Cow's milk under 1? Advice please!

[lanbro]

My almost 11mo is still bf but will not take formula. My 2yo has a banana smoothie as her supper most nights and I want to introduce this to the younger one too. Can I use cow's milk? This would be the one and only drink of cow's milk, all other milk feeds would be bf. I would use approx 150ml whole milk plus one banana.

There is no history of any allergies in the family and she eats a wide variety of solids. Any thoughts?

My ds has been having cows milk with cereal since we started weaning at 6 months, I think it'll be fine

Personally I found that using cows milk earlier than a year (I think they were around 8 months when I tried to substitute a bottle a day) made my DTs VERY constipated with weird, white poo.(Sorry TMI!) At 11 months though, I'm sure it'll be fine for one drink a day.

Cows' milk in food is fine from 6 months and as a drink from a year.

She's been having it on cereal and in sauces with no adverse effects! I shall keep an eye on her nappy tho!

I can't see the problem. No point spending money on formula for just one bottle a day

In food is fine from 6 months but as a drink from 1 year. As it's mixed with fruit It will be fine.

I am aware it is not recommended as a drink before a year, and of the reasons why, that is why I am asking advice on whether at 11mo a small amount, alongside breast milk and a varied diet would be ok. I am not suggesting cow's milk as an alternative to breast milk. Thank you for all helpful responses.

as long as the main drink remains breastmilk then it is fine to have the odd drink of cows milk.

I would wait before giving a whole drink. Cows milk can cause iron deficiency anaemia for a number of reasons which this research explains

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/22043881/

he's 11 months old though so not a really young baby and he is still going to be getting mainly breastmilk so I dont think its going to be that much of an issue

Then if you know the risks , it's for you to decide