Am I a terrible mother if I give my 11 month old baby cows milk?

[Jojay]

My DH is taking my DS on holiday to Scotland with a group of friends, and it would be so much easier if he didn't have to faff about with formula.

DS will be 11 months and 1 week. He's on the 50th centile and eats a good range and quantity of solids.

I'd probably change him over a few days before he goes to make sure he likes it.

He's been having cows milk on cereal for some time now, with no problems.

He might be OK but you really don't want him getting diarreah or rash during the holidays if he is not yet OK with it.

Milk introduction guidelines apart, I try not to experiment during holidays

no, of course you aren;t. i gave DS cows milk a couple of weeks shy of his first birthday as we were going abroad.
if you are going to feel bad , you could take ready made formula with you.

Well he is only just below the recommended age so I can't see that it is much of a problem, but why don't you buy ready made formula? there is no faffing whatsoever.

I can't see there being a problem. He's been having cows' milk on cereal so you know that he's not intolerant, you plan to make sure that he will actually drink it before you go, he's only three weeks under the guideline age, and the guidelines are because cows' milk isn't as nutrient-dense as breastmilk or formula (while your DS is eating a good range and quantity of other foods already).

i would introduce it during the day first perhaps and still keep the evening bottle

I would try a couple of bottles before hand, but otherwise I say go for it.

DS started on cows milk at about 10 months because it was just the odd bottle every now and then and it seemed pointless buying formula

Why not use the cartons of made up formula milk?

No it doesnt make you a bad mother

I certainly don't want him to get diarrhoea or a rash while they're away, but is it really that likely, bearing in mind that formula is cows milk based anyway, and he's been having it on cereal for a while now?

Has anyone actually had a problem when swapping over?

I had no problem with either child.

no, you're not

If he's had it on cereal, I would. In fact, I DID, with my ds2 at 10 months, I swapped him to cows milk because he just would not drink formula!

Change it over a few days before you go (as you said) and take a couple of bottles and a tin of formula "just in case".

If he'd been three weeks earlier (not incomprehensible, and I am assuming he was term) you'd have given it without a second thought.

Good point - in fact he was a week late!

I think we'll change him over a few days before we go, adn see how he gets on.

I'm sure he'll be fine - if he was intolerant to cows milk, it would have shown up by now.

Thanks for all your advice.

when I stopped breastfeeding at about 11 months dd went straight on to cow's milk .. its a guideline and in australia they advise from 9 months ..

if you're going to do it, do it at least 2 weeks before going on holiday

That's interesting about Australia.

I'm sure even here, a generation or two back, we were all on cows milk much earlier, rightly or wrongly.

When I started cutting back DDs breast feeds at 10 months I replaced them with cows milk. Can't see any issue with it especially if she was BF 3 times a day.

I did it with ds1 at 11 mths because at 11.5 mths we went to USA for two weeks and it was easier. I have topped up dts bottles with 1 or 2oz of cows milk for about 2 weeks now