Good Morning!
Has anyone tried giving their babies cows milk earlier than 1 year old? Our Ped said that our DD could have it now as long as she got Vitamins once a day to make up for the lack of vitamins in the formula. I have read that there are protiens in cows milk that they can't digest now - please let me know if anyone has done this and if things were OK......I would love to switch - it's a whole lot cheaper of course - but I don't want her to be unhappy (stomach) either......

My doc said that we could start giving our DD whole milk at 9 months...but more to just let her try it and get used to it. He still said stick to formula. We switched her around 11 months with no problems.

I don't know anything about vitamins, etc. I'd stick with the formula a bit longer. I know the prices are out of the universe...a great arguement for breastfeeding for a year!

I can't tell you how it goes because DD is not 9 months yet, but our Ped said at 9 months we should be able to go to cow's milk too (if we want). We have to wait until that visit to get the go-ahead. We are breastfeeding.

I'm just saying this to confirm that our Ped is on-board with this too. Most people think I'm nuts when I say 9 months & cows milk in the same breath...and many people have strong opinions this is too soon. I plan on switching if given the okay.

Where I live we are told that cows milk is ok in cooking and on cereal etc from 6 months but the breast milk or formula should still be their main drink up to the age of 1 year.

Spanish

Drives me nuts when people want to save money, by cutting corners on infant's nutrition. Breastmilk or formula until they're at least a year old. You can give them yogurt and give them some milk, but their primary source of nutrients, vitamins, essential fats need to come from formula.

It's not the money I am concerned about - but if we can give it to her - slowly I would be willing to try it, but I have read over and over that they can't handle it now because of the enzymes in either the milk or their tummy.....which is why I asked. Yogurt he said was fine - I have done that already!!! But he did say we could add those vitamins to the bottle with the milk......but thank you for your opinion!

Good Morning!
Has anyone tried giving their babies cows milk earlier than 1 year old? Our Ped said that our DD could have it now as long as she got Vitamins once a day to make up for the lack of vitamins in the formula. I have read that there are protiens in cows milk that they can't digest now - please let me know if anyone has done this and if things were OK......I would love to switch - it's a whole lot cheaper of course - but I don't want her to be unhappy (stomach) either......

I've heard of it. My son's ped told us we could start whole milk at 10 months, but I was weary of doing that since my son was on soy formula. We started whole milk about 2 weeks before his 1st birthday and he took to it perfectly.
Its basically whatever you feel comfortable with. Doctors can tell you what they RECOMMEND, but as the parent- you are ultimately the one who decides. If you want to go ahead and try it, then go ahead. Just keep a close eye on your little one.

We switched DS to whole milk right at 11 months with go ahead from his pediatrician. I have read terrible things about it after but he showed no ill effects what so ever. 9 months is a bit early to me but if you just give a sip for taste it cant do much harm. I add a bit more to DD's mac and cheese to thin it out when I make it for lunch. She fine and she's 9 months too. If MIL had her way DS and DD would have been on 2% at 6 months because thats what the DR had her do because he was off the weight charts. So I suppose do what YOU think is safe for your baby.

My first daughter started whole milk at 11 months and I have given my 9-10 mo. old 2% milk in a sippy cup.

I think I will slip some in from time to time to get the taste for it and then continue with the formula.....I am worried it will upset her stomach - that is the last thing I want to do - she was Colic in the first 3 months of life anyway.....don't want her any more miserable than she was to start......so I am very cautious about what I give her and how much!

I think I will slip some in from time to time to get the taste for it and then continue with the formula.....I am worried it will upset her stomach - that is the last thing I want to do - she was Colic in the first 3 months of life anyway.....don't want her any more miserable than she was to start......so I am very cautious about what I give her and how much!

That sounds like a good plan. My son had gas problems as a newborn and was switched to soy formula. He outgrew the problem, as most infants do, and took to whole milk just fine.

Good luck with everything!

I was told that the ONLY reason a child on cow's milk formula can't have whole milk is the fat content and vitamin content isn't the same. My 7 month old D is eating food 3 times a day with formula mixed in, because she utterly refuses anything but water or milk in the sippy cup (she still nurses). I am trying to slowly phase in milk so that by the time she is a year old weaning will hopefully not be too much of a battle. No problems so far.