[nukuspot]

I have been so sad recently. I cried about it yesterday. My 13 mo old DD is just not interested in nursing anymore. I offer it to her about 5-6 times a day (or more) and she only nurses right before her morning nap, then again right before bed. Sometimes once during the night. I think if I didn't offer it she would just stop all together. I feel so upset that she is weaning...I always envisioned nursing for a long time, I never thought she'd want to stop this soon. and now I am worried about her hydration, her nutrition, etc...As she is also quite picky with solids.<br><br>
Our ped told us to start whole cow milk. All my Sears baby books say now is the time for cow milk. All my friends are giving their babies of this age cow milk in a cup. It just seems weird to me in a way I can't really define. I haven't done it yet, I have an unopened carton of organic whole milk in the fridge and just can't bring myself to do it. But I can't really explain why, it just seems wrong to me to replace my milk with cow milk, even if the baby doesn't seem to want my milk anymore like she used to.<br><br>
So what do you all think? Cow milk? Yes or no? Why do you give or not give it to your LOs? I would love some feedback on this to help me decide.<br><br>
(Plus I do have to say that I am freaked out by pasteurized/homogenized milk in the first place...But I also don't want to give my 13 mo old raw milk either at this age so at this point it is between no milk, whole Organic Valley Cow milk, or something else...Maybe goat milk? Nut milk? Seed milk? I have no idea.)

 

[sunnysandiegan]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
I didn't give cow's milk for a long time. I gave my DD whole milk yogurt for calcium, protein, fat, and cultures/good bacteria. She drank plain water in a cup for hydration. We fed her a wide variety of steamed/mashed veggies for nutrition gradually making them firmer and small, irregular chunks for self-feeding.<br><br>
Best wishes!

 

[inky leeuhhh]

would she take pumped milk? i know at this point you may not have much of a supply, which would make it harder. if she would eat whole fat plain yogurt that would be a good option too i think.

 

[blumooned]

I have been having the exact same thoughts as you, nukuspot! Our babes are pretty much the same age. So far, DS has not had cow milk in a cup. He eats cow yogurt, cheese, ice cream (<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">), butter, etc. He has a tiny bit of cow milk on some cereal. But, I, just like you, feel very strange about replacing my milk with something else's. In my mind, if the baby no longer wants Mama's milk, maybe they don't want any milk. Plus, DP & I just don't drink milk, so it's not a habit for us.<br><br>
DS drinks water from a cup & still nurses ~2x/day & at night. He eats regular meals & snacks, too. I don't see us offering him cow milk anytime soon.<br><br>
I haven't found any resource saying it's OK not to do cow milk. If you find one, I'd love to see it! I did ask my sister, who has 2 older than my DS, & she doesn't do cow milk either - just water, occasional juice, & good food. She said they sometimes have chocolate milk.<br><br>
As for your options - do you have an organic option besides OV? I think they're ultra-pasteurized, which isn't great. Maybe a local, non-homogenized, pasteurized one? As far as nut/seed milks, I'd use them if you regularly drink them & like them. I don't really know much about giving them to kids though.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"> I'll probably cry when DS weans too! Best of luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[cristeen]

No, cow's milk is not required. Head over to the vegan forum and you'll see any number of mamas who don't give their LOs animal milk.<br><br>
However, you do need to be sure that she's ingesting sufficient protein, fat and liquid in other forms. For many moms, this is easiest accomplished with cow's milk or toddler formula. There are other options, though. Whole milk yogurt is a good one, coconut milk is another good one. Hemp or almond milk are other options some moms use instead of cow's milk, since they both contain good fats, but none of them can be relied upon solely to replace BM (even cow's milk). Many people will recommend soymilk, but personally I do not consider soy to be a nutritious food to be ingesting, so we avoid it.

 

[nukuspot]

She won't eat yogurt or most cheese...But I found that if I put a little goat kefir in the blender with strawberries and bananas (and parsley for greens) she will drink it. She will also strangely eat organic string cheese but no other cheese except goat chevre. I've tried every cheese in the co-op! She does eat lots of fats...I put flax oil and hemp seeds in her oatmeal, butter and olive oil on her foods, fry her eggs in coconut oil, etc. She's also eaten Luna and Larry's coconut Bliss ice cream, but I haven't given her canned coconut milk because I am worried about the BPA in cans. She also likes animal proteins, beef, chicken, salmon...<br><br>
As far as bluemooned asked about the milk option, as far as organic goes, OV is the only organic milk I can find in the local co-op. We have other local milks but they are either raw or not organic, and dairy is something I am really picky about organics with. The goat kefir I give her in the smoothie is not organic but it's also not homogenized and from goats so I figured no rBGH in that, right?<br><br>
We also don't eat soy (except for occasional fermented like miso or tempeh), Cristeen, so I also would not give her soy milk. I would not give her any tetra packed milk substitutes either as I am concerned about all the synthetic vitamins they add to those types of milks, but I used to make my own almond and hemp milk so I was wondering if it might be appropriate for babies?<br><br>
Aaah...I just don't know. It's nice to get these replies, though. I feel not alone.

