Nutrition Advice

You're the mom, so you do what's best, but I do have to say that I've had plenty of friends and family do the same thing, and they (the babies) were much happier after the switch. Whatever you think is best, goes.

My favorite book about kids and feeding and nutrition is called Child of Mine:Feeding with Love and Good Sense. The author is Ellyn Satter. She is a pediatric nutritionist and I have referred to this book for so many things. I would highly recommend it.

I have never heard of anyone let alone a DR, recommending giving a baby whole milk before 1 years of age. I have a lot of milk allergies in my family so even after a year I started my children out slow with the Derry before giving them milk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what the DR said, don’t do it, or get another DRs opinion.

If you're not sure I'd stay like you are now but the doctor should have a good feel for the health of your chold. If they think that he is doing fine on table food, and I assume there are vitamins and such as well, I'd give it a try and see how you both feel about it. If it doesn't feel right I'd go back but if he does well maybe it is time to switch.

I wouldn't stop formula before 12 months. Babies under one year should continue getting breastmilk or formula for the unique nutrients and fats they provide for brain development...not because you want them to put on a certain amount of weight.

We have been given "out of date" information from some of the medical professionals we have taken our son to...especially when the doctors were older or subscribed to the older school of thought. We have chosen to go with more "conventional wisdom" from the doctors we've seen that keep up with current research and such. There has been a ton of research as to the benefits of infants (under 1 yr) staying on breastmilk or formula and then switching to whole milk for the second year of life for brain development. If it is something as simple as staying on formula for a couple of more months, why gamble?

Hi
I worked as a nutrition counselor for the WIC program for 10 years, and we never recommended weaning from formula until close to the first birthday. 24oz a day, and it can be in cereal, in a tippy cup, or mixed with other foods like mashed potatoes, etc. The calories are just as important at this time since he is still growing so quickly as well as the nutrition content. Hope this helps!
R. O.
Gooding

T.~

Back in the day all kids were fed straight whole milk. Having your son move to whole milk at 10 months is no problem. the only reason drs don't want us giving our babies whole milk right away is to prevent lactose intolerance or allergies.

I ahve been giving my baby milk for a month and she's 6 and a hlf months old. She's doing fine,

Plus, I don't believe your doctor would be steering you the wrong way. Your son is probably getting enough milk products in the table food that the dr isn't worried about allergies.

Mom did it with me and I'm fine. Just think old school, your mom may have had milksaright from the cow and she survived just fine.

i have had two very healthy over 20 lb girls and ask if i could do whole milk and was afdvised not til close to 12 mo due to milk alegeries i thinki switched them both around their bdays

I would be concered about switching to cow's milk to soon or at all. Be sure to do your research cow's milk is not as good for you as we all think...my daughter was getting back to back ear infections starting at 1 when we went to cow's milk. She is currently on goats milk and my 2 yo is on rice milk. Both of there congestion has improved immensly and my daughter hadn't had an ear infection for almost 2 months...she just had one but are believing it to be seasonal allergy reaction. In the top 5 for food allergies is Cow's Milk #1, Soy #3, Wheat #4 and I believe peanuts are #2....

I have asked my doctor this exact question and he said there is no magical date. 12 months seemed like a good round number to suggest to most moms and so that is what they set it at. If I were you I would slowly transfer to whole milk. (1 to 2 ounces of whole milk in an 8 ounce formula bottle and then up it an ounce or 2 a week.) My kids all got constipated when we switched from formula to whole milk and my doctor said to put a teaspoon of dark karo syrup in each bottle for a while and this did the trick beautifully.

I am glad to hear your son is thriving and happy. I love to hear about healthy babies. Gook luck.

At about nine months I started mixing formula and whole milk together and steadily increased the amount of whole milk until it was just whole milk. If you don't feel comfortable changing all at once, do it a little at a time.

I would try it I was actually able with all 3 of my kids to have them on whole milk by the time they were 9 months old. And they are now a healthy 18yb, 16yg, and a 8yb. To make it easier keep a small can of the formula on hand until you see how the baby reacts to having milk. You just may see an increase in appetite which is what I experienced.

I have several nieces who started whole milk at 10 months - they all seem to be fine.

