Should i be giving cows milk?

[Lola's Mummy]

Should i be giving Lola cows milk now?

We still breastfeed whenever she wants (at least 4 times in 24 hours). She has cows milk in cooking and on her cereals etc. She also has cheese and yogurts daily.

I'm just not sure if she needs to be drinking cows milk as well?

 

[valentine]

Hi hun,

I don't know the answer to this - I'm sorry. Maybe beanie or Melanie could help as they also breastfed after 1 year old.

I would be inclined to say yes, to introduce it as one feed a day to get her used to the taste (as a drink on its own) and drinking out of a cup...

...HOWEVER when I tried DD with a cup of cows milk at nearly a year, a couple of days later she blank refused the breast and self weaned, never to breastfeed again and I wonder if it was the fact she tasted the cows milk and liked it better? I'll never know, but always wonder if it was that and I don't want the same to happen to you (she'd been having 3 breastfeeds a day consistently until then).

Sorry that's not much help.

Valentine Xxx

 

[Xena]

Alex doesn't really have cows milk to be honest. He breastfeeds a zillion times a night, and eats very little solids, so if I give him cows milk as well, then he eats even LESS solids, which is the opposite of what I'm trying to achieve.

He's tried cows milk a few times, and he doesn't mind it, but he won't take it as a substitute for breastmilk in any case - he'd rather substitute food for cows milk, which isn't great so I don't give him any now. He likes cheese though and yoghurt.

 

[Lola's Mummy]

I'm still not sure if i should be giving it too her

I think i might have to give the health visitor a ring

 

[Redshoes]

I don't think its a case of you should, its more a case of replacing, as most LO's move from formula at 1yr and so the only real alternative is cows milk. Isaac only has cows milk on his cereal, but we still give him a 9oz bottle of formula before bed, I just don't see that there's much in cows milk for him, would rather he stayed on formula, but in your case I think if you're happy to, I'd stick to breast over cows milk, but obviously that's dependant on your lifestyle and what works for you and Lola. Don't know if that helped, but Lola will definitely benefit and get more from yoghurt and cheese over cows milk, but please check with your HV too, and very best wishes, when we have given Isaac cows milk, we found warming it a little helped him enjoy it more

 

[kelsey]

Tbh if you and l/o are happy why change. Breastmilk is the best thing for them so imo there's no need for you to change to cows milk

You CAN give it at 12months old but I don't see the point if ur feeding her urself.