Putting 9mo on cows milk? Formula too expensive Advice please

[WhiteBow2223]

Hi all.. My 8mo DS is drinking formula milk however with prices gone so high we are really struggling to make ends meat on our low income and with winter bills coming in its such a squeeze we have to cut spending alot. 3 tins lasts us about 8 or 9 days at 17.50 euro a pack. I can't afford it anymore and am thinking of switching him to full fat cows milk at about 9 months old. Stating watered down and increasing milk content from there. Has a home made the switch this early? My grandmother fed her babies cows milk from birth I think her kids are okay. Surely cows milk will be okay from 9 months along with solids?

Wow. That's a lot of people telling me what I went through was wrong. Happy to agree to disagree.

Morning @WhiteBow2223 ,

This is what the NHS says about giving children cows' milk:

"Cows' milk can be used in cooking or mixed with food from around 6 months but should not be given as a drink to babies until they're 12 months old. This is because cows' milk does not contain enough iron to meet your baby's needs."

There's more information here and on our bottlefeeding page about that.

As others have suggested, trying a foodbank or baby bank might be a good idea, and do speak to your health visitor too about help with feeding your baby.

What you went through?? You aren't your cousin's parent.

I'm another mother of a 19yo who slept on his back as per the well established advice at the time.

Just to clarify. We buy 3 tins and it seems to last about 8 or 9 days. I'm trying my best with his solids but he still has a full bottle before each of his 2 naps and bedtime. And he wakes for 2 bottles at night which I can't seem to ween him off. So about 5 or 6 240 ml bottles every 25 hours! The tins are

Hi just to clarify to some, I live in Ireland. tins are 800grams. I'm trying best with his solids but he still takes about 5 or 6 210ml bottles a day (24hours) with night waking. I'm finding it so hard to stop the night feeds unlike my first baby. 3 tins can last from between 8 or 10 days depending. I had tried many brands before but he only did good on this one which is kendamil so I don't want to change it. I might try the stage 2 as you can apply vouchers in Dunnes stores. And just try to really get the solids going but he's only really taken a proper insteest in the last 2 or 3 weeks so we are working on that. Offering a wide variety and getting his rhythm. We are just very poor right now, my funds are already spread so thin with food shopping, heating, car expenses and rent. We just need the cost down a bit because we recently took a hit with money. so hopefully solids goes well, and when it does and I feel he's ready at 9 or 10 months we will give him cows milk and see how he gets on. X thanks everyone for a wide variety of replies all very helpful Xx

I really don't understand how you go through 3 tins in a week. He needs more food and less bottles. Maybe ring your health visitor for some advice on meals? NHS say 600ml/21oz formula milk a day so around three 7oz bottles plus meals.

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/7-to-9-months/

At 17.50 euros for 800g I assume you're buying the organic kendamil? Could you try the non-organic one which is 2.50 euros cheaper per tin?

And to be honest, if you are going to switch from a formula to cows milk, why not try a cheaper formula first? That's going to be easier to digest for your baby than cows milk, less hard on your baby's kidneys and digestive system.

If you are breastfeeding and stop between 6 and 12 months do you start giving them formula or would you go to cows’ milk alongside food?

You would give formula until 12
months and then switch to cows’ milk (or an alternative).

He only needs 3x 210ml bottles at this age so you can cut your bill by half by switching out three of the bottles.
I'd only offer water at night.

Keep the 3x 210ml bottles of formula alongside solids so you know he's getting the nutrition he needs.
You can always offer a little bit of cow's milk in a cup on top of the 600ml formula.

@IhearyouClemFandango yes, you'd need to use a suitable formula milk if you stop breastfeeding before 12 months. Cows moon would be ok in food but not as a main milk drink.

Cows *milk. Weird typo!

Thank you I'll try this, does the water at night have to be warm? Should I give him breakfast or a bottle in the morning?

The temperature of any water you give us up to you and what your baby will drink.

In the morning I'd do a milk feed, then do breakfast about an hour or so later.

I'd give a bottle first thing in the morning, then breakfast.
If you give bottles for naps, maybe do a smaller bottle before each nap eg 150ml.
Lunch and tea as solids then another full bottle before bed.
If he's used to having lots of milk at night then I'd gradually reduce it, offer 150, then 120, then 90ml. You could either start watering down the night time bottle or just only offer a cup of water instead of a bottle.

You don't know what most of those are, do you?

Not in the UK it wasn't my older 2 are 28 and 20 and it was back to sleep with both of them

Is that a joke? Baby formula is not a UPF. It is the closest thing scientists can make to breast milk. Saying it is a UPF is dangerous and incorrect - this is a public forum and anyone could read this. Cows milk is designed for baby cows, NOT human babies.

OP - baby formula should not be the thing that is cut out of your budget. However it sounds like you maybe give him a bit more than he needs. Some posters have helpfully suggested giving water between formula and meals.

A crap diet doesn't equal shit breastmilk. Baby still gets everything

It is ultra processed, but it is also necessary for babies not being breastfed.
If you want a non-ultra processed alternative to formula it has to be human milk rather than animal milk. Processed cow's milk with added oils, vitamins and minerals and reduced sodium is going to be better for a very young baby than unprocessed cow's milk.

Thank you so much that's a great guide I have it saved and will do this do the next few days. 💐

As a compromise I would give a bottle morning and eve and full fat cows' milk to drink with meals.

I would try to stop the bottles before bed and in the night as the ones during the day should be enough. Give him porridge before bed to fill his tummy up and if he wakes give him a watered down bottle.

That's a very dangerous and ignorant thing to say.

Baby formula is made from a cow's milk base with other elements added to come as close as we can currently make it to breast milk.

Yes, it's a processed food. But it's also the best food for babies other than breastmilk.

I went straight to full fat milk at 10. 5 months when I stopped breastfeeding. I appreciate this isn't the official advice but didn't think 6 weeks would make much difference. She was eating well and I gave vitamin drops also. I mentioned I'd done that to the HV at her 1 year review and she didn't seem concerned! She's fit and healthy now at 2.5 ☺