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?

Op, would you be ok with sharing which brand/type of formula you are using? We may be able to recommend an alternative to save you some money if that would help :)

And to learn to not take things the wrong way. Its a free country. Can give my opinion if you don't like it scroll on. Its that simple. It's obviously going to be woman who didn't succeed act bitter and take things the wrong way and take it out on the ones that succeeded. I apologise to the woman that couldn't. Not that I have to apologise. Again not my fault they couldn't. But I was saying what helped me and my journey was far from perfect or easy. So keep your petty bullshit to yourself.

I've not said anything negative. I think you need to go to spec savers. Not gaslight at all. Again learn what it means

Actually I won't. Have a nice night 😊

I was thinking this. At 4 months I started solids and so did DD- of course advice changes every every few years, can’t keep up. Thing is the advice to give milk for 12 months will change too, just give it time.

Well I did at the beginning but in the end the only way she'd sleep was on her front with her bum in the air

One of my sons fave positions to sleep. So cute

It is. I breastfed all 3 of mine (to self weaning at 18 months, 3 years, and 4.5 years respectively) and am a trained peer supporter but find little more grating than a BF evangelist.

Formula has its place and is a miracle food for many, no-one should feel ashamed or shamed for using it.

I won't take shit from anyone. Maybe I wouldn't have to go on if aholes left me alone.

There's so much misinformation on this thread!

Cows milk can be dangerous for babies - their stomachs can't break down the proteins in it and it can make them very sick.

Infant formula is specially made to be as close as possible to breastmilk. It even has more nutrients (eg vitamin D) than breastmilk, and when mums are nutrient deficient they sometimes have to switch to formula because it's better for their babies and their breast milk isn't providing enough nutrients. (Obviously healthy breast milk is best for babies, but formula will also give them everything they need and is sometimes preferable if there's problems with mums milk)

The comparison to cows milk is ridiculous. Babies can't digest cows milk. Water and solid food is better for a baby than cows milk.

Actually you are wrong about one thing. You can say that formula doesn't have vit D. But formula doesn't have antibodies and breastmilk has more nutrients than formula. Don't give out false information

Here's the difference @MsCactus

Yeah, I'm sure none of us knew that breast milk contains anti bodies and helps with immunity in ways that formula obviously doesn't 🙄

Bowing out now but hope you get sorted op. Definitely speak to your HV. All the best x

Quite! And none of it is relevant to the OP or helpful for her. Breastmilk is optimal, formula is a suitable nutritionally complete safe alternative. Cows milk isn't!

@WhiteBow2223 I'd try the non organic version of what you're currently using (Kendamil) whilst also reducing milk feeds in favour of food if you can gently do so. If that doesn't cut formula costs enough then try a cheaper formula first. Use the follow on milk version if you get any discounts or points that you can use for other purchases. If you're still struggling with the cost of formula then next steps are to ask for help from a relevant HCP, food bank referral or similar. Hope you can find a way forward and reduce your stress around all of this!

That’s not true. antibodies are not ingested- it’s now how the immune system works.

in any event, no one is asking about breast milk. Op is asking if she can give her dd cows milk rather than formula. Breast milk isn’t one of the options

this isn’t true - breast milk doesn’t contain antibodies. But it’s irrelevant anyway.

Erm, OK then 😆

Yes it does. I've even seen them. Bright green.

www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/labour-and-birth/meeting-your-new-baby/breastfeeding#:~:text=Your%20breast%20milk%20has%20all,prevent%20and%20protect%20against%20infections. Read this @Heelenahandbasket