When to start introducing cow milk?

[Mareta]

DD is 1 year old now and she is still breastfeeding 3-4 times per day. I am not thinking of stopping breastfeeding at the moment as I have giving up work to look after her and I am not in a hurry. However I would like to know when I should start thinking on offering her cow's milk. She has cow's milk with her cereals in the morning and I am using it for cooking. I guess my question is is it necessary for me to offer her cow's milk instead of water with food for her to get used to the taste? I just don't have a clue of how to do it and I am looking for other people experiences of how they have done it. My friends all have bottle feed and they cannot really help me because they started to mix formula with cow's milk till it just was cow's milk in the bottle.

Thank you in advance.

you could just offer a beaker of milk along with a snack if you really want her to drink it just now. If you are continuing to breastfeed then its not essential that she drinks cows milk at all. I never mixed formula and cows milk - I offered it straight up - neither of mine seemed to notice the difference

Thanks seona. She does not seem to drink that much during the day to be honest. She will have water with her food at lunch and dinner time and then she will have breastfeeds if she fancy a drink. She has started asking for it at the moment.

Thanks anyway for your comment

She doesn't need to drink cows' milk if you aren't planning on stopping bfing.

If you are looking to stop bfing you still don't need to introduce cows' milk unless she has a restricted diet that is lacking in calcium and fats and she will not eat any calcium rich food or fatty foods.

I started to introduce cows milk at about this age. But not everyday, just sometimes as a drink with a snak. Like you I didn't really need to as had given up work, but just wanted the peace of mind that she would take it if I wasn't there.

DD was quit happy to drink the odd cup but hasn't really started to drink it regualy untill we stop BF at about 3years. Not sure if she really needs it now to be honist but she does like it.

Thank you all for your replies. I will try and give her some with her snacks and see what happens.