Cow's milk? Soy milk? Raw milk? Organic?

Question

My daughter is one week from turning 11 months old. She is currently drinking formula and I was wondering when is the best time to make the transition to something else. My boyfriend wants to put her on regular milk, and I figured since shes so close to a year that maybe it couldnt hurt. Plus I have family that put there children on milk even a little earlier. I really want to try it but I just dont know what type of milk to use. She has always transitioned well to everything I have ever given her, but I am unsure of what is best to give. She is currently on a soy formula, but this is NOT due to allergies. It is just a brand I was given a few cans of. Soy seems like a good bet, but what brand? Also, I do not know much about Raw or unpasterized milk, but I have always been told this type of milk can make a person sick? Im not sure... but serious answers only please. And anyone who knows about the different types of milk...I would really like to hear from you...

Please no answers about asking the doctor...it takes a year to get an answer for something I already know...

Answer 1

We give our son organic whole milk. I feel better knowing it isn't full of antibiotics and growth hormones!! :)

I would say you could start offering your daughter a few ounces of milk a day. She MAY have a harder time transitioning since she has grown up on soy formula and hasn't had to digest milk proteins. It might take her body a while to get used to dairy. But, if she is eating yogurt and cheese without any problems she will probably transition fine.

Babies need to drink whole milk until they are two years old (at which point they can switch to skim or 1%) because their little bodies still need the fat for development. Whole milk has 8 grams of fat per 8oz serving where as soy milk only has 4 grams of fat per 8 oz serving. I would say cows milk is the best way to go, unless a child has a milk allergy/intollerance.

I would avoid unpasteurized milk. I am sure the risks of getting sick are pretty small, but why risk it?

Answer 2

So long as its fortified, soy or almond milk can be just as good as cow's milk. A lot of people say that "we're not meant to drink cow's milk" because we're not supposed to grow into 1,200 pound cows. But honestly, once you skim the milk down, fat-free milk and soy/almond milk are almost identical nutritionally speaking. Maybe not chemically, but they both offer calcium and the same (to an extent) vitamins and minerals. I would personally go with almond because soy can have some side-effects on hormone levels. Plus either soy/almond milk have a creamier consistency than fat-free milk all for the same amount of Calories, calcium, and other vitamins/minerals. It's a win-win.

Answer 3

I live on a farm, grew up on one and run a child day care. You can start her on whole milk when ever you want. Doctors all have different opinions of when you should start them. For example I have 2 children who are just over a year old and they go to different drs. One dr said give whole milk whenever, just make sure the child is outside in the sun at least 10 minutes a day, this child started on whole milk (even raw milk, which I serve a lot) by the time he was 8 months old. The other dr said as long as you start them on whole milk (for the fat) between 11-12 months is fine, but it should not be earlier then this. Another dr. 2 years ago told the mother that children can take whole milk when ever, just always watch for allergies just like anything else. So even if you ask your dr he may have even more answers. From experience myself and my 4 siblings were drinking whole raw cows milk within 3 months of birth. We were weaned onto milk be the time we were 8 months old. Breastfed babies are easier, because what mom is drinking so does the child so if your child isn't reacting to the cows milk when you drink it there is a 99% chance that they won't have allergies to it. There is nothing wrong with raw milk as long as you cool it off right after milking the cow. We have to remember that 50 years ago that was all people used and children either breastfed or they drank raw cows milk. Look at your parents did they turn out okay? Joking aside it is just like anything else check for allergies as long as there is no allergy continue giving whole milk until they are at least 2 years old. In the day care some of the parents breastfeed and have asked me to use whole milk in the cereal as early as 2 months old.

Answer 4

start mixing regular whole milk into her formula that way when she turns 1 she won't be put on just regular milk cold turkey. Mixing it is a way of letting her know she is becoming a big girl and also letting her get used to the taste. Start with 3/4 formula 1/4 milk then the next week do half and half then the following week do 3/4 milk 1/4 formula and by the time she is 1 she will be totally on milk. It worked for my son

Answer 5

In most states it is illegal to buy raw milk for human consumption so you would have to buy it from a farmer as "pet milk" Many family's drink raw milk and give it to there children altho raw milk is not FDA approved for people because it come right from the cow to the carton. Organic milk is pasteurized but comes from cows that are not fed hormones many people also drink this. Soy milk is made from soy there is no actual dairy in soy milk before giving a baby you may want to be sure that she has no allergies to it many small children have intolerance's to soy and peanuts.

Answer 6

My baby was on Soy Formula due to colic. We transitioned her to WHOLE cow's milk at 11 months by putting 1/2 soy formula and 1/2 milk in her bottles for about 3 weeks. When we ran out of our last bottle of formula - she went on straight whole milk.

Whole milk is needed by infants/toddlers because they need the calories and fat to help develop and grow. Unless directed by your doctor, dont think about using low-fat milk until after the age of 2.

Raw milk isnt something I'd even want to explore for myself. You would have to transition into it because all the natural bacteria in it will make you sick until you build up a resistance to it.

Answer 7

I had a debate on this issue too. If she is not allergic to cow's milk, I would give her that. I wanted to go with soy milk as well but found out that some dont have as much calcium or fat as cows milk. If you do buy soy make sure it has added calcium. I just give my daughter cow's milk so I can be sure she is getting calcium and the fat that she needs.

Answer 8

Don't put her on soy unless the doctor tells you to. The soy formulas are specially fortified to meet the nutrition requirements. Soy milk is deficiet in many nutrients that your baby needs. She should go on homogenized milk and stay on this until age 2. Do not use 2% or low fat. Your baby needs the fat for proper brain development. Raw milk should not ever be used to feed your baby.

Answer 9

Depends on your lifestyle.

Organic is the best for both whole milk and soy (there is also rice and almond milk).

I'm a vegan and you suggest organic soy as it is high in protein as most are fortified with calcium and other important vitamins.

Cows milk to me just isn't natural.

Unpasturized isn't safe for pregnant mothers or babies and shouldn't really be drank by anyone.

So it is up to you and your family. But you might want to wait one month.

Answer 10

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infant Nutrition recommends breast milk or formula for the first year. This is the ideal.

By all means, don't give raw milk. Cows lie in verdent pastures replete with their own droppings. You can clean an udder before milking, but you cannot sterilize it.