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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Can I give my 9mnth old cows milk to drink?

14 replies

gillyweed · 28/01/2013 09:36

My 9 month old daughter is ebf, we've done blw and she's a great little eater - doesn't drink quite enough water but we're persisting and I'm still feeding her on demand.

The problem is I have to go back to work soon and need to start leaving her with our childminder, I can't ever go out as I also have to always make sure I'm home to feed first and last thing of the day- What do I leave her with as a breast milk replacement?

I have tried expressing lots since she was born but I appear to be in the lucky few who get less than 50mls out of both sides in a day... (I doubt I'd get that these days!) We've offered formula repeatedly (when I've had to leave her etc) but she hardly drinks any... can i offer cows milk as a one-off here and there, definitely not on a regular basis?!

She's on 3 meals a day plus fruit snacks, some days only has morning and evening feed, some days a bit more. We offer water in a Tommy tippee sippee cup and formula in a medella bottle (came with pump -did drink ebm from it previously).

By the time she is at the childminder full time she will be 12 months so cows milk won't be a problem, its just random days here and there, occasionally.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

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gillyweed · 28/01/2013 09:38

sorry It's so long!

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 28/01/2013 09:42

As its not being used as a main drink I don't see u cows milk or water would be a problem. By 9months alot of babies just feed in the morning and evening.

Just give a yogurt with lunch to make it up. :)

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 28/01/2013 09:48

Obviously that depends on if your baby has had milk though that hasn't been cooked. If she's used to cooked milk I'd just give water if she copes with milk from the fridge poured on cereal cold and can cope with it then a cup of milk shouldn't hurt given its an addition not a replacement

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gillyweed · 28/01/2013 14:18

Ahhhh thank you for the reply! My gut says its ok, everything i read says the opposite! Probably just over thinking it!

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 28/01/2013 14:57

Cows milk is not suitable as a main drink before a year but if they otherwise wouldn't be having anythin as your at work and you will be feeding morning and evening and night , then whether they have anythin in the afternoon or not it doesn't really matter. U can make it up with food so water or milk should be fine of its just once a day. Dd1 only has one bottle a day at none months in the evening. The rest came from milk in cereal and dairy products :)

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 28/01/2013 14:57

Only had lol

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/01/2013 14:59

Both if mine had cows milk to drink while I was at work at 20 monts and then bf when I picked them up, bedtime and morning.

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MrsHuxtable · 28/01/2013 15:11

No, not as a drink. Fine in moderate amounts on cereal or in cooking.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 28/01/2013 15:15

Yes, you can do that. However, it is probably better to mostly just offer water with meals when the baby is left, and catch up with BF in the mornings and evenings.

If the baby is relying on cows milk as sole source of nutrition, then that can become a problem, but as a small part of a balanced diet it is fine.

Does she drink out of a cup?

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gillyweed · 28/01/2013 17:00

hmmm we've not tried her with a cup - maybe she would take more formula from a cup?!

Or maybe she just doesn't drink that much but I can only tell what she's getting when i pour a carton of milk into a bottle - I never worry she isn't getting enough when its my milk!

I think we will try water during the day at the childminder's and on the odd occasion cows milk if really needed.

thank you for all the replies!

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SamSmalaidh · 28/01/2013 17:03

Yes, fine as an occasional drink but not a "main drink" - I wouldn't give it every day or as a breastmilk replacement at this age though. Remember that 3oz is a full feed to a breastfed baby too, don't expect her to down 7oz of formula!

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Jellybellyrbest · 29/01/2013 22:00

Hi Gilly! My 9MO DD takes formula from her sippy cup when I'm at work. Some days it's 2-3 oz while I'm away (9-6 or 8-1) some days it's 5oz, though never all at once. So it really varies, but I'm assuming that because she accepts even that much, if she wanted more she'd take it.

When I'm at home she's BF and also eats her solids really well......

Sam; why is 3oz a full feed for a BF baby?! Rings true as none of my DD EVER drank more than 2-3 oz formula and my mum was always horrified!

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SamSmalaidh · 29/01/2013 22:25

Breastfed babies take on average 25oz a day from the breast - because the composition of breastmilk changes as they get older (more fat) they don't have to drink increasing amounts like a ff baby does (because formula is always the same). So, breastfed babies are used to having small, frequent feeds of 3ish-oz a time - their stomachs aren't used to chugging 7oz in one go.