WIC and cows milk

[hunnybumm]

I am very frustrated and annoyed and I don't know, just plan mad. We went to our WIC appointment today (after a 2 month wait for an appointment). They asked if DS#1 (3 yo) was drinking milk, I told them we tried everything and he doesn't like it, so they gave suggestions for making me drink it, whatever. Then they ask when DS#2 (1 yo Dec 15th) stopped nursing, I told them he was still nursing. They asked how many times a day "He's not nursing a lot right??" I said I wasn't sure, but after means, night time, nap time and during the night. I said maybe 5 - 6 times a day (now that I think about it it's more like 6 - 8 times a day), she said "WOW that is a lot!"

Then she asks if I have started giving DS#2 whole milk yet "You are giving him milk, right???" I told her no, I don't like to give it this early. And she freaked out and said that if I wasn't giving it to him then there is no reason we should get ANYTHING for him at all... ya know if we aren't gonna use it. So I asked if I had to tell her I was giving it to him, and she said she didn't want me to lie to her. So I have to go in on Monday and tell her that I am giving him milk to get ANY vouchers for him at all. She isn't just going to take the milk off because there isn't a code for that, she is just going to remove him from the program. WTF?????

She also said that he should be going through 3 gallons of milk a month. Isn't that a LOT of milk for a 1 year old? I mean, maybe if that's all the child drank (not BFing) but come on, he's BFing. I am just so frustrated at how ignorant and small minded some people can be.

[s_kristina]

That's pretty out there. My 13 month old has never tasted dairy and won't as he is allergic to it and we didn't get any hassle about him being on WIC. There are other things to the package then just milk so why would his not drinking milk mean he shouldn't get WIC that does not make sense to me. My 5 year old does drink soy milk, but here in FL we can't get that on WIC so we have maybe once gotten the milk we could get with the checks. Usually we just get the other things and don't have any problems with it. The nutritionist knows that neither of my kids drink dairy milk and has never given me any problems about it. We actually had a talk last time I was in about how so many of the kids she sees drink too much milk and juice because the WIC program gives more milk and juice then any child should be drinking. She thought it was a good thing that we don't get all the juice offered by the checks. She also went and asked her supervisor trying to find a way to put in that ds is still bf at 1 year on their forms. Sounds like we have one of the good offices here.

[chlaal]

That is obnoxious. It sounds like your WIC people (or at least that one woman) are not very well-educated on bfing. Around here the WIC people that I have seen are very supportive of bfing (albeit I haven't yet seen how they'd react when I have a nursling over 1 year). 3 gallons of milk in one month for a 1-year-old does seem like a LOT to me!! We get 3 gallons/month for my 3-year-old and he probably does drink that much some months, other months not...he's 3 after all

Honestly, I would recommend calling the state or federal WIC offices and pushing them a bit on this topic; they may want to "re-educate" that particular worker, or at least clarify the rules for you. Good luck!

-Joan

[Mama Poot]

You need to complain. My 16 month old is allergic to cows milk and drinks goat's milk instead, which is not covered by WIC. They have no problem with this, they give us the milk anyways because ( I think, not sure ) I'm breastfeeding, and they gave it to us while I was pregnant. You should not have had a problem. Sounds like this particular worker has a serious predjudice and needs some reeducation about breastfeeding. :

[hunnybumm]

I also wanted to add that I remember having this exact same issue 2 years ago when DS#1 turned 1 yo. We use everything else on the vouchers, we just don't use all the milk, and I have told them before we as a family do not go through 9 gallons of milk a month, not even close. But I still get all this pressure to FORCE milk on my pour children. I really need to contact the head office, or the state, or something. We do go through the juice (though we water it down 50/50), or at least we use to, we haven't gotten coupons in a while.

[shelbean91]

The amount of milk they expect a child to drink is absolutely ridiculous. 3 gallons is like 48 cups of milk- that's 1 1/2 cups a DAY, which is a huge amount, IMO. Not to mention, you've got to get all the milk at the same time. Now, I don't know about you, but I've yet to buy a gallon of milk that lasts more than a week or 2, at the most. So, I ended up dumping much of the milk that was given. I couldn't drink it b/c it was whole milk. Also, 4 doz eggs is a LOT.


Just tell then what they want to hear, get your stuff, move on. WIC is such a hassle, but it's nice to have at least some of the stuff (though it's been over a year since we used it, and still have a freezer full of frozen juice!)

