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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

Switching to Cows Milk from Breastmilk

11 replies

sandjandp · 19/04/2009 17:05

Have exclusively breast fed till now (3 weeks shy of 1st birthday). Would love to hear from anyone re the introduction of cows milk... how much, how often, warm or cold, all that stuff? He feeds at night still pretty often but it's more a soother than a must. Wondering how to introduce cow's milk and now much. Love to hear from anyone. Thanks

OP posts:
Mishee · 19/04/2009 18:47

I just did it! On first birthday gave warmed cow's milk and all was fine although I'd gone from breast to formula at 6 months. Would try to get out of habit of night feeds at nearly 1 though. DD fed throughout the night (did that co-sleeping thing - would put her in her cot but when she woke for a feed I put her in with me) until 6 months when I hired a sleep guru because I was knackered. After 2 nights of her being told 'Mummy's here, but it's sleepy time' she got the message that there were no more night feeds. We've both slept through ever since!

Mishee · 19/04/2009 18:47

I just did it! On first birthday gave warmed cow's milk and all was fine although I'd gone from breast to formula at 6 months. Would try to get out of habit of night feeds at nearly 1 though. DD fed throughout the night (did that co-sleeping thing - would put her in her cot but when she woke for a feed I put her in with me) until 6 months when I hired a sleep guru because I was knackered. After 2 nights of her being told 'Mummy's here, but it's sleepy time' she got the message that there were no more night feeds. We've both slept through ever since!

moondog · 19/04/2009 18:49

You don't need to givecows' milk at all if you don't want to, plenty of other sourcesofcalcium. My ds never had any after weaning from breast at 11 months [just yoghurt, cheese and cereal in milk].

Original poster
sandjandp · 19/04/2009 20:50

Where do you find a sleep guru?? We are co-sleeping but he is now more in his cot at side of my bed than before. I am starting to get used to the idea of own room etc but simply can't go down the controlled crying route.. feel as tho I have enough sleep but know that haven't had an undisturbed night for 11 months now!!
Will try warm cows milk at 1yr and see how it goes. He does have lots of yoghurt n cheese though.

OP posts:
Mishee · 20/04/2009 18:58

Would you like details of my sleep guru? DD wouldn't sleep during day unless in car or pushed in pram & nuzzled all through the night. I was knackered but within 9 minutes (honestly) sleep guru had her sleeping in her cot - she changed my life and is now writing a book on her methods. Don't want to push her onto you, so let me know if you want her details.

helenlouisey · 20/04/2009 19:49

I'd definitely like details of your sleep guru Please pass them on

adoannie · 20/04/2009 19:51

Bar first couple of weeks DD2 had formula and switched to cows at 11 months. Straight from the fridge - no problem. Never warmed it up for any of them - except for DD1 (aged 5) who has it warm with honey and cinnamon for bedtime snuggles in the winter. DS has always had it cold from fridge and hates it any other way.

Alishanty · 21/04/2009 14:16

I weaned my ds off the breast at 11 mths and went straight to cow's milk. In the end I had to resort to a bottle as he wasn't taking enough from a beaker. I always offered it cold and to start with he didn't like the taste so I added a drop of vanilla essence and watered it down slightly, then gradually stopped doing this as he got used to it. The first feed to drop was the hardest as he used to bf to sleep but after we cracked that he was fine. I continued to bf him before bed, was going to carry on til a yr but think my milk dried up as he started to get frustrated so we stopped just before a year. Luckily he went off bottles at 13 mths so I just gave what he would drink in a beaker. Now he has a beaker before bed and milk on cereal and that's it. He is now 2.7.

Alishanty · 21/04/2009 14:19

Just to add, he was having about 3 bottles a day when we first gave up bf and I stopped feeding him milk if he woke in the night and soothed him in other ways. Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to go downstairs and get milk. With bf it's so much easier just to pop them on lol! shortly after that he started going through the night. hth.

Mishee · 21/04/2009 19:29

Alison Scott Wright 0787984003 is sleep guru I used who saved my sanity and also made me realise I was a good mum when I was really doubting myself. She does telephone consultations as well as overnight stays. Let me know if you get in contact with her.

helenlouisey · 22/04/2009 18:29

Hi Mishee, I think that number is one digit short, would you be able to re check it? Thanks

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