From boob to cow's milk

[mistressploppy]

DS is 9mo and breastfed, which I'd like to continue 'til he's one and can have 'normal' milk - ie bypass formula.

How does this work? Should I start giving full fat milk in a beaker once he's one and wait for him to drop feeds by 'don't offer, don't refuse' type method?

What have others done?

Hi mistressploppy

I don't have personal experience of this, but read a thread recently that might be of interest to you (while you're waiting for someone usefull to notice your post). It was called "normalising breastmilk" sorry i can't link as on my phone. It was really interesting imo...it may have slipped on to the next page now, but definatly worth looking at i'd say!

Good luck!

At 12 months I was only feeding am and pm and occassionally once in night.
Before bed would offer milk in cup. Would not take it until had a BF so did that then would take a few sips of cows milk. Never wanted cows milk in morning.
Gave up BF when DS 16 months. Still does not drink much cows milk. Sometimes 1/2 cup other times none at all in eve. Put lots on cereal and offer lots cheese, yogurt throughout the week.

Oh that's interesting, mum2. DS isn't very keen on bottles or sippy cups - takes minute sips of water and that's it. I wonder if he'll take milk at all from a cup, and part of me wants to try him now to find out, but they're not 'allowed' cow's milk as a drink until 12mo....

your DS might not have stopped feeding by then, but if you are planning to completely stop its a good idea to introduce it gradually. Does she have it on breakfast cereals and the like? I fed DS for 16 months and after that he hasnt bothered with milk really. He has it on cereal and a cup at bedtime, I just try to make sure he gets his calcium from cheese and yoghurt etc.

Yes katkouta, he has it on cereal etc. He eats EVERYTHING no problem so I don't expect he'll object to the taste, more the method of delivery.

How did you get fluids into your DS after weaning at 16mo?

I did introduce DD to a cup of cow's milk at 12months but it was only so that I knew she'd take something if I wasn't there.

MoonFaceMama Comment is intersting as before I had DD I hadn't though anything off it but now realise how odd it is that we drink another mamales milk and don't let our toddler drink human milk. A lot of culters around the world don't drink cows milk, you don't really need it as an addult.

Oh a note on how to get fluids in DD drank best from a straw cup. I've hurd a few BF mum's say this worked best to. You can get the one's with the value in the top so they don't have to suck the hole straw first.

I don't have direct experience but I imagine it would vary per child.

eg DD was having formula in a bottle aged 1 and I wanted to move her to cows milk from a beaker. She wouldn't touch the cows milk at all. First I got her used to the cows milk, this took several weeks of gradually watering down the formula with cows milk. Once she was happily drinking cows milk from a bottle, I changed the 7am and 2pm milk feed to a beaker. Once she was happily drinking these feeds from a beaker and switched the bedtime feed as well.

DS at 1 however was very happy to drink the cows milk from a bottle straight away but he would not accept the beaker at all. I let him have the bottle until 18 months and at that point I decided he was eating a full enough diet that it didn't matter if he didn't have any more milk.

Perhaps if he will not accept cows milk in a beaker give him expressed milk in a beaker and then once he's happy with that, mix it gradually etc?

He was drinking water by then but started very slowly. I was worried that he wouldn't ever drink at all! I dont think you have anything to worry about if he's a good eater, you can get the calcium in via food and he will start to drink more when he weans.