Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Moving to cows milk aged 1

31 replies

isItruined · 26/01/2019 14:05

Been reading a lot and family have suggested to move ds (just turned 1) to cows milk and solids totally rather than bf and solids

I think WHO recommends bf till 2 doesn’t it? But then on my parenting app it came up about after the age of 1 cows milk is nutritionally fine.
Then I wondered if bf is recommended to 2 why is formula not?
Also I know with formula you can stay on first milk till 1 there’s no need for follow on but actually follow on is cheaper so is there a place for it after 1? Surely if bf is best till 2 then formul is better till 2 as well instead of cows milk??
I’m just a bit confused and also a bit irritated that it’s been said to me like bf after 1 is the ‘wrong’ thing to do ?

If I was going to cut down I’d rather introduce some kind of formula

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 26/01/2019 14:09

Bf is recommended until 2 because in some countries they don’t have clean water so bf is safer.

DannyWallace · 26/01/2019 14:10

The only reason follow on milk exists is because it's illegal to advertise 1st formula milk. So, by inventing a follow on milk it means the companies get their names out there.

But yes. Cows milk is nutritionally fine from now, and there is no reason to continue buying formula after that age.

However. I would say if BF is going well to continue with it. As far as I'm aware, there have been studies to show it is still helpful for a child's immune system.
However if you and baby WANT to move on, cows milk is fine

hidinginthenightgarden · 26/01/2019 14:10

No point swapping from breast milk to formula when nutritionally they are about the same but one is £££

SnuggyBuggy · 26/01/2019 14:13

I think it's more that if you are FF you can stop faffing with the sterilising and buying expensive formula and just give cows milk. Likewise some people really hate BF and count down the days until they can just have cows milk.

If you are happy BF then it's fine to continue

Tinty · 26/01/2019 14:13

You can carry on BF until 2, 3 or whenever you want. The guidelines are that it is safe to move to Cows milk at 1. Some people use follow on milk until their baby is older some people move to cows milk.

It is cheaper to give cows milk than follow on milk and as it is suitable for a baby over 1 why not?

My DS was BF until 19 months but as he got older breastfeeding just happened in the morning and evening, so I could finally wear normal tops again because he just gradually reduced the need for breast milk when he was eating proper food, and he had milk or water in a cup if we were out.

BendingSpoons · 26/01/2019 14:14

Formula has added nutrients that are not needed once you are one and eating solids. Breastmilk 'responds' to the child's needs e.g. if they are ill, so has benefits beyond one. Definitely carry on if you are happy to, but obviously fine to stop if you aren't.

PerfectlyPetty · 26/01/2019 14:16

Nutritionally, cows milk is enough after one - no need for formula.

Bf carries other benefits past one that formula doesn’t.

JellyBears · 26/01/2019 14:23

Combine Brest milk and cows milk. Follow on milk is a market ploy to sell formula.

Original poster
isItruined · 26/01/2019 14:30

I feel like it’s also a generation thing my parents and PIL saying “oh time to move to cows milk now just like we did with our children”

OP posts:
AlmostAlwyn · 26/01/2019 14:32

There isn't a reason to stop breastfeeding at 1 unless you want to. Nutritionally, obviously it's designed specifically for humans so it's going to be the best option out of the three, so if you're fine continuing then go for it!

As your baby starts to get more mobile there are also many other benefits to breastfeeding which will assist along the way - instant comfort and pain relief for bumps and falls for a start!

As PP said, follow-on milk was created to get around laws on advertising milk for infants, which is prohibited. So there's no actual need for it at all. Formula is basically cow's milk with an added vitamin and mineral complex (which differs depending on the manufacturer), so after 1, it's fine to just give cow's milk as baby will be getting additional vitamins and minerals from a varied diet.

I also think that it wouldn't be ok to say "formula until 2" as many would take that as "bottle feed until 2" but formula milk in bottles (especially to go to sleep) after 1 is bad for babies teeth as the milk pooling around the teeth can cause tooth decay.

Peppainblanket · 26/01/2019 14:36

I planned to switch to cows milk in the daytime for DS when I returned to work (12mo) he had other ideas and only really took to it around 18mo. I still bf for nap/bedtime, but was happy to continue as long as it suited us both.

moreismore · 26/01/2019 14:37

So so many reasons to keep bf. Have a look at kellymom.com.

Bank this advice with rusks at 4 months ‘so they sleep through’. Well-meaning but if it’s time. Like slim-fast shakes!

NCjustforthisthread · 26/01/2019 14:40

I gave cows milk at 1 but carried on and bf until 2.

DramaticGoose · 26/01/2019 14:44

I still bf my 3 year old... I'll stop when he's ready to, and he's clearly not ready yet. So we'll keep going.

Deadbudgie · 26/01/2019 14:49

You have to remember WHO guidelinesxcover tge whole world. In some countries without clean drinking water and pasteurised milk it is better to continue BF.

In the uk with clean water, pasteurised milk and high hygiene levels cows milk if fine after 1. If you like BF no need to stop as it’s free and convenient but there is no need to keep going.

EyeDrops · 26/01/2019 14:51

It doesn't have to be either/or. I continued BF till past 2, but gave the odd cup of cows milk when it was easier too after 1.

Jimjamjong · 26/01/2019 14:56

BF is encouraged at least until 2. Around here, pediatricians recommend formula until 3 (there is a very low breastfeeding rate).
Mine had both, BF and I offered cow's milk or formula in a cup after 1 but they never wanted the cow's milk or formula.

DontFundHate · 26/01/2019 14:58

Yes the WHO guidelines cover the whole world but the fact remains the same, it is best for mother and baby to continue bf alongside solids (and cow's milk etc). The advice is the same no matter where you live.

JellyBears · 26/01/2019 14:58

My boss breastfed before bed and when she awoke in the morning and then she had cows milk in the day.

JellyBears · 26/01/2019 14:59

Sorry I meant to say until 18 months.

Blueblueyellow · 26/01/2019 14:59

Op if breastfeeding is working for you both don't stop! 1 is still a baby!! And think of this, you will stop breastfeeding and give your baby the milk meant for a baby calf... Milk that the calf won't get because they are taken from their mother's. You can say that to whoever ask why your DC is still breastfeeding,i found it works a treat!

Lizadork · 26/01/2019 15:02

Most of the breastfeeder I know stopped stopped around the 2 year mark - better to have human milk than cow's milk/formula. If happy to continue then do it.

WHO recommend breastfeeding for 2 years and beyoned. There are children as old as 7 or 8 still being breastfed because there is no maximum age. It's the adult teeth that normally force weaning in older children who breastfeed, changes the shape of the mouth and the effectiveness of the latch.

AvoidingMarking · 26/01/2019 15:09

I think with things like cereal for breakfast cows milk is easier than expressing. But no need to stop feeding unless you want to.

The guidelines are till two, regardless of the country you live in because there is still nutritional benefit in breast milk. As well as emotional/psychological ones for mother and baby for longer than 1 year, it's just that cows' milk is safe after 1.

mayathebeealldaylong · 26/01/2019 15:12

My lo didn't like the sma follow on stage 2 at all, he basically stopped drinking his bottle and he can have up to 8 in 24 hours.
There's a reason it's cheaper it's gross.

Oysterbabe · 26/01/2019 15:14

My boss breastfed before bed and when she awoke in the morning and then she had cows milk in the day.
That's one way to get a promotion.

My DS is 13 months. Like OP's boss, he has cow in the day and breast in the evening as I'm back at work now.