Cows milk 9 months

[MolliciousIntent]

Just had a call from DH. I'm away on work, left at sparrow fart this morning and won't be back til late tomorrow. Had expressed juuuust enough milk to keep 9m DD going without me, but it was a fucking struggle and was probably not gonna be quite enough, but she's good on solids so was hopeful she'd cope.

Except the toddler has somehow managed to spill the jug with the stash for tomorrow. DH doesn't have the car and there's nowhere within walking distance he can get formula. He doesn't have any other options but to give the baby cows' milk tomorrow.

I don't know really what I'm asking, cos I can't change it and we don't have another option, but will the baby be ok with a couple of oz of dairy milk to tide her over til I get back?

Oh bless you, what a worry! If there's no other alternative then I can't see the harm. A few oz in cereal etc is totally normal at that age so as a drink, while not ideal, won't necessarily be a problem until you're home. My daughter was slightly older when she decided to refuse all formula and as she was CMPA, cows milk wasn't an option. Our dietician advised that adding oat milk was okay if she wouldn't take anything else.
Side note - although it definitely isn't advised, I do know of at least two people who have switched to cows milk after breastfeeding at 10 months... obviously not something anyone would advise but hoping it gives you a little reassurance that a few oz before you get home really will be okay?

Thank you! I'm not nearly as worried as poor DH who was pretty upset on the phone, though not as upset as the toddler who was howling "I did it on naccident" and sobbing. Baby by all accounts is very chilled out and everyone else seems to be losing their shit.

She has cows milk in porridge and mash so it's not like she's never had it before? She would eat her weight in yoghurt if allowed so maybe I'll suggest that instead? Tho dehydration would still be a worry I suppose, she's not a huge fan of water.

Half a generation ago we weaned babies at 4 months and gave them cows milk from 6 months. It's less than ideal but for a couple of days it'll be fine. Don't worry.

The big 'risk' is that she prefers the taste of cows milk (my eldest did and has never really gone for sweet stuff) and suddenly sleeps brilliantly and becomes much more content but rejects the breast.

Deliveroo/Just Eat will surely deliver instant formula from the local Co-Op or similar. Your DH can order some extra treats for himself and toddler while he's at it!

We night weaned and sleep trained just before I left so that she could cope overnight without me and she's slept through since day 2 of that, so the good sleep is happening already. I'd be surprised if she gave up on the breast, she's an absolute demon for it, I think much more for comfort and closeness than for milk, but if she does then she does. She'll have to have formula though, I'm definitely not weaning on to cows milk at 9m.

Not really a thing where we are I don't think, arse end of nowhere. I'll be home tomorrow night, I think we'll just go for cows milk as my googling says it's not harmful for babies, just not as nutritious as formula or breastmilk. So it'll do for 2 or 3 feeds.

I put 'risk'in brackets because the worst case scenario really isn't so bad. You're away for a couple if days and she accepts an alternative or doesn't. Don't worry: if the worst case is that she gets on great then that's a good thing isn't it?