Can I offer my 10 month old whole milk?

[MumbleMumm]

My 10 month old dd is still nursing a lot, and I'm going back to work soon. She spits out formula. She will happily drink from a sippee cup, but if there is formula in it she just opens her mouth in disgust while it all dribbles out. I'm going back to work in 6 weeks and I still feed her 3-4 times a day (only when she asks for it - I don't offer anymore).
Can I offer whole milk as an alternative? Do I need to sterilise for whole milk?

You are not meant to give ordinary milk, even full-fat, until they are 12 months old, because its not nutritionally "right" for babies who are still getting most of their nutrition from milk. Could you try expressing?

If breastmilk is still her 'main drink' then no reason why she can't have a few sips of whole milk while you are not there - you could easily give a baby 4-5oz of whole milk mixed in breakfast cereal/porridge/custard and that would be fine.

It is not recommended as a main drink before 12m. It sounds like it will not be her main drink from what you have said.

If you are planning to wean from breastfeeding altogether then you need to look at an infant milk instead, any first milk is suitable. But babies can often adapt well when you go back to work, you could feed when you are home if you wanted to, or express if you wanted, lots of options

I'm terrible at expressing, I've tried and tried - she gets more liquid from a dose of calpol lol!!
No - it won't be her main feed, as I will still nurse her outside of 8-5 and so it is just something that I can give her while I'm not there (3 days a week).
Maybe I'll give it a go

Oh - she also wakes to feed at night still (1-3 times a night) so I reckon she'd find a way to stock up.

I let DS have a bit of cows milk in a cup from about 10/11m, went back to work at 12/13m but he never drank much cows milk really. He also fed all blooming night.

Nice to have a feed and a cuddle when you get back from work though

Sounds like she's getting alot Of breastmilk so doubt one cup of cows milk would hurt while your at work. It's only the amount you would mix with cereal/ custard etc any way.as long as it's not her main drink I don't see the harm. And as your going back to work in six weeks she's gonna be old enough to switch to cows milk full time within a week or so after then anyway. I don't see y it would hurt to get her a little bit used to the taste now to ease her into the transition :)

And alot of ten month old babies only have 1-3 milk feeds a day so with or without a cup of milk you have that covered. Anything else is a bonus :)

Hi
I did exactly this with my now 3 year old when I went back to work. From 7-5, 3 days a week, he had whole milk, and all the rest of the time he bf. He was 9 months when I went back so I expressed for about the first 6-8 weeks, and then he did the milk thing.

So agree with the advice above - if it was going to be the main milk drink then not a good idea, however if just for those work hours 3 days a week then should be fine IMO.

Oh and re sterilising - if it was bottles I probably still would, if it's a sippy cup I'd just stick in the dishwasher (I'd do that with bottles too if it didn't make the teat taste horrible!)

I went back to work when my DD was a similar age, I couldn't express effectively either, so used to leave a carton of formula at nursery which was used in making up porridge etc, she mostly just drank water as she did not like formula either. I continued to bf at home and this worked fine for us.

Sorry if that has already been asked but have you tried different brands of formula, the smell, colour and taste can vary quite a bit.

You don't have to buy the big tubs to try, could get the little ready made up cartons and see if there is one she likes. My DS didn't like SMA but was happy enough with aptamil.

I've tried most brands, all the little cartons, hipp organic bottle, and even bought a box of aptamil powder as that is meant to be the closest to breastmilk
If I only need to stick the mug in the dishwasher - then even better!!
I think I'll start keeping a cup of milk in the lounge of an afternoon and see if I can get her to take some.

Ah - a little lady who knows what she likes eh? The other posters advice is probably better then. :)

It is good to hear that it worked for other people - it's just another thing to worry about in regards to going back to work!

p.s FWIW if she doesn't like cows milk - goats could be an option.

Yep GinPalace, she definitely has a mind of her own...

As a main source of nutrition, no you can't. As an occasional drink, yes you can, providing there are no risks of allergies.

My DD had her whole milk in yoghurt and cheese, and drinks of water during the day from about 10 months. I remember it is when I stopped expressing at work, so she can't have had any during the day. We still fed on demand at all other times and weekends.

I'm sure others will disagree but tbh I don't think it's worth trying to get her to take formula when the feeding is only gonna be an issue for a Max of two weeks ( if she ten months now and ur back at work in six weeks that's 11 and a half months. ) I think it's gonna upset her stomach more constantly changing than it would to just gently introduce a taste now along side regular breast feeding. It can ve hard switching milks and by the time transition has been completed she will be old enough for cows milk anyway. Another option would be to just include alot of cheese yogurt cooked milk in her food and just make do with the breast feeds you are able to continue with :)

Maybe she is one of those super-tasters I've heard of - my DS didn't bat an eyelid between breast / formula or cows milk. He probably takes after his Dad who sense of smell/taste is virtually non-existant by my standards!

She could have a great career as a wine critic / twinings tea buyer or similar ahead of her

Oooo yes - am up for her becoming a wine taster or food critic. As long as she shares and doesn't criticise my food

More yoghurt and cheese is a good idea too.