Cow's Milk

[pinkfizzle]

Could I introduce cow's milk at 11 months to an ebf baby who will not take bottles or any type of formula, and has never slept longer than 7 hours at a stretch?

I would like to give up breastfeeding as I am finding I am too tired from the lack of sleep.

I know the recommendation is 12 months, but I'm sure there isn't a huge difference in say giving it a week early, so maybe a month would be ok. You know your baby best.

FWIW I was on cows milk from 6 weeks as I was allergic to formula apparently. But I did have horrendous exzema as a result.

i'm sure if you have used cows milk in DCs food you'll know by now if there is an intolerance.

Good luck, you have done so well! :)

Thank you Lola.

I was wondering if say one cup a day could somehow replace a bf at first.

I am exhausted and I really do need some sleep.

Usually I only get 3-4 hours at a stretch.

The recommendation is 12 months but both dc1 and dc2 got it earlier than this.I think that they recommend formula until 12 months because it has added iron but IMO my dc were eating a really well balanced diet and didn't need the extra iron.DC2 was bf until then and I didn't want to have to get her onto formula and then off it almost straight away. If your baby isn't sleeping too well then maybe you should try and get more food down her during the day,maybe more protein . I did this with dc2 at 8 months and she statred sleeping better .

Thanks Loo - my baby eats a great deal, and does have a balanced diet.
.

pinkfizzle, go ahead. Try the one cup a day, it certainly won't do your DC any harm. and as looloo says no point in starting formula to stop.

I know how you feel but you have done amazingly well, i've just stopped feeding DD2 this week at 5 months as i just couldn't function anymore with the lack of sleep!

Hope you can start getting some sleep! :)

Cows milk is not recommended as a main drink before 12 months. I would suggest that a cup or two of milk, while continuining to BF is absolutely fine - breastmilk is still the main drink for your baby.

DS is still breastfeeding at 20m and I started offering a few bits of cows milk in a cup at 10/11m, he has a good amount on his cereal but still only has an inch or so in a beaker now and then.

Thank you - it is just I want to cut down a few feeds a day.

My baby seems fine without anything when in nursery.

However, 5 hours tends to be the longest gone without a breastfeed.

I'd go for it then, much easier to slop a bit of milk in a cup than faff about with formula and then find she doesn't want it all.