My friend switched her son over to milk at 10 months because she couldn't afford the formula at the time and the child is fine. He is very bright and active. My niece got a hold of whole milk when she was about 9 months old and will not go back to formula. They are fine. I hope this helps and gl

T.,

My oldest was 10 months old when I took her bottle away and switched her to milk. She weighed quite a bit and my doctor told me she was big enough to switch also. I did and it was great. It was so nice to have the bottle gone and be done with buying forumla. She had no problems or issues. My youngest just urned one yesterday and I also took his bottle away and switched him to milk about 3 weeks ago and he's been great. I don't think ti will hurt your son to switch him now.

Hi T.,
I know tons of people who have done this and pediatricians who have recommended it.
You have to do what YOU are comfortable with. It's just a few weeks to pay more for formula so if it causes you any concern at all to go to milk than wait!
It might be easier to wait so he can quickly switch to a sippy cup at 12 months, which is definitely important. Whole milk is sweeter than formula, which will make the cup more appealing!

I have heard several people say that it is not necessary to wait until one year to use whole milk, including my sister whose husband is a doctor. I would make a gradual shift to be sure he does okay with whole milk (maybe mix 1/4 whole milk to 3/4 formula first day or two, 1/2 and 1/2 the second day or tow, and 3/4 to 1/4 the next day or two, then all whole milk. If there aren't any digestive issues, it seems that will be a great way to save a lot of money. Good luck.

I switched my daughter at 10 1/2 months. She had an ear infection and when we went to the pediatrician she told us to switch too. She weighed 20 pounds at that time. She's a year now and weighs 22 pounds so I think she's doing fine. She's been eating table food only since 9 months too other than cereal every morning for the iron she misses from the formuna, but she' doing really well. I was nervous too, but making the switch was very uneventful for us. I've heard that some babies have a hard time with whole milk, but luckily we didn't...believe me we have other issues to deal with so we'll take whatever we can get. Good luck!

My youngest two are only 15 months apart and the older one was NOT interested in Breastfeeding after 9 months old. I'm a firm believer in the 'at least a year rule', so we tried, but he was not having any. He ate table food well, and his pediatrician said sometimes it just works out that way. I'm just here to say, sometimes Babies don't get a full year. Make sure he gets a balanced diet. Iron can be found in many leafy greens, and in beans. Ask your Dr which vitamins you can give him. Hunter loved being a big boy at the table, and he's 7 now, and still has a healthy outlook on food ( They both LOVE their vegetables!). As for cow's milk, it is for Baby Cows, but most kids love it, and it does have nutritional value, and Fat. If you can get your children used to healthier alternatives while they're young, that's a huge advantage. Much Blessings.

I know you have a lot of responses and someone may have already talked about this, but from what I've read, their little bodies aren't quite able to handle the proteins that milk has to be able to break it down. Although, every baby is different. If your Doc said it was okay you could try it for a day or two and just see how your little one reacts and if they have any tummy trouble with it. You read things about not starting your child on cereal until 4 months and often times not until 6 months, but I started my little guy on cereal a little bit before 4 months and it made things SO much better for him. So you just need to do what you think is right. There's no harm in waiting either if you're more comfortable with that. Good luck!

My friends doctor told her that you switch to cows milk at 9 months. and her kids are just fine. do whatever feels right to you!

That's interresting advice as I've always been told (with our three children) to not go to whole milk until they are 12 months old. I think I have switched over at just before 12 months, but our kids have all had dairy allergies and so we've only switched over to soy milk. I would ask another doctor and see what they say. I had not heard of doing it that early before. Better safe than sorry. :) Good luck!!

My son was I believe 10.5 months old and the Dr. said he wasn't gaining enough, and that he was close enough to being a year old, so that we could start him on whole milk.... so we did! It was hard because I was nursing & having complications with that, and he didn't like the taste of the whole milk, but after 1-2 days of feeding milk to him through a medicine dropper, he would take it out of a sippy cup. (I skipped bottles so i wouldn't have to deal with that transformation. :) )

Hi T.,
Have you considered soy milk at all? It's packed with vitamins and nutrients(more so than whole milk) and it's formulated for people... not cows. Don't get me wrong I'm a 2% er for life, but my daughter of 4 prefers soy. Many formulas are soy based. and soy mild is easier to digest than cows milk.

I have always heard that you should wait until 12 months. They say it is okay to do cheese and yogurt a little earlier (10 or 11 mos) because the cultures make it easier to digest.

