https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 05:28:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781828 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 20:45:57 +0000 ShootingStar 2781828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: @agold: Soy has a lot of natural estrogen in it. It’s possoble the extra estrogen might increase cancer risks and bring on puberty earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781821 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:02:51 +0000 agold 2781821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: I’m so very curious what all the opposition to soy is based on, as well! I don’t have the time or energy to look into it much. I love to trust my doctor, but she seems to casually throw out suggestions and has done so before with other things. Anyhow. I looked at the bottles of “milks” at Sprouts and Ripple seemed really sufficient in my opinion. I found it to be pretty fairly inexpensive at $3.99 for the whole bottle of milk. It seems normal sized. And it is sold at 3 different stores within a 2 mile radius of my house, so it’s easy to get. I don’t know if this pea milk will be something we use forever. I’m just looking for a change in her poop! </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: I was worried my girl wouldn’t take it, but she had zero issue with the bottle of it I just gave her before her nap. It’s hard when kids get picky about things. She’s starting to get picky with her food. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: @catlady: I got yogurt since you girls mentioned it. I’ll try to give her some maybe next week if her poops get better since cutting out general milk. </p> <p>@elljay: I saw a great looking lactose free milk option at the store that I will try next with my daughter when I start introducing dairy back with her. Thank you for suggesting it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781804 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:21:09 +0000 codeitall 2781804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we met with our pediatric nutritionist (DS was in the single digit percentiles for weight and fell off at one point), she told us that if he had a diagnosed dairy allergy (oh yes indeed), the best option nutritionally was soy milk. She told us very clearly that if we decided to use other milks, he would not get the nutrients he needed that were traditionally supplied via cow's milk. Sooo we did soy milk haha!</p> <p>With that context, I'm curious what the opposition to soy milk is from?</p> <p>To be fair to our nutritionist, I think this was before Ripple was available and when I first saw it in stores it was far more expensive than soy milk, so we stuck with soy. I find it promising so many people love it, maybe DD will try it when she turns 1 if my budget doesn't cry too hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781794 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:46:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2781794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: We are still using Baby's Only which is organic GMO free soy toddler formula. I order it on amazon and its not terribly expensive (about $10 per small jar). But we are working to switch her to Original Ripple milk but it hasn't been going so great (she's refusing). We may have to look at other options. I'm not against soy milk but I dont think it has the protein/fats she needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781792 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:44:48 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2781792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I was all about hemp milk but now comparing, I think this Pea Milk (ripple) may actually be better and less nutty tasting </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781782 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:20:51 +0000 agold 2781782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: That is the exact issue I'm having right now. The runs. Poor kids. Thanks for telling me what you did with the cheese. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781779 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:14:05 +0000 gingerbebe 2781779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: My kids took to WCM fine, but within a week they started getting butt peeling runs. They weren't even fussy or having pain - it was just coming right out of them in blow outs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781776 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:11:43 +0000 gingerbebe 2781776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: With DS1, we used Enfagrow toddler formula (and he did fine on it, which is why I felt like he would be fine on cow's milk eventually), and with DS2 we used Nido Kinder, which is basically a toddler formula made with powdered whole milk. Again, DS2 did fine on Nido Kinder, so I felt like milk would be okay eventually.</p> <p>For cheese, I basically melted it into things. We used a lot of mozzarella, parm, and Kraft singles in pasta, risotto, etc. We also made thin pizzas on tortillas and let them gnaw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781773 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:07:42 +0000 agold 2781773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you, all, for these comments! I really just didn't know where to start looking into this issue.</p> <p>@MrsSCB: Yes, this was absolutely my concern. My friend who initially told me not to use soy milk suggested coconut milk, and that just didn't see like an alternative to cow milk. I really want my girl to get all the nutrients she needs. </p> <p>I'm very interested in the Ripple milk. Thanks, @littlebug: , for telling me about your sister's background!</p> <p>@jennlin821: My girl's doctor suggested we get her off of milk because her poop is atrocious looking. I took her in because I thought maybe she had some kind of flu. No fever and great spirits, though. Just the oddly colored wet diarrhea. But I personally hate milk, too, though. However, I see the benefits for the babies to drink it and I have no issue with her drinking it and hope she can drink it again soon. </p> <p>@Littlebit7: She doesn't actually even eat any other overtly obvious cows milk products. I need to reevaluate her diet as whole!! </p> <p> @gingerbebe: So if you didn't use a plant based milk, what did you use while you were doing the supplementing? I was still nursing my girl, which is why I think this issue just popped up now that I have stopped nursing her as of last week. And what kind of cheese did you give to your babies when they were 13/14 months? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781744 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 13:08:28 +0000 MrsKRB 2781744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just do unsweetened almond milk, she drinks 4, maybe 8oz a day, but she’s typically a good eater I make sure she gets fat and protein in every meal/snack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781741 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:59:37 +0000 Littlebit7 2781741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you cut out all other cows milk dairy as well to identify that the milk was the cause? Perhaps too much acid in another food? (red sauce, tomatoes and oranges make my Los poo go crazy and she gets a rash) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781731 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:28:11 +0000 starlitsky 2781731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: There is a tab that says "nutrition" ;) but I have to say their website is not the most user friendly! Their store finder is kinda hard to use too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781730 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:25:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@starlitsky: you're much better at web stuff. I tried to do that earlier myself. 