How bad would it be to give cows milk at 10 months

[Sameshitdifferentusername]

For just one feed if baby has breast milk the rest of the time?

I mean cows milk as in not formula but full fat milk.

Baby has been breastfed up to now, is not keen on formula and I'm going back to work. He will accept cows milk from a sippy cup.

It's fine. At 10/11 months it's perfectly okay IMO. :)

DD started having it around then as she wasn't wanting to nurse as much and just didn't like formula.

Forgot to add - I don't do expressing.

For a one off feed, probably ok although probably unnecessary. He can have water to drink and bf when feasible later as I assume he's eating well?

If it's going to be a daily thing then formula would be best I think if he'll drink it. How 'not keen' is he on formula?

I was forced into a switch at this age due to accidentally leaving the formula tub at MILs one Sunday night! I experimented with making a permanent switch but it made her rather constipated, but I would think one drink a day would be fine

Well, when DS1 was born, the guidelines in those days (1992) were 6 months!

By the time DS2 came along 3 years later, the guidelines had changed to 12 months.

As we don't have any milk/dairy allergies/intolerances in the family, I didn't wait with DS2 but did what I'd done with DS1 and he was absolutely fine (as was DS1)

It will only be 3 days a week. The rest of the week he'll still he fully breastfed. He's a good eater but usually has milk in the day between meals as well.

It'll be fine. DD2 was 11 mos, and I did it with the knowledge of my (fabulous) HV.

Do be careful about constipation though - the cow's milk protein is hard on their systems. That said, the breast milk will help with that. I've noticed a change since she gave me up. A world of prunes and water now!!

Have a google and read up on goats milk vs cows milk. Goats milk is apparently more human like compared to cows (who have many stomachs).

At that age you could get away with dropping feeds, replacing with calorie dense foods and plenty of snack choices (fruit, veg, cheese) and feed before and after work.

My dd was a bottle refuser so would eat solid food well when I wasn't there and bf when I picked her up and topped up during the night too. It worked for me (co slept) but can appreciate that might not be right for you.

What's your instinct telling you?

It's fine - just that bm or formula has more of what they need. Baby could have one of those ready made bottles of formula but I don't see cows milk as a problem.

agree - that or nothing would be fine.

(Apologies but couldn't stop myself from pointing out that both goats and cows are ruminants with 4-compartment stomachs. I have nothing useful to contribute about human babies and cow's milk though. Will go and sit in a pedantic corner somewhere...)

Official advice is it's fine on/in food but shouldn't be given as a main drink. Make of that what you will :)

I tried a few oz with DS who was also breastfed for milk the rest if the time. I couldn't face learning how to do formula just for one drink a day. He was fine, no change to his digestion, and clearly really enjoyed it too. He's now one, and will be getting cows milk at nursery. I am so so happy to no longer need to express.

Both my DDs, born when dinosaurs roamed the land (1990s), were on cows' milk at 8 mont . They lived to tell the tal .

*tale.

I would second having a look at Goats milk - I'm not going to get all preachy and woo about cows milk, but if you have a quick look online there is plenty of information about why we should leave it for the cows. I learnt this the hard way and made DS very ill - I took out shares in infacol!!!

I'm not considering goats milk. If I have to have to get him used to goats milk, I may as well get him used to formula. He's used to cows milk as he's had it on cereal etc since 6 months old so happy to drink it.