Cow's Milk

[oomaumau04]

If I'm still bf when dd turns one, will she still need to start cow's milk? How much cow's milk does a bf one-year-old drink?

[KerryS]

NO child *needs* cow's milk, even if they're not breastfeeding.

If you DO want to introduce dairy, it's recommended not to exceed 8 oz. per day of cow's milk, and 16 oz. total per day of dairy (to include yogurt, cheese, etc.).

[RedheadbyChoice]

Yep, to Kerry. I'm not personally anti-cow's milk, as we do consume it in this house, but I really do try to stress to people that cow's milk isn't NECESSARY in their diet, especially that of the baby. Too many think that they need to sub cow's milk for formula or EBM, and that's just not true. Cow's milk is an easily found source of calcium, and for that it's great. But, calcium can be found in other foods as well.

My breastfed 14 month old doesn't drink any cow's milk at all; dairy bugs her just a bit. My girls probably had 4-5 ounces of it a day, IDK, a small sippy. The boy wouldn't touch it until he was closer to 18 months.

[KerryS]

Another thing to keep in mind is that large amounts of dairy puts your child at risk for iron-deficient anemia.

FWIW, neither of older two kids had cow's milk as a beverage until they were 3-4 years old (they did eat cheese and other dairy sources before that, though). I personally haven't drank cow's milk as a beverage in over a decade.

[oomaumau04]

So, if dd is still nursing well at that point, do I need to offer any other beverages during the day? I'm assuming water would be good, but anything else? Sorry...I'm new to all this bf information and have no clue what I'm doing. Lol. I'm a dcp and everyone around me is saying that NOT offering cow's milk at a year is a BAD thing.

[KerryS]

Other than breastmilk, water is the only other fluid that a child over a year would EVER need. Just make sure that the child is getting calcium and protein needs met through other food sources (and breastmilk will provide much of that, as will other sources of dairy).

No, it's most certainly NOT a bad thing to not offer cow's milk.

[RedheadbyChoice]

I'm a dcp and everyone around me is saying that NOT offering cow's milk at a year is a BAD thing.

That made me snort. Bad, how? Like a kiddo will never drink it, if not given to them? And gee, would that really be a horrid thing? ;) Sorry, sugar, it just made me laugh.

Yes, indeedy, you can offer water. Or just nurse. I offer water with meals, the occasional sippy of water when we're driving somewhere, or on a walk to the park or such.

[oomaumau04]

:) I love all you ladies here. If not for you, I would be so misled. I checked out kellymom too. Now I know what to say when all the other teachers at the center ask me why she isn't drinking cow's milk. (or eating a ton of solids, or eating rice cereal, or a million other things she "should" be doing that we're not...lol) Thanks again!

[madelsmama]

Now I know what to say when all the other teachers at the center ask me why she isn't drinking cow's milk.
How about, "Because she's not a baby cow". :) Works well for me.

As long as she's nursing 3-4 times a day, she'll get from you what she'd get from cow milk, and more!

Water is enough. My near-4-yr old has rarely had more than water to drink, and she's been weaned for a year and a half.

[majubee]

i have a cousin who stopped BFing right at a year old because she thought they her kids NEEDED whole cows milk. I have another cousin who told me that babies NEED juice and solids at 4-6 months old.

so many people are thinking that just because the doctor says they can have something at a certain age that it suddenly means they NEED it.

my ds is addicted to milk. he loves it. he is 3 1/2. he would drink 5 cups of milk a day if I let him. his doctor told me that kids his age need at least 3-4 cups of milk a day.

I say he loves his milk so much because he weaned too soon. lol he wants a cup of milk almost every time he sees me nursing baby girl.

all this talk of NEED is just because it is the easiest way to get that needed calcium and fats and protein. but there are other ways of getting it.