Countdown to weaning. . .

skittles_123

Well, I am weaning my dd at 12 months from BF, which will be in about 2 1/2 weeks. It will be sad, but it will be nice to have my body back (literally hasn't been mind since I was pg with ds 4 years ago).

My question is, do you introduce cows milk a week or two before their birthday, or did you wait until they hit the 12 months. I know two weeks may not be a big deal, but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. I cannot remember what I did with ds.

 Thanks!

helovesducatis

I'm getting ready to wean in 3-4 weeks and I'm doing a few oz's of cows milk in the sippy every 2-3 days, just to get her used to the taste.

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Here's some info that I found and my pedi echoed this...

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How much additional milk does baby need during the weaning process?

If your baby is older than 9-10 months and still breastfeeds regularly (at least a few times a day), and is expanding his interest in solid foods, he does not require any additional milk (formula, cow's milk, soy milk, rice milk or the equivalent nutrients from other foods).Instead of additional milk you can offer your child solids, with water or juice (no more than 3-4 ounces a day) and any expressed milk you may have stored. ?The dairy industry has done a great job at convincing us that our diet is lacking in something if we don't drink cow's milk! Cow's milk is really just a convenient source of calcium and other nutrients - it's not required. There are many people in many parts of the world who do not drink cow's milk and still manage to get all the calcium, protein, fats, vitamin D, etc. that milk has to offer. Too much cow's milk in a child's diet can (1) put him at risk for iron-deficiency anemia (because cow's milk can interfere with the absorption of iron) and (2) decrease the child's desire for other foods.After the age of 12 months (or sometimes later, depending upon your child), milk becomes a more minor part of your child's diet. If you have a child who refuses to drink regular milk and is no longer nursing regularly, you can offer yogurt, cheese, and ice-cream as substitutes. Also, you might put milk into various food products: pancakes, waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and baked goods. Added protein may be offered via creamy peanut butter and a well-cooked egg yolk; calcium may be derived from calcium-fortified juice or green vegetables. More info here on many other nondairy sources of calcium.