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Parenting

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Original poster

Formula to cows milk

37 replies

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 19:17

I know guidelines say that children can have cows milk from 12 months but has anyone actually stuck to that? My LG is 10 months and I'm considering switching to cows milk soon. Any advice?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lottieandmia · 26/04/2014 19:18

10 months should be ok I think - my dd went off formula at this age.

stargirl1701 · 26/04/2014 19:21

We stuck to it. We had no reason to ignore the guideline.

What does your HV say?

TheScience · 26/04/2014 19:21

Why do you want to switch early? Everyone I know stuck to formula or breastmilk as a main drink until at least 12 months - cows milk doesn't have the right nutrients and has too much salt and is harder to digest for younger babies.

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AlpacaLypse · 26/04/2014 19:23

I introduced cow's milk at nine months. Due to a minor housekeeping crisis there was nothing else available and the twins were hungry NOW!

They were absolutely fine.

whilewildeisonmine · 26/04/2014 19:26

We switched DS at around this age. He was fine. He'd only been having formula for about a month and was never really very keen on it.

PacificDogwood · 26/04/2014 19:28

As formula IS modified cow's milk, I cannot see the issue.
Are you using it already cooking/porridge/yoghurts etc?

FWIW, I stuck to formula for bottles until 1 year but used cow's milk in everything else from 6 months for my mix-fed/FF kids.

Original poster

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 19:41

I give her yoghurts and cheese but use formula milk in her porridge only cos I drink semi skimmed milk. I think iv only seen my hv a handful of times really so don't ask her for advice. I think I might start introducing cows milk next week along with her formula so she can get used to it. How much do I give her? Same as what she has in formula. She currently has 2 8oz bottles a day.

OP posts:

Original poster

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 19:43

At my LG 9month check my hv did advise me giving her vitamin drops anyone else give their LO vit drops? Id never heard of this before

OP posts:

PacificDogwood · 26/04/2014 19:44

Yes, Vit D is recommended for all under 5s.
I never knew this either….

stargirl1701 · 26/04/2014 19:44

Yes. We give DD the NHS Healthy Start vitamin drops. They are available from pharmacies. £2.88 I think.

AmIGoingMad · 26/04/2014 19:45

I've been using full fat cows milk in dd (nearly 10 months) food from 6 months but will stick to formula for drinking til she's 12 months and then I'll probably use the toddler formula for the night time milk drink as we did with DS from one til around 2 ish.

AmIGoingMad · 26/04/2014 20:00

I also knew nothing about the vitamin drops for DS! When do I start them? Is it when you switch to cows milk for drinking?

TheScience · 26/04/2014 20:06

Any child having less than 17oz of formula should be getting vits until 5 iirc.

Superworm · 26/04/2014 20:08

Cows milk isn't recommend before one as it can lead to iron deficiency anemia as it's low in iron and can cause the intestine to bleed in some babies.

I work with babies and see this a fair bit. Formula is cow milk based but fortified with biologically usable iron and the cows milk is processed to be more digestible.

Original poster

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 20:25

But surely if I'm giving vit drops then they will replace the iron that isn't in cows milk??

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 26/04/2014 20:30

No. The drops are Vit A, C and D.

Original poster

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 20:33

Ah right ok :)

OP posts:

TheScience · 26/04/2014 20:34

Why is it you want to switch? Is it the cost?

ilovepowerhoop · 26/04/2014 20:34

iron is a mineral not a vitamin. The vitamins you are supposed to supplement are vitamins A,C and D

ilovepowerhoop · 26/04/2014 20:35

I gave the odd drink of cows milk e.g. with a snack, from about 10 months but didnt switch fully until 12 months.

RabbitSaysWoof · 26/04/2014 20:39

Wellkid do a vit with iron.
My ds was dairy intolerant so not an option but I know a couple of people who switched early, my friend bfed until 9 months then straight to cows as her dd wouldnt take formula and my other friends ds went off of formula early. They are both thriving children.

Original poster

Jenjen85 · 26/04/2014 20:42

One of the main reasons yes is cost as formula has just gone up but also just to introduce it to her. I started weaning at 4 months (please don't hang me it was my choice and I know guidelines say 6 months) my LG loves her food and eats everything I give her and I believe its cos I started the weaning process early as a few of my friends left it till 6 months and have struggled. Just wanted to try her on it so she will be used to it come 12 months

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 26/04/2014 20:44

give her the odd drink then but I would still hold off until 12 months before giving only cows milk

Lazybones12 · 26/04/2014 20:45

My dc3 hated formula so put him on cows milk @ 10 & half months - he's now 13 months cleaning his night time bottle...

Lizzie568 · 26/04/2014 20:45

Vitamin drops?? Why would you need this if your child has a healthy diet. My DS is nearly 2, never had a vitamin drop and very healthy! For the formula to milk issue am sure will be fine but hold off as long as you can until 1 if poss.

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