 

[jildez]

i totally don't know what i would do in your shoes (my son is 10 mths and still addicted to the breast) but if you want a less pasteurized milk, buy the raw and do it yourself by heating raw milk to 161 degrees for fifteen secs. just make sure you are stirring the milk while you cook it (if you can use a double boiler- then it doesn't stick and is easier to clean, but if you don't just soak the pot. When its done, just cool it down fast and stick it in the fridge. (and the skin that forms on the top- yum!)<br>
I was in the peace corps and we did it ourselves and it just tastes better and i bet its healthier. Also, having seen how both locals and other vols who went local got sick from not always pasteurizing milk because they knew the cows and they cows were healthy (and so on), I think that choosing not to give your toddler raw milk is perfectly reasonable.

 

[calebsmommy25]

I don't feel cows milk is necessary. My DS is 2 and has had cows milk, but only a handful of times. He doesn't really care for it. Bummer that she doesn't like most cheese or yogurt, but even so, it sounds like you are doing great with her diet. I would def. head over to the vegan forum to check out some of their ideas.

 

[blessedwithboys]

cows milk is not necessary, neither is goat milk, horse milk, or whale milk, unless you are a calf, kid, foal, or...oh crap, whaddya call a baby whale? calf again? LOL <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
if you do choose to provide the milk of another species, goat is better than cow and if you choose cows milk, plastic gallon jugs are generally not ultra=pastuerized whereas half gallon cartons are.<br><br>
and...both of my kids went on mini nursing strikes around 9 mos and again at 18 mos. so this could either be late or early for your dd. keep offering! you'll likely get through it and your dd will go on to nurse for years. mine did, ds1 for 24 mos and ds2 for 60.

 

[Sayward]

Why not just pump and offer it in a cup?<br><br>
But to answer your question, yes it is perfectly possible to go without cows milk. I was raised omnivore but never really given milk. Vegan children are raised without cows milk and do great. There are millions of lactose intolerant children that have all excelled without dairy, and entire cultures that thrive without it.<br><br>
The idea that children *need* dairy is simply false - propaganda from an industry trying to make money. Don't let it freak you out!

 

[Rosehip]

It's the nutrients the milk provides, not the milk in and of itself that is important. My kids have never drank much cow's milk, but do eat cottage cheese w/fruit, plain yogurt w/honey and kefir, so they have other dairy for their calcium. But they also eat lots of fruits, veggies & other protein & fat sources.

 

[Brigio]

I like dairy- I enjoy it and I digest it well. My DD wasn't into milk for a long time. When I stopped pumping at 1 year I gave her a combo of hemp milk and goats milk (not raw) in her bottles. I used the Hempbliss unsweetened which does not have synthetic vitamins. She dropped the bottle at about 18 months (she started to resist and I went with it). After that she no longer drank milk... didn't like it in a cup. We do coconut milk in our smoothies (we have these almost daily) but not a sub for breast milk. Native forest coconut milk is BPA free btw. Go figure a few days ago she asked for milk and now LOVES it. I would love to do raw but it is out of our budget right now so we do whole organic local unhomgenized. If I couldn't do raw or unhomogenized I wouldn't do milk. If your DD is getting lots of fat and nutrient dense foods daily I wouldn't worry.

 

[mamadelbosque]

Before we started getting raw milk a couple yrs ago I was able to buy organic prairie whole milk milk by the gallon that was simpy pastureized vs ultra pastuerized... so check around, you may very well be able to find it somewhere. Good luck!!!

 

[InMediasRes]

I don't know what to do in your situation, but I just wanted to let you know that just because she isn't that interested now doesn't mean she is weaning. If she is newly walking, she may just be working on something else. I thought my DD was going to be done for a while there around 12mo, but at 16mo, she is completely addicted. I have to carry her around nursing her most of the day at this point.<br><br>
Take heart. It might turn around if you just keep offering. And I've given my DD some cow's milk, which she polishes off in a hurry, but not much. It sounds like you're doing great with her diet otherwise.

 

[babywearer_anon]

Lots of great info on this thread.<br>
My dd is just shy of 12 months and still bfing a lot, but I would be so so so sad if she stopped now! I too envision nursing her as a toddler. I hope its just a phase and that your little one gets back into it!<br>
Also pleased to see that people are into the Hempbliss hemp milk. I live in Manitoba where this comes from!! They just changed their formula fyi and it is now fortified with vitamins and minerals. I don't know if this is the best, as I liked the natural version without the synthetic stuff. Possibly they still offer a natural version, I am not sure.<br>
One more thing -- I didn't know that you could pasteurize your own milk! That's so cool! Would love to try that sometime, thanks jildez.

