Weaning a 9 mo old and alternatives to cow's milk?

[lkmiscnet]

I am a vegetarian and plan to raise our 9 mo old as one. I plan on weaning from BFing in a few months but don't know what options there are to cow's milk. I'm not vegan, but I worry about the downsides of feeding cow's milk (allergies, mucus production, etc) or should I not be concerned? I do plan on feeding yogurt and cheese, which are made from cow's milk, so I guess that defeats my original concern.

[momtoS]

Breastfeeding is excellent! Would you consider child-led weaning...then there are less concerns regarding foods/ milks etc?

[NamastePlatypus]

Originally Posted by momtoS

Breastfeeding is excellent! Would you consider child-led weaning...then there are less concerns regarding foods/ milks etc?

I agree. Is there a reason for early weaning?

As far as supplements after weaning, I prefer goat or raw milk. DS1 is dairy free now but we did goat for the time between then and now.

Now we go with almond of hemp.

[homeschoolingmama]

I had a supply issue and at around 12 months we switched to goats milk. The adults and older children in our house drink Almond Milk.

[4Marmalade]

I agree that breastmilk is the best option and it's what has worked here until ages 2-3. I liked not having to worry about supplementing them with anything other than that. After a year of age we have given many options as occasional drinks - soy, rice, almond and cow. But, if I was not going to breastfeed and/or was weaning at 9 months I would probably research formulas. My understanding is that before a year of age, formula would be a better option that any other "milks". I stand to be corrected though as I have not researched formulas .

[MountainMamaGC]

I agree, breastfeed until 2 then it doesnt matter what kind of milk you give them. They need a drink with lots of protein, so cows, goats, or soy milk are good options. Rice and almond milk do not contain a whole lot of protein.

[Kailey's mom]

He'll need breastmilk until he is 2. If you wean him, you may have to get formula.

[crunchy_mommy]

I agree with the others that BF'ing 'til at least 2 would be best, but if that's not possible for some reason, I once heard someone supplementing with a combo of hemp & coconut milk. Might be something to look into!

[sugarlumpkin]

Originally Posted by Kailey's mom

He'll need breastmilk until he is 2. If you wean him, you may have to get formula.

Just wanted to step and reassure you that (according to Dr. Jack Newman and others) the above is absolutely not true.

I do not know what your reasons are for wanting to wean in the next few months, but I am going to assume that the previous posters have done a good job of bringing that to your attention and just answer your question.

There are many alternatives: soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk. I think soy and help milk have the highest nutritional content. But do a quick google search and see what it gets you!

[fresh_veggie]

Soy milk is usually fortified the most, but I personally would avoid the soy and go for either hemp or almond or coconut, or all 3 switching around. Check the labels for the fortification. The almond breeze unsweetened I currently have is fortified with a good about of calcium, vitamin d, and vitamin e. If you're really worried about nutrients, then supplement with a nice vitamin if possible.

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by sugarlumpkin

Just wanted to step and reassure you that (according to Dr. Jack Newman and others) the above is absolutely not true.

!

Nope, you are right, that's why I have an almost 4 year old that depends on formula I wanted to point that fact out, because sometimes things don't go perfect, and you find out after the milk dries up, that your kiddo really needed it. Things like say food allergies, sensory issues, and numerous other things arise, and man...you really wish you did not wean. I wanted to point this out as I've been there and done that, and wished I'd done something a bit different.

[Vegan Princess]

I'm still wondering about this myself. I have low supply and have supplemented with donor milk but that just ran out. DD is almost 13 months so we won't be getting anymore donor milk. I plan to use up the formula I bought before we started donor milk...then I'm not so sure. I might do cow or goat just to put my mind at ease. But I would never drink that myself. I guess maybe cow or goat until a little more time passes then switch to hemp or almond.

Cindy

[homeschoolingmama]

If I had to choose I would choose Goat's instead of Cow's milk. I believe cows have 4 stomachs so it is much harder for a human to digest. Goats have 1.

[Smithie]

All three of my children have been weaned around nine months, for various reasons. They have all survived and thrived

What I have learned is that each individual kid did best on something different. All of them were well established on solid foods before I stopped nursing, but:

1. The first one rejected all forms of formula and only drank goat's milk until he was about 2 years old, when I got tired of him smelling like a goat and offered him cow's milk. He ate HUGE amounts of food and drank HUGE amounts of milk.

2. The second one rejected all forms of formula AND goat's milk, but was able to drink her older brother's cow's milk with no digestive upset. She ate sparingly and drank sparingly. She's now a healthy, tiny 3 y.o., and she still doesn't eat enough according to my notions, but a succession of pediatricians have told me that she is developing perfectly and some people just don't eat much.

3. The third one rejected goat's milk and gets an upset tummy if I give her cow's milk, but adores all forms of formula and seems to digest it without any trouble at all. She eats HUGE amounts of solid food and drinks relatively little formula. Oh, and she loathed formula until she was established on solid foods - spat it right back in the face of whatever person was unlucky enough to be watching her on the rare occasions that I left her.

Moral of the story: establish solid foods first, and try the various options to see what works best for your individual baby. Don't buy a big can of anything until you have offered it to your baby and your baby has not rejected it. And while opinions range wildly on this issue, I personally considered goat milk a second choice, and did not offer it until I was convinced that my 10 m.o. ds was not going to accept any kind of formula. When you are using a nutritious liquid as a "bridge" for a new eater of solid food, I think it make sense to use either the stuff that comes out of your boobs or the stuff that comes out of the laboratory, because both of those substances have been created with the specific needs of the older infant in mind.

[organicmidwestmama]

lots of docs and other "experts" in childhood nutrition are recomending nursing or formula until age two, rthaer then switching to unfortified milk at 12 months. the best part about breastfeeding to me, is that you never have to worry about giving something nutritionally complete, as you already are, every day, every time you nurse! if you must wean, and please do consider not weaning before 2 years if you can, then personally id go with cow/goat milk supplemented with bifidus, cod liver oil, vit d3, ect. id check w/ a naturopathic md or naturally minded nutritionist about this too.