Update...Breastmilk to formula/cow milk ?

R314159 · May 2014

Update: my pediatrician is definitely good with introducing WCM a little early, as long as it is not his main source of milk. I'm going to try to hold off a bit longer but then will do a slow transition at some point soon. Thanks to Everyone for their advice!

Looking for input on switching my LO to whole milk and/or formula for one daycare bottle.

He has been on breastmilk but I am getting to the point where I can't keep up at daycare and my freezer stash is almost gone. He is close to 10.5 months old.

I am at the point where I'm not interested in doing fenugreek or anything to try to increase supply.

At this point would you introduce a bottle of formula or a bottle of cows milk? I know the official answer is that I should do a bottle of formula since he is under a year but I'm thinking at this age I could maybe get away with cows milk for a bottle. So not looking to switch from breastmilk completely, but I think I will need another option at least for one bottle/day at daycare here in the next few weeks.

So would you do formula or do cows milk at 10.5 months? I will continue to send some breastmilk to daycare and continue to nurse him at night (he is not a good sleeper at all)

MRads · May 2014

I would do cows milk at this point, honestly.

[Deleted User] · May 2014

I agree with @MRads‌!

heyhaylee · May 2014

Agreed with @MRads‌ as well!

martyn17 · May 2014

I think its fine to supplement with whole cow's milk ETA: I send 3 4 oz bottles to daycare a day. Sometimes I'm 1-3 ounces short and I supplement with WCM. The doctor said she wouldn't bother with formula at this point, especially since she nurses well all weekend and in the mornings and evenings so she's definitely getting a good amount of breastmilk.

PrimRoseMama · May 2014

Give baby a cup O' Cow! (That's what Abby says, "mommy, cup of cow?")!

Just for you @maryannespier‌ :P

Clyde013 · May 2014

I would personally do formula for another month but if LOs ped says it's ok then I'd do cows milk.

R314159 · May 2014

It would definitely be more BM than WCM. He only takes three 3 oz bottles at daycare so my thought is I would just replace one bottle. Or I guess start a slow transition

gutsymama · May 2014

I kind of expected stronger reactions from this board....but I agree, especially if it's just 3 oz.

R314159 · May 2014

@lizabethann06‌ ... I am waiting on a response from my pedi about it.

I constantly go back and forth on feelings regarding it. Sometimes I think I should just switch to formula and forget about the whole thing. But then I change my mind and tell myself I am So so close to making it a year and I just need to stick with it. Ugh!

Pink724 · May 2014

My pediatrician says we can start to introduce WCM at 10 months, so I'd do that.

ETA: I actually started today and gave her 2 oz, because I am dealing with a supply issue as well.

queenbone · May 2014

Clyde013 said:

I would personally do formula for another month but if LOs ped says it's ok then I'd do cows milk.

This. I can't remember how expensive formula is (I'm using some sample containers I got in the mail) but I'm spending close to $6/gal anyway so it would kinda be a wash for me I think.

MRads · May 2014

Also, I'm sorry you're dealing with supply issues.

When I introduced formula after EBF 6 months, my LO was very slow to like it. It took about two months for him to drink a bottle of Formula the same way he drank a bottle of BM. I guess my thinking is that if it is a small amount, there really isn't a point in going through the process of transitioning to formula just to transition one month later to WCM.

Fwiw, my pedi said I could start adding WCM to bottles of BM and formula at 11 months and my kid is on a slow weight gain curve, and my pedi has his masters in pediatric nutrition. Not saying that other pedis are wrong and obviously trust your gut, but I don't think you are doing an irreparable harm in giving 3oz of WCM a day.

kaylakim · May 2014

We are going to start introducing WCM in the next week our so since Eli is a week away from 11 months. Our pedi said we could start introducing at 10 months but we wanted to hold off a bit.