Not giving WCM?

vaohara · September 2012

Has anyone heard WCM is not good for humans? My friend sent me a you tube video about how bad cows milk is to drink. I googled it and found more websites spreading the bad news of cows milk. I never thought about giving anything else but now maybe. I'm still not sold on this idea and was wondering what other mommies were doing. So what do you do? What do you give if you don't give WCM? Thanks!

pitterpatter129 · September 2012

We drink it, but cow's milk was made for baby cows. Humans aren't exactly designed to digest it easily. That's why I chose to breastfeed. If you've already given formula, then your child has had cow's milk their whole life anyhow. Like I said, we still drink it anyhow. Some people buy the organic, growth hormone free kind too as an alternative to regular old milk. I've heard goat's milk is easier to digest. My entire family is lactose intollerant/milk allergic, so it's used sparingly for myself, but my kid consumes a lot of dairy products. It's a good source of protein and calcium and it doesn't bother me that he has it, but it's not a necessary component to a human diet at all.

JaysonandKristin · September 2012

There's no cow's milk in our home. There are no dairy products in our home either.

Our family philosophy is that it isn't meant for human consumption. There are PLENTY of resources on the internet that should be able to give you enough information to make your head spin.

If giving cow's milk to LO doesn't sit well with you for whatever reason, check out information regarding the pros and cons (consider the sources of your information), and then research alternatives to cow's milk.

Good luck. I know diving into this can be overwhelming.

ETA: We give almond, hemp or coconut milk.

meg1974 · September 2012

Personally, I think it's hype. Humans have been drinking cow's milk for ages (it's even mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible....and I realize not everyone believes in the Bible, but just in case you do...). I do, however, only drink organic b/c I trust organic farms more than regular ones, and the organic doesn't have added hormones, antibiotics, etc.

Some people drink raw milk b/c the pasteurization process supposedly removes the nutrients. But, I can't bring myself to do that b/c of the cleanliness factor and the health issues that have been associated with raw milk.

TempeWick · September 2012

After we stopped breastfeeding at 14 months, DS moved onto almond milk. It's worked really well for us. He does eat plain organic yogurt with fruit and, occasionally, organic cheese.

MammaBear81 · September 2012

As PP's have said, it's not harmful, but there are better things (meaning easier to digest) for your family to drink. We have WCM in our house (I like to have it on my cereal) and we have regular whole milk yogurt, but when we drink milk it's almond milk. In the end I think it's a personal preference (similar to choosing to be vegan or vegetarian) it's not going to kill you to drink WCM but you can choose to each differently and still be healthy.

ncbelle · September 2012

I'm not anti-cow's milk (in fact, I rather love it!) but I don't think it's the magic substance we've been led to believe - in other words, it isn't a MUST for toddlers and in fact many toddlers drink way too much (which does have ill effects). Both of my kids were still nursing quite a bit through their second year so I didn't add anything. We do eat cheese and yogurt. Callum sometimes asks for WCM but doesn't have any milk beverage regularly.

As long as kiddo is getting the necessary fat, calories, and vitamins elsewhere it's fine to skip it. After all, there are some really healthy vegans out there!

stephdruskinis · September 2012

B is sensitive to cow's milk, so he drinks Silk Soy milk with DHA. He loves it

rboisvert · September 2012

I live in an area where talking about WCM at a LLL meeting could erupt in total cacaphony. I don't drink it, makes me ill to think about it really (even more so since nursing DD) but I don't have such issues with any other dairy product. It's just me. DD won't TOUCH IT. She also will only drink BM straight from me now too (at 16 months). I worry about making sure she gets enough calcium since it's something I struggle with for myself but she loves yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese so I'm just following her lead. I know her pedi wants her on WCM right now I'm keeping them at bay because she does nurse a lot still and would live on yogurt and cheese if I let her. Remeber there's lots of other foods with calcium (dark greens and veggies).

Wymasa · September 2012

I personally don't see it as any different than consuming other animal products. If you eat cheese or yogurt, yet think wcm is gross, what do you think cheese and yogurt are made of?

BabyBoyNYC · September 2012

Wymasa:
I personally don't see it as any different than consuming other animal products. If you eat cheese or yogurt, yet think wcm is gross, what do you think cheese and yogurt are made of?

ia. everything seems to have a big bad story behind when it comes to what babies are eating and drinking. People will say Soy milk is dangerous or say almond milk will give your kid a nut allergy blah blah! We do go organic but he gets wcm, almond and soy and I just rotate it or mix it together

PooChicken · September 2012

JaysonandKristin:
There's no cow's milk in our home. There are no dairy products in our home either.
Our family philosophy is that it isn't meant for human consumption. There are PLENTY of resources on the internet that should be able to give you enough information to make your head spin.
If giving cow's milk to LO doesn't sit well with you for whatever reason, check out information regarding the pros and cons (consider the sources of your information), and then research alternatives to cow's milk.
Good luck. I know diving into this can be overwhelming.
ETA: We give almond, hemp or coconut milk.

I would die without cheese.

marie7110 · September 2012

My LO has a milk allergy so we give her almond and coconut milk. These have less calories so you need to make sure you are giving some good fats (avacado, olive oil, nut butters...). Her pediatrician said she is not a big fan of cows milk anyway and recommends rotating soy, almond and coconut milks.

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