Cows Milk @ 10 months?

[naturemum]

Hi there - Am considering weaning my ds 10months old and a recent thread has prompted me to post this on it's own to see response on giving cows milk instead of going onto formula for daytime feeds.

Am currently exclusively b/feeding my DS. He has cows milk in breakfast and have given him a taster in his cup. He likes it - a lot.

At 10 months is it really necessary to use formula?

Please help!

[liquidclocks]

Although formula is based on cows milk it is significantly modified to help babies digest it. Personally I would use formula up to 12 months but this might really be a question for your health visitor. If you're not willing to use formula maybe it would be best to put off weaning for another couple of months if it is to be a 'main' drink? As I understand it if you give them food in their diet that their digestive system isn't ready for you're more likely to get allergic reactions, eczema, asthma etc. Not worth the risk for the sake of a few months imo. sorry.

[Medulla]

I agree with liquidclocks I would (and have) hold off until 1 year

[Astrophe]

we weaned gradually from 10 1/2 months (finished bf completely at 14) and dd went onto cows as didn't like formula. but i know this is not advised so better not advise you to do it!

[vickiyumyum]

your choice really. i can't see what harm cows milk can do if you know of no history of allergies etc in the family. if only had b/f until now it seems a shame to start on formula now.

wish i had managed to last so long b/f but at 4 months lucy is now formula feeding due to several setbacks to b/f after she was born. broken ribs for me and having to have a scan on my lungs which involved radiation so no b/f for 48 hours and then failed to establish a great supply so 10 months is something to proud of. i would use your own judgement.

[cece]

Think my friend did this as her ds didn't like formula so gave him cows milk from about 10 months. Or it may have been 11 months. I have always waited till 12 months myself.

[Quootiepie]

I had a lengthy chat ith HV about this... babies cant digest with cows milk before 12m, only when accompanied with food.

[naturemum]

Thanks for all your advise - I just wonder how much a babies digestive changes within two months and how come all babies on their 1st birthday can all of a sudden digest cows milk!?? Considering we (humans!) are all so different isn't this guideline put in place on the greater side of caution to prevent even younger babies being feed cows milk?



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[Astrophe]

actually they are my thoughts exactly, and my HV type person in Australia thought the same. But are you going to completetely wean or go gradually? Perhaps all cows milk all of a sudden at 10 mos might cause an upset tum??

[naturemum]

I think I will still give a morning and night time feed as b/f so really at his age he shouldn't be needing a great deal of milk during the day. It would probably replace the afternoon feed mainly and any time that he was being looked after by anyone other than myself.

[kiskidee]

i should think giving whole milk is fine. surely we are feeding them cheese and yoghurt, they can also digest cow's milk which is the same stuff, just less concentrated.

[MrsBadger]

I think if you're still giving a morning and evening bf and the cows' milk is just for the afternoon feed you should be ok.

Obviously nothing magic happens to the gut on the night they turn one, but, as with all the other guidelines, this is the age by which most babies are ready to cope with cows' milk as a main drink.

Shifting the average baby to cows'-milk-only between 6 and 12mo runs the risk of them actually being undernourished as it's harder to digest than either bm or formula, and at this age they're still getting used to solids rather than gaining their primary sustenance from them.