A question about whole milk?

Question

My daughter will be a year old Feb 20th. She has never had any health problems or weight issues and is very healthy and of normal height/weight. She didn't get a doctors appointment until a couple weeks after her birthday, so can I go ahead and start giving her whole milk before she sees the doctor for a checkup and shots and stuff? They never told me to wait or anything! Also, she takes around 24 ounces of formula right now in one day. How many ounces of whole milk should she be drinking in a day? And how often to offer it? Will I be changing to three main meal times every day with snacks, where she drinks the majority or all of her milk at the mealtimes?? And what about bedtime? Just for further information, we will be ditching the bottles as soon as we transition to whole milk. She already has dropped bottles out of 2 of her 4 formula feedings every day. Thanks for any helpful information!

Answer 1

It's fine to start weaning her to whole milk about a week before her birthday - you don't have to wait until her doctor's appointment.

Mix the milk with the formula she already drinks in a three to one ratio - three parts formula to one part milk. When she's used to that, increase the milk while decreasing the formula. Offer it in the same way (bottle or cup) at the same time you give the formula now. Too much change will freak her out. One thing though - don't give it at bedtime! It can rot their teeth.

As far as giving it at meals or snacks, and exactly how much - that part can wait until her appointment. Your pediatrician can fine tune it for you.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

She should drink just about the same amount of milk as she does formula now. You can drop the bottle when ever you and she are ready. You can change to three meals a day when she is ready or when her eating habits approximate that daily. The majority of milk will still be in a cup or bottle for a while yet but soon will be mostly at meals.

Answer 3

There is absolutely nothing beneficial to human's in cow's milk. Your daughter, once weened from mother's milk has no need for milk, especially cow's milk in her diet. Feed her a properly balanced diet, minus milk and she will be healthy and thrive.

Humans are the only animal that drinks milk past infancy, and then it's not even from the correct species! Too many people are still trying to defend milk's supposed health benefits. Unfortunately, they are either using old information or information obtained from research funded by the dairy association. How many people would enjoy a glass of dog's milk or rat's milk? What makes cows special?

There are only two reasons which I've found to support humans drinking cow's milk. We have grown up hearing that it's good for us and we've grown accustomed to the taste and texture. There is absolutely no nutrition that can not be obtained elsewhere, minus the negatives. Calcium seems to be the major claim for milk. It can be found elsewhere in green vegetables, almonds, and many other sources. Where do you think the cows obtain the calcium to put into the milk? Where do other larger animals (elephants, horses, deer, whales, etc) get calcium? Why we continue to drink cow's milk laced with growth hormones, antibiotics, and who knows what else is beyond me.

Since I've given up drinking milk about 5 years ago my health has greatly improved. I suffer fewer allergy problems, asthma and breathing problems are greatly reduced, I'm sleeping better, and I have more energy.

In the '50s smoking was considered harmless but now we realize its dangers. One person at a time and eventually the truth will become widely known that cow's milk is only for baby cows. Milk is indeed the perfect food, but only for infants of the proper species.

Do some research online and decide for yourself.
http://www.strongbones.org/
http://www.notmilk.com/
http://www.nomilk.com/

Answer 4

You can start the milk, you don't have to wait for the doctor. She should be getting 16oz of milk a day, which she can also get with cheese. But you may want to keep a morning and nightime (before she brushes her teeth) bottle so that you can transition her over to the milk. Just because you're ready for the quick change she may not be. Ease her off the bottle so that she doesn't start chewing and sucking on other things.

Answer 5

Drank whole as a child because no one worried about the fat in milk much back then. Switched to 2% for my own child. Recently switched to 1% because I'm dieting. Skim I cannot do. I'd rather have a bowl of cereal in water. Taste would be about the same. Skim, ew.

Answer 6

she can drink as much milk as she wants. It's not gonna kill her! It's just milk. My son drinks milk all day long... he doesn't really want anything else. He'll probably never break a bone! He's been drinkin milk since he was a year old too, it just started in cereal and he fell head over heels in love with it. Personally, I think its good that he loves milk and I don't believe anyhting the so called statistics say about whole milk causing obesity, I drank whole milk my entire life and I don't weigh but 110 pounds, AFTER 1 kid and Preg wit another! You're the momma, you know whats best and dont let no doctor tell you different...

Answer 7

wait for her checkup - it's only a few more weeks. The dr can also give you advice on making the switch. Some say to alternate and then start to increase the milk our doctor said to just go for it head on.

Answer 8

All children are different. I introduced whole milk to both of mine at about 9 months, in small doses. Your daughter will let you know how much to give her. Start her with the equivalent of whole milk. It will probably fill her quicker. If in doubt, start her with 50-50 milk and water. At least until you know whether her stomach and bowels will react. Good luck.

Answer 9

with all of your questions i think it's best to write them down, and stay on formula for a few weeks more and have your Dr answer them. these are all questions that are very good, but best answered by your daughter's health care provider.

Answer 10

i didn't get to the dr. until after my daughter turned 1, i called his office and they said it was ok. of course you should always check first. but give the dr a call, the worst he can say is no.