Whole Milk Question?

Question

When did everyone start giving there son/daughter whole milk? Did you 100% wait till 1 year old or did you start is a little bit early like half milk half formula. Just wondering...

Answer 1

Why do experts recommend waiting to introduce cow's milk until a baby is 12 months old?
There are several reasons to delay the introduction of cow's milk until your baby reaches his first birthday. Most important, a baby's digestive system can't digest cow's milk proteins. Cow's milk also has too much sodium, potassium, and chloride, which can tax your baby's kidneys.

Even if his system could handle it, cow's milk doesn't have all the vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin E, zinc, and iron) that he needs for growth and development in his first year. Giving a baby cow's milk could even cause iron deficiency and internal bleeding. And it can increase his risk of an allergic reaction.

Once your baby's digestive system is ready to digest it, though, milk becomes a powerful ally. A great source of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and magnesium, milk will build your toddler's bones and teeth and help his body regulate his blood coagulation and muscle control. Almost all milk is fortified with vitamin D, which helps the body absorb the calcium it needs.

Milk also provides protein for growth, as well as carbohydrates, which will give your child the energy he needs to toddle all day! And if your child gets enough calcium from the get-go, there's evidence that he'll have a lower risk of high blood pressure, stroke, colon cancer, and hip fractures later in life.

Answer 2

Cow's Milk is too harsh on a baby and small child's system so the longer you can refrain from giving it to your child the better they will be. It also doesn't have the nutrients that formula has in it. Most formula's have stages of formula for your toddler so that they will still get the proper nutrients and vitamins that are in the formulas. Cow's milk can cause alergies too. The advice of your pediatrition is best for your baby because they have been seeing them all along, but if you want to stop formula for whatever reason, I suggest you use a different type of milk other than cow's milk. Goat's milk is very gentle on a child's tummy and usually doesn't cause alergies. Be sure that whatever you give them it is full of protein since a baby and young child need lots of that for building their strong bones that will carry them through life. I definitely would not take them off breast milk or formula before they are 12 months old. Most babies are still taking the bottle way into 18 mos to 2 years and rule of thumb is to keep them on formula until they are weened. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

At 8 months I started my son on half & half and made it stronger by the month, so that by age 1, it was all milk. My daughter however was only 4 months. I tried so many different formulas but everytime she would have a bottle, she would throw it right back up so I tried her on 4oz of milk & the rest water, she is now 1 & that hasn't changed.

Answer 4

I waited until the day after my sons 1st birthday. (I didn't want him to have an upset tummy at his party if he didn't take to the milk well.)

I started 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk for 3 days, then went down 1/4 formula and up 1/4 milk every 2 days until he was on all milk. He adjusted perfectly fine with no reactions at all.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

my dr told me to give my son 3 oz of whole milk and 7 oz. formula from the time he was 9 mths old. he has always been a big baby and the formula is pretty much calories to keep them growing and gaining weight.
really they arent supposed to get milk until they are 1, b/c of future health risks like food allergies, diabetes, etc etc... and milk is harder to digest for such a young tummy. it can cause gas, diarrhea, or upset stomach. there are proteins in the milk that babies can not digest easily.
my son has done fine w/ it. he turned 1 on wed and since then i have been giving him 2 bottles a day each w/ 7 oz milk and 3 oz formula.
i would check w/ the dr 1st to make sure what they think. each baby is different

Answer 6

You should wait until 1 year because there is not nearly enough iron in milk for a growing baby. Forumula or breast milk are the only things a baby needs until they are 1. The other reason is there is a lot of protein in milk, it can make the baby allergic if it is introduced too early.

Answer 7

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 8

My daughter was given a sippy cup with milk at 12 months and made the transition to sippy cup very well

I would not suggest mixing the milk with water or formula as this dilutes the whole milk content !!

Good Luck

Answer 9

I started both my kids a little before like 10-11 months. And yes I did mix it 1/2 formula and 1/2 milk, till they didnt like the taste of formula anymore and just wanted milk!

I think if your baby has a wide variety of other foods that they like and are getting enough nutrients that you will know when they are ready.

Good luck and remember that mom knows best, and all babies develop different.

Answer 10

You're supposed to wait until 1 year to help avoid giving the child a milk allergy.

However, my nephew's mom was lazy and wouldn't buy formula, she'd just give him whatever she had in the fridge (1/2%, koolaid, whatever), and he's fine so far at 18 mos. His bones aren't quite as strong, though, and formula's recommended because it has DHA and ARA and extra fats and more calories and all that.

If you've ever read the label, formula is mostly condensed milk and corn syrup. Add water (and remove corn syrup) and you have whole milk. Remove fat and you have 2% milk. It's just fat content that's different, really.