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

Around 12 months as I was breast feeding and had some frozen too so didn’t need cows milk.
Used some to mix into foods, then began giving it in cups.
Always used full fat cows milk.

My older kids drink a lot of cows milk.
I have it delivered in glass bottles by a traditional milk man due to the recycling of the glass bottles reducing the plastic waste.
Each will drink a pint a day at least.

I introduced cows milk to both of my children as soon as they started solid food at six months. We added it to porridge, scrambled eggs etc.
I breastfed both babies but on the off occasion I am away from my 11 month old he just has cows milk in his sippy cup. Against the health guidelines as far as I know, but good enough for the WHO. I would rather feed him fresh cows milk than expensive, ultra processed, Nestle made baby formula.

I introduced milk about 9 months for my little one. We had to switch formulas quite often cos she had an intolerance to some and then had bad constipation on top of that and had to be medicated. She's now just turned 3 and has luckily grown out of most of the issues and loves a cup of warm milk before bed.

From 12 months for both my DC's, mixing into breakfasts helped adjust to the taste and get the digestive system used to the change in food types.

I did mine at 12m (ish) but for the first few weeks had a mix of formula and cows milk to slowly introduce this into their diet.

We didn’t properly introduce cow’s milk until our daughter was about 18 months old because the first time she had pure full-fat cow’s milk, she wouldn’t stop vomiting - so much so we had to take her to hospital. She could tolerate it in all other forms. We gradually built it up, but I remained cautious until one day she grabbed a strawberry milkshake off me and drank it and was fine. I decided to throw caution to the wind after that point and we’ve never looked back!

I spoke to my HV as I was cautious about any intolerances - she told me to do it gradually if I was worried, I went with her advice and the transition was seamless really.

I gave gradually with formula from 18 months - I thought 12m was too young for my DS1.

I transitioned from 12 months - I know I could add to food from 6m but it felt too soon - worked ok for us.

We also had a very smooth transition at 12 months. Have always been buying organic whole milk. Interestingly, older child who is 6 now still only drinks whole milk and refused semi-skimmed, which is what the school offers.

Well he is 19 next month and has never drunk cow's milk. He was CMPA but tolerates cow's milk in food ie mashed potatoes

I love the stuff but he prefers soya

Little by little with breastfeeding ratio.
Let them see me having a glass..."share with me,want a sip too?"
Sometimes it helped warm because it tastes sweeter.
Mix in porridge and mash to start so the tummy can get used to it aswell as taste.
Don't listen to everyone seemingly needing to have their child intolerant to it. At one point it was like a disordered tick box and i saw the shame and pressure it had on others which led to paranoid checming,it wasn't right and felt uncomfortable that the culture was seeping into the babies health.
I used to always make sure itwas there as an option at most meals or snacks.Even just a few thumbs worth. Getting used to it. Exoring it. Soaking their baby biscuits and toast in it was not what injad in mind😁.

Milk is so important. And will be allowed and encouraged. I remember we used to always want milk. For supper, from school it was the drink of choice at one point.
I'd like that for them too. And I think it helps with so many things. And can play a real vital role in good nutrients and bone strength.

It was at 12 months - in stages adding more and more to formula for DS1 - DS2 just straight to cows at 12 m

My DD took cows milk as a drink in a cup from 10-12 months when she gradually stopped breastfeeding. She had a drink of warm milk with a drop of vanilla essence or a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder in the evenings; and cows milk in porridge, rice pudding, custard, chocolate sauce, cheese sauce etc. She drank plain cold milk at pre-school. She is a teenager now and still has milky hot drinks but now lattes and sugary hot chocs!
My DS was not such a good eater, he continued with BF til he was 2, then I introduced follow on formula in a bottle from 1 as it is fortified and it was reassuring that he was getting vits and minerals in the milk. He didn't want to give up the formula but I insisted at 3 and he moved on to warm milky drinks in a cup in the evenings. He
I made my own custard, choc sauce, rice puddings as milk is so naturally sweet it needs very little added sugar and the prepared ones are too sweet - my kids adored bananas or rhubarb and custard or poached pears in chocolate custard, rice pudding and stewed apple or plums. We didn't have many flavoured yogurts, though they liked plain yogurt mixed with cold custard with strawberries etc in summer.

Well when your child‘s skin is bleeding and breaking apart because of cow‘s milk (I.e milk for cows!) then it is not just a tickbox.

Cow milk is not designed for humans. This is one of the silliest posts I’ve ever read.

I of course did not mean if your child was allergic. Now that's the silliest post ive ever seen.
There was a time a few years back when adults were issuing intolerance on themselves by quacks on the net as an answer to every belly quiver they had.
This in turn ( perhaps just in my area.) Became a real issue thst parents were then distributing this to children. Especially if like you they had a strange idea thst cows milk wasn't for humans. It is. It's has been for generations. And you writing this line has showed me once again exactly whst my post was pointing to. A sudden anti cows milk rhetoric.

But NO, i did not and would not, ever mean if the child genuinely was allergic.

@Itsgottobeme how is cows milk for humans? Just because humans have decided it is 'for generations' doesn't make it right. Cows literally produce it to feed their babies, just as horses, humans, pigs and all other mammals do. There is literally nothing natural about artificially impregnating a cow, taking its baby, formula feeding the baby and using the mother's milk to feed humans. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. If you believe in it then fine - I do accept that - but let's not pretend it's natural or 'for humans' as that is a simple, scientific factual inaccuracy.

With cereal etc from 6 months.

as a drink not till about 18 months as I breastfed.

it’s just another food. No big deal.

Most amused by all the crazy anti-milk posts.

Me too, especially at the cow's milk is meant for humans and has been for generations!

Hilarious.
Science anyone?

I introduced from 12 months - and took advice from my HV as to how to introduce and what to look out for with regards to intolerances.

My kids were breastfed into toddlerhood so never had cows milk as a drink. They were getting it in cooking from 6 months.

It was a gradual introduction from 12m - but started fromage frais from 8m

Went with advice from my health visitor and introduced at 12 months, warmed up in a bottle warmer. Went for organic blue top milk. I continued with follow-on milk until 2 though as their diet was quite restrictive and I wanted to make sure that they were getting all of their nutients.