how old was your baby when you first gave cow's milk?

Question

i'm not a new mom, but i have heard of people giving baby's cow's milk. have you done it? and was there any problem? it's not that i'm going to do it, i was just wondering because i was always told not to do it until they are one yr old. my brothers friend gave it to her son at 6 months.

Answer 1

My husband had terrible food allergies that developed when he was a school age kid - had to take shots ... not something you want to put your child through if you can help it.
He was introduced to foods too early - his siblings were fine, but he was the third and his parents/caregivers were more relaxed about giving him foods earlier, etc.
He was allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, chocolate, peanuts, and the chemical that is used to line cans. It really made life difficult for him and his entire family too. His parents had problems feeding him since most every prepared food has one or more of these things.
His allergies are not that much of a problem now, but occasionally peanuts will act up -- his skin will feel like it is on fire, but luckily he doesn't swell up or have trouble breathing any more, so he is able to avoid having to take shots now.

I waited till our kids were at least 18 months, but I am overly cautious because of my husband's ordeal. My doctor said that I should wait until 1 year old. That is the safest route. The consequences may not show up for years and years. But wouldn't you rather be safe, than sorry.

Answer 2

They are more likely to develope an alergy to it at that young of an age. It's also harder for a baby to digest and will cause him discomfort and he'll cry. That milk is for a baby calf not a baby human. That's why humans make milk also. And companies have created formulas to try to mock human milk but they will even tell you the real thing is best. And cows milk is best for baby cows not baby people. I always waited until my kids were about 1 year old but found their mouths and faces often broke out in little whelps in the beginning even at one year old. So I'd wait a couple months and try it again and see if there was any whelps. Mine all settled into it at about 18 months and didn't break out from it then.

Answer 3

Yikes, 6 months is a little early. If a baby that young had a milk allergy, they could end up in the hospital. Personally, I gave my daughter milk at 10 1/2 months, and that was just mixing it with her formula to see how she handled it. Little by little we decreased the formula until she was on just milk right before her birthday. She loved it, and still does!

Answer 4

I waited until one year was up and then I gradually weaned baby
from formula by adding more cows milk every couple of days to the cup than previous until the formula was completely taken from the diet (took me about 2 weeks with my kids)

Some people go 'cold turkey' but I think it is too much of a shock to the babies system and sometimes babies can get gripey from the change.

Answer 5

The doctors say at one year it's safe to transition to cows milk. My first daughter did well going on regular milk at a year. It took my second daughter a few months to transition because of stomach upset. The doctors always warned against giving cows milk too early. They say a year or later no exceptions.

Answer 6

You are supposed to wait until after one year. Cow's milk is high in proteins that newborns have trouble digesting. My 2 year old has cow's milk during the day, but still needs formula at night.

Answer 7

i gave my son milk after he turned a year old. cows milk lacks the iron that babies need. that is why the suggest not giving them cows milk until after 1 year old. but, i have also seen several people give their babies cows milk. i think most of the time its either laziness, or they cant afford the formula anymore.

Answer 8

I slowly started introducing it to my son at about 11 months, then after he turned a year he was on strictly whole milk. But I just found out he has a lactose allergy so now he is on soy milk.

Answer 9

Their sensitive stomachs can't really handle it until after turning 1 year old. It might have been cheaper and more convienent to give it to a 6 month old, but I am sure that baby suffered a little.

Answer 10

1 year...all pediatritions will advise this...the other's are right......just think of it as......formula is food & cows milk is just a drink.....it does not have the sustainability to keep a growing infant healthy.....1 year is often said for allergies....or milk tollerance as well...our whole & 2% milk is full of inorganic added substances that small digestive systems do not bode well 2........