Cows milk at a year?

[munchkinmaster]

My baby is 11 months and breast fed. My plan had always been to drift toward cows milk at/after a year. I've always felt formula a faff but would be nice to have a bit more independance (night out, weekend away). I may keep some bfs, might not, see what happens. At the moment trying to tempt her with a bottle/cup and formula (she is not convinced).

Anyway my blinking mother who is the most critical person ever has just gone off on one about cows milk not being rich enough and I need to switch to formula. I've been hanging on till now to avoid the faff.

Surely cows milk is fine as a main drink at 12 months?

(It's not that she wants me to continue bf btw - its just to piss me off)

Cows milk is fine after 12 months.

As long as it is full fat milk it is fine after 12mo :)

Cows milk is also fine as a drink before 12 months, as long as it's not the main drink. It should be full fat, of course.

Cows milk is fine after 12 months. And don't worry that she won't take formula in a cup. My DD refused all formula but happily drank cows milk once she was old enough.

I bf her for 15 months and actually only stopped because she wanted to, but she would never take formula, and happily took cows milk. It will be fine.

I know. I was never really in doubt. I'm just pissed off that my mother who has spent a year pressuring me to ff feed and get off the boob is still going on about formula!!!! I think she is sponsored by aptamil!!!!!

Either that or everything I do is automatically wrong. I need to just lie about what I'm doing in future.

It's fine. You really don't need to buy into the con that is toddler milk or growing up milk etc. ful fat cows milk is fine

Your mum's been watching the Cow & Gate adverts. That's what they're there for (to persuade people to keep on with formula after 12 months for the £££) - ignore, full fat cow's milk is fine.

munchkin, ask her what she means by 'rich' enough.

She probably will not be able to say.

Why do babies need 'rich' milk? Or milk that's 'richer' (whatever that means) than ordinary cow's milk that all respected international sources say is just fine for babies over 12 months?

The other issue is why your mother continues to think she can tell you what to do, or make you feel you need to lie about what you are doing to keep her happy and off your back?

You're an adult with a baby of your own and a mind of your own and a life of your own. She does not have any reason to undermine you in these aspects, and if she is doing it to piss you off, you are grown up enough - yes? - to tell her to STOP.

:)

Cow's milk doesn't contain much iron. In fact, neither does breast milk at the stage you're at. Formula does contain more iron, but this is completely unnecessary so long as you're feeding your child food that contains iron as well.

Full fat milk all the way. And forget about the formula, it's completely unnecessary.

Ah tiktok never mind your guidance and experts. My mother just thinks there is more goodness (that was what she said actually not rich) in formula. Honestly you are on a high road to nothing with logical argument.

(Quick aside - Tiktok, can you help me here please? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1713344-Vasoductal-spasms-your-best-remedies Thank you :) )

thumb the child has just wolfed a shepherds pie so I think we are good for iron and that's what I said to my mother (I.e she eats like a horse).

tiktok I see your second post now and I see that you have a very valid point. She is difficult and sees my rejection of her often crazy advice as a very personal slight. I make it my rule to occasionally agree to minor suggstions or pretend I have to avoid a major fall out. I can't be arsed to stand up to her all the time as she won't change.

I never gave dd formula. She went onto cows milk at a around 14 months. The only thing was she preferred it and self weaned after about a month .

Btw - did people use bottles or cups for cows milk? I got lazy with giving baby the odd bottle months ago so don't think she'll take it any more so been using a cup (as she has for water

If she comes to visit buy a pack of Actimil and leave it, opened, on the kitchen side if you want a quiet life. However, although relationships with DPs are unique to the individuals, MYOB now may save you from years of interference advice.

Yes straight to a cup for us.

Ah in which case, the smile and thank you but no needs to be employed!

Ds1 had a lidded cup ("sippy" (ugh) cup) for his milk. Because he was almost entirely b'fed apart from when I needed to express, he wasn't really into bottles.

emmafrost do we have the same child? the same thing happened with me :(

I was gutted lemon felt sad for a few weeks after. I think it was maybe that cows milk just filled her up so completely she didn't have room for anything else.

Final question: if I use small cartons formula and a sippy cup (want to go out this month and this would mean DH could do bedtime) do I need to sterilise?

I appreciate all your responses re handling mother. I see what you mean but it's not worth it, having tried before. One of my sibs has taken such an approach and they really are quite estranged now. My parents have their good points and I want baby to know them. I do save my strength for the big issues (such as bf).

Many thanks anyway

No sterilising required :)

munchkin you could use normal milk as the bedtime food now anyway. So long as it's not the MAIN source of milk a feed here and there with normal milk won't do any harm.

FEED, not food!