Cows milk for a bf baby?

[CheshireDing]

DD is 10.5 months and bf and BLW. She eats like a human hoover and has water for drinks throughout the day. BF are usually 7pm, 10pm, 3pm and maybe 7am (this times are approx as it does depend). The rest of the time during the day she eats solids.

My confusion is about her milk drinking. I go back to work when she is 11.5 months and I just thought she would bf at bedtime, overnight and maybe early morning if she needed to but that at nursery she would have food. However after a conversation between DH and I and me doing some "Googling" it seems she should be having cows milk during the daytime.

Most of the answers have been in relation to ff babies though and so I do not know if this is any different for a bf baby. I have read they should be drinking a pint a day, which seems like LOADS of milk to me!!

How does anyone find out about this because nobody has ever mentioned it? Have people just replaced the water drink with cows milk for a bf baby?

Genuinely confused and worried about doing the right thing with her :(

If she's still being breastfed and getting a decent amount, then she likely doesn't need cows milk. However from 1, then cows milk (or other dairy based drinks like lassi's) are a good snack to give them as they still won't usually go 5 hours between meals without eating.

I would continue let DD control how much he eats so just offer it.

From about that age I gave DS small amounts of cows milk now and then. It is not suitable for a main drink, but could be given on cereal, in custard or cheese sauces etc so I felt a small amount in a cup is fine when breastmilk is still the main drink.

But you may find he just wants to bf lots at night etc to catch up. I went back to work on shifts and whatever time I got in, he would wake shortly after for a feed or 3. He went to bed fine for dh with a bit of cows milk in a baeker though!

Beaker, even.But your plan of food and water in the day is totally fine too

DD was having cows milk from 6 months on cereal, in porridge etc. and also as a small drink in the morning, but as a pp said, not as a main drink.

We have no dairy or other allergies in the family and I bf to 15 months (never gave a penny to the forumula manufacturers!)

There is no need to give cows milk as part of the diet - it seems to be ingrained in us that we 'need' milk but there are plenty of other sources of calcium.

I looked into this because I went back to work at 7mo, and DD went off formula/bottle at 9mo. So even if you aren't working, or if your little one will use a formula/bottle, there is no guarantee they'll still be having any daytime feeds at nearly 12mo.

At 11.5mo, I think it's safe to ask the nursery to give her a cup of cows milk when all the other children are having their milk. It's not recommended as a main drink before 12mo, but it won't be a main drink anyway in your case. She'll learn to drink from a beaker with the other children. If she's anything like mine, she'll love to copy the older ones in nursery.

She can also have yoghurt as a snack. I found nursery doesn't give much in the form of dairy, except milk with cereal and the milk drink. So I also offer a yoghurt with her snack when she gets home.

I think if you look at the total amount of dairy she'll be having once you gone back to work - 2 to 3 bf a day, a yoghurt, milk with cereal, and maybe a beaker of milk once she's used to it, then you can see it'll definitely meet her calcium needs for the day.

Great thank you very much. Very helpful. Sounds so much simpler now I have your replies :)

I will show DH so he will believe me