Starting on Cows Milk?

It is probably going to be easiest to mix milk with pumped breastmilk at first if you can do that. I didn't do this at first, and found out later that I should have. It took mine a few months before he would start accepting the cows milk. I was still nursing but had cut way back, so I just wanted him to get used to milk in a sippy. It took a while. But one day he just took it. Better to do it gradually if you can. Like 75% breastmilk to 25% cows, then after she is taking that ok, 50/50, then 25/75, then all cow.

If the transition takes a while before she willingly drinks it, giving her other dairy to cover the gap will be good. Cheeses, yogurt, broccoli, and fortified oj are a few good milk substitutes. Also, organic supposedly tastes closer to breastmilk than regular store brand, so you could try doing organic milk. And she might take it just fine.

She NEEDS whole milk until she is two. It is very important for their brain development that they have the good fats found in whole milk, unless you are careful to give other fats healthy fats regularly, the way vegans have to. No 2% until after 2. Yes, you will need to get two kinds of milk if you drink something else. And yes, they can get anemic if they have over 32 ounces a day. They should have 16-24 oz a day. Our sippies are 8 oz sippies, so I make sure he gets between 2 and 3, no more. That probably won't be an issue at first.

As far as dad goes, you will have to let him make mistakes. Don't nag at every little thing he does that isn't the same as you. But it is time for him to step up and be a dad. I'm sure he doesn't really want to change a diaper. I don't either always. But that is his job and it has to be done. Let him watch you for a few days and see how you do it. Are you able to keep in touch by phone with him if he has any questions? That will help put your mind at ease. I know this is going to be a hard transition for you, I'm sorry. I had to do it at 15 mos when my husband lost his job and I hated it. It gets better though. You are right- you are being a good parent and trying to give her the best life possible. That is most important. Good luck!

Does she take a bottle or sippy cup? If neither, I would go right to the sippy cup, and skip the bottle. You can try straight whole milk and see what she thinks. My son was fine with this, but I know that others do mixes of breastmilk to whole milk, expanding the ratio slowly to get them used to the taste. You can have the bottles premixed in the mornings to that her dad doesn't even have to think about it.

Is her dad okay with this situation? I hope so, and if so, he will just have to learn. Have him shadow you for a day, and then practice for day (he does the diaper changes, etc.) so that if he has any questions, you are there to help/teach him. It is hard to leave your child with anyone, but having a dad there should be a bit easier, but you will still have to transition. Can he call you with any questions at any time, etc.? I am assuming that this isn't your husband, since you just refer to him as her dad, so make sure that he has people he can call with questions, or for help, if you aren't available.

why cant you nurse her AND do cows milk? MANY people do this! Why would we force a human off of human milk and make them take cow meant for a calf? it would best for both of you ( especially her) if you make this a smooth transition...have her drink her cows milk of water during the day and she can nurse from you whenever you are around. Your milk supply will adjust( also the nutrients and antibodies become more concentrated so she is still getting a lot even if she is only nursing once or twice a day. Please dont traumatize your child because people in the US think that at age one the milk on your chest becomes as nutritious as water. that is just not true. But i am sure you know that! you did grow a whole baby with that milk! good luck mama and follow your instincts!!!!!

Just give it to her. Our boys had no problems. We gave them a sippy cup with whole milk and they drank it.

Congrats on surviving the first year! You should be able to ask your pediatrician this question, too. What ours told us was to start with 2-3 oz at a time to test for sensitivity. We were already using the sippy cup for breastmilk and water, so that wasn't an issue. It was suggested that we give her whole milk, but I only drink 2%, and the idea of buying 2 kinds of milk bugged me, so we just stuck with the 2% (she gets whole at daycare, whenever we're at somebody's house where they have it, and when we're out at restaurants). The only other thing I would like to add is to keep an eye on her iron intake (red meats, dark green veggies, and supplemental baby foods). At my girls' 1-year check up, she was borderline anemic and even at 15-months, she had crossed over to full anemic. She is now taking prescription iron supplements twice a day to get her iron levels up. She is not a picky eater, but I think the milk had a big part in that. She LOVES her milk and would rather drink it than anything else. That fills her up so she doesn't eat as much and it also binds a lot of the iron that she should be getting from her food.

As far as just giving the milk, if she doesn't like it cold, you can warm it up just like formula/breastmilk. Also, adding a little chocolate syrup (just a tiny bit--way less than an adult would want) will keep her interested in drinking all of it! :)

The issues with dad are a whole other thing... that's between you & him, although if he is going to be taking care of her during the day he needs to be able to step up to the responsibility. I don't know your situation, but you need to trust your instinct--if you don't think your girl will be safe or taken care of, you need to find someone else to watch her!
Good luck!

Congrats on Nursing!!

I have no advice on how to get her on cows milk, but I do want to let you know that everything will be fine with her and her dad. I know how hard it is to return to work, but you are doing the best thing for her.

I ALWAYS nursed my kids to sleep (and I'm talking at bedtime until they were each over two!) and yet, they each were able to fall asleep at daycare with no problem. I don't know how it happened, but it did. Your gorgeous girl and her dad will work things out.

Hi M..
My son just turned one on thursday and we are going through the same thing too. I nursed him for 10 months and then weaned to formula. I don't really want to give him a ton of cows milk, and after speaking with my pediatrician, we decided that we will try and offer a sippy cup of milk (about 4 oz) at mealtime and that;s it. As long as your baby is gettting at least 200 mg. of calcium , they don't have to have milk. As for the nursing, you can continue nursing morning and night when you are home, and do solids and water the other times.
Good luck and happy birthday to your daughter!

When I started to wean my girls I would giving them whole milk in a sippy just once a day. Then you can gradually increase the amount and if she really likes it you can probably switch her completely to cows milk in a week or so. As for naps when I weaned my girls I made sure I had a nap time routine like read at story while rocking in the glider then sing a song and then let her nurse. So when I stopped the nursing everything else stayed the same. She new it was nap but we just skipped the last part (the nursing) my first daughter cried for a few days and then was fine but my second daughter just took a nap no problem, no crying at all. I also got this crib toy that wonderful. It's a Fisher Price aquarium. They also make a Rainforest and land/water one. They have movable animals in it with soft lights and soothing music that will turn off on it's own after a while. Both my girls love them. I just turn it on and my daughter will stare at it until she falls asleep. Great toy!

Cow's milk is not a substitute for nursing. They know the difference and nursing a toddler is so much more than just nutrition. None of my three could stomach milk before 15 months and two of them not before 19. You don't need to substitute nursing with a bottle at this age, Daddy is going to have to step up his soothing skills! Call a local La Leche League Leader and get some support. They are wonderful and it sounds like you need some support right now. It's going to be a big change, but you'll both adapt.

Hugs