[lissabob]

Originally Posted by hunnybumm

I am very frustrated and annoyed and I don't know, just plan mad. We went to our WIC appointment today (after a 2 month wait for an appointment). They asked if DS#1 (3 yo) was drinking milk, I told them we tried everything and he doesn't like it, so they gave suggestions for making me drink it, whatever. Then they ask when DS#2 (1 yo Dec 15th) stopped nursing, I told them he was still nursing. They asked how many times a day "He's not nursing a lot right??" I said I wasn't sure, but after means, night time, nap time and during the night. I said maybe 5 - 6 times a day (now that I think about it it's more like 6 - 8 times a day), she said "WOW that is a lot!"

Then she asks if I have started giving DS#2 whole milk yet "You are giving him milk, right???" I told her no, I don't like to give it this early. And she freaked out and said that if I wasn't giving it to him then there is no reason we should get ANYTHING for him at all... ya know if we aren't gonna use it. So I asked if I had to tell her I was giving it to him, and she said she didn't want me to lie to her. So I have to go in on Monday and tell her that I am giving him milk to get ANY vouchers for him at all. She isn't just going to take the milk off because there isn't a code for that, she is just going to remove him from the program. WTF?????

She also said that he should be going through 3 gallons of milk a month. Isn't that a LOT of milk for a 1 year old? I mean, maybe if that's all the child drank (not BFing) but come on, he's BFing. I am just so frustrated at how ignorant and small minded some people can be.

WOW!! I took my 3 yo in this year and even with telling her that dd was STILL nursing (5-6x per day ) she told me great! most kids are drinking too darn much wcm and I have to explain that to the dps! She was also interested in becoming an IBCLC (I think she was really interested in becoming a CLE though because she didn't think a college degree would help Anywho, every wic is different I guess. We use the milk for US (dh and I) and that doesn't seem to be a problem. : This is just crazy. I would look into it further with the head supervisor there.

[Codi's Mama]

Originally Posted by chlaal

3 gallons of milk in one month for a 1-year-old does seem like a LOT to me!!
-Joan

Some of the people I've known on WIC with 1-2 yo's replace formula with cow's milk. So, 3 gallons isn't all that much when they're drinking an 8oz bottle every few hours.

[bryannastreasure]

I'm on WIC here in Washington State and they were fabulous with extended breastfeeding. just typed in BF 37 months. I could tell she was surprised/amazed but she stayed professional.

They asked me to fill out his diet for the day before, but we didn't get to it. When they weighed and measured him he came up short for age on their charts. 5% for height. so just for that he qualifies as medically necessary.

He does drink milk now, but I water it down a bit. 4oz in a 7oz sippy cup and only when he asks for it. he has bowel troubles and I limit his dairy to once a day or less.

I've asked them to split into 6 checks with more milk than cheese. So there are other possibilities. and I buy Lactose free. The others in the house help with the excess milk.

oh yes and milk freezes just fine. I like to stock up on the plastic half gallon sizes when they are on sale 10/$10 and freeze the lot. Set one in a bowl on the counter at bedtime and it's still slushy at breakfast.


love and light,
bryanna


[QUOTE=shelbean91;6906785]snip
Not to mention, you've got to get all the milk at the same time. Now, I don't know about you, but I've yet to buy a gallon of milk that lasts more than a week or 2, at the most. So, I ended up dumping much of the milk that was given. I couldn't drink it b/c it was whole milk. Also, 4 doz eggs is a LOT.

[thepeach80]

I would report them personally, they can't MAKE you give him milk in order to get vouchers. I, nor any of my kids can have milk (though AJ can handle Lactaid now, but he doesn't much like it), AJ and DH are the only ones that can have cheese, and I can't do the eggs. At one point we were using the cereal and juice off the vouchers, that's it. Our WIC knows this and just tells us to get everything and just give away and usually we do. Our WIC is also very supportive of extended bfing. I nursed AJ till 13 mos (he weaned when I was pg) and they loved that. They were really excited I nursed Evan till 12 mos w/ everything I couldn't eat and he couldn't handle, they were amazed. I'm hoping to make it longer this time as we're getting a handle on the allergies early. Anyways, all that to say I've never had those problems. Is there another office you can go to? We have like 5 WIC offices here to choose from and as far I'm concerned, I'm at the best one for bfing and such.

[Equuskia]

Interesting. Here in PR, there are stores that specialize in WIC checks. You give them your checks, and they keep a log on how much you take with you. For example, the check says 7 half gallons of milk. I don't drink that much in two weeks. So I take 1 half gallon, and the others are logged for next time. I have about 120 liters of milk "saved up", and I can trade it in for other things that I do use, like eggs, cheese and cereal, or anything else they have in the store. I find it's less wasteful that way, plus I get what I want to eat and don't end up with 5 gallons of milk in the freezer.

