cow's milk for toddlers?

[nj's_mom]

I have a still-breastfed one year old who drinks nothing else except water on hot days. I have heard cow's milk should be introduced at one, but also have heard dairy may be best avoided altogether. Ideas on this?

[Ruthla]

I always thought of cow's milk as a new food to introduce, not as a replacement for breastmilk.

There's absolutely no need for any cow's milk in the human diet, ever. Humans need milk in their diets until they're of weaning age. Then they stop *needing* milk. Your baby isn't missing out on ANYTHING if you don't offer cow's milk.

However, cow's milk won't hurt her either (unless she's allergic to it.) If you normally drink milk or use it in cooking, then go ahead and let her have some as well. She's old enough to eat almost anything that you have in your own diet.

When my son was a year old, I let him have an ounce or two of cow's milk with a snack of cookies, or poured into cereal (if he was willing to use a spoon rather than fingers that day), etc. He didn't drink cups full of cow's milk until he was about 4 years old and weaning.

[kiwiva]

I've never introduced cow's milk, though I introduced dairy around 16 mos or so. DD is almost 3. I believe they suggest introducing milk at 1 because that's when many stop breast or formula feeding. Since you are breastfeeding there is no need for it.

[mamadelbosque]

We never limited what foods DS1 could have from the day he started playing with solids ~7.5 months. That said, he also didn't get cows' milk till I found a source for raw dairy when he was ~15 or 16 months and we all started drinking it on a regular basis... previous to that we drank very little milk. I suppose realitve to some we still do - but we now easily go through 1.5 gallons a week.

[alegna]

I don't mind a sip here and there of other milk in toddler-hood, but I don't give it as a regular beverage until after 2- when I would be okay with a child weaning.

If they have human milk they don't need any other milk.

-Angela

[Yulia_R]

If she's nursing she's fine.

When you wean, RAW dairy from a local organic farm is very good, dairy from a store (pasterised) is bad. It's as simple as that.

[snowgirl]

Cow's milk can be introduced after 1, not "should" be. Cow's milk protein is hard for babies' stomach to digest. As OP have said, no need for it if you are bf'ing. Cow's milk is for baby cows. Human milk for human babies. FWIW, DD barely drinks cow's milk and didn't drink any until 2.5yo. She is still bf at 5yo!!

[nj's_mom]

Originally Posted by snowgirl

Cow's milk can be introduced after 1, not "should" be. Cow's milk protein is hard for babies' stomach to digest. As OP have said, no need for it if you are bf'ing. Cow's milk is for baby cows. Human milk for human babies. FWIW, DD barely drinks cow's milk and didn't drink any until 2.5yo. She is still bf at 5yo!!

Thank you!