what's your take on milk (cows!) as a beverage? - Page 2

[spmamma]

We've never been big milk drinkers here either.

With DD, she nursed until she was 25 months so I didn't offer cow's milk as a drink until after she weaned. Prior to that she drank only water. These days I only offer it as a treat since DD will fill up on it and not eat anything. She is happy with water and I'm happy with that. She does eat dairy and has milk in her cereal every day but I don't really see it as being something she needs to drink. DS is only 9.5 MO but I plan to do the same with him.

[laughymama]

We do milk with breakfast and before naps. He loves it and I love milk as well. DH will drink it with cookies and I use it to cook with frequently.

We never did the whole "this" amount of milk daily thing. He has a pretty balanced diet and so milk is a beverage we enjoy but not a necessity.

Like PPs have said, it really is like a mini-meal or a 'side' to a snack or meal. We have to actually limit DS on how much milk he drinks each day because he'd happily drink milk instead of eating a snack when he starts feeling hungry.

[mamazee]

I think there is nutrition to milk, but how much depends on the milk, and it isn't like what you'd have otherwise has no nutrition I assume. I think it's OK but not necessary. My anecdote is that my older dd never wanted cow's milk and has never had it, but the younger one (who still nurses as well) loves it. I get local raw milk from exclusively grass-fed cows.

It could be recommended so people aren't giving Kool-Aid as the primary beverage after a year or something. I think after BF water should be the primary beverage even if a child also has cow's milk. Cow's milk is nutritious IMO, but is also a pretty rich drink, and I think of it more like a food than just something to drink.

[Ruthla]

I always thought of cow's and goat's milks as "new foods to introduce in the diet" not as "breastmilk replacements." DS had his first sips of cow's milk around 10mo- a few sips from Dad's glass while they shared a plate of cookies. He wasn't getting cow's milk daily and he wasn't drinking much when he did have it.

If you use milk in your house, feel free to offer it to your toddler in whatever form you use it yourself. Similarly, if you don't use cow's milk, then don't worry about "depriving" your baby by not offering it.

DS didn't start drinking cups of milk until he was nearly 4yo and weaning- by then he did well with a cup of milk as a bedtime snack, before tooth brushing. I agree with you that water is the best beverage to have with and after meals.

Most toddlers who are getting glasses of milk with meals aren't getting breastmilk or formula anymore and truly do need the milk in their diets. Nursing kids don't need that.