Introducing cow's milk

[livingstonebach]

Can anyone advise please? I've heard conflicting and confusing advice on this.

My daughter is coming up for 12 months. She is breastfed in the evening and through the night when she wakes (which is a lot!). The only fluid she has currently during the day is water.

I understand that I should be giving her whole cow's milk from 12 months. I don't want to stop breastfeeding yet, so don't want to replace these feeds, and as she doesn't have follow on milk or anything during the day, it seems a bit odd to be suddenly offering her milk. Unless toddlers need the extra calories?

Any advice gratefully received...

You can give cow's milk (instead of formula) you don't have to. Breastmilk is still the best milk for her.

If she's feeding a lot at night then she probably doesn't need additional milk.

Agree with MoonUnitAlpha. You don't have to give her cow's milk, although if it was me I would probably start giving her a bit to get used to it (assuming you'll want to give her cow's milk whenever you stop breastfeeding, again, you don't have to).

My MW breastfed her DCs to 2yo, and knowing I want to do this too made sure I knew that cows milk/follow on formula dont HAVE to be given, as the adverts may suggest, BM is still best. And continues to be FREE!!

Thank you all for your advice.

Was worrying that she was somehow going to miss out, which is stupid really. Thanks for clarifying.