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some cow's milk before one year old?

post #1 of 5
Thread Starter 
My son is 11 months old and is in day care. I have been pumping and providing pumped breast milk when he is at daycare. When he is at home he nurses. It has become harder to pump enough breastmilk now. Could I have his daycare provider offer him cow's milk instead of formula before he turns 1? He will only have the cow's milk at day care, at home I will continue to nurse him.

He is eating cheese and yogurt with no problems. And he is very well developed in the 75% percentile for height and weight; and already walking. So, my instinct is telling me it is ok.

Thanks!
post #2 of 5
What kind of volumes are you talking about? Basically cow's milk is not a complete food for a baby, the way that breast milk or formula is. At 11 months I'd be happy giving cow's milk in a cup, when probably only about 2oz is likely to be consumed.

The exact proportion of milk to solid food is going to vary from child to child, as is when they consume that. My daughter at this age would have gone 9-3 without needing a milk feed as she took her milk in 3 big feeds, in the morning, late afternoon and before bed. My son on the other hand struggled to last 4 hours in the morning without a milk feed.

This is a personal thing, but I don't think cow's milk should be offered in a bottle, I think it encourages too much volume to be consumed and though cow's milk is our societies preferred method of toddlers getting fat and calcium etc. too much milk leads to problems such as iron deficiancy anemia, one pediatrician I spoke to said she sees far more problems from too much cow's milk than too little.

So if you're talking a couple of small cups worth, then I'd do it, if you're thinking a couple of 6oz+ bottles, then that needs to be breastmilk or formula.

Is there any particular reason you want to avoid formula? I know I used to feel some kind of pride in not using formula, but I've since realised that cow's milk is just another substitute for breast milk and if you need a breastmilk substitute then use the best available, which at this age is probably formula. Personally I'd be worried about powdered formulas not being sterile and that the temperature of water needed to make them safely destroys some of the good stuff in them, so I'd go with ready mixed. Choosing cow's milk simply to avoid formula is the wrong reason in my book.
post #3 of 5
Before 2 years old I'd be more comfy with goat's milk myself, and not all day at 11 months, just replacing one feeding maybe. Daycare may not be allowed to give anything but breastmilk or formula under a year, it's really strongly recommended against but the AAP and such.
post #4 of 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by lookyloo View Post
It has become harder to pump enough breastmilk now.
Is it because he's taking more during the day and your supply isn't increasing, or is it because your supply is decreasing?

If you're not responding to the pump as well, make sure that you check the pump out. You might just need new valves or something...

But as for the milk, I would feel okay to go with the cow's milk at 11 mos. if he's taking solids for nutrition as well.
post #5 of 5
Thread Starter 
My supply seems good, it is just because I am finding less time to do it and it is taking longer. And more importantly I am starting a new job and I don't want to ask my new employer for time to pump.

I think I am against formula, because I'd like to offer him something natural instead of artificial. But maybe your are right the best alternative is formula right now. And I just need to be ok with that.
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