I recommend keeping your child on formula. It's packed with so much nutrition and the DHA/ARA stuff that their eyes and brains need. When my daughter was around 10 months old, I switched her to the step 2 type of formula, and it's much cheaper than infant formula. We found the Target store brand in the huge containers to be a lot cheaper than the name brands. I compared the label to the Enfamil second stage formula, and they are almost exact.

After a year, I mixed half and half formula and milk. This made the transition very smooth.

As your son's mommy, go with your gut instinct.
Best of luck to you!

I always thought the magic number was 12 months. You would think a doctor would know best. Is he a pediatrician? If you are unsure, ask a dietician.

I wanted to have my daughter weaned from breastfeeding by the time she was 1 so once she was 10 months old I started giving her whole milk. I really wanted to take it slow so i just gave her a sippy for a snack then with lunch and so on. So it might not be a bad idea to just start introducing him to milk. It's doesn't mean you have to stop formula all together right now but by the time he is 1 you could have him weaned. But really it's up to you. If you don't fee comfortable starting milk yet than just wait.

HI T.,

My daughter was 9 months old when my Dr. told me to switch her to whole milk and I was just like you nervous that she wouldn't get the right nutrients and vitamins she needed to be strong and healthy. My Dr reassured me that as long as she was getting fruits and vegies along with the other things she would be absolutly fine. The only worry is allergies, but he told me that if she had been having other dairy foods and was able to tollerate them, I had nothing to worry about. I have complete trust in my childrens Dr., I don't feel he would tell me to do this if it would be harmful to her health or development. He prescribed her a liquid multi vitamin with flouride. It's very cheap she loves the taste and takes it wonderfully. I think this was just to ease my mind but. Maybe that is something you could ask your Dr about. We haven't had any problems honestly I'm greatful my Dr. recommended this it saves a TON of money and it is just so much easier. He told me that whole milk has everything they need at this stage. So just from experience with both of my kids I have a 2 year old an 11 month old they both switched to whole milk at 9 months. I didn't even hesitate with my second I actually brought it up to the Doc at her 9 month apt. They are both very healthy and very smart. Hope this helps ease your mind a little, but still I say do whatever feels best to you. Good Luck

Your son is plenty old enough for milk. Just take it slow so you can watch for an allergic reaction. He seems to be at a good weight. I did the same with my second child. He was eating real food by the time he was six months and never had a problem. He was put on whole milk at ten and a half months. He's healthy and the right weight for his age. It didn't hurt him. Good luck!!!

Hi T.,

This may not be the info you're looking for, but I have recently learned about RAW cow's milk versus pasteurized and it has MANY MANY benefits - all the enzymes are still alive and the proteins and minerals including calcium are much more available for absorbtion by our bodies. I would not hesitate to give a 10 month old raw cows milk, but I would strongly recommend doing the research about milk... Even people with severe lactose intolerance can drink raw cow's milk with no digestive upset! www.realmilk.com

Both of my kids got milk at around 9 to 10 months and quit breastfeeding. They have been fine. I think part is each kid, but just watch him, and if he starts getting hives put him back on formula and inform the doctor. (This usually means they are allergic-but it is a very slim chance)

I have never heard of this before. The main reasons for not giving children milk under a year are because there is not enough iron in cow's milk. You are running the risk of you son becoming iron deficient. I don't think his weight has anything to do with his iron. Also, there are digestion issues with cow's milk being to much for an infant to digest. Also, if there is any history of allergies with you family, including asthma, eczema, you should wait. You can introduce cheese and yogurt between 9-12 months. I would do this first, in the regular three day trial, before I would even think of giving him milk anyway. Just to make sure he doesn't have any reaction. Every child is different, so sure some have done a switch earlier then 12 months and didn't have a problem. Maybe not that they noticed at first. Maybe when they go to school. Maybe not at all. But, what if he is the one that does develope a problem. Iron deficientcy can cause developmental delays, severe anemia can lead to heart murmurs, or even needing a blood transfusion.

Just quick example, one of my babies was preemie, 34 wks, 8.14 lbs. He was taken to the NICU. The nurse brought him back saying because of his birth weight, he would be fine. OB disagreed and walked him back to NICU. He ended up staying in the hospital for 2 wks. Again, baby #6, preemie, 34 wks. 6.12 lbs, exact same thing, brought back from NICU. He went into respitory distress five minuets later. Stayed in hospital of month on machine! Just because your son is close to 20 lbs, it doesn't mean that he does not need the required nutrition of an infant.

