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Weaning

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

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Original poster

So what will happen if I give my baby cows' milk to drink?

50 replies

Lio · 01/03/2007 15:25

Going back to work on Monday, no joy getting 6mo dd to drink formula, is it OK to try cows' milk, even if just to get her used to a bottle/cup (am hopeless at expressing, she's starve if she has to rely on that)?

Is the 'bad' thing about cows' milk just that it's not good enough? My understanding (likely to be flawed) is that cows' milk won't harm her, it just won't do her as much good as formula (or breastmilk, which she'll be getting the 5 days a week I'm not working, and mornings and evenings/nights).

TIA.

OP posts:

MumsMan · 01/03/2007 16:47

DW is going back to work and our DD will be over 11 months old by then. On bf full time at the moment but takes cow milk in her 'meals' twice a day. Should we put her on cow's milk or formula for a month and then cow's milk once she is a year old? Very confused but can see that some of you have been giving cow's milk from the age of six months. Would it be OK to give her cow's milk full time? The baby will be 11 months old in five days time.

Cheers

fryalot · 01/03/2007 16:48

The rules changed in between my dd1 and dd2.

Gave cows milk to dd1 from 6 months and apart from obvious teenager-ness, no obvious side effects.

Gave cows milk to dd2 from 12 months (as currently recommended) and she's ok too.

ironingqueen · 01/03/2007 16:50

We ran out of formula while on holiday with ds at about this age, and had to use cow's milk. No ill effects, but I'm a by-the-book kind of person and wouldn't do it on purpose. I would follow the current guidelines.

Rhubarb · 01/03/2007 16:51

My mil ran a dairy farm and used to give her babies milk straight from the cow.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/03/2007 16:52

Was this the one that sat on the cat?

Rhubarb · 01/03/2007 16:54

No, that was my horrid mother, the screaming banshee.

And it was a dog.

No they used to shoot cats at dh's farm.

nappyaddict · 01/03/2007 16:58

so did the guidelines used to be 6 months then? i gave ds some the other cos i hadn't made his bottle up and he was screaming so it pacified him while i did it.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/03/2007 17:02

You mean like this rhubarb?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/03/2007 17:03

Its "okay" to give as an occasional thing. It is not to be relied on as a main drink/feed.

IdreamofClooney · 01/03/2007 17:03

I would err on the side of caution as your baby is just 6 months and perservere with the formula, Others have already given the tips I would advise such as trying different types, especially cartons and of mixing it with breast milk to begin with.

My DS went to nursery at 9 months and didn;t have any milk at nursery - I BF him before he went and right away when I got home - he had about 4 feeds a day, just not while he was at nursery. He had food and snacks at nursery, not that he ate much. At 11 months when I went back to work he went right onto cows milk and has that at nursery.

The nursery said he did get a bit gurney at certain points in the couple of months before he got the cows milk but he was fine and that is what worked for us

LucyJu · 01/03/2007 17:17

I'm probably going to be lynched for saying this...
But, from what I recall, there has never been a single piece of research to show that infant formula is actually better for a baby than cows' milk. Theoretically, it should be better, as thoeretically it is "closer" to breastmilk type of protein, iron, salt levels. But, IIRC, this has never been demonstrated in practice.
That aside, if your dd will drink water from a cup, could she perhaps get her "milk" from sources like yoghurt, fromage frais, cheese etc whilst she is at nursery? Have you tried those cups that are supposedly meant fro breast fed babies? Or just a different teat on a bottle. (The MAM are really soft and fit on an Advent bottle, if you have those). And maybe you could get someone else to try feeding her milk, so that she knows bm isn't an option.

robinia · 01/03/2007 17:25

When I asked the same question with ds3 (9 months) I was told the only issue is iron. The allergy "issue" is nonsense as formula is based on cows milk anyway. And I thought soya has been shown not to be a good alternative unless there is an allergy involved (ie. not as good as normal formula). Having said that with dd when she started nursery at 7 months I had exactly the same trouble, could not get her to take anything out of anything except direct from me. I did send her in with stuff but she just used to have her food and not very much to drink, then would guzzle as soon as I got back for her. Fortunately I only worked 2 days a week. And that was in the days when you could wean at 4 months so she was eating more than a 6 month weaner would.
Do you know that she definitely takes cows milk then? I would be inclined to allow her one cows milk drink on the days when you are working but no more so she is more inclined to eat the food which would hopefully have more iron in.

