Cows milk once fully weaned - any tips?

[Deaconwood]

Hello,

My DS is one in a couple of weeks and we are reaching the end of breastfeeding. We're down to early morning and bedtime feeds and I don't think there's that much milk there anymore TBH. It feels like the right time to begin the process of fully weaning him over the next couple of months. We'll probably cut the morning feed quite soon and continue bedtime until 13/14 months...

What I keep worrying about is how to get him to start drinking cows milk in any quantity. Because DS has never had a bottle he doesn't connect drinking milk with anything other than breastfeeding.

He has lots of litte drinks of water from a sippy cup throughout the day - but it's only ever quick functional sips when he needs it. He would never sit on a lap and drink a whole beaker of drink. I have started offering him little sips of watered-down cows milk but he always pushes the cup away after one try and pulls a real face!

Does anyone else who exclusively breastfed have any tips on this? Does it matter if he doesn't drink large quantities of milk after he is one? He gets a good amount of whole milk in his diet (big bowl of porridge for breakfast, yoghurt at lunch, rice pudding at dinner etc) - but is this enough on it's own?

I get really confused because most other people I know moved onto formula at 6 months and so their babies still happily sit and drink milk from a bottle several times a day. My DS doesn't get that comfort drinking thing from anything else than breastfeeding...and now we're down to such small feeds he gets nowhere near the same volume of milk.

Thanks in advance!

I think the amount at 1 is roughly a pint of milk, measure how much he's getting in his breakfast, and don't forget to count yoghurt/cheese etc. Rice pudding is good too.

Some babies just aren't milk milk drinkers - is there any particular reason why you want to cut out his evening BF, because you could always carry that on a bit longer if you're worried about his milk intake.

Hello
I'll be interested to hear the replies too as I have the same problem with my DD. I stopped breastfeeding her last month at 15 months and have been trying to get her to drink more cows milk but she just doesn't seem that interested. I've heard the recommended amount is half a pint per day so I make sure she gets plenty in her cereal and lots of cheese and yogurt too. She's not hugely fussed on water either but drinks enough so that she doesn't seem to get thirsty. I'm trying not to get too worried as I Know she has a good varied diet throughout the day.

I'm in the same position as you, Deaconwood, so I'll be watching for any replies... how do you think your DS will cope with giving up his feeds? And will you replace the evening one with anything?

Hi debka, I think my dd found it easier to give up than me and she was fine about it, I'm trying to replace the evening one with a little cup of cow's milk and although she doesn't take loads she goes to sleep easily and still sleeps through thankfully.

Thanks for the replies so far!

Debka - I hope he will be OK when we drop the feeds, especially as it doesn't seem to be a hunger-related thing anymore. I think missing the comfort will be the hardest bit! We could probably have a whole other post on how to cope with this bit... Thought I would offer some warmed milk in a cup after his bedtime bath. How do you think you'll get on?

My DD is 11mo so we have a little way to go yet, but I think I will find it harder than her. When we dropped the daytime feeds she didn't even seem to notice. We'll have to have another one so we can keep breast feeding!

Towards the end I used to feel a little sad at each feed as I remember thinking is this going to be the last one? At the last feed I really remember looking down at her, it's such a lovely bond.

Does anyone have any other advice on this please? My DS has pre-empted me gradually weaning him off breastfeeding and is now refusing his morning and evening feeds. He seems perfectly content but it obviously not drinking any milk at all. He is one tomorrow. Help!

hi, maybe try goat milk, it's got much more calicum and has a milder taste. That's what my dd went onto after being bf for 21 mths, it was no bother to her. of course by then she was used to having it in cereal etc. Cows milks though has quite a strong taste so it might be putting ds off. Good luck!

hi deaconwood, no idea really (ds only 4.5 months ebf) but perhaps it doesn't matter. it is the calcium isn't it - is there anything else in cow's milk that matters? you could just make sure he is getting it elsewhere. this is a list of calcium rich foods and between the ages of one and three need 350mg of calcium a day
you could still keep offering it and one day, he might be curious enough, unless he doesn't actually like it.

Hi Deaconwood,
I too was concerned about this - my DS (15 months, 3 breastfeeds a day still) had a suspected cow's milk allergy, which has now been ruled out, but he doesn't like drinking cow's milk yet, though we have successfully introduced milk into his diet, and he will happily eat yogurt, cheese, milk in sauces, etc.
We saw a dietician as part of the allergy clinic's service, and I managed to ask her last week if it was OK to cut down breastfeeds and rely on other sources of calcium if he still wouldn't drink cow's milk. She said that as long as he has three portions of calcium a day, it's fine not to drink milk. So, a serving of yogurt, a matchbox sized piece of cheese, and servings of any of the calcium rich foods from RubyBuckleberry's list should be absolutely fine. She also said just to keep on offering the cow's milk, and he probably would eventually drink it.
HTH - and sorry for long post!

Thanks all, that is definitely a help! Finally finished icing his birthday cake - think there must be a portion of calcium in that...