 

[Mama2Kayla]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>jildez</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15413217"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">i totally don't know what i would do in your shoes (my son is 10 mths and still addicted to the breast) but if you want a less pasteurized milk, buy the raw and do it yourself by heating raw milk to 161 degrees for fifteen secs. just make sure you are stirring the milk while you cook it (if you can use a double boiler- then it doesn't stick and is easier to clean, but if you don't just soak the pot. When its done, just cool it down fast and stick it in the fridge. (and the skin that forms on the top- yum!)<br>
I was in the peace corps and we did it ourselves and it just tastes better and i bet its healthier. Also, having seen how both locals and other vols who went local got sick from not always pasteurizing milk because they knew the cows and they cows were healthy (and so on), I think that choosing not to give your toddler raw milk is perfectly reasonable.</div>
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I think this would be the best option if you are going with cows milk. I have no problem giving my kids raw milk, but if I wasn't sure, I would just past. it myself. Way better than the ultra.pasteurized stuff, IMO that should be avoided.<br>
But I wouldn't give up on nursing all together yet. I think bf a few times a day with added solid foods is fine for this age. Both my babies have gone thru spurts of nursing less, then switching back to nursing more frequently.

 

[patrickq]

Just wanted to say I'm hugely elated to read so many comments saying that cow's milk is not a good/necessary route to take <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/joy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="joy"><br><br>
I hope your little one is breastfeeding more now, our son is approaching 2 years old and still breastfeeds frequently, there have been moments of seeming to be less interested, so I know how sad that can be for Mama and even for me! I think that lack of interest could be due to a lot of things ... teething (even if not yet visible), emotional events in family or for baby, what she is eating as solids this could effect her response to milk (there doesn't seem to be much that you listed in the way of fruit, which needs to be the majority of her solid food) ... these are just my thoughts and feelings, not based on empirical evidence anywhere.<br><br>
The suggestion to express and give her milk that way is good, as it means your milk production volume will continue until such time as she decides to return to the breast for more frequent feeds.

 

[Astrea]

I'm following this thread with interest. I don't want to get in the habit of giving my daughter cow's milk too much--I don't think it's particularly healthy for her or for the environment, and DH and I don't really drink it ourselves. She really likes it, though! She's a very opinionated eater, though <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> so I do worry about her getting enough nutrients if I don't give her milk.

 

[patrickq]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BLB</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15427504"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I... I do worry about her getting enough nutrients if I don't give her milk.</div>
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This is where the dairy and meat industries win big time, make parents fearful that they aren't giving their children sufficient nutrition, be that calcium, protein or whatever and that the safe answer is to give them milk or meat!<br><br>
It's strange, because these are the worst things that one can give one's kids, not least because of the growth hormones that are fed to the livestock, which then find their way into children ... ever wonder why children and adults are getting bigger/taller and developing, reaching puberty etc earlier and earlier?<br><br>
The calcium in milk and the protein in meat are in the least desirable form for the human body - in fact milk possibly/probably depletes our bodies calcium. It is all so far from the truth of what is a healthy diet that it's hard to know where to begin. Fruit needs to be the highest volume food, for kids and adults, yet it's usually seen as the token gesture at the end of a meal.<br><br>
So many of the kids at the playgroup our son goes to have bouts of heavy snotty noses, while he only has clear light fluid if ever. Dairy is the biggest culprit in causing mucus discharge, doesn't matter whether it's milk or supposedly 'healthy' yoghourt/yogurt.<br><br>
I must stop <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">

 

[cristeen]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>patrickq</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15428267"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">It's strange, because these are the worst things that one can give one's kids, not least because of the growth hormones that are fed to the livestock, which then find their way into children ... ever wonder why children and adults are getting bigger/taller and developing, reaching puberty etc earlier and earlier?<br><br>
Fruit needs to be the highest volume food, for kids and adults, yet it's usually seen as the token gesture at the end of a meal.</div>
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There's a reason that the women on this board support and suggest eating only grass-fed/pastured animals/animal products. Animals that are not fed an unnatural diet of soy/corn and pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormone.<br><br>
And as for the fruit... that is a gross generalization. Other than possibly the generalization that most Americans eat too much processed food, generalizations don't really work. If I were to base my diet on fruit, I would be constantly eating, having sever mood swings from mania to lethargy and I would be gaining weight left and right. Not every diet works for every person. If a fruit based diet works for you, great. That doesn't mean that it'd work for everyone.