Share your experiences with introducing cow's milk into your baby’s diet - £200 voucher to be won

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Milk & More is working with dietician Lucy Upton to support parents when introducing cow's milk into baby’s diets and would love to hear from you! At what age did you introduce your baby to cow's milk, and how did you integrate it into their diet? What do you wish you had known? Perhaps you are at this stage now and have found an approach that works for you? If you have older children, do you still encourage them to drink cow's milk as part of their diet?

• Share your experiences and thoughts around encouraging your children to drink cow's milk on the thread below.
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher
• Don’t forget to vote in our poll!

Here’s what Milk & More has to say: "Milk & More is delighted to join forces with Lucy Upton, to help parents make informed choices about their baby's nutrition, particularly during the weaning stage. Our commitment to delivering the finest quality milk, combined with expert advice, provides peace of mind for busy families."

Milk & More are giving Mumsnet users a special discount! Use code MUMSNET50 for 50% off your first order!

Here’s what Lucy Upton has to say: ‘Cow’s milk is a versatile and nutrient-rich food for babies. It can be included in their diets from the start of solids in a wide range of baby-friendly food options and in a way that suits all weaning approaches, from spoon-led to self-fed options.’

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

I introduced cows milk at 12 months, warming in before adding it to a bottle, and making breakfast with it. For me it was a seamless transition from formula - and so much cheaper too. I felt confident with this transition as I had weaned to a good diet - and was lucky that my DS would eat pretty much anything at that time.

I started to introduce cows milk in small amounts in baby porridge at around 10 months, they in cup drinks, along with juices, and the last drink of the night was a warm bottle before bed in a 50/50 mix with formula, then 100% cows milk at 12m

I first introduced cows milk through things like porridge, mashed potato etc. With changing from formula to cows milk, I mixed the two together for a while and then stopped mixing the formula. My kids still drink warm cows milk before bed.

I started to introduce cows milk at around the age of one definitely started with mixing milk with porridge and then milk warmed up in a bottle fir the oldest thr younger ones always been picky and liked it cold.

I waited until 18m until I introduced cows milk as my DC was premature, and stuck to formula (breast fed until 9 months). When I introduced cows milk it was a gradual addition to formla until I got to 100% cows milk - in case there was an intolerance. .

DD wasn't interested in cows milk as a drink until she was at least 2, DS was about 12 months. He's recently started drinking it a lot again, his favourite after school snack is milk and a cookie. We're mostly vegetarian so it's a good way for him to get protein.

Mix with root vegetables for a creamy mash. I finish what she won't have!

As I breastfed all my three.( Asingle and then twins ) I used my own milk to mix up porridge for the first year and then used cows milk after that for drinks as well. As I went back to work at their one year stage they just went straight to cows milk at nursery with no problem
No bottle, just a beaker.
I never used formula

They were introduced by myself to all fruits and veg by steaming and blending. I never used shop bought premade baby jars…..too expensive and if it’s not good enough for me to eat why would I feed my children it.
I think as they got used to lots of natural and strong flavours from non processed foods mine have never had fussy eating habits and certainly never had an issue with the natural taste of milk.
Hence drinking cows milk was never an issue.

I introduced cows milk at 12m as advised by my HV, in bottles, and warmed up first, they have a warm milk drink in the morning too, I made baby rice and baby porridge with cows milk for breakfasts and then introduced cows milk yoghurts at 14 months

I breast fed until 12m and introduced small amounts as I was worried about lactose intollerance (My dh is intolerant) in baby porrige and desserts such as angel delight.
At 18m they were having warm cows milk before bed and in the morning.

I swapped at 12 months with 3/4 formula, to 1/2 and 1/2 milk and formula, and 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk at monthly intervals, I used milk for breakfast cerials weetabix and readibrek at 12months

I started cows milk at 8months in porridge and baby rice - and with formula on a gradual basis from 12 months

My son had an anaphylactic reaction to his first taste of cows milk. I wish I had known that this was a risk, and made sure I wasn't on my own when introducing him to new foods

He had severe eczema but doctors had kept assuring me it wouldn't have been caused by food in my diet.

I introduced slowly in case there were any intolerance at 12m, mixing with foods, I also gave yogurts, and replaced formula with cows milk at 13m once I knew there were no allergic reactions to this food swap.

I went with advice from my HV and other mums in my friendship group from maternity, introducing into foods at 9m and in a bottle - changing ratios until it was 100% cows milk - the blue top of course.

For me it was deciding at 12 months to go ahead - I first tried a syringe full of warmed milk to tasted to see if they were tolerant and liked the change of taste - after a week of this we went straight to cows milk with no issues.

I put some milk on my DS skin (inner arm) to see if there was any reaction, then tried a little with some porrige at 8m then at 12 started on bottle feeding cows milk.

For me it was gradual, incase there were any issues - it was like weaning all over again, small amounts in porridge, small amounts with formula from 12 months, until they were weaned off baby formula.

Tried it at one. Child didn’t want to know. Still will only have it in food.

I introduced at full fat at 12 months. DS never wanted to drink but we used it in porridge .

Hello, for me it was slowly in bottles from 12 months - keeping an eye on babies nappies incase there were any intolerances or upset timmies

All my children were breastfed for the first 12 months then I moved them into full fat milk for the next 12 months then changed to semi skimmed.

they are all teenagers now and done just have milk in cereal or tea whereas one will regularly have a nice big glass of cold milk as they love it.

we have a lot of allergies in the family but thankfully milk has never been one of them.

Yes, my 7, and 5 year old still love whole cows milk. They will sometimes drink a cup of it it in the morning with their breakfast, or a glass with their supper. My youngest gets given it at school as well in reception. I still like a glass of it occasionally myself with a warm cookie!

I slowly introduced it, warmed up with weetabix. Easy transition

We won’t be doing so because we are a vegan family and cow’s milk is for baby cows.