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Moms of toddlers: Whole milk?

mommy2b08mommy2b08 member
in Eco-Friendly Family

Is there a time I *need* to begin some kind of milk for DD?

She's still BFing but I have no idea how much she is getting. I don't get much when I pump (2-4oz). She nurses anywhere from 4-8 times a day but not for very long at a time (sometimes no more than 2 minutes or so).

She doesn't eat a whole lot of solids. A typical day for us would be...

Breakfast - 1 cup yogurt (with fruit and veggies mixed in) and 2 mini waffles

Lunch - 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich with veggie purees hidden inside

Snack - usually a couple of graham crackers or a fruit and cereal bar if anything

Dinner - 1 4oz jar of a meat & veggie puree plus 1/2 jar of fruit (maybe with 2 oz breastmilk and oatmeal mixed in)

We go to the pedi tomorrow for a check-u so I'll be sure to ask then. I'm pretty sure she'll recommend whole milk but I'm scared it will make my supply tank. I really want to BF til 18-24 months.

Any advice?

ETA - I give her access to as much water as she wants from a sippy but she only ever drinks 4-6oz max.

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Re: Moms of toddlers: Whole milk?

  • renee143renee143 member

    no, you don't need milk.  if you're bfing and she has things like yogurt and cheese, she's good.  i introduced cow's milk b/c i wanted to cut back on the number of nursing sessions, but that was a personal call. 

    human babies don't ever NEED any other milk :)

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  • WisteriacowWisteriacow member
    DS has signs of a dairy allergy so we took everything he was having (cheese, yogurt) out of his diet. At his 1yr I asked pedi about supplementing with hemp milk. She said that since I was still BFing about 3-7 times a day that it wasn't necessary. Cow's milk is a substitute for mama milk. If you've still got it, use it!
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  • Dobie_MamaDobie_Mama
    Our pedi said as long as DD was nursing 3-4 times per day, not to stress about milk.  I think with the amount your DD is nursing, and the fact that she's eating cheese & yogurt, you're probably fine.
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  • papagenapapagena member

    I would ask your pedi, but I'd probably switch out the water at meal times (if that's when you're giving it) to whole milk.  DS has had whole milk at meal times since he was about a year, and we're still doing 2 feedings on weekdays (more on weekends when I'm home) at 16 mo. 

    ETA: I'm only saying this because you seem concerned that she's not getting enough from you. 

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  • crackerjackprintercrackerjackprinter

    I wouldn't start.  DD still doesn't drink whole milk and she only nurses once or twice a day. If she's nursing that much she's fine I'm sure.

    And FWIW, it sounds like she's doing great with solids!  She eats as much if not more than my DD.  

    Just remember that pumping output is no indication of how much she is getting and that they get super efficient at that age.  

    My pedis have never asked about DD's milk input.  I just tell them she's still nursing and they leave it at that.  Just because they recommend it doesn't mean that you have to do it.  And really, I was told by my LCs that they can get calcium from so many other sources that whole milk isn't really ever necessary.

    JMO, of course I'm not a doctor!

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  • babyluv617babyluv617 member

    DS just started drinking more than a sip of milk a month ago. He still only drinks maybe 5-8 oz per day on a good day. I'm trying to be sure he gets fats from other sources such as yogurt and cheese. He only took to milk when my supply completely tanked. I'm guessing bc of the pregnancy.

    I would talk to the pedi for sure though.

    Mama to D 6.16.08 and C 3.11.10
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  • Joes_loveJoes_love member
    we only introduced milk b/c i wasn't getting as much with pumping, so we mixed the whole milk to supplement. 
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  • luvlieKluvlieK member
    I asked his pedi. ?He drinks none. ?She is fine with it. ?Just add yogurt and cheese is what she recommended.
    47 months &
    11 months
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  • HappyHeartsHappyHearts

    imageDobie_Mama:
    Our pedi said as long as DD was nursing 3-4 times per day, not to stress about milk.  I think with the amount your DD is nursing, and the fact that she's eating cheese & yogurt, you're probably fine.

    I want your pedi. Mine told me at 12 months it was ok to quit as it was "just for me" and she didn't need BM. At her 15 mo appt he told me he wanted her off the breast by 18 mos. 

    Anyway, with the research I did - I agree with the above from Dobie, FWIW. :) I give DD a sippy with milk a few times a day and she doesn't do much with it - maybe 6 oz a day? Plus yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese. 

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  • luvlieKluvlieK member
    imageHappyHearts:

    imageDobie_Mama:
    Our pedi said as long as DD was nursing 3-4 times per day, not to stress about milk.? I think with the amount your DD is nursing, and the fact that she's eating cheese & yogurt, you're probably fine.

    I want your pedi. Mine told me at 12 months it was ok to quit as it was "just for me" and she didn't need BM. At her 15 mo appt he told me he wanted her off the breast by 18 mos.?

    Anyway, with the research I did - I agree with the above from Dobie, FWIW. :) I give DD a sippy with milk a few times a day and she doesn't do much with it - maybe 6 oz a day? Plus yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese.?

    interesting...

    ours nursed until 2?

    47 months &
    11 months
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  • mommy2b08mommy2b08 member

    Thanks for the advice guys - she seems happy/content after nursing and eating so I guess she's not going hungry. She sleeps well (for the most part) and is learning new things all of the time.

     It was so much easier not to worry if they were getting enough when they were younger and growing so quickly. Now that she's really slowed down on the weight gain/slimmed up from being mobile I'm paranoid again. Not to mention the comments from family/friends about me *needing* to wean her soon, etc.

    I'll ask her pedi about maybe switching some of her water for milk if she seems to need a little extra some days.

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  • cadesmommycadesmommy
    my pedi said I didn't have to give ds whole milk as long as he was bf.  but since we stopped we had to give him whole milk.  and the only way he takes it is with a little strawberry syrup AND a little nesquik...ick but he likes it so whatever :)
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  • Lotte134Lotte134
    If she's happy and content and gets calcium, good fats, etc... from other sources I wouldn't worry too much.  However I did want to weigh in and say I really don't think you need to worry about her weaning quicker if you do introduce it.  DS drinks whole milk at all snacks and meals and really seems to like it but he also still nurses quite a bit and I don't see that changing anytime soon. 
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