https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:59:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1210561 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:30:54 +0000 T-Mom 1210561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Different babies have different reactions. My friend started transitioning her son to cow's milk at 10 months at the suggestion of her pediatrician and because she wanted to stop pumping for a trip. He ended up having a bad reaction to the milk and she had to switch back to breastfeeding and try and get her supply back up. However, when she tried again at around 13 months, he was totally fine with milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1210427 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:59:26 +0000 septca 1210427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>According to my ped, the recommendation to hold off on whole cow's milk (WCM) until 12 months is based partially on digestive issues, but MOSTLY on the idea that peds don't want you to supplement BM/F feedings with WCM until a year because BM and F are more nutritious than WCM. </p> <p>HOWEVER, my ped recommended that we give our daughter up to 4 ounces a day of WCM starting at 9 months. She is still getting about 16-20 ounces of BM per day and three meals of solids. Our ped only recommended this because I was worried about my milk supply and because my daughter has never had an allergic reaction to dairy - ped said why would you introduce formula now and then introduce WCM in a couple of months? Just go straight to WCM. </p> <p>Made sense to me - baby girl (9.5 months) gets a couple of ounces in a sippy cup with her solids. Sometimes she drinks it, sometimes not. The introduction of WCM has not changed her BFing habits, and we plan to increase her WCM intake as she approaches a year so that she will be ready to wean (although I will likely continue to offer the breast at wake up and bedtime). I am SO done pumping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1210304 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:33:38 +0000 NovBaby1112 1210304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We introduced cow's milk around 11 months when DD went on a nursing strike and I wasn't pumping enough, with her ped's approval. She did fine with it and didnt have any issues, so I think as long as you watch for any issues you should be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209873 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:14:08 +0000 birdofafeather 1209873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My research has just been that their nutrition should be coming from BM or formula before one with solids as a supplement. So I think a couple of ounces wouldn't hurt but I don't know that I'd switch out a bottle or nursing session for it just yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209833 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:54:40 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1209833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will add that our son had some loose stools and a wicked diaper rash when we upped his milk intake. The pediatrician said that can happen for some kiddos and to let the rash clear and try again. It cleared up and we did cows milk again right after he turned one &amp; he was okay. </p> <p>Was it a coincidence? Was he not ready until that magical one year mark? I don't know, but I know all kids are different, so upping the milk intake is most likely going to be fine :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209748 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:39:22 +0000 MamaCate 1209748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a dr but I think my understanding if the recommendation to wait until 12 months has to do with babies' digestive systems being immature prior to that. They used to do cows milk at 6 months but lots of babies has bad reactions and had bleeding in their stomach/ intestines I think. So at this point if your LO was going to react, I would guess you would have seen blood in his diapers. If not, it sounds like you are good to go. </p> <p>My SIL switched my niece to cows milk around the same age at peds recommendation and she did fine.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209684 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:48:51 +0000 coastmama 1209684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Yeah. That's the first thing I said to my husband when the formula pamphlet came in.... "They're just trying to sell toddler formula" but in the back of my head..... :wink: But my doctor didn't tell me to start replacing a nursing session with milk, just to add a few ounces extra of cow milk at night. We gave him the extra milk like he advised, which I had no qualms about. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209672 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:38:00 +0000 ShootingStar 1209672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take your doctor's advice over a pamphlet from a company trying to sell formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209663 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:35:16 +0000 coastmama 1209663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: @JoyfulKiwi: Thanks. That's been my gut feeling about it.</p> <p>I also meant to mention that he is now almost 10.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209659 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:32:27 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1209659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wondered this too when my son was that age. Circumstances had us wait to replace a nursing session until after a year, but we started milk at dinner a few weeks before his birthday. I don't see it as a big deal &amp; I think it's good to introduce cows milk slowly to let their tummies adjust. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209656 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:30:38 +0000 chopsuey 1209656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS went on a nursing strike a little over a week ago and I've been giving him mostly pumped milk and water, but have given him some cow's milk and almond milk too!<br /> Not a professional, but if your LO likes it, I don't see a problem with offering him some cow's milk now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cow-milk-before-1-year#post-1209628 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:13:42 +0000 coastmama 1209628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So at our 9 month appointment our pedi suggested us giving LO a few ounces of cow milk before bed in hope of him sleeping through the night. He had only been on breast milk and baby food up until then. At 9 months, we did what our pedi. suggested and also started table food. LO loved the milk. </p> <p>I'm starting to look toward weaning.... which I would like to have almost done by his first birthday. I'm thinking about replacing one of his nursing sessions with cow's milk in the upcoming weeks. Anybody have any experience with this? I felt just fine with it since our pedi. gave us the go ahead to give him some at night until I got a sample of Toddler Formula in the mail which had a pamphlet titled "Why You Shouldn't Start Cow's Milk until 12 Months." LO has had no negative reaction to the milk we've given him so far and would still be getting quite a bit of breast milk.... plus he's eating 3 full meals of food.</p> <p>Any thoughts? @Mrs. Jacks what is your professional opinion? </p>