Vegan mom, wondering when I can transition to a non-mammalian milk for my 14 month old...

[jules33]

Hi Veggie Moms,

I need some advice.  I have been vegan for 7 years and had a wonderful son 14 months ago.  I had a dreadfully low supply and despite herculean efforts to BF, he was completely FF by 4 months. 

Side Bar:  with all due respect, PLEASE don't respond with "You should have... or "Did you try..."...I did.  I promise.  I tried EVERYTHING, and yielded NOTHING.

Anyway, my son is very healthy and happy, and currently having organic goat's milk 3X a day.  Most of the non-dairy milks I've seen have quite a bit of sugar and scant amounts of protein, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions.  I'd love to get him off of goat's milk soon.  He currently eats very well, lots of veggies, beans, lentils, tofu or tempeh 2-3 times a week, quinoa almost every day, fruits, healthy oils and fats, etc.  Has anyone else been in this boat?  How long do toddlers really need milk?  My pedi is respectful of my lifestyle, but not super supportive.  Any thoughts?

Thanks mommies!  And if any of you are in the northeast like me, stay safe!!

[catnip]

I waited until my daughter was 2 to get her off dairy milk. We used organic cows milk from 12-24 months, and a little bit of Horizon organic formula before that to supplement my low supply. She continued to nurse from 24-32 months, but I don't think there was much milk once I stopped taking the domperidone.

After a lot of comparing labels and looking at all sorts of research, talking to her pediatrician, who is actually fairly well versed in nutrition, we settled on organic soy milk for most things, plus I use a little bit of coconut milk to supplement hers, because her dad and I need a lower fat diet than what a little kid who tends toward the thin side is best served by.

[askew]

My kids both BF until well past 12 months, but at 12 months I put them both on hemp milk when I went back to work.  Once they started nursing less my supply drops a ton. I like the hemp milk for the fat profile. I am not into raw soy, pretty much ever, so soy milk was not an option. Almond and rice milk seemed too watery and lacking nutrition. Our favored brand of hemp milk just changed their recipe though, to make it more "palatable" which took out a lot of the stuff we loved about it. My kids also do a lot of kefir, which we make from goat milk. Personally, I would stick with the goat milk until 2, it is VERY hard to match those calories, fat and protein from plant sources. It absolutely can be done, but oz for oz mama milk and animal milk are hard to beat. 

[maisiedotes]

We had my daughter on a "flemponut smoothie"- I learned it from dairy-free and vegan mamas in DD's due date club.  We did coconut milk (the half gallon kind... So Delicious brand), flaxseed oil (just a drizzle), and hemp milk mixed together. She liked it alot.. we were glad to be able to avoid almond milk that early on because of a history of food allergies and we didn't want to overload her with soy since we did some soy protein each day otherwise.  We have been trying to avoid animal milk in general.. we are now getting DS off of formula and onto the flemponut smoothie gradually and getting him on more solid.  Good luck!  I will be lurking for more answers!

[blessedwithboys]

Babies need mammalian milk for 24 months (yes, some babies are given soy formula but that doesn't mean they don't truly need boob milk).  They do not need any type of plant-based milk substitute after that time, so keep up the goat milk for another 10 months or so and then you won't need to worry about picking anything else, except what she might enjoy for taste.

[carrierwright]

In the US some docs are comfortable w/giving up mammalian milk after 12 months, but worldwide 2 years is much more accepted as an appropriate goal. The primary concerns when transitioning are ensuring that baby receives enough fat, calories, and calcium. Mammalian milk is an easy fix but if you're looking to switch over earlier Dr Sears site is a pretty mainstream, but well-researched resource for tips on which foods supply what for toddlers. This discusses calcium requirements and you can search the same site for fat and calorie tips as needed. I've enjoyed hearing everyone's creative solutions!

[sosurreal09]

goats milk is the closest thing to BM he can have (preferably raw). I would wait until he's two and then put him on coconut milk b/c it has healthy fats, the unsweetened one doesn't have much sugar. (so delicious coconut milk)

[Graceie]

my ped gave us a foulmula recpipe it had cocnut milk , hemp milk , a little flax oil and a spalsh of carrot milk I would give some kind of high fat milk until at least 24 months becuse toddler need the fats for nerve devolpment