My baby girl is almost one year old (4 more weeks to go) and she is weening from breastfeeding. What should I switch her to, cow's milk and water? Our goal, since we have made it this far, is to avoid formula all together. We have already introduced water to her at 7 months old and she drinks that fine. I have also heard to limit the juice drinking - so that she is not drinking it non-stop since it can be bad for her teeth. So I am thinking perhaps cow (or soy) milk and water throughout the day - and perhaps juice with meals? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
I was just like you--- I fed my daughter breastmilk until she was one, and avoided formula. When she turned one we started giving her Oberweis or organic whole milk. My doctor suggested this because studies have shown that regular milk contains more hormones than organic and a this is a possible reason why little girls are getting their periods at earlier ages.
We didn't do juice with my first son until after he was 2. It was a good potty training incentive. He only got to drink it when he was sitting on the potty when he first started potty training. Then we were also sure that he had something in there so he COULD go. So especially since you mentioned wanting to limit sugar, I recommend that you just not do juice at all. I nursed my first until he was 12.5 months old. We did just water and breastmilk until we started cows milk at I think 11.5 months and he just had milk at meals and bedtime, so 4 times a day total. He had water otherwise. That worked well for us. Our second boy is 11 months now, also, but I just stopped nursing him completely a week and a half ago, so he's on formula. It was tougher for me to continue nursing with him, but anyway, like you said originally, I would do milk and water. Some doctors say not to do cow's milk before their 12 month doctor visit, I guess. I've also heard that it's okay to start as early as 9 months with cow's milk. I'm not really sure on that. But just thought I'd mention what worked for us. Hope it helps
I concur with the other ladies who have posted. I breastfed my daughter exclusively until she was a year old and then while weaning her started dropping breast feedings and added organic whole milk. She didn't go for the cow's milk easy at all and wouldn't go for Soy either so I ended up adding a little bit of Yo Baby organic yogurt to her milk and she would drink it. Then I slowly stopped adding it and she went to straight organic whole milk. Other than that she would have water or 100% juice diluded (80% water, 20% juice) and I avoided any foods with much sugar. I agree that it's impossible to keep them away from sugar forever, expecially when you're involved in playgroups where not every mom withholds sugar. I will say that my daughter often rejects sugar foods for much healthier alternatives on her own so hopefully keeping it away from her for as long as possible helped her establish good habits early. She's 2 years old now.
I switched my daughter to whole milk right after she turned one that she drinks with every meal and her afternoon snack. I had been giving her diluted juice (80% water and 20% juice) since she was 7 months old once a day with her morning snack. I also just recently started giving her smoothies too and she loves them! Hope this helps!
Cows milk (organic brands only) is what we gave our daughter shortly after her first birthday. We try to use organic dairy and meat products as a general rule.
As for juice, of course too much juice is bad, but if you dilute the juice from the very beginning (we do about 60% water, 40% juice), your child won't know the difference! I offered juice once a day, usually with a snack--just for some variety.
Sugar is just going happen, whether you want it or not, so my advice is just to be smart about it and use in moderation. I find it almost impossible to avoid altogether!
