Moving to cows milk

[MrsD1992]

Hi looking for some advice please!

I breastfeed my 11 month old and express some milk for his dad to put him to bed once a week with a bottle so that I can put my daughter to bed. I want to be able to put her to bed more than once a week so I get more one on one time with her and increase the amount my son has a bottle, but with my milk being so established I don’t have much extra milk anymore. Can you give whole milk in a bottle for bed? I know you’re meant to wait until they are 12 months but read it’s ok to transition them to drinking whole milk before 12 months.
Anyone done similar? Thanks in advance!

Where are you reading that it us an ok drink before 12 months? Dont think that is the NHS guidance. Formula would be fine. (1st milk). Or pump more often?

Wouldn't it be easier to just drop the bedtime bottle entirely, assuming feeding is going well and you would be getting rid of bottles at 12m anyway? You could do a final breastfeed in the evening, downstairs, while reading to DD. Then everybody does teeth and goes to bed.

There is new guidance from WHO that cows milk can replace formula from 6 months https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/healthreport/cows-milk-infant-formula-who-babies/103745814

That being said at 11 months is look at other methods for Dad to settle a you are meant to stop bottles at 12 months anyway

@takealettermsjones my little girl had a bottle until 18 months and then transitioned to a sippy cup. There’s no rule you have to stop the bottle the day of their 1st birthday! If I did however stop the bottle and get my husband to put him to bed without I’m not sure he would settle that way as he usually has his milk/breastfeed in his room and falls asleep in our arms

@DrJump I know it is recommended that you stop bottles at 12 months but many people don’t I didn’t with my little girl she was 18 months before we transitioned her to a sippy cup as that’s what worked for us. Thank you for that information link I’ll take a look

I would buy some ready made bottles of formula. Dad can warm it up and use that. No need to worry about 1 bottle a night at 11 months old! Especially if it’s part of the routine and helps baby get a good nights sleep.

Following with interest!

I've just had to start pumping as going back to work when mine is 11.5 months, he breastfeeds like a fiend still. I was worried about getting enough but I've found it really helps if I just keep feeding from one side for several hours then pump the untouched side (I get a lot more out). Also helps if I feed him from the side I'm not pumping, while pumping!

I have a friend who said something about starting her 11 month old trying watered down cows milk, more water than milk then upping the ratio of milk as she didn't want to pump or give formula. Not saying that's recommended and I don't totally understand the method but I have heard of it.

As long as it's not their main drink, then cow's milk at this point is fine. You do need to be stricter about teeth brushing before sleep though.

If she's never had formula before, I wouldn't bet on her starting to take it now tbh, it doesn't exactly taste good. Plus it often takes a few weeks for a baby to accept new tastes by which time she'll be 12 months old anyway.

The reason cows milk is cautioned against is that it is lower in fat, and other nutrients (and protein I think, but can't remember) than breast milk. So it is not a meal replacement for breast milk until they're eating well on other foods and no longer as reliant on breast milk/formula.

If you feel your child is eating well and doesn't need the breast milk at night for sustenance then I'd try cows milk, particularly if they were 11.5 months onwards. It may take a couple of weeks to get her to adjust anyway. It's not like their bodies magically change overnight at 12 months. It might not work at they start waking up in the night to feed. So then you'll have to go back to breastfeeding/formula until they're ready

Good point about teeth brushing though! Bottles are supposed to be before teeth brushing, whereas boob can be after (I'd love to see the science on that though tbh)

@ridl14 good idea about only feeding from the one side and pumping on the other so more comes out I may try that! Yes I’ve also heard about watered down cows milk, also heard you could do half breast milk and half cows milk so they still have the taste of the breast milk while getting used to whole milk so that’s an option too!

I have a friend who said something about starting her 11 month old trying watered down cows milk, more water than milk
This would be an even weaker nutritional profile!

At 11 months, I think it’s totally fine to start the shift to cow’s milk for one feed a day. It’s not like they spontaneously combust if you give them a cup of milk but not a yoghurt.

I started by swapping out 10ml every couple days from 11 months, so was only a little bit of cow’s milk in each cup/bottle. I’d do that slowly over the next month. By 12 months, that cup will be switched over to cow’s milk.

It would for sure! Friend is a nurse but not a midwife/paediatric etc. She said it was to get them used to cows milk being denser or heavier in their tummy as a drink, something like that!

Anyway happy to say pumping is working for me and I was really worried about it! Still breastfeeding away but LO just doesn't have anywhere near as much milk when I'm not there apparently.

I would just stop the bottles at this point. I also ebf my dd and I stopped feeding to sleep at 12 months. Her dad takes her up and just cuddles her to sleep.

Dd is 14 months now and still doesn't like cows milk, despite offering it in a cup twice a day 🤷‍♀️.