At what month did your baby switch over to WHOLE MILK and Table Food?

Question

I took in my son for his 9 month old check up and his pediatrician told me to switch him over to whole milk and start giving him table food at 10 months. I was shocked to hear this, especially of the milk. I heard that Whole milk is started at 12 months. His pediatrician said that my son was ready for the switch. I guess I will then.

• I am just curious to know if any one switch over at 10 months, 12 months or maybe even earlier or older.

Answer 1

My daughter started drinking whole milk around 11 months or so. She was completely off a bottle by 12 months so may have been a little earlier. Also, here's a healthy tip to ease the switch for your son. Try mixing a little vanilla yogurt in the milk - just enough to add a little flavor (but not too much). Formula and breast milk are sweeter than whole milk, generally, so the yogurt just gives milk a little extra kick. My daughter is 3.5 now and loves to drink milk - even without chocolate! And she loves yogurt, which is always a good healthy snack any time of day.
As for table foods, my daughter started on gerber rice cereal when she was 4 weeks old (against doctor's orders). It was the only I could get her to sleep more than 45 minutes! When she started baby food around 3 months or so, I liked to give her a bite or two of yogurt or applesauce. As she got older, I tried Oatmeal (which she does'nt like now). And bananas are a great starter food because they are easy to chew. Be careful with grapes because they can be a choking hazard. Raisins are also great!
Finally, I would like to think that your child's doctor knows what he's tlaking about. If you're really worried about it, you could always get a second opinion, but I think you'll hear the same thing.

Enjoy your son while he's still young. They grow up way too quick. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I switched my daughter when she was 1 year. (on her birthday) If I were you I would definitely ask why your pediatrician thinks he is 'ready' before you do the switch. 10 months I would think is a little early. There is no rush. Of course 10 months is only 2 months shy of 1 year. It isn't crucial to wait. But is highly recommended. Mostly for the digestive problems. And that babies under a year have a higher chance of allergic reaction. Also cows milk is not the cleanest stuff in the world, a babies immune system needs to be protected. I would for sure, find out why he decided this before you go ahead with it. Sometimes doctors need to have a question or 2 thrown at them before they realize that it may not be a good idea. I would also do some searches and see what comes up... How many teeth does your baby have? If not many, than he won't be able to chew certain 'table foods' So you would need to make sure he can get the nutrition he needs in more 'mushy foods' Protein, Calcium, etc... Good luck with everything and always try to be more informed than your doctor! ;-) You should also know that a doctor will not give two people with the same circumstances the same answers if one is more informed than the other. I have found this out myself from experience of 'acting uninformed' then switching to informed mode and shocking the doctor completely.

Answer 3

I heard that I should switch at 12 months to whole milk from my pediatrician. And that's what we did.
Table food was started much earlier, I think even earlier than 9 months. Just some of our table foods of course, and often not spiced/too spicy.

Answer 4

I started baby food at 5 months. I started table foods around 9 months. I waited until my children were almost a year before I gave them milk. And I also put their milk in a sippy cup. Even before I took their bottle away. It made it easier for them when they had to give up their bottles.

Answer 5

My doctor told me WHY you shouldn't give your child cow milk until 12 months old. He said that by then it becomes possible for the child to digest the milk properly. In formula there is a little bit of dried cow milk which is modified for your baby to be able to digest it. Cow milk is very dense and contains different properties, if you give your child cow milk too earlier the child may have an allergic reaction to it.

And something he said about baby food was that the earlier you start your child on baby food the greater the chance for the child to have food allergies. When your child is ready for baby food they will start loosing their sucking reflex, which generally happens at about 4 months of age.

If your doctor thinks your child can handle it then fine, but watch out for any adverse reactions.

And when it comes to baby food, my son's pediatrician also gave me a food plan. That told me when he reaches 4 months of age I can start him on infant powered rice cereal. Do that for a couple of weeks alone so that his body can get used to digesting something besides the formula. This will ensure that he wont get cramps and lots of gas when beginning on baby food.

When it's time for baby food my son's doctor said that you must only feed him mushy vegetables and cereal for a while until he sits on his own. This will make sure that he will not become addicted to the sweet fruits and not want to eat any of the vegetables. When children sit up on their own it is a good indicator that they are ready for fruits and fruit juices. It's how the time line actually works out. 4 months you start with cereal, 4 months and 2 weeks you start with baby veggies that are bland. Then you work your way up to more complicated veggies like carrots which are sweeter. Doing that for about a month or two until your child sits up by them self, then you slowly start bringing in blander fruits one at a time. Babies generally start sitting up by themselves between 5-6 months of age.

And be careful about giving him table food, make sure it's easy to digest and cut up very small. Really you should still be giving him simple foods so that he doesn't become addicted to things that are spicy, fatty, salty, and sweet. It's still a new tummy and reacts differently than our adult tummies do. By 10 months it's OK to give him table foods that are like finger foods. Steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, stuff like that.

Answer 6

My baby girl is 9 months old and we are transitioning her to whole milk by mixing it in her formula. She is also being introduced table foods and LOVES it!! I think your son will be fine if you go ahead and switch him, especially with your pediatrician giving you the go ahead. You might wanna ask about vitamins.

Answer 7

i started giving my daughter whole milk at around 9 months but would water it down a little and every second bottle was a formular and by about 11months i just gave her milk she started eatting a few solids at aroun 4months and by 12 she was eatting 5 meals a day. but it all depends on your child you can try and if it dosnt work for him just go back

Good luck

Answer 8

WOW. Your pediatrician is a moron! Seriously! Lactose allergies are one of the most common allergies for children and adults alike! They tell you NOT to start whole milk until 12 months, specifically for that reason!

I'd talk to a different pediatrician. I'm going to wait even a little past 12 months because I'm completely paranoid because my husband (daughter's daddy) is lactose intolerant, and I don't want her to suffer that.

As for table food, I've always made my daughter's food. As long as it's cut into pieces small enough for baby to gum, but not choke on, you can give it to him. :)

Answer 9

I never really listened to my doctors about certain things. I listened to my grandmother, she raised 6 plus me and we were all healthy. We started giving my daughter milk and table food around 7 months....Not to mention, cereal at 2 months ( the Doctors said 6-8 months). Shorty after that she started walking (8 1/2 months old)..It all depends on the progress and maturity of your baby and what you think, based on your own experience, his or her digestive system will be able to handle.

Answer 10

whole milk -- 1 year

table food -- depends on teeth, but about 1 year

You Should Wait Until At Least 4 Months

Your baby is not physically ready to eat solid foods until he is around 4 months old. Although your mother or grandmother will strongly disagree, saying that she gave her babies solids when they were only 2 weeks old, there are several reasons to wait at least 4 months before starting your baby on solid foods.