Introducing Cows Milk - advice please

[Thenadish]

My 9 month old is breastfed and weaning well. She still breastfeeds on demand and I have no plans to change this. She currently has 3-5 breastfeeds a day.

Since introducing solids (around 5 months as a slow taster), post 6 months she is eating well with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day - I am finding it harder to express milk for her. Plus it takes longer (and I get max 50ml from both sides) and she is more wriggly. I have a stash in the freezer built up but it is going to be used up and I can't see myself replacing it...anyway I'm reluctant to intro formula and wondered if/ when I can offer her circa 60ml of cows milk as a drink in the night when the stash runs out and I want to have a drink / a night off...thoughts?

I dont know if it matters / is relevant but she has ready brek or weetabix for brekkie most days, and oats with yoghurt a couple times a week so seems fine with dairy....

[NannyR]

nhs advice is that they should have breastmilk or formula as their main milk drink until twelve months, but you can give cows milk as part of their food, on cereal or in sauces for example.

[mimiholls]

12 months. It is not a complete source of nutrition as a main drink before that.

[Lelly78]

You definitely "should" replace your milk with formula. However my thriving 9 month old won't drink formula so after some research and lots of soul searching she has cows milk at nursery and is breastfed the rest of the time. No idea if that's right but she sends to be doing OK

[Thenadish]

Thanks all. I guess what I'm wondering is if a glass of cows milk a week is ok for her to have? We are also away for a while soon and won't have the same formula there as here so thought cows milk for the odd drink might be ok.

@lelly78 that's interesting and not the first time I have heard that. Glad she is thriving - that's probably the best marker you have that all is well! X

[Caterina99]

I am in no way a medical professional, just a parent of a toddler, but I'd personally say that if she'll drink cows milk then the odd glass isn't going to do any harm at all.

I'd say if you were replacing a feed a day or more then I'd go for formula, but for random one offs then I doubt it'll make much difference. You have to get her to actually drink it of course...

[Breadwidow]

I'm confused by your post - are you exclusively expressing (hats off to you if you are) or dies she have milk direct from you but you need to express some for when you are away from her (at work etc)? If the latter, she will be fine with no milk if it's for a few hours. I went back to work when DD was only 7 months. I pumped for a while but by 9 months pumped less (wasn't getting much) and some days she had no ebm. I wanted to avoid formula and got advice from LLL, they reassured me she'd be ok with solids and water during the day. I was sceptical but she was find & my
Supply was too as I was still feeding her myself morning & evening (and loads in the night but the less said about that the better!)

[Breadwidow]

Should add I started giving her cows milk when she was 1, maybe a few weeks before

[Thenadish]

Thank you

Yes sorry Breadwidow I wasn't clear. I'm bf-I got and have been expressing for the odd night off or when I'm not there.

Caterina99 yes there is that of course!

[Breadwidow]

I think then you can def stop pumping and also not give formula. The odd drink of cows milk will probably be fine - it's not harmful but lacks some of the nutrition needed and hence not recommended but as it's only for the odd feed she will be fine. However, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't drink the cows milk. My kids refused it for a while and only started drinking it in any significant volume when they were at least 18 months. If she has no milk at all but there's food and water she'll be fine too, you can avoid formula if you want to.

[Thenadish]

Thanks @breadwidow I think that's good advice and super helpful ❤️