first birthday. In the meantime, it's either breast milk or formula. At 9 months old, your daughter can have yogurt (buy adult plain and add your own fruit), cheese (mild ones like cheddar & jack), cottage cheese (chose a lumpy one so she can practice chewing). I buy the already shredded cheese and add it to her meals once it's nice and hot. I give her individually wrapped cheedar cheese bars as part of her finger food menu.

Answer 8

Cows milk should not be introduced till year one it lacks key nuritents and too harsh for babies kidnesys. Also giving cow's milk to early can make your baby anemic

Answer 9

Not before age 1 but you can introduce her to whole milk and see how she takes to it. By age 2 she can be drinking 2% milk before then whole milk is recommended. I kept my son on whole milk till age 3 because he is a skinny minnie.

Answer 10

Echoing Karin, wait until after 1 year because before then has led to an increased incidence of Type I (juvenile) diabetes. This disease sucks, my husband has it. Try to prevent it at all costs!