Growing up milk vs cows milk?

Question

My baby was breastfeed until 9 1/2 months, and at 11 months Im still a bit unsure about all the milks available and what is best for my baby. At 12 months I was planning on putting my baby girl on cows milk, but after seeing some of the formula ads im wondering whether im suppose to continue her on "growing...

Answer 1

My son is almost 14 months and we've chosen to keep him on formula. We use HIPP Organic formula 6 months+. He has 1 or 2 9oz bottles of formula per day.

As far as I can see, no one actually recommends switching to cow's milk. Doctors/pediatricians/health visitors etc just say "you can if you like".

Our reasons for sticking with formula are:

- I can't find a health benefit or any other reason to switch (other than saving money).

- Cow's milk is very low in iron, the iron it contains is not well-absorbed and cow's milk also causes slight intestinal bleeding... over time, it can cause anemia. As formula contains plenty of iron, it's unlikely to cause anemia!

- Since his first birthday, my son has become a very picky eater. When I say picky, I mean he will generally eat little to nothing between waking up and 5pm! I feel he's better off having 9oz of formula at breakfast time than 9oz of cow's milk... especially as he won't eat/will only drink at that time.

- When we're done with formula (hopefully by his 2nd birthday), I don't think cow's milk as a regular thing is healthy. It contains all sorts of nasty things (e.g. dairy cows are given hormones to increase there milk supply x 10) and there are plenty of other calcium rich foods out there that he can eat without many of the health risks that come with cow's milk.

If my son wasn't born with a tongue tie, I would have breastfeed until he self-weaned. Humans are the only mammals to drink milk beyond infancy... I wouldn't have given him cow's milk at all.

As for full fat vs semi-skimmed: Babies/toddlers need fats for brain/nerve development, which is why full fat is supposedly better for them. Semi skimmed milk contains chemical whitener so it depends how you feel about your child drinking that on a daily basis... then again, people argue if their child eats cheese/yogurt regularly they don't need to have full fat milk and can have semi skimmed.

It's your decision what you do... some people say growing up milk is a money making scheme, but I know I'd prefer to give my son that over standard cow's milk. As I said, we use the HIPP Organic 6m+ formula, which is not only organic, but is the cheapest on the shelf! It works out cheaper than the HIPP Organic 12m+ too... go figure.

Answer 2

Simple, Soy is a great food, Soy milk is one way to obtain it and replace Cow Milk. Cow milk is for calfs, would you drink rat milk? Cow milk is formulated to make a calf grow as a cow. I'm sure you don't want that. There are many milk substitutes. Not only soy. You should read the nutrition information on a Cow milk carton and compare it to the Milk substitutes where you buy groceries. Look for a substitute that contains Calcium (25 o 33%) and Vitamin D. You will really notice the difference when you do the switch. I'm being a bit of a hipocrite since I still use cow milk in my diet, I just want to make a point. However I have reduced its use and I have definitely seen a marked improvement in my sinus/allergy problems.

Answer 3

My son had full fat cows milk from a year old, and moved on to semi-skimmed when he was about 2 and a half. The do need full fat dairy products at this age, but as long as your child is eating a healthy mixed diet there is no huge advantage to those growing up milks.

Answer 4

Cows milk has almost all the necessary vitamins for a child. You do not need to buy anymore formula type stuff anymore. You are supposed to continue with whole fat milk until the second year and then switch to low fat.

Answer 5

My health visitor advised that at the age of 12 months babies should change to full fat cows' milk and drink about a pint a day. It's to be full fat as you shouldn't give children any low or reduced fat products.

Formula is usually too rich once the baby is eating good meals, and I certainly found it gave my daughter diarrhoea once she was eating well. She's 12 months old and now on cows' milk and it's great!

Answer 6

The toddler formulas are a marketing gimmick, they don't offer any advantage over cow's milk and a balanced diet of solids.
Full-fat milk isn't necessary, as long as your daughter is getting healthy fats from other sources then she can have a low fat milk with no problem.

Regarding the low-fat milk: http://www.allkids.org/body.cfm?id=412&a...

Answer 7

Cows milk doesnt contain enough iron you should use a follow on milk until baby is 21/2

Answer 8

Babies need the fat content of homogenized milk. They still require a lot of fats in their diet in order to be healthy and continue to grow. They should be on whole milk until age 2 and then they can drink whatever the parents drink.

Answer 9

I used full fat cows milk with my two children around 12 months. I didnt use formula...follow on milk etc, its not that great and there is a reason its being advertised on tv, to make people think..oooo maybe thats better.

Ask your health visitor or gp if confused etc

Answer 10

I've always heard you should use formula until 12 months. My son is only 4 so I'm not at that point yet, but if I was, I would talk to my son's pediatrician about it before making that decision.