Milk for 1 year olds.....the options?

[dairymoo]

I have been exclusively BF (apart from weaning at 26 weeks!) my DTs who are now 11mo. They are currently having 3 feeds a day: morning, mid-afternoon and bedtime which I am very happy with. However, I plan to go back to work in the next month and will need to drop the mid-afternoon feed. DT1 is absolutely fine drinking cow's milk from a cup but DT2 is allergic to cow's milk (comes up in a red rash and hives around her mouth). She also reacts to cheese, yogurt, Goat's milk and hard Sheep's cheese. She seems to be fine with Sheep's yogurt and goat's cheese.

Both DTs have Rice Milk on their cereal which I can continue but I'm wondering what to do about ensuring she gets enough dairy - I don't really want to give her Sheep's yogurt more than once a day and Rice milk isn't that fattening or nutritious.

Also, I really don't want to continue BF for that much longer (14 mo would be ideal for me) - but if DT2 can't have any 'animal' milk, what can she have instead?? Do babies even need milk if they are eating balanced meals?

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Rice milk or just water when you go back to work, with bf morning and night.

Then either hypo-allergenic formula or less preferably rice/oat milk when you do give up bf altogether. Not as nutritious as bm, but ok as long as they are having a good solids diet too.

[GordonTheGopher]

I would get a hypoallergenic formula - got much better stuff in it than cows' milk alternatives e.g. soya.

Best one you can get is Neocate but gp's are reluctant to prescribe it as it is so expensive. DS is still on it and he's almost 2.4. It is horrible though and takes some getting used to - I mixed it with bm to start with.

[dairymoo]

Thanks for your quick replies. So they do actually need some form of milk? Not too keen on Neocate as I've heard it's pretty vile, and because of the cost.

Was hoping that someone would tell me that babies are fine without milk after about 14 months .

How long do they continue to need milk in addition to their food then?

[Seona1973]

from 1 year they need the equivalent of approx 350mls (about 12oz) of milk. This can be made up of milk in cereals, in foods, in cooking and other dairy products (or substitutes). This means not all (or any) needs to be in the form of a drink as they can get the same nutrients through their food.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Well there will be a few people who would argue that they don't need milk, but they would be a significant minority. This suggests that they really need it until at least 5, as they say that skimmed milk shouldn't be given before then.

You are right that hypoallergenic milks are pretty vile, but don't worry about the cost, as you should be able to get it on prescription.

Do you feel that strongly that you want to give up bf at 14 months, or could you carry on until dt2 has outgrown the intolerance?

[busymum1]

my dd2 on prosobee new milk out but seems effective, enfamil was rubbish

[welliemum]

Hi dairymoo

My dd1 is cows milk allergic, and she's never had any milk except breastmilk.

There's no law of nature that says human children MUST have the milk of another species - it's just that milk has lots of protein etc so it's useful nutrition for growing children.

I bf dd1 until she self-weaned at 19 months. Luckily she's one of those children who eat anything, so it was easy to give her calcium-rich foods.

dd2 loves her cup of cows milk so you can see I'm not anti-cows-milk - I just don't believe it's essential for every child.

Is there any way you could keep the breastfeeding going a little longer (even just a bedtime feed) or is that going to be too difficult? I found it very convenient not to have to faff about with special milk for dd1.

[CountTo10]

I think they suggest 3 dairy portions a day for protein & calcium more than anything else and both of these can be obtained through other foods. Have you thought about looking for some vegan websites that might give you some ideas?

[dairymoo]

CSWS - no, I don't personally feel strongly about giving up BF at 14mo but I am most probably going to have to go away with work for 7 days then and I think it might be easier for my DH and MIL if my DTs are used to a different kind of bedtime milk by then.

I'd actually happily BF them until they self-weaned but not sure that I can not BF for a week and manage to start again when I get back. I may be wrong though....has anyone ever tried this?

[dairymoo]

Welliemum - luckily my DTs eat about anything too so maybe just ensuring they have a nutrient-rich diet might do the trick?!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Might be worth a separate thread to ask if anyone's gone a week without feeding at that age dairymoo. I'm sure I've read posts from people going a few days without with no problems, but I've never done more than a weekend myself.

My dd won't accept me not bf'ing her at bedtime if I'm here, but if I'm out then she is surprisingly fine about having something else instead.

[dairymoo]

Good idea! Will start another thread now..

Thanks for all your replies anyway.