Cows milk

[*Chels*]

My CHN has told me I can give Rileys cows milk.Of course like most advice from CHNs,I just shrug it off.
Does any other breastfeeders give their babies cows milk?
I find it odd to give Riley milk from a cow when he could just have my fantastic milk instead:confused:

[becca74]

Was your CHN saying you can give him cows milk because she (in her wierd imagination) thinks he needs it, or was she saying it because she was just reassuring you that if you wanted to give it to him at his age, it shouldnt harm him?

when my DS2 self-weaned :crying: at 10 months, I was in a real quandry about what to subtitute......I was told cows milk should be fine, as he wouldnt drink formula - at the end of the day, the boy just wanted water from a cup - and to this day, water is his prefered beverage (he never liked cows milk either).
He would, however, eat cheese and yoghurt - and being from cows, I was reassured by the CHN that this was all safe. I did, however, express breastmilk (whilst it lasted) onto porridge in the morning, as I just couldnt bare the thought that he didnt want my milk anymore.....

[Mum&bubs]

Summer has cows milk & breastmilk (but shes a bit older-17months) she has 2 bottles of cows milk at night plus breastmilk and maybe 1 bottle during the day. I use the cows milk to give myself a break when my boobs are empty but she wants to keep feeding :eek:

[stilldreaming]

I was always told cows milk is fine from 12 months??

[*Chels*]

I wouldnt give it to him until 12 months.
I guess what I meant was giving him cows milk as a supplement.Like it just seems weird to give him milk from an animal when he can drink from me!?
Breast milk would be way more nutrious than cows milk right?

[the_queen]

Cows milk is perfect - for baby cows ;)

Follow your instinct Chels, you are a fantastic mother and you are exactly right about this issue. Cows milk is actually harder to digest than human milk - which makes sense, because baby cows have 4 stomachs:D

[RedPanda]

Cows milk is actually harder to digest than human milk - which makes sense, because baby cows have 4 stomachs:D

:eek: Four stomachs?! Wow.... that is my new something that I have learned today!

[zenifa]

I work part time (2.5 days/week) and since my DD turned one (nearly a month ago) I have been giving her cows milk more and more instead of EBM, but when I am with her I always give her breastmilk. She has milk on her cereal occasionally, cheese but not yoghurt. I give my DD breastmilk whenever she wants it, but if I'm not there I'd rather she had cows milk than formula, its just my choice. Its up to you.

[lovemybub]

I think the recommendation from WHO (World Health Organisation) is that babies shouldn't be given cows milk as a drink until they are 12 months old, but that a little bit on cereal is okay.

My DD (10 months) still has three good breast feeds a day, but I mix her baby porridge in the morning with half cows milk and half boiling water, primarily because I don't have that much of an excess milk supply any more, but also because if I started expressing a little bit, then a get a let down and, well, there's no stopping it then :p