[PortraitPixie]

Hello all you wise mammas!

Ds just turned one last week.

: Anyway, we're trying to introduce milk into his diet. (I'm still breastfeeding tho and still love it.

) I wish he would take it because he doesn't 'eat' that great and I would like him to get more iron in his diet.

We tried soy first because someone told me it tasted more like what he was used too--HATED IT! We tried whole milk after that--won't touch it. Have any of you had similar experiences? What did you do? Keep trying? Warm it up? Put chocolate syrup in it??? Just kidding! :LOL

Thanks in advance. . . .

Sarah

 

[peaceful_mama]

Know what? I wouldn't really worry about it. There might not be a LOT of iron in bm, but what's there is in a form that's *very useable* by baby. I'd concentrate on offering foods with a lot of iron and the milk. Keep offering, eventually he will learn to like them. Also, offer iron and vit. c. foods together, C helps the body absorb iron.

Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it unless you actually have him tested and he's anemic..............might want to do that anyway if it will make you feel better.

 

[AugustineM]

I just read on Kellymom that milk actually interferes with iron absorption.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mi...pplements.html

Really interesting link!!

 

[alegna]

Another vote for drop it. YOUR milk is the only milk he needs. And milk is not a good sorce for iron (I'd have to check but there may not be ANY in it, and calcium does interfere with iron being absorbed.)

-Angela

 

[Parker'smommy]

Yep....another mama in the camp that human milk is for human babies and cow's milk is for calves!!!

Your breastmilk is definitely "enough" for your dc. I wouldn't push something that is definitely NOT neccessary. There are definitely more sources of iron, calcium, and other nutrients than in just cow's or soy milk. I would try to address your dc's nutritional needs by continuing with the bfing and trying to prepare a balance of good foods for your child to try and experiment with.

 

[kavamamakava]

At this age, you don't have to worry about food aside from breastfeeding, at all. Even if he only has 3 bites of food and nurses 3 times in one day, it's fine. Follow his lead. He doesn't need any sort of milk except your breastmilk. If you want to make sure he's eating a balanced diet, keep a food diary for a week and check the week's worth of food.

 

[PortraitPixie]

You mamma's are the best. All of your posts are very encouraging to me.

I have to just learn to listen to myself (and you all

) and not let all of the 'pressure' from other family members/people in general, get to me. You know the drill I'm sure--all of the "you'd better cut him off bf'ing so that he'll eat better" or "Are you sure he's getting all he needs?" or "You'd better make sure he starts on REAL milk soon". . .AAARGH!

Thanks again ladies for the info. and support.

Sarah

 

[Past_VNE]

"real milk"

That sounds like something my family will be spouting soon.

I totally agree with the mamas here, as you have noted. No cow's milk for babies is necessary.

 

[dumpsterdivamama]

:
So, if your babe is still bfing, you don't need to give milk at all?? my dd turns one next month, and I'm not planning on weaning her, but I've been thinking I'd start giving her milk. I understand that it's not NEEDED necessarily, but do you, if she'll drink it?? My dd1 drinks soy because of lactose issues. Is that better??

Thanks for letting me hijack, this is very interesting...

 

[UUMom]

I never gave my bio kids any milk other than breastmilk at that age. I just gave them water or breastmilk from the tap.

 

[alegna]

I'm not planning on giving any milk other than mine except as a once-in-awhile drink.

-Angela

 

[kavamamakava]

My kids drink water and breastmilk. Any other drinks are not a daily thing. Sometimes juice, sometimes milk, sometimes kefir, etc.

 

[Leilalu]

We drink:

rice milk
almond milk
kefir
watered down juice

goat milk

A fun tasty drink for kids: (2 actually)

milk and blackstrap molasses
milk and carob powder, and brewers yeast. to taste.

 

[pinky]

My 4 y.o. dd has never taken to milk or any other beverage--except for water--which is fine with me. We eat dairy in our house--milk on cereal, cheese, yogurt, etc.--but none of us drinks milk.

I read somewhere that a study showed that children who drank milk actually ate fewer vegetables...something about cow's milk being a whole food, so it can "feel" like you're getting all you need, but of course cow's milk alone is not adequate food for humans. Don't know if this is true but it's interesting.

 

[mandalamama]

i don't mean to hijack the thread, but now i'm curious ... my daughter is FF (ugh) and i've been wondering what to do around 12 months. would she be better off sticking with formula, or changing to cow's milk, at that point? or kefir, or goat's milk, or any other alternative? all the info i find speaks of the benefits of breastfeeding over cow's milk, but no info on what's best for babies who are FF by necessity and over 12 months. (if i was able to breastfeed, i definitely would have gone extended and avoided cow's milk for a loooooooong time. i was allergic to it as a kid! and i'm still not writing off breastfeeding, i keep trying to go off my meds once a month and i'm able to relactate ok so far. just can't function without the damn meds

)

to the OP: you said your son isn't eating great ... are you having supply issues? do you go to LLL meetings or have someone you can call? i'm thinking that not only is cow's milk not needed, but that you might be able to boost your supply even at 12 months and fulfill your son's nutritional needs. just a thought!

 

[StacyL]

Just reiterating what's been said regarding no need for cow's milk (Dr. Mercola probably has some good stuff on that) but I wanted to add that soy milk would be even worse, especially for a boy. Lots of articles on the internet about staying away from soy due to its hormonal effects, especially on a boy.

 

[dumpsterdivamama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinky I read somewhere that a study showed that children who drank milk actually ate fewer vegetables...something about cow's milk being a whole food, so it can "feel" like you're getting all you need, but of course cow's milk alone is not adequate food for humans. Don't know if this is true but it's interesting.

Very interesting!! Makes sense! Cow's milk is whole food for a cow!! Never thought of it that way! Funny.

OK, so whyyyyyyy does the AAP et al. make such a big deal about milk?? Calcium? It is found in other foods, including BM, right? We do eat a fair amount of cheese and yogurt here, so I know calcium isn't an issue.

Thank you mamas, for opening up mine eyes

 

[PortraitPixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellybean to the OP: you said your son isn't eating great ... are you having supply issues? do you go to LLL meetings or have someone you can call? i'm thinking that not only is cow's milk not needed, but that you might be able to boost your supply even at 12 months and fulfill your son's nutritional needs. just a thought!

Oh, ds nurses ALL THE TIME

, he just doesn't actually EAT much. I've never worried about my supply--sorry, I wasn't clear before! He just puts table food in his mouth, tastes it, then spits it back out. He does do well still with some baby food, oatmeal. (Sometimes, if he feels like it.) This is why I think people have been trying to convince me that if I "cut him off" from the breast, he would eat better.

StacyL, thanks for the info--I'd never heard that about soy milk.

He'll get it eventually, right? (Swallowing and such. . .liking other things besides ME. . .)

Thanks ladies!

Sar

 

[Past_VNE]

I think you should be worried. Come to think of it, if he is rebuking solids now he may never stop nursing.

Yeah, see, you might have to go to his college or job with him so that he can eat when he leaves home.

sorry...it's late, I'm sleepy. That's probably not funny.

 

[PortraitPixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Past_VNE I think you should be worried. Come to think of it, if he is rebuking solids now he may never stop nursing. Yeah, see, you might have to go to his college or job with him so that he can eat when he leaves home. sorry...it's late, I'm sleepy. That's probably not funny.

My heart skipped a beat after reading your first line! I am soooooo gullable.

: Good grief.

Hey--also--what is kefir? Sounds dirty.