milk.

bdschad · September 2011

I am currently still breastfeeding my 13 month old but I'm starting to think about what I'm going to give him next. I am so confussed about all the different choices. I've been trying to do my research on what the benefits to wcm and other milk alternatives are but it seems like people are so anti wcm or think that anything but cow milk is best. I would love some opinions on cows milk, (pros or cons) almond milk, hemp milk, soy milk and any others I might be missing. If you have links to somewhere that better explain it all that would also be awesome!

I don't know if I can make a wrong choice here but I want to make sure that I'm making an educated one!! Thanks!!

danolitafawn · September 2011

Our twins have a milk protien allergy and I had to stop breastfeeding a few months before their 1st birthday due to medical problems. I did not want them on formula so this is the recipe we use. It has healed their GERD and reflux and they have gained weight beautifully.

1 quart of goat?s milk (you can get powdered, consintrated, or fresh)
1 cup carrot juice
4 tablespoons organic grade B maple syrup (optional)
1 teaspoon liquid infant vitamin drops (no preservatives)
1 teaspoon spirulina (cheaper to get in pill form and crush)
1 teaspoon probiotics (I use Primadophilus by Nature?s Way)
1 cup of rice milk or almond milk or coconut milk (also optional)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. After well mixed, I pour it in two old pasta jars. The maple syrup and spirulina will settle to the bottle while it sits. By transferring it to pasta jars I can simply shake it and then pour into a bottle.

danolitafawn · September 2011

We got this from our natural nutritionist because cows milk was not an option for the twins. There is so much conflicting info out there about all the different types of milk.

bdschad · September 2011

danolitafawn:
We got this from our natural nutritionist because cows milk was not an option for the twins. There is so much conflicting info out there about all the different types of milk.

Thank you. That is what I'm finding and I don't know what to believe!! Most people seem to have stong opinions about what ever they do or do not use but then don't have much to back up what they are saying. I'm really open to hearing all sides!!

babybird7 · September 2011

Raw milk from grass fed cows is going to provide the best milk nutritionally as far as cow's milk goes. Look up Weston A. Price for more information on the benefits. As far as the milk alternatives, I wouldn't do soy. Not a fan, but that's just my opinion. I don't know a lot about the others.

BFab11 · September 2011

If you choose not to do wcm, coconut is one of the best alternatives because it's high in the good fats that babies need from milk. Rice milk isn't ideal because it just doesn't have the nutrients/fat/calories for milk. Goat's milk is a good option, and I think hemp milk is also higher in good fats than other non-animal milks.

danolitafawn · September 2011

babybird7:
Raw milk from grass fed cows is going to provide the best milk nutritionally as far as cow's milk goes. Look up Weston A. Price for more information on the benefits. As far as the milk alternatives, I wouldn't do soy. Not a fan, but that's just my opinion. I don't know a lot about the others.

Agreed. Our nutritionist said that children cannot break down soy properly so it is the worse choice of any. She said even soy based infant formulas are horrible on their systems. So sad to think of how many babies are drinking that crap right now

bdschad · September 2011

danolitafawn:

babybird7:
Raw milk from grass fed cows is going to provide the best milk nutritionally as far as cow's milk goes. Look up Weston A. Price for more information on the benefits. As far as the milk alternatives, I wouldn't do soy. Not a fan, but that's just my opinion. I don't know a lot about the others.

Agreed. Our nutritionist said that children cannot break down soy properly so it is the worse choice of any. She said even soy based infant formulas are horrible on their systems. So sad to think of how many babies are drinking that crap right now

That's good to know! At least it's one thing I can cross off my list! Poor babies

MummyGruetzie · September 2011

DD1 has cow's milk. We only get whole grass fed organic. Its super important for it to be whole so that you get the good fats.

DD2 has tons of allergies and medical issues and gets a home-made formula that we've created together with our nutritionist. The base consists of either rice or hemp milk. Coconut is the "best" milk alternative because of the fat contents, but DD is allergic. We avoid soy like the plague, but DD is allergic anyways. We've also tried goat, but DD couldn't tolerate that. A good majority of people who are allergic to milk will be allergic to goat's milk. Though there are definitely exceptions to that. If you had access to good quality cow's milk (from grass fed cows who haven't received growth hormones), I can't see a reason to use goat over cow.

I breast fed DD1 through 18 months, at which point she started weaning naturally b/c I was in the hospital so much with DD2. I was planning to go for longer.

Soyager · September 2011

1) There is no nutritional need for milk of any kind. Period. I've got some links on my blog about dairy that may help you in your argument with those who take issue. My son is 17 months and still breastfeeding, but he doesn't (and we don't) drink milk. He gets water if he's thirsty and gets plenty of protein and fat from other sources.

2) All that being said, I'm intrigued by the goat's milk "formula" a pp mentioned (sorry, I need to scroll back to see), not that your boy needs formula, really, but goat's milk is easier to digest. Coconut milk is a great choice, as another poster mentioned (I'm still trying to get to know everyone now that I've been on lurker status!)

3) "Got Milk?" is an ad campaign. The dairy industry makes us BELIEVE that we need milk, that kids need milk, that milk is part of a body's needs ("does a body good"). All of that is complete B.S.

Anyway, here's the link to my dairy-free sources https://healthfulmama.com/dairy-free-resources/ . I'm not sure if it will be clicky since I'm using Chrome.

Let me know if you need any more info. I eat dairy (mainly just yogurt) but I'm a STRONG supporter of dairy-free diets and I'm totally against the idea of milk as a beverage. Good luck!

spritzey · September 2011

As pp mentioned you technically do not NEED milk. But I still think it's a good thing (some disagree with me there)

Raw is best either cows or goat, non-homogonized/organic is good too.

coconut milk is my alternative milk of choice. But I don't use the carton stuff from the stores that's full of junk. and cans contain BPA so I make my own.

I would never do Soy. That's just bad stuff.

Hemp I havent' researched but it seems ok.

Oat and rice milk don't' have enough of anything in them.

almond milk is ok but not as good as coconut...plus it's a nut so you might want to avoid it due to possible allergies.

ghm · September 2011

I agree with what others have said. I can't commit to the contracts that come with buying raw milk in my area, and I honestly don't like the taste sometimes. I buy low-temp pasteurized, non homogonized, grass fed organic milk.

The brand I buy is Kalona Supernatural. If they don't have that, I'm okay buying non-organic as long as the other qualities are the same.

The only alternative milk I'd consider is coconut (or goat).

carolinakiwi · September 2011

ghm:

I agree with what others have said. I can't commit to the contracts that come with buying raw milk in my area, and I honestly don't like the taste sometimes. I buy low-temp pasteurized, non homogonized, grass fed organic milk.

The brand I buy is Kalona Supernatural. If they don't have that, I'm okay buying non-organic as long as the other qualities are the same.

The only alternative milk I'd consider is coconut (or goat).

I could have posted this OP. I had this exact question yesterday on the 12-24 month board.

Where do you buy your low-temp pasteurized, non homogonized, grass fed organic milk?

We have two health food stores locally, and I'm wondering if I can get it there.

I also can buy raw milk from a farm that delivers to a location just about 5 miles from my house. I still have a lot of research to do before making a decision. I still BF DS and plan to until at least 18 months or longer. But he loves his solid foods, and loves his greek yogurt, and small cheese cubes.

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