If this is your regular Ped. I would call him back and get more information behind his decision. Ask him about development and how iron is stored. Ask him if he should be on an iron supplement. If this is not your regular dr., I would get another opinion. Good Luck!

My oldest son threw down his bottle at 10 months and wouldn't touch a bottle ever again. He went as far as to try to take other babies bottles away and tell them "NO!!!". He wouldn't drink milk of any kind including flavored milk. He wouldn't eat ice cream, yogart or anyother milk product except cheese. He is now 8 and doing great. He is a big muscled child, not fat at all, but extremely healthy. My youngest who is almost 14 months hates milk as well. She will not drink milk unless she is dying of thirst and even then it is just a sip. She doen't like juice or anything except Propel water. She loves cheese and it seems to agree with her as well. She is also a very big, not fat, child who is on the more muscled side of the scale. I know that it doesn't hurt them not to drink milk as long as they are getting enough dairy(cheese will do or yogart) and that they are getting enough fat. The reason for the whole milk is the high fat content, vitiamin D, and dairy. Your child is very much old enough for the whole milk, but if for some reason you or your child doesn't feel comfortable with the switch then don't do it until you are. Doctors are great but all children work on their own time frame to some degree and you will know what is best for your child given you have all the information. If you aren't ready than don't rush it. I have kept three out of four of my children on formula until they were one year old. On their birthday I would buy them sippy cups and start filling them with whole milk. I would tell them they were big kids who no longer needed a bottle. It has worked like a dream with all of them. Good Luck!!!

My baby is 11 months and at his 10 month appt he said not to start milk until 12 months. I don't use formula, I am still breastfeeding and then I'll move him over to milk out of a sippy cup. 1 out of 4 of my kids all did this the 3rd one had to use a bottle because my milk dried up. But my Dr. has always said to wait until 1 yr. for whole milk.

I think it is fine if your Dr approves it and your son is eating well balanced meals. Formula for babies goes up to a year as most babies at that age are still not up for eating three healthy meals a day and all that. I would say if you are not comfortable there is nothing wrong with continuing to give it to him a few times a day. It is a good time too to start him on milk so he adapts to the flavor change.
It is mainly about nutrition. I stopped both of my kids at a year mark as they were both eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all on their own. My son was a grown up food lover and hated baby food so he was off formula a tad before the year mark and he was fine.

Personally I stay away from cow's milk. It is hard to digest and I notice my 3 year old has better breath (a sign of a healthy digestive system) when he doesn't drink any. I nursed him until he was almost two, and now we try to maintain a milk-free diet, though I admit he loves it! We also have had no trouble with ear infections and he gets sick less than most children.

A friend of mine adopted a sick little newborn and fed him on raw goat's milk with fresh celery and carrot juice at the advice of her doctor. Her son's health improved drastically.

My husband says scientists who studied at Yale who are not paid by the government advocate strongly against milk, and I can't even count how many times I've heard my MIL say it is formulated for baby cows, not children. I get tired of hearing it, but I agree. My kids have less goopy eyes, less runny noses, and they don't seem to be lacking anything for it.

You can also switch him to the follow up formula called the next step. we have been using it now for a little over a month since our son turned one. He drinks regular milk also and eats food but the next step still has a lot of what the formula provided for him and makes us feel better that his nutritional needs are being met.

T.,
My husband and I have always gone by the doctors advice. We didn't start her on milk until the doctor told us to and same for baby food. My mom told me that I was on milk at 9 months and that it was ok to put my daughter on it. But like I said I waited til my doctor said it was ok. So if your doctor says your son is ready then most likely he is right. Doctors should know what they're talking about. heh.
A.

I have never heard of a doctor wanting to switch from formula to whole milk until atleast a year. There are still a lot of nutrients that they get from formula, which is still a large part of their intake at 9 months and actually they can even stay on formula past a year. My son is lactose intolerant and still on formula per the doctor and he's 15 months old. I wouldn't switch if I were you, but thta's entirelt your decision. If something in your head doesn't agree with it or you just aren't 100% about switching him over, don't. Trust your instinct. Everytime I didn't I have regreted it with all three of my children.