Introducing cow’s milk

[Simonsayshaveacuppa]

Hello! My daughter is 13 months old and still BF 3 times a day: first thing when she wakes up, mid-morning after her nap and before bed. Sometimes we skip the mid-morning one if we’re busy. We give her water with meals from either a free flow cup (one of those with the three little holes) or a 360 cup. She has whole cow’s milk on weetabix, porridge and shredded wheat and we use cream in sauces, plus she eats quite a bit of mozzarella and cream cheese. We also sometimes make oat bar thingies with whole milk.

My question is, when and how should I introduce cow’s milk as a drink? I’ve had a look online and it says cow’s milk can be a drink from one year old but it doesn’t really say whether or how much they actually need it if they’re still BF. And what sort of cup should we use for it? Actually, should I be biting the bullet and giving her an open cup for all drinks by now? I’m dreading the mess and tbh may have put it off too long already argh!

Also, how have others managed the complete transition from BF to cow’s milk? I want to keep going with BF until she lets me know she’s ready to stop (I’m told ‘self-weaning’ is a thing?)

Natural self weaning normally happens about 4 - 5 years old. My daughter’s dietitian (for allergies) told me that as long as she is getting some calcium in her food and is having at least 3 feeds a day then you don’t need to worry about giving milk as a drink. Between the ages 1 and 2 my oldest girl won’t drink milk and got all of her calcium from food.

As long as it not a teat it doesn’t matter which cup you use. I give my toddler some drinks in open cups but only when I can sit next to her and have time to change her clothes. The bath time is good for practicing using cups.

She doesn't need cow's milk if she is breastfed, but you could see if she would like it as a drink from time to time. You can put it in a spout cup because it's nasty if it spills. If she doesn't like drinking cow's milk, and she is driving less breast milk, include dairy products in her meals. Don't forget to include a daily vitamin drop for vitamin d.

Drinking not driving!

@Thatwentbadly oh god 4-5 years old?! I didn’t realise this, was thinking maybe 2 years old! May have to encourage her along a bit at some point then but happy to keep going for a while yet. Thanks for your advice!

@BrokenLink ok so maybe with one of her meals occasionally give some milk instead of water?

@BrokenLink and thanks by the way!

Yes, some breast fed babies like cow's milk as a drink and some don't. In terms of self weaning, I don't think my children would have volunteered to self wean! I encountered them along when I was ready at around 2.5 years.

I'm in the same boat as you. DD turned 1 last week, breastfed twice a day. Has whole milk, cheese, yogurt etc so getting plenty of calcium. I've said to myself I will stop BFing once she gets the hang of her 360 cup. She's definitely less interested in BFing, it's 5/6 mins morning and evening. She has an open cup of water with meals which I help her with, she guzzles down the water but was less interested when I offered her cows milk.

@MoorGirl ah yeah so very similar! I’ve decided to give her water with breakfast and tea and then cow’s milk with her lunch. Will have to put her vitamin supplement in the cow’s milk at lunch because apparently she can’t just have it off the spoon (we’ve just finished the 4-12 month Wellbaby ‘drops’ which can go straight in their mouth, and the one that goes up to 4 years is a liquid with a spoon which has to go in a drink?! Why can’t things be simple??)

I am also in a similar position. My daughter is 13 months and breastfeeds 2 or 3 times a day then a big feed before bed and a couple during the night! I have started giving cows milk in a cup with a snack after her afternoon nap then doing dinner around 6pm. She drinks some of it, but still wants to breastfeed if we are at home, which I think is mainly for comfort. I'm not sure how it is going to pan out when she starts nursery in a couple of weeks!

I have just started the other Wellbeing vitamin liquid too and know what you mean about it not being simple! I'm currently mixing it in the water cup.

@Rosesanddaisies2020 it’s tricky isn’t it?! I’m glad you do dinner at 6pm because we do too (partner WFH and finishes at 5pm and he cooks) and I always worry it’s too late. Bath is 7pm and bed nearer 8pm. Works for us so I keep telling myself it’s fine and not to worry about the old 7-7 thing! I don’t do snacks though, wondering whether I should? She eats well at mealtimes and doesn’t seem hungry at other times? 🤔

I’ve got no idea what I’m going to do about BF, I think maybe drop it to just AM and PM when I start work (hopefully end of May) and go with that maybe until she’s 2. See how it goes. She’s still really enjoying it and I don’t mind it (never thought I would say that when I was crying my eyes out and hating every second in the first couple of months!!!)

Wrecks your head this Mum stuff!!!