introducing cow's milk?

pahokie

Is 11 months too early to slowly introduce cow's milk? 

To accomodate both my sanity and upcoming work travel, I plan to gradually reduce my pumping over the next couple of weeks.  We were planning to top off the bottles with cow's milk.  As I reduce pumping, she will get more cow's milk, so that she will be at 100% cow's milk at 11 months and 2 weeks old.

I do know that we need to use whole milk.  I figured we just need to keep an eye on her BM and make sure the cow's milk isn't upsetting her tummy.  Is that reasonable, or should we go to formula instead of cow's milk? Anything else to consider?

Thanks!

YaraC

I think I would ask the pediatrician about that one.

Daisiesinmygarden

I don't know, but I agree you might want to call the Pedi on that one. M's Pedi is having me delay giving M goat/cow milk - so he didn't even mention if it could be started early by a few weeks or how to go about it (slowly by topping off bottles or all at once).

M.Amy

I agree you should call your pedi.  I am starting to prepare for Matt drinking whole milk and everything I read said to wait for one year because babies can't digest cow's milk properly. That said I doubt there is a magic switch that goes off on their first birthdays enabling them to drink milk. So probably starting earlier is okay but I would want a dr's approval first.

dianah36

I know a lot of people who slowly started integrating it during the 11 months -- 2 oz of milk + 4 oz formula, etc.

Kandie35

I was wondering the same thing...How is it that I have four other children and do not remember this aspect AT ALL!!!???