If formula is based on cows milk why can't I just use cows milk from 6m to a year?

[barbamama]

Have posted this in weaning as well. LO is nearing 6m and am thinking about weaning - he is attempting a bit of BLW already grabbing things. So far he is ebf but I am thinking about introducing formula - maybe one bottle a day. My question is, why does it have to be formula, which is based on cows milk, why do the guidelines say no cows milk as a bottle until one year? And what do I use for porridge, breakfast, drinking from the cup etc?

Am I mis-remembering or do they say ff cows milk is ok in food from 6m?

Normal milk doesn't contain enough iron or vit C, which is why it isn't reccommended for babies under 1, it is assumed they will not be getting enough of the required daily amounts, so if you are goign to be breastfeeding and weaning as well as one bottle of milk a day I wouldnt see a problem.

However, it can be too much for a babies stomach so I would definitely do it gradually, start by giving an ounce or two, and maybe some on food, and increase it to the one bottle a day or it could cause upset tummies.