My baby is turning 11 months old in a few days and I was wondering if anyone out there has switched their baby from formula to cow's milk at this age. The Pediatrician did suggest we should wait until he is 12 months old but he drinks so much formula (9oz five times a day)it has gotten to be quite expensive. He is a very good eater and eats a variety of foods and he also drinks nursery water on occassion. Can I start with the cow's milk a month early, or should I wait it out?
I suggest to wait it out as the pediatrician says. They say 12 months because allergies. If he was a couple day from being 12 months I would say that should be fine. But it's best to wait.
I did the same thing. You might find that if you go cold turkey to milk, he might not like the taste. I did 1/2 and 1/2, then went to 3/4 milk and 1/4 formula, then straight milk. The colplete conversion took about 3 weeks, make sure you are using whole milk though so he can get the fat and vitamins that he will need.
My grandmother fed her children cow's milk, goat's milk and buttermilk, all 5 of her children grew up strong and healthy! I would suggest starting him off on organic whole milk, that way the baby isn't getting all of the additives and horomones and unnecessary antibiotics, but is still getting the vitamins and nutrition that he needs. I would do some sort of transition, just to make sure his little belly will handle it ok. I'd just give him a little at time over a week or two. I deffinitely wouldn't do it all at once. hope this helps!
Both my kids started drinking cows milk at about 10 months. We started slow, the first 2 weeks we mixed 6 oz formula with 2 oz milk, then the next 2 weeks we mixed half and half then the last 2 weeks we mixed 2 oz of formula and 6 oz of milk and on their 1 year b-days we gave them whole milk, strait up. I never had a problem with either of them, as long as you use whole milk so they can still get the vitamins and fat. Good luck!
I would wait, but if you do switch, do as the other poster recommended and transition gradually - it can take a couple of weeks, so start it when he's 11 1/2 months and he'll be completely transitioned by 12 1/2 months.
I think its important to keep up with the formula until at least 12 months because while they look the same, formula has a ton of stuff in it that you don't find in milk. His little body and brain needs that stuff to keep on growing & developing correctly and four weeks isn't much to us, but it's a long time to little ones. While he's eating well and a variety for you, there are some things in formula that you're not going to find in regular food - like the DHA and ARA found in breast milk that most major formula brands have in it now.
Good luck!
I switched at 11 monthes and my guy loved it. He liked the taste so much better. It is only a couple weeks and I didn't see the big deal. My guy also wouldn't take real milk out of the bottle so it took care of that problem too! I had an easy transition. Hope that helps!!
Hi Julia, this is Norma. I'm a SAHM of 3 boys 12,7 & 2 yrs old. We went from breast milk to regular milk at 11mths old with our second son. He is fine as can be now. I am not a big advocate of cows milk; however, mine drank it until they were 2yrs old. Since cow's milk is so full of fat, I asked our doctor if they could have 2% instead of whole milk. He approved. Watch for ear infections and other signs of food allergies once you switch. Nothing too alarming but some kids can have more ear infections when drinking cow's milk.
Good Luck, Norma =)
I started my oldest at 11 months on regular milk, but she ahd been drinking similac. If they drink similac wiht no problem they should be ready for regular milk. I don't know about other formulas
Hi Julia,
The answer is to keep the baby on formula until he is a year old.
Cow's milk has a protein in it that may cause an allergic reaction in babies.
That is why the Doctor recommended you to keep the baby on formula.
Hope this helps. donna
My youngest picked up my older son's sippy cup and slurped it down at about 10 months, so I switched him too.
hi! 45 ounces of fomula a day is more than he needs! i bet it is expensive! have you tried giving him watered down juice for meals or just water? maybe he is just thirsty? I don't hink it would hurt to start transitioning to milk slowly a few weeks before his first bday, though. I really think juice or water a few times a day would be better though. Does he take a sippy cup? that may help too...
Janice, mom of 2 6 and 2
Hey Julia,
If I were you, I'd wait 1 more month. If your pediatrician recommended waiting for 12 months, I think you'd be better off following that advice. It's just one more month...and then you won't have to worry if you've done the right thing or not.
Joy W.
my son had cows milk at 6 months. Vit D of course, then at a year we switched to 2%. He had no issues at all.
Hi!
No, it's NOT too early! Go ahead a switch him!
Pam
I started around 11 1/2 months, I don't know what a few more weeks would magically do. supposidely it is for digestion issues, but if he can digest it at 11 mo, then go for it (they eat yogurt way before a year and that is cows milk). Start slow and see how he tolerates it.
Cow's milk is one of the major allergens. In my childbirth ed. class, I encourage my moms both nursing and formula feeding to transition to goat's milk if they are planning to have their child eat dairy.
There are plenty of natural food stores in the area that sell goat's milk.
Try My Organic Market.
Laura
Hello, julia, I suggest you switch him to Almond milk, and Rice milk. Do a little research on cows milk before you use it. Humans dont need cows milk, it may actually contribute to allergies and calcium loss. Good luck!
I did breastfeed my daughter till she was almost 13 months, but around 10 or 11 months I didn't have a big supply, so I supplemented with cow's milk, and it worked perfectly.
I just used her usual bottle, and she didn't have any problem with the transition.
I also was a little concerned that it was too soon after reading advices online and on books, but I had a friend that actually started giving cow's milk to her daughter when she was 8 months, and she is now a wonderful, healthy 7 years old.
She is now 17 months and drinks exclusively cow's milk.
So my personal experience is that it would be ok to start at 11 months.
I switched my daughter at that age and she's done fine. I think you should do what you're comfortable with. I think if you do it gradually as many others have suggested, your little one will be just fine. 12 months is not some magic age that, poof, all of a sudden your baby is ok to have cow's milk. I know so many people who have started a little earlier, doing the half and half thing and gradually weaning them off formula. And just like when you try new foods at 4-6 months, always watch for allergic reactions. Hope this helps and good luck!
Adrienne