Milk..

ALP514

When do you plan on introducing milk to your LO's. I always thought it was after 12 months, but I was with my cousin tonight who has 2 older children and one who is a few months younger then A and she stated that she gave her older kids milk at 10 months. I meant to ask my pedi about milk at the 9 month check up but I forgot and now I'm curious.

When do you plan on introducing milk to your LO's?

ordinary1

Annabelle has had a sip of my milk or a little milk in oatmeal, but I don't plan on giving it to her until one as a drink.

TradeMama

I was told absolutely none til
12 months.

Schell2013

I will at a year. I personally feel she relys a lot on the formula intake, and I don't think mill offers the same.

Lolalipsy

Cows' milk should not be given as a drink until a baby is a year old so I will wait till then. It'll be so much easier when we can.

She's already had milk in foods that use full-fat cows' milk as an ingredient, such as cheese sauce and custard. This can be given from the age of 6 months.

snowgirl427

Our pedi said not until a year.

Eta punctuation

lizziebooper

We waited till DS1 was a year old. With DD 1 and still with LO we were told to start introducing it between 9 and between 12 months, mixing the formula and milk together gradually increasing the amount of milk and decreasing the formula till it was just milk. We have been doing this.

ALP514

Yeah, I think we are sticking with 12 months as well. I just never heard of offering it before then.

Oohgurl

My pedi brought it up to me at 9 month. She said I could introduce small amounts now. She actually encouraged it instead of water in a sippy cup. She said no water and would prefer cow's milk in his sippy cup. 

caden1206

I give my LO whole milk all the time. She doesn't like it as much as BM so I am introducing it more frequently. I think the first time I gave her sips was at 7 or 8 months. The milk I give her does not replace a nursing session, it is just given like I do with water.

Lolalipsy

Oohgurl said:

My pedi brought it up to me at 9 month. She said I could introduce small amounts now. She actually encouraged it instead of water in a sippy cup. She said no water and would prefer cow's milk in his sippy cup. 

My friend gives her LO the lactose free full fat milk just like this.

sourpatchkids

We started giving B small amounts of whole milk in a sippy with his meals around 10 months to make the transition easier. I plan to do the same this time, but I'm going to talk to his pedi about it at his 9 month appt, which is the week before he turns 10 months. If the milk isn't taking the place of a nursing session, I don't see the harm in it at all.

He already has cow's milk in his oatmeal, yogurt, cheese, etc.

Shoegal36

The Health Canada guidelines and my doctor both said it's fine to start at 9 months, so that's what I'm planning to do. I'll give her a couple oz in a sippy cup or add an oz to her bottle at night. I don't plan on fulling switching her over for a while, but I'd like to have her totally switched BY 12 months (as opposed to starting at 12 months). 

If I was formula feeding I probably wouldn't, but she won't drink formula and I can only get 2 oz total when I pump. I won't be able to keep up for when I go back to work so I'd like to have her comfortable on just whole milk by then. 

A friend of mine totally switched her baby from BM to whole milk at 10 months and she's fine, no digestive issues. 

LO also eats a ton of cereal and loves meat, so I'm not too worried about her iron. 

surpriseaddition

I'm waiting until 12 months, which is what my pedi recommends and what was also recommended by the pedi I used when I had my two other kids 13 & 15 years ago. I'm still BF and pumping at work....so I can't wait to stop pumping at work at 12 months.

jesselayne8

Nothing magically happens to a baby's digestive system at 12 months and I doubt Canadian babies have different digestive systems (their guideline is 9 months). I started my first child at 10.5 months and she was completely transitioned to cows milk before her first birthday. DS has had a taste of cow's milk when he gets his hands on his sister's cup. I will start offering it between 10-11 months.

Shoegal36

I meant to add and forgot, but I think the key before starting is that they are eating foods from all 4 good groups to get their nutrients. If LO was a picky eater I would wait. Another friend's baby will only eat blueberries and beef, so her doctor told her she has to wait...obviously.

telicious2

I am keeping LO on BM/formula til 1 year for the nutrition and that is what pedi said. And at 1 year I may or may not give toddler formula along with milk.

TrulyBlessed22

I use it to make some of her meals, like oatmeal, but will not give it to her to drink until she's a year old.

MAdams728

I plan to slowly start mixing it in at 11 months. I am not afraid of giving it to her. Actually, I'm going to be really glad that the whole nursing\pumping disaster and formula stage is behind us.