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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Is cows milk ok at 9 months??

38 replies

Lyns22 · 02/03/2014 16:37

Just that really. My dd is bf twice a day and is a pretty good eater.
I'm going back to work in a fortnight and just wanted to try her on cows milk as there will be some mornings I'll have left for work before she's awake.
I don't want her on formula (no abuse please, just a personal choice) but didn't know if it was bad for her to have cows milk? Is there a reason you're supposed to wait til 1 year? She eats plenty of dairy in her yogs, cheese, sauces throughout the day.
Many thanks x

OP posts:
HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 02/03/2014 16:41

I think it's ok to have with food, but it's not nutritious enough to be a bm/fm replacement at that age.
Could you keep a stash of frozen bm for emergencies?

ilovepowerhoop · 02/03/2014 16:42

its not recommended as the main drink before 1 year as it isnt high enough in iron and other nutrients. Can you not just treat formula as another weaning food as it is going to be better for her than cows milk at that age?

Original poster
Lyns22 · 02/03/2014 16:44

Thank you, I've tried expressing but I've barely got any milk anymore. I can only get 20mls in an hour(!) think I'd get just as much if I started milking my husbands moobs..

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 02/03/2014 16:47

If it's as well as bf (ie, you can give her the same amount of bf when your home as she would have had anyway) then yes.

If it's instead of then no.

ilovepowerhoop · 02/03/2014 16:49

I took it that is was 'instead of' as the lo would not be up for the morning feed and the OP wanted to give cows milk instead of that feed.

juneau · 02/03/2014 16:51

No, they need breast milk or formula until a year, then you can start them on cow's milk.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/03/2014 16:53

How about popping home at lunch to bf?

Give the cows milk in morning, come home at lunch to bf then bf again when you get home?

TheScience · 02/03/2014 16:55

It's not suitable as a main drink/feed - too much salt, not enough iron/nutrients, hard on the stomach and kidneys - human babies are not designed the same way as cows so cow's milk needs to be modified for them.

If you need to substitute a breastfeed at this age then formula is healthier.

MyPantsAreGreen · 02/03/2014 17:13

I have given cows milk to my baby so he can have a bit of what his sisters are having from about 8 months. Figure it's the same as cheese yoghurt. It's fine. He's fine. Still breast feeding too.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/03/2014 17:27

I have tried to suggest alternative options but I really do have to say, that at none months your baby is crawling and probably eating pet food, bugs and licking shoes. I don't understand at this point why you would worry about a cup of formula a couple of times a week when you have to leave early.

Original poster
Lyns22 · 02/03/2014 22:19

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I have a 45 min commute to work so lunch time feeds are out. Obvs I'd love to get to see dd during the day.
Thanks Giles but I have my reasons for no formula. Dd has regular surgeries and formula means she needs fasted for an additional 5 hours so not worth it to me. You're right she does have a strong immune system from crawling and licking our dogs..

OP posts:
MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 02/03/2014 22:25

I stopped bf at just before 11 months and hv said not to bother with formula just to go on to cows milk, but maybe the advice would be different as your child is slightly younger

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/03/2014 22:26

Can you get her into a nursery near where you work so you can visit at lunch?

Ultimately you are talking 5/6 weeks, is it really not possible to go back to work later of formular really isn't an option (unless you an clear a surgery window for that 5 weeks)

I think your best bet in this case would be to see a dr. He may well be able to assure you that your baby will be ok on cows milk a few weeks early providing you continue bf when you can.

Or contact any local bf support see if they an advise a different way of expressing so you get more?

beachesandbuckets · 02/03/2014 22:30

I tried to get to the bottom of this with my HV...WHY can't they just have cows milk? Her explanation was that too much can cause minor bleeding in a baby's gut before 12mths. I don't want to use formula so I am feeding at 7am before work, 6pm when home and 10pm before bed. And in day making sure lots of dairy products and water and decent food. Could this work for you?

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/03/2014 22:32

I think that the bleeding could be caused by the lactose in the milk so maybe the lactose free milk would be better?

ilovepowerhoop · 02/03/2014 22:42

breastmilk is full of lactose so unlikely to be the issue with cows milk

Original poster
Lyns22 · 02/03/2014 22:58

Giles unfortunately its a special needs nursery for visually impaired kids so needs to be that one. And believe me if I didn't have to go back to work yet I wouldn't! Damn mortgage..
Beaches your 3 feeds sounds good. I might just have to wake up dd before I go to work.. X

OP posts:
MoominsYonisAreScary · 02/03/2014 23:09

If its only some mornings then I cant see a problem, it shouldnt be given as a main drink due to not having enough nutrients etc but as its occasionally and you will still be bf that isnt a problem.

Have never seen anything about too much causing bleeding in the gut, cant find anything on nhs website either

eggplanty · 03/03/2014 08:45

It's not the lactose... Breast milk is full of lactose. It's the cows milk protein which can be highly irritating to a baby's gut. I know Weston A Price has a "home made" cows milk formula replacement recipe. Might be something to look into.

BertieBotts · 03/03/2014 08:54

They can't because it's not as nutrient dense as formula or BM. So it's not a good drink to give them until they're a year.

I would just stick to water in the day, and food, obviously! And then breastfeed at home.

But please know when your child is 5, you will look back and realise that this fear over formula is bonkers. It's just milk fortified with vitamins - if you give them pretty much any bought cereal, even a plain one like weetabix, it is fortified with artificial vitamins.

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/03/2014 09:03

The op came back and said that formula meant an additional 5 hours fasting even her dd has surgery so it really wasn't an option.

ilovepowerhoop · 03/03/2014 09:09

I dont understand why that would be the case though? Why would formula cause that as it is just like giving a different weaning food? On op days would you not just breastfeed?

BertieBotts · 03/03/2014 09:10

Ah sorry I totally missed that. Yes it does seem bizarre, surely you could just fast from formula as well as food on those days?

Original poster
Lyns22 · 03/03/2014 09:17

I don't get the page sometimes. I said I didn't want to use formula. Then stated why and still being told to use it. I don't want dd on it as she would have to fast longer on surgery days. Yes I bf before her surgery. Just don't want her on formula. End of conversation. Thanks to those who who actual advice x

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 03/03/2014 09:18

I did give actual advice Hmm