cows milk
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: cows milk
Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Subject: cows milk
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 8:11pm
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Is there a medical reason why babies under 12 months cant have cows milk?
I have heard that they cant digest it, unless its in cooking. I have also heard that its not recommended in case they turn from breast milk or formula onto cows milk. Or that it can make the lactose intolerant even if they werent before. Its just that DD, monkey that she is, will only feed from me. We have tried different formula in different bottles/cups to no avail. She starts day care in a couple of weeks, and while they will try again with bottles / cups and formula, we were wondering if we could try cows milk, or a cows milk / formula mix. I know I could express and try and get her to take that from a bottle, but I would rather get her onto formula. Sorry, I respect those who BF for months, but its not me any more. (As a slight aside, I am actually impressed that I continued for this long. We formula comped from about 5 weeks as I wasnt producing enough, and DD took 1 or 2 bottles a day quite happily. Then one day she decided that breast was best and that was all she was going to take. She is now 8.5 months old and still will only BF, along with water and solids. She'll take water from almost any container, but if we put formula in, she refuses it.) I love my daughter dearly, but I wish she would sort herself out with milk and sleep! Or I knew how to sort her out. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 8:20pm
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Mine is the same, but she drinks a bit of cows milk with her lunch, hasnt upset her tum or anything.
Just dont give the boob if you want her off it, keep offering her formula if thats what you would prefer to do. You will just have to ensure she is getting some fluid so she dosent get dehydrated so maybe start her on water in a bottle, my karitane nurse said the first few times try a bit if sugar with it, dont know If it works though, My babe is still breastfed cause it works for us, but a little will be ok id think Good luck ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: JoJames
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 8:31pm
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I think its mostly that at that age their main nutrition is still coming from milk and cows milk doesn't really contain adequate vitamins and minerals that the baby needs. I'm thinking that if she won't take formula, cows milk probably won't be any better.
Good luck ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 8:36pm
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Thanks. She takes water fine. I was just wondering if it was ok to start cows milk this early, just in case she'd take it. I figured that cows milk, while not as nutritious as breast milk or formula, would be better than water. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 9:15pm
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I would keep persevering with formula, you'll find after a few days she'll start taking formula from the people at the day care. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 9:25pm
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OK, will persevere with formula. Been doing a little googling and have read more saying that her digestive system might not yet be up to milk. I dont really want to go cold turkey on her. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: mothermercury
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 9:26pm
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I would definitely not start cow's milk this early instead of formula or breast milk. It just doesn't have the right nutritional properties to be used as a main food source for human babies.
Does she take formula when you're not around? If there's no boob to fall back on maybe she'll relent and have some? It's tricky. My girl won't take any sort of bottle at all, so I can see how it would be frustrating! I hope you find a solution! |
Posted By: fairy1
Date Posted: 01 June 2011 at 10:36pm
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I asked a dietician I use to work with about why infants under 1 can't have cows milk and she said its because they can digest the casein (think thats the right word) in it. Its ok in small amounts in cooking but in large amounts its too hard.
I've got a friend who is weaning her 9 month old on to only formula and they are doing feed by feed so the baby is realising that if she doesn't take the bottle then she doesn't get a feed. Basically when she wants a feed they offer her the bottle, if she refuses then leave it for a bit and try again. Hope you can get things sorted soon. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Date Posted: 02 June 2011 at 8:31am
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Thanks. I'm going to try the feed by feed and see how it goes. If she refuses the bottle, I'll try again a bit later, but offer water after that so she doesnt dehydrate. I'm also going to skip the bottle and head straight for a sippy cup. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 02 June 2011 at 10:02am
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Try using formula in custards and white sauces as a way of getting more into her, it might help her get used to the taste too. ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: thetravelbugtribe
Date Posted: 02 June 2011 at 2:57pm
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She eats it like that no problem! I think she is just a stubborn booby baby and I am too soft! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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