An odd question, but cow's milk instead of water for a 7 month old?

[gaelicsheep]

Just wondering really. To cut a long story short I'm back at work next week, DD will be going without breastmilk from 7am to 4pm. She won't take it from bottle or cup. At the moment the plan is to give her plenty of dairy in her food, water to drink at lunch and make up the feeds in the evening and night (oh joy!)

But I got to thinking, is there really any reason for her not to drink a little cow's milk (1 or 2oz) instead of water - assuming she would? I get that it is low in iron, high in protein, unsuitable as a main drink, etc. etc. But can it actually do any harm in such small quantities, alongside all her usual milk? At least it contains plenty of calcium which is one of my concerns. I know I could give formula but I don't want to.

I'd just be interested in opinions and pointers to research articles. Thanks.

I should say, she is eating a wide range of food very well.

No, it will not harm her. Cows milk is fine after six months as an occasional drink and in cooking - it's not suitable as a 'main drink' until a year, that's all :)

Terrific - thanks Tiktok!

It would be fine, would not do harm... but why not give formula instead, which is modified cows milk? One of them comes in half sized boxes, and it could be used on cereal in food etc.

I guess it all depends on how much breastmilk you think she's getting and how her solids are going.

yes, i'm intrested to know why no formula as well.

Do not know if you were interested but there are laws (in england do not know about abroad) which say women who breastfeed are allowed time from work to either express or feed their babies. I realise you may not be in the position to do this but wanted to let you know. This link will hopefully take you to an NHS leaflet on breastfeeding at work I kept it to one side just incase my work were not supportive lucky for me they were though. Hope it all goes well :)

www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/en/materialforclients/downloads/leaflet_4.pdf

Formula is a processed food full of all kinds of "stuff". What I recently read about the amount of undigestible iron that sits in the gut feeding bacteria is just one example, and it makes me even more uncomfortable about it. Plus there's the hassle of making it up, sterilising, all that stuff. It's damned expensive and I don't want to give those companies my custom.

I was having cow's milk as a main drink at this age. The advice has changed and I wouldn't do this, but why give a highly processed manufactured product when she can just have a little milk if needed?

I saw your post on the other thread Bella. She won't take my milk from a bottle or a cup and I really can't be bothered perservering. I'd rather finish earlier and feed her then rather than waste time at work expressing.

Foreverondiet - her solids are going great. She's eating a wide range of fruit, veg, dairy products, meat, fish, cereals and bread, etc. I'm not too concerned about her nutrient intake and I know she'll still be feeding at night!

this if an interesting comparison of human milk, cow's mil and formula.

Wow, they're fascinating pictures.

(Saw your question on sleep, gaelic & will pop back tonight hopefully - off to work now.)

Having failed to keep BFing going when I went back to work I think it might not be a bad plan to fit a quick expression session halfway though your work day, say just 15 mins in total because:

a) it will help to preserve supply
b) it will make it easier to feed at weekends directly
c) the expressed milk can be used on cereal etc

Trouble is Forever that it takes up to 15 mins sometimes for me to get a letdown. I can see your point though. I'll perhaps see how it goes.

gaelic, you've probably thought of this, but have you tried different pumps / hand expression? I only ask because I often struggled to get any milk with my Medela mini pump, then happened to try an Avent manual one and was amazed by the difference - I got a really fast letdown with that one.

Slow letdown when pumping can be improved, for some, by relaxation techniques, or visualisation.

Deep yoga-type breathing may help, or imagining waterfalls, or visualising the milk spurting out ... worth a go ...

Oh, or smelling something that smells like the baby, or looking at a photo, or closing your eyes and imagining you're bfing rather than expressing.

no, there is no reason why she shouldn't have it.

as tiktok says, it should not be used as a main drink until she is over a year, but it's fine to give small amounts

I've tried two pumps, one of which was given to me by a kind Mumsnetter. Both work just fine it just takes some time to get a letdown going. I don't think feeling pressured at work is going to help any. I really don't think expressing at work is an option for me. As it is I am going to have to be very strict on my hours and since I'm doing the work of 3 or 4 people that will be VERY stressful, without taking time out to express milk.

Tbh though, since she is likely to be feeding through the evening and night I can't see that my supply is going to suffer any. I have already been cutting down on daytime feeds in preparation. I haven't had any engorgement or fullness which kind of makes me worry about my supply, but I'm hoping it's because I'm clever and have done it very gradually?