Cow's milk and breastfeeding?

[cinnam0n]

I have a 13-month old daughter who I am still breastfeeding, and I am trying to figure out when/if to introduce cow's milk. We are feeding her solids 3x/day, and she probably is getting about 24 oz of breastmilk every day. We also give her water with each meal. So, my question is, if I am breastfeeding, does she need cow's milk? Or does giving her breastmilk and water suffice? The books I have talk about switching from formula to cow's milk at one year, but don't talk about what to do if you are still breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Thanks!

[CrunchyChristianMama]

You will hear lots of different opinions on here regarding cow's milk. We are personally fans of it, and my DD just weaned last week at 21 months.

We started introducing it as a liquid to drink with meals occasionally. At first she totally rejected it. I don't know if it was a taste or temp issue or what, but she wanted nothing to do with it. Then, over maybe 6 months, she eventually started to drink a little and now asks for "mook" with her breakfast.

So to answer your question, no, I don't think she NEEDS it while still breastfeeding. But, you may want to start introducing her to it if you want her to consume it eventually rather than waiting to suddenly let her try it when she weans or you wean her.

[secondimpression]

As long as you aren't using it as a substitute for breast milk, I think you're fine no matter what you do. Cow's milk is no where near as nutritionally balanced as breast milk and even compares poorly to commercial formulas, but you already knew that

A lot of the push for cow milk at 1 year is because formula is so expensive. Yeah, cow milk is expensive too, but still half the cost of formula. Breast milk is free A lot of it is a cultural thing, we drink cow milk and believe it's healthy because that's what the dairy giants tell us and everyone we know grew up drinking cow milk.

There's also controversy over human consumption of cow milk in the first place. Animal rights and dairy farming are two topics most people prefer not to think about together and for good reason. One of the things that makes me leery of offering milk to DS as more than an occasional treat is lactation being induced in cows at a higher volume and for a longer duration than normal. We all know how the composition of breast milk changes, so why wouldn't the same hold true for cows?

[smeep]

Human milk for human babies, cow milk for cow babies. Of COURSE she doesn't need another mammal's milk - but I asked the same question when DS was the same age, then realised how illogical the question truly was. Cow milk is only a substitute for human milk. In fact, giving it to her would affect her negatively. Among other reasons, the biggest is that every ounce of cow milk she is consuming is an ounce of breastmilk she is losing - obviously pasteurised processed cow milk doesn't have a fraction of what human milk does, and even in it's raw form the majority of it is bovine-specific. So you're replacing superior with inferior.

In other words, keep up the good work!

[SubliminalDarkness]

Does she need it? No. But do you want her to have it?

We drink milk and eat dairy products. I realize in some ways that its illogical, but we do it. And my DS2 was also a 24/7 nurser, and I needed a break sometimes. So we did introduce cow's milk at around a year. He'd get up to two sippy cups a day, so about 14 oz.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I wouldn't say that every ounce of cow's milk = an ounce less of breastmilk. I don't feel that way about any liquid a child consumes. She may just eventually want to drink an ounce of cow's milk instead of an ounce of water with dinner or something. You don't have to start nursing less just because you've introduced cow's milk.

[GoJoJo]

I recently saw a naturopath who suggested my daughter and I go dairy-free for 3 weeks to see if it may help with my DD's chronic constipation and some other issues of mine. So we're avoiding casein and I'm in a whole new, strange world of food. The juries still out on if it'll help. DD never really drank much milk but did eat cheese and I cooked with milk (more than I realized), so it's been an adjustment for sure.

I guess my point is IMO your DD definitely doesn't need milk, b/c breastfeeding and a varied diet are perfect nutritionally, but there's no doubt milk and milk products are easy delivery systems for vitamins/fats if there are no sensitivities.

[Artichokie]

My 2.5 yr old has never had cow milk. She still nurses, and eats yogurt every day. I see no point in supplementing human milk with bovine milk, personally.

[cinnam0n]

Thanks for all the great feedback mamas. I think we will continue to just give her breastmilk and water for the time being. She loves cheese and yogurt, and eats a pretty varied diet, so I am not worried about her lacking in fats or nutrients.