My first thread :D

You all seem to be experienced in the world of dragging up rugrats, so I thought I could ask a question...

My little one is coming up to a year old, we're told that he should be drinking at least a pint of milk a day until he's two years old. The problem is that the recommendation is cows milk, the full fat variety. Whilst he's going to be very active, the full fat part doesn't worry me, I wondered are there any alternatives? I really have a problem with cows milk, mostly unfounded but I don't think for a second it's good for us, we weren't designed to drink it and I think it probably does more harm than good.

Is there a problem just sticking with formula? Or what about goat's milk - which I think is closer to human milk? I dunno, very confused and thought I'd ask here first before trawling through google.

Or what about goat's milk - which I think is closer to human milk?

You're kidding? :ninja:

I guess I must be?

Kid...baby goat....geddit? :)

I'm sure there are very good reasons why they say you shouldn't continue with formula, whimpy. However, I know there is a soya substitute, which friends of mine use as their son is allergic to dairy. He has had it for years and is doing fine with it.

As for the amount they are supposed to have, there are no "shoulds" and "musts" when it comes to kids. My two had different things at different stages for different lengths of time because it's what they wanted/needed. My eldest had semi-skimmed from before he was a year old because I made the decision as he was a little fatso. He gave up drinking milk at all not long after that, but we compensated with dairy foods. As long as they are getting the nutrients they need, you can adapt to suit everyone.

I'll get my coat...


:D

Kid...baby goat....geddit? :)



.......... and now you've met Groucho. Isn't he magnificent?

whimpy


wtf :w00t:


It's difficult to know what to do for the best, I got out of the habit of listening to what the midwives said, as each day they had a 'new school of thought'. But it's a new stage now, he's toddling!! It's all fresh and new and scary again. :kid:

My eldest had semi-skimmed from before he was a year old because I made the decision as he was a little fatso. He gave up drinking milk at all not long after that, but we compensated with dairy foods. As long as they are getting the nutrients they need, you can adapt to suit everyone.


So what did the youngest have?

.......... and now you've met Groucho. Isn't he magnificent?


a real pearl :wallbash: :kid: :D

What is your problem with cows' milk, exactly. Is it the pasteurisation process? You know what I'd do? Google. I google everything. If bubba hasn't had cows' milk yet, are you worried about his reaction? If so, like anything else new, just try a tiny amount. I started mine with cereal. As soon as I knew they could tolerate it, I got rid of formula. It's so much cheaper, for one thing.

I never used formula whim, so I have no idea what it is made of, but isn't it cow's milk based?

All my children drank full fat milk until they were 5 years old (that was the thinking back in the olden days) and then they changed on to semi skimmed but saying that once they reached about a year old they didn't drink that much milk anyway!

So what did the youngest have?

Youngest had me for 4 months, formula, then cows' milk and he's still a milk demon. They both have semi-skimmed now though, because they don't need the fat content (9 and 12).

Google is giving me two different answers, or it did when I tried before. It says it's a no no before six months but seems about as good as the rest after that. Then others say the iron content is much lower which is also a problem as he doesn't eat meat.

Formula on the packet uses a tiny amount of skimmed milk, i googled it months ago and was reassured by something I read.

My problem with cows milk is a tad odd, i read something years ago which put me right off, it was along the lines of it messing with your insides as your body can't handle it very well, and suggested that lactose intolerance will be a case for almost everyone in a few generations. I should look that up as it sounds strange now i say it out loud...

If you do give your Soya Milk, make sure you don't let him fall asleep with the bottle in his mouth as all the added sugar in Soya Milk will rot his teeth - yes, even if his teeth haven't come through the gums yet!

The lactose intollerance thing is not as daft as it sounds. Genetically people from Northern Europe tend to be able to tolerate lactose, but peoples originating from Africa and Asia tend to be lactose intollerent. It is something to do with whether you are able to produce the correct enzymes to digest the milk in your stomach. I believe Goats milk is lactose free so you could feed him that if you wish.

Whim, I take everything midwives say with a very large pinch of salt, mainly because they all say different things. I tend to take all my advice from experienced parents, then chose whatever works for me and her.

Gigi is still mainly on formula milk but has cow's milk on cereal and lots of dairy stuff. Not sure how or when I'll make the switch, but it'll be very gradual.

Personally I think it'd be pretty tough to cut cow's milk from his diet completely, and I can't really see the point unless he actually is lactose intollerant. Why make life harder for yourself?

My son didn't like cow's milk - I dont' remember him drinking it at all after he went off formula. He did used to eat fromage frais and other stuff with calcium in though.

I remember my know it all sister-in-law getting sniffy about giving him fromage frais cos it was "full of sugar" ... well clean their teeth then! He has perfect teeth at age 11 and strong bones ... so it isn't necessary to pump loads of milk down them ... imo!