The dietist at WIC told me that at 1 year of age, my DD was supposed to eat 4 oz of meat a day, plus cereal and other stuff. She barely ate because she was breastfed (still is) and wasn't all that interested in eating, and much less in cereal, I just tell them what they want to hear and they leave me alone.

[Sustainer]

If this is WIC policy, it needs to be changed! Milk from a different species is not needed AT ALL! Young pigs don't need horse milk. Young goats don't need cat milk. What kind of show is WIC running???

[ndunn]

um.... BREASTMILK IS MILK!!!

[tanyam926]

I work for WIC

Hi, I just had to make a comment because I work as a WIC Nutritionist. I just started a couple of weeks ago but I have been volunteering with WIC (teaching BF classes) for 6 years.

You have to remember that WIC is made up of different people with different experiences and ideas about raising children and about nutrition. Some of us are experienced breastfeeding mamas and advocates of BF, some don't even have children, others never breastfed successfully, and so on.

I also get frustrated when I hear a coworker give innacurate info about anything. Our recommendation on milk is 16 oz or less a day. We counsel parents who give a lot of milk to reduce it. From our standpoint, cows milk is an easy source of calcium that can boost a childs/woman's intake who would otherwise be deficient. We are not saying "Cows milk is great!" or that it's better than breastmilk, we are saying cows milk is good for our clients who would not get any other calcium.

I would recommend that you talk to your WIC supervisor in that area, they are responsible for making sure the Nutritionists are properly educated. However, it has been my experience with coworkers that you can give them all the correct information but you can't make them truly embrace and believe it in thier heart. KWIM? Especially if they have had a previous negative experience. I am blessed because my supervisor also happens to be an IBCLC and is wholeheartedly dedicated to BF. (BTW I am a tandem nursing mama of a 4 yo and a 16 mo).

(sorry so long, I am a new poster and I don't know all the lingo yet

[tanyam926]

P.s.

BTW I don't know what that lady was talking about because we are able to take milk off completely and increase the amount of cheese on the checks. I can't imagine that would be different where you are. When you go back, talk to the supervisor and it should be corrected.

[dakotamidnight]

I just got back from a different WIC clinic than the one I normally go to and they had a huge blowup cow there with the milk logo on it.

Makes me wonder how much stuff is donated to WIC by the milk companies.

[Usually Curious]

Originally Posted by Equuskia

Interesting. Here in PR, there are stores that specialize in WIC checks. You give them your checks, and they keep a log on how much you take with you. For example, the check says 7 half gallons of milk. I don't drink that much in two weeks. So I take 1 half gallon, and the others are logged for next time. I have about 120 liters of milk "saved up", and I can trade it in for other things that I do use, like eggs, cheese and cereal, or anything else they have in the store. I find it's less wasteful that way, plus I get what I want to eat and don't end up with 5 gallons of milk in the freezer.
.

Is that legal?

[Kristine233]

Wow, I'd see if there was someone else you coudl talk to there. That just doesn't sound right. I've been on WIC with all 3 kids and when my youngest was breastfeeding they were super supportive of it. And my other child had a milk sensitivity (not allergy) so he didn't/doesn't drink milk. They didn't say squat about it and I didn't even need a Dr's note. They just asked if we still wanted the milk (for the other kids or Dh and I) and if we'd want to swap any milk out for cheese for snacking on for the kids. They even made a point to give us the special Juice vouchers that allowed us to get the vitamin fortefied orange juice (because he can't have any juice with an apple base either which rules most of them out) to make up for the no milk. I've heard its hit and miss with alot of the WIC offices. Do you have another one in the area you can go to or get a number for one of the other ones to talk to about this issue?

I hope it works out!

[MamaVolpe]

Of course it's Whole Milk!

Originally Posted by hunnybumm

I said maybe 5 - 6 times a day (now that I think about it it's more like 6 - 8 times a day), she said "WOW that is a lot!"

Then she asks if I have started giving DS#2 whole milk yet "You are giving him milk, right???"

Of course you are giving your kid whole milk didn't she hear you say you are BFing 5-6 times a day. Does she think you process your milk to give just skim or 2%

[treqi]

I used to just get whatever milk i wanted for me and the girl at the checkout said nothing about it! I quit WIC though cause i was just sick of dealing with the idiots while i was preggers on lady me that i wasn't gaining enough weight (20lbs at 6months) and then another one asked me which formula i was going to use without even mentioning BFing and told me to make sure it had DHA and ARA after that i didn't come back