introducing cows milk

helenejr · April 2012

So everything I'm reading here in Australia says from 9 months you should start introducing small amounts of cows milk. So DH and I only drink Skim milk - but babies should have the full fat version right???? I've started adding just a small maybe 1/2 an ounce to his breakfast mixed with formula - i am going to wait longer to add it to his bottle....

what are the guidlines for introducing milk in the USA?

beanersmommy · April 2012

Whole milk (ick...we drink 1%...so we will need to get milk just for her), usually at 12 months, mixed in with breastmilk or formula until it is fully converted over to cows milk. I was reading my own little baby book my mom had from pedi, and it says to start cows milk at 9 months, so I guess the guidelines changed. Our pedi said wait until 12, so that is what we are going to do.

aniceucchik · April 2012

The normal introduction of straight cows milk happens gradually after 12m old, and its the red cap, Whole Milk that they should have. As for cheeses and yogurts, etc, I believe its ok to introduce after 9m. This is for regular, food allergy free people

Wymasa · April 2012

My doc mentioned that it was ok to start at 9 months as well and stressed full fat milk. Not sure if we will start just yet of how to do it but mixing it slowly is probably a good idea. Eta. My doc said there was new evidence not to wait until a year and I'm in Canada so our rules may be different from the USA

IdigDirt · April 2012

My pedi said not until after a year but she also says wait until after 3 years old for nuts so she is very conservative.

RobinSparkles81 · April 2012

I'm also in Canada. When you get pregnant, everyone receives a big guide book on everything you need to know from pregnancy to 2 years. It's written by the provincial government (therefore based on latest doctor recs). Like you, it says to start at around 9 months...the chart says 500-750mL daily between 9-12 months. I find this to be a very large amount! I haven't given her any yet since the pedi didn't actually say to start (just other dairy products)...it's very confusing to know what is right.

nicsigni · April 2012

I gave her a little whole milk with my straw at breakfast one morning and she went absolutely apeshit for it. She's a great eater anyway, and doesn't turn much down, but she really surprised me with how much she wanted more milk.

So we've been giving her some with dinner for the past week or two. (She will be ten months in a few days, fwiw.)

At her nine month appt, the doc said go ahead with pretty much any foods, and it was fine to start dairy products like yogurt and cheese (which she also loves).

kas80 · April 2012

I'm probably going to start doing small amounts at meal times at 11 months or so as long as the pedi says it's okay. I was going to email her. I would love to wean as close as possible to exactly 12 months and she's so finicky about liquids it will probably take her awhile to accept any transition.

CarlaAndJames · April 2012

The general guideline in the usa is one year, but everything I've read points to that being in place bc a lot of uneducated moms would hear "ok to introduce at nine months" and go cold turkey off the formula, which they still need. Milks cheaper!

MissManda · April 2012

We were also told we could start anytime after 9 months, but that BM is better (duh). She said whole milk, but I thought that I've heard that 2% or even 1% is better because babies don't NEED all the fat if they are on a regular diet because it can lead to obesity.

That said... our plan is to start introducing milk in a sippy at dinner time when he is 10 months. Daycare's food program can't offer milk until 1 year, so he will continue getting BM the rest of the time.

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