Catilla · 01/03/2007 17:49

If it is only 2 days/week and you will bf her morning and evening (allow plenty of time for a good morning feed) then I'd leave it to the nursery to get her drinking formula.

My ds would hardly take formula at all when he started nursery at 6.5m old. We had just discovered his milk allergy so only options were ebm and a revolting hypoallergenic formula - I didn't blame him for not wanting it!!

But nurseries are very used to babies getting unsettled when they first start, and to persisting with bottles. She'll be offered her meals and plenty of water too. She'll see the other babies taking bottles. Most of them come around to formula in the end. Meanwhile, she isn't going to drop dead if she misses a few daytime feeds while she learns.

I found my nursery really helpful for guidance on what to offer when, and for working through various feeding problems. They were innovative, persistent and kind. The staff ratio for babies means they do have time to keep on trying with the bottle.

HTH. It'll be fine, don't worry. You'll probably make more work for them by asking for cow's milk, which is different from what all the others are having.

Original poster

Lio · 01/03/2007 18:14

Thanks everyone for joining in, it's always good to hear other people's experience and have some new ideas. She doesn't think much of a doidy cup, but I'm not giving up on ANY options yet.

OP posts:

Piffle · 01/03/2007 18:16

I agree dd had the hipp organic follow on as a milk drink when I could not b/f her
it was the only one she'd drink

Piffle · 01/03/2007 18:17

also dd would never drink from spouted cups
she used to like sips from the top of an avent bottle - the little clear lid you get if you have any of those.
Strange but true

ueue · 01/03/2007 18:18

If it's only two days a week, and she'll be bfed morning and evening, there's no problem. I work four days a week, have done since DS2 was 12mo (did three days from 9mo) and although I expressed for him till he was one, he didn't drink much of it. Prefers it direct from the source!

He's 13mo now and still bfeeds loads when I'm with him - he's worked out he can ask for it now...

She'll be fine - no need for nursery to give her anything milk-related, unless you want them to.

ueue · 01/03/2007 18:18

(Tis Hunker with a mad namechange, btw - am changing back now)

hunkermunker · 01/03/2007 18:19

That's better!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/03/2007 18:47

I just want to point out that, whilst formula milk is derived from cows milk (amongst a few other things), the milk proteins have been more refined, and are less likely to get 'caught' in the gut as straight from the cow, cows milk. So, it isnt rubbish as such.

Although if a baby is already allergice to cows milk protein, then they will most likely react to formula milk as much as 'normal' cows milk.

Original poster

Lio · 01/03/2007 20:05

Am back from supermarket with slew of formula varieties - thanks for all the contributions

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 01/03/2007 23:37

I really do think you won't need to bother with formula or any milk - did you see my post (as ueue) about it? Just bfeed her on the days you're with her.

marmiteontoast · 02/03/2007 07:27

And I would leave a bottle or two of formula so dd can drink it if she wants to.

adath · 02/03/2007 13:13

Cows milk by nature is made for an animal that is so supposed to grow big and fat with not very much brain growth. Although formula milk is made from cows milk it is changed to be on the closer side to breast milk than it is at source.
I can second the Hip organinc, I am rubbish at expressing and ds will not touch formula but had 2 samples of this and he drank it.

Original poster

Lio · 02/03/2007 19:32

Hi hunker, yes thanks for your alter ego post; made me think I don't need to get too stressed about this (deeeeeeep breaths).

OP posts:

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