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781729 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:23:55 +0000 starlitsky 2781729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I was able to view the nutritional info on their website. :) The Original sweetened definitely does have more calories vs the unsweetened. I am going to try that one and hope my LO likes it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781709 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:33:26 +0000 gingerbebe 2781709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my boys had long, gradual transitions to WCM because of some digestive issues. My youngest has a more sensitive stomach and it was like a 2 month process starting at 13 months, but he was fully on cow's milk by 15 months. DS1 we tried at 11 months and when it was giving him trouble, we waited until 13 months and transitioned over 2 weeks. I don't know if its a lactose thing or what, but they had cow's milk based formula as supplementation and ate yogurt and cheese without issue, so I wasn't ready to try plant based milks yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781678 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 10:02:59 +0000 catlady 2781678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used hemp milk for my MSPI girl. That said, I find the flavor pretty gross, especially the unsweetened version. She stopped drinking it after a few months and we ended up not using any milk at all for awhile (by 14 months, she could have dairy without issue so she basically just ate cheese and yogurt, and drank lots of water). These days, we use almond and coconut as alternatives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781675 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 09:55:03 +0000 jennlin821 2781675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is 10 mo old, and I was just starting to wonder about this! </p> <p>Sounds like i'll look into Ripple and hemp milk. I personally use soy milk or coconut milk, but only to add my coffee; I don't drink any milk or put any in cereal. DH has milk only to wet his cereal! </p> <p>I don't have a definitive reason to not give DD milk, just that I am sensitive to all dairy products (undiagnosed IBS, I believe) and so is a lot of my family. And something about the amount of hormones weirds me out. Plus I think its really disgusting! </p> <p>What are your reasons for not giving WCM? I need a simple explanation for my old fashioned family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781649 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:33:49 +0000 littlebug 2781649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just started looking into this, and decided to go with Ripple pea protein milk. A lot of the other alternatives have such high sugar content and not much protein and/or calcium. I considered hemp milk but the taste and smell of it turned me off. We switched my daughter to Ripple on Sunday and she never batted and eye. We're switching to see if cutting her dairy will help with her congestion.</p> <p>ETA: My sister is a chemist with a background in food supplements and she put her son on Ripple. In my mind, if she chose it, it's probably the best option! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781648 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:30:51 +0000 MrsSCB 2781648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I would suggest is not to consider something like almond milk an "alternative" for cow's milk. Most nut milks do not have the same amount of fat and protein as cow's milk. So that just means that you would have to ensure she's getting the adequate amount from other foods. Add in more nut butters, avocado, etc. Basically, I wouldn't consider it as an alternative to milk so much as a beverage, and then she'd be getting the nutrients from food. Which is totally fine!</p> <p>ETA: I have heard good things about Ripple milk, and it has more of those nutrients in it (though still not the same as WCM). But I have not tasted it myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781639 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 07:59:10 +0000 MrsADS 2781639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree w/ @adira - hemp milk. We used it at first and I also drank it (MSPI diet). Fat content and nutrition wise, it is the best plant based substitute IMO. </p> <p>But I agree w/ @elljay if the lactose is the issue, not the milk protein, you might try lactose free cows milk first. My 2yo still drinks lactose free milk because dairy products with lactose really flare up his reflux. He tolerates it fine. He eats some cheese but I give him dairy free yogurt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781634 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 07:12:18 +0000 elljay 2781634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is lactose-free cow’s milk an option? My DS had really bad diarrhea when we first tried to switch him to cow’s milk, so we switched to lactose free and that solved his issue. He drank that for about six months before we tried again with regular cow’s milk and he had no issue the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781627 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 06:21:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@starlitsky: without going to the store and checking out the nutrition label to compare side by side I cannot say difinitively. Let me amend my earlier reason for buying the Original Sweetened from Sprouts. OS has more calories than the OUS. Maybe fat content is not the driver of calories, but I made the switch to get DH on board with giving LO pea milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781626 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 06:16:19 +0000 Adira 2781626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hemp milk!</p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/12/hemp-milk-the-best-alternative-to-cows-milk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/12/hemp-milk-the-best-alternative-to-cows-milk/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781623 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 02:55:09 +0000 Purpledaisy 2781623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do almond milk for both kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781622 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 02:54:01 +0000 starlitsky 2781622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: don't all of the flavors have the same fat content? I'm going to give Ripple a try for my LO; he's allergic to cow's milk and is slightly allergic to soy and almond too. 😩 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781620 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 01:35:16 +0000 turquoisemama 2781620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve been buying a brand called Orgain protein almond milk. It has calcium, plant protein and vitamin D added. Normal almond milk doesn’t have much protein at all so I was happy when I found it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781619 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:49:50 +0000 birdofafeather 2781619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do almond although when the girls were young toddlers and drinking a higher volume of milk, I would do hemp milk too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781618 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:35:04 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: the website has a store finder. Initially, I went to Target, but the ones near me no longer carry the Original just the Unsweetened, Vanilla, and Chocolate versions. I wanted the Original for the fat content. I can find it at Sprouts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781617 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:31:51 +0000 agold 2781617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: where do you buy it at? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-alternatives#post-2781616 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:17:15 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO likes Ripple. It’s the most similar nutrient and fat dense WCM alternative I have come across. Other HB moms turned me onto it. <a href="https://www.ripplefoods.com/original-plant-milk/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ripplefoods.com/original-plant-milk/</a> </p>