Hellobee Boards Topic: Is cow's milk necessary?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Is cow's milk necessary? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:14:07 +0000 lilyofthewest on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605846 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 07:35:50 +0000 lilyofthewest 2605846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is mostly a convenient way of getting calories, fat, and calcium in. Since LO turned one, I've only been allowed my lunch break to pump, so, my supply has plummeted. In the last two to three weeks LO has finally gotten enough teeth to be a relatively proficient and efficient chewer, so he's eating a lot more solids. Before then (12mos-15mos) cows milk was really helpful in replacing breast milk calories Coffee-lover on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605774 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:19:07 +0000 Coffee-lover 2605774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When wetried to transition to cows milk my daughter was refusing it. The pediatrician said I could try 2% instead of whole to see if she liked that better, but if she still refused I was supposed to buy the toddler formula enfamil makes. I asked if cheese and dairy products would be ok instead and he said its best for babies to get cows milk or formula until they are at least 18 months to 2 years old. MrsRcCar on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605698 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:06:39 +0000 MrsRcCar 2605698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My boys don't drink cows milk. We make sure they get their good fats and vitamins in other ways. Their doctor isn't concerned about the lack of cows milk. MrsSRS on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605666 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:06:18 +0000 MrsSRS 2605666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Milk is totally not necessary, but is most kids' source of the fat that is VITAL for brain growth in the first 2-3 years. So we supplemented with coconut oil to make sure there was enough fat in DS'S diet since he didn't do WCM and weaned before 18 months, which I wasn't expecting. pachamama on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605564 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:49:03 +0000 pachamama 2605564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Interesting! Sounds like milk is not such a staple as it was in my generation! Pollywog on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605404 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:57:32 +0000 Pollywog 2605404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I plan to nurse/pump for 18 months and then go straight to water. We are dealing with a dairy allergy and my ped said there's no need for cows milk kes18 on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605393 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:48:29 +0000 kes18 2605393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, you don't necessarily need it. If you nurse 4-5x a day, you don't need to supplement. Cows milk is definitely an easy way to get fat, protein, and calcium though. You can get it from other sources, but that depends on how picky your child is. Mine wasn't picky at 1 but as they get to 1.5-2 they often get very picky. So I give cows milk. No bottle though- just in a cup. I would much rather her get what she needs and I'm not opposed to cows milk (we get it from a local farm). Mine actually wouldn't drink it for awhile (12-18 mo) but I was still BFing and she did eat yogurt and cheese so it wasn't a big deal. She likes it now though. Maysprout on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605284 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:36:32 +0000 Maysprout 2605284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My daughter stopped nursing a little after she turned 2. She didn't drink cows milk during that time and she really didn't enjoy it for Prob close to 6 months after she stopped nursing. She ate a good diet but still dropped in weight percentile (not height though) after she stopped nursing. Since she was already tiny she was then in the 3rd percentile so we started encouraging whole milk drinks and it helped. She's just got a lanky build but I do think for whatever reason she benefitted from getting some of her calories through drinking. snowjewelz on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605278 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:28:55 +0000 snowjewelz 2605278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do give cow's milk, but it never concerned me if she doesn't drink much because she regularly eats yogurt, cheese, etc. But at 20 months she still drinks probably 14-16 oz of cow's milk a day. She likes it! QBbride on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605167 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 02:40:04 +0000 QBbride 2605167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, it's definitely not necessary. There are many other sources of fat, calcium, protein etc. My son nursed until 20 months and never had a sip of cows milk until maybe 18 months. He's 3 now and drinks some with breakfast and dinner but totally his choice. My daughter is 13 months and still nursing. I've offered her cows milk a few times but she just spits it out. Kemma on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2605161 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 01:46:04 +0000 Kemma 2605161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My oldest didn't start drinking milk until she was two-ish and she was breastfed until over 3yo. She now drinks milk (plain or flavoured) at breakfast or tea but usually only 3-4 ounces at a time. My little guy is almost 17 months and is still bf'ing so only has cows milk if it's part of a meal (like with cereal). mand4 on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604788 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 13:01:06 +0000 mand4 2604788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ After breastmilk, we didn't switch to any other liquid calories. She pretty much "ate like an adult" as you say. Now she gets milk at school, but I don't give her milk/milk substitutes for a regular beverage at home- just in smoothies, cereal, etc. I think the cow milk thing is pretty weird, even though we still drink it sometimes! Our pediatrician was totally cool with "skipping" milk. tlcbaby on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604779 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:56:47 +0000 tlcbaby 2604779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We never did cow's milk. We do yogurt and cheese, but he doesn't drink cow's milk. Our pediatrician seems fine with it. Mrs. Sunshine on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604771 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:46:01 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2604771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kids won't drink cows milk. I tried so hard with my first but not at all with my second. I am not a doctor or any sort of nutritionist but I think it's not important at all. My doctor is very old school and doesn't care at all that my kids don't drink cows milk. They do eat dairy sometimes but honestly, I don't think that's necessary either... sheskrafty on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604749 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:25:46 +0000 sheskrafty 2604749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My daughter hated cows milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc. We just make sure she had plenty of yogurt and cheese and she's perfectly healthy! catlady on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604744 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:20:14 +0000 catlady 2604744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, you don't need to, although it's an easy and convenient option, especially for very young toddlers who are still used to drinking most of their calories. We didn't use it for a long time due to my LO's MSPI, and even after she outgrew that, she didn't really like cow's milk or yogurt at first, so cheese was pretty much the only dairy she had until she was closer to 2. We have always offered alternate milks (hemp, almond) and for awhile after I stopped nursing as frequently, she would drink those with meals. At this point, she actually loves cow's milk, but she only really gets it with meals and we try not to let her fill up on it. Anya on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604741 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:17:36 +0000 Anya 2604741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I do not serve cows milk. My child eats cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and the pediatrician is fine with that. GoGoSnoGirl on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604739 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:16:11 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2604739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For us, we decided at about 13mos to introduce wcm because my supply dropped. I ebf (& solid food since 6mos) and didn't want to bother with any formula, but felt that wcm would be the next closest thing. She only drinks water, wcm or nurses before sleeps or for comfort at this point, & she can often tell us if she would prefer wcm or "mama milk" when she signs for milk. Eta: we also only serve wcm in a sippy cup in her highchair. My Only Sunshine on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604732 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:12:29 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2604732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @pachamama: We've always treated cow's milk as just a beverage option. My daughter usually drinks a glass of whole milk at breakfast and sometimes before bed. Never in a bottle, just in a sippy cup or open cup. Mamaof2 on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604724 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:08:18 +0000 Mamaof2 2604724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @pachamama: its a good source of healthy fats and protein - no, you don't need to give CM you can find other things that provide fat/protein pachamama on "Is cow's milk necessary?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-cows-milk-necessary#post-2604719 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:05:32 +0000 pachamama 2604719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am planning on exclusively BFing til my son is a year (or more, we're going on 7 months now). I'm wondering where if anywhere a cow's milk bottle even fits in to baby's diet after 12 months. Is it for comfort? Nutrition? Did you skip milk and just feed your baby like an adult after 1 year? There are better sources of calcium and healthier fats if that's the case. I guess I'm just not sold on the idea of cow's milk for a baby but am I wrong? What's the point?