Cows milk at 9 months

[crazybutkind]

I know I am opening myself up for lots of mixed opinions and advice but can I give my 9 month old cows milk?

My eldest I didn't until she was 1. I didn't research it, I went with my health visitors guidance. To be fair she didn't eat a substantial amount of food when weaning, still doesn't now but that's a different matter all together. Anyway...

My youngest is 9 months and eats for England! She has had milk in foods and yogurts but never as a drink.

I have been researching and from what I can see it's mostly due to nutrients mainly iron and protein.

Her bowels are fine and she eats a diet that contains the nutrients she needs.

Did anyone give their child cows milk before the 12 month mark?

Why do you want to?

OP, babies need breastmilk or formula until one year old. The accepted advice is not to give cow's milk until this time.

You can give small amounts in food and maybe the odd small drink of it but the main milk should remain breast or formula until 1 year

You can also cause an allergy if introduced too early (very slight chance but still). I wouldn't unless totally necessary, it's only 3 months and then you can mix them up/switch. I still add formula/cow milk 50/50 for my 16mo, just in case.

Yes, I did, on cereals, etc, sometimes as a drink. As long as they are not allergic to dairy and eating a varied diet, why not. Mine was eating extremely well at that age, loved food.

I think you are supposed to give (big) babies full cream milk, not the semi skimmed that most of us have but check that one. I do remember back in the day some mothers would dilute cows milk in a cup with water; I didn't do that.

I started to give mine who was ff small amounts of milk in a cup from about 10.5 months. Not as a replacement for a milk feed, but as a drink with afternoon snack. So some rice cakes and a tiny amount of milk in a sippy cup. I increased this closer to 12 months and then switched entirely to cow's milk at 12 months. It was no different than having a yogurt or a bit of milk on cereal.

Not as a replacement for breast or formula milk. It’s fine in foods.

I'm an oldie. We didn't have follow on milk back in the dark days of the 80s. It was considered fine to use full fat milk from six months. I was still breastfeeding mine, but they had cow's milk in their food and a top up bottle of it when I was out and I had to leave them with a babysitter. None have any milk allergies.

My DD had little bits of cows milk in the day at 9m when I was working, but still breastfed at least 3/4 times in the morning/evening/night. I would be wary of giving no breastmilk or formula that young.

Why do you need/want to?

Breast milk or formula should be her main source of nutrition until she is 1 years old. Other than saving money I can’t see why you would want to give cow’s milk as a drink now.

My DD started drinking cows milk from a cup at about 10 months.

She absolutely would not drink formula - we tried everything.

I was still breastfeeding morning and evening, but when I was working it was cows milk or no milk.

Clearly it's not ideal, but it's nor is it the end of the world.

It is one for a reason. Do not give your 9 month old cows milk 🤦🏻‍♀️. Don't just Ignore scientific advice because you had a quick google fgs.

Yes, I did with both dc. I continued to breastfeed as their main source of milk, but they had cows milk during the day from 10 months.

Not as a drink because they will take too much of it and it displaces the nutrients they really need. Should be breastmilk or formula as a drink.

You can use cow's milk in cooking or on cereal etc, mainly for convenience as it will be such a small part of their overall intake, so it's not harmful for them to have it but it shouldn't displace breastmilk or formula yet as they won't be able to get the right nutrient balance from food even if they are eating well.

So yes an occasional drink is no issue. I wouldn't give them an 8oz bottle of cow milk though for example. That would probably be too much.

Yes, mixed in foods.

Its not a replacement for breast milk or formula though until 1.

I haven’t done this for my eldest. But apparently I had cows milk from 6 months old. I’ve got young baby, who will have breast milk and/or formula until he’s 1.

Formula or breast milk is the most important up until 1yr old- another thread / poster asked a similar question a couple of days ago, why everyone wants to go against the advice is beyond me.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Formula or breast milk is the most important up until 1yr old- another thread / poster asked a similar question a couple of days ago, why everyone wants to go against the advice is beyond me.

Is this the poster that had to stop BF due to IVF, but didnt want to give formula?

I breastfed but from about 10 months I put milk in a sippy cup with a snack to introduce it

I doubt it because everyone told her she needed to keep giving bm or formula.

Letsallscreamatthesistene that’s the thread yep- no sure if same poster or a coincidence as a a

Or a coincidence. (No “as a a”)

They can have it, e.g. in porridge or something but not as a replacement for breast milk or formula.