1 year old baby constipated after starting cow’s milk

[K2012]

FTM and I need some advice.

Baby just turned one and I started giving full fat milk (Cravendale) last Friday. He was a little bit constipated last Wednesday and Thursday (did a poo both days but it was a little bit hard and not a big amount) and has had 5ml Lactulose every day. Then started cow’s milk last Friday and poo has been hard and a bit pale since. He is straining to get it out and cries every time he has a poo.
Is this normal? Spoke to GP who said give extra dose of Lactulose for a few days (he didn’t want to start movicol until baby is 2) and fruit juices and water. I have done that but hasn’t really made an improvement. GP didn’t really comment about the change to cow’s milk.

Do I stop the cow’s milk and go back to formula, change brand, give it a few days for the body to adjust or what do I do?

Thank you in advance 🙏🏻

How much is he having a day?

I think you can start them off a little easier by diluting the milk with water. Start with 50:50, then increase to 75:25 milk to water. Give extra water, prunes, and pear to help with the constipation. I think it's probably normal for it to back them up a bit as it's so much richer than formula or boob milk.

Thanks for the replies.

@Summerishereagain he’s having 3 bottles a day

He doesn’t need cows milk, he doesn’t need formula over one either but that would be preferable than cows milk and constant lactulose

Thanks for the replies. I think diluting the milk with water has helped, stool wasn’t hard like a ball as it was over the weekend.

Too much calcium can cause constipation and white stools. At this age he needs 350 mg of calcium. It sounds like he is probably having too much milk.

@Summerishereagain

I’m a FTM so would like to ask how many bottles of milk should a one year old have in a day?

This on the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/what-to-feed-young-children/#:~:text=Try%20to%20give%20your%20child,growing%20well%20for%20their%20age.
Also no need for bottles at all. Give all drinks in a free flow cup.

NHS advises no more bottles when you get to 12 months. 350 mg of calcium is usually divided into 3 portions of dairy a day, this includes milk and cheese, there are also fortified products like some bread if needed. One portion would milk would be 100 ml, 80g yoghurt or 15g of cheese.

Thanks for the advice.

As mentioned before baby gets constipated with the milk I bought (Cravendale filtered whole milk) I have even given 50%milk and 50% water and he’s still constipated.

Do I change brand to another filtered milk, non filtered milk or try semi skimmed milk? Please advice. Baby likes to have milk morning and evening and sometimes in the afternoon