My 12 month old is a pretty good eater. She still nurses 6-7 times in a 24 hour period. She is happy and healthy as far as I can tell. I give her water to drink during snacks and meals. Should she be drinking milk instead? She eats yoghurt and cheese on a daily basis.
Yes, it's time to switch over to regular milk. From my understanding, they get no more nutritional value from breast milk after 9 months old.
Usually I don't contradict people on this board, but no known health benefits of breastmilk after 9 months? Completely false. I just asked the same question of my doctor two weeks ago, after reading about the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least two (American Pediatrics Association says at least one). She said the longer you breastfeed, the more immunities you give the baby and the more likely you are to reduce the chance and severity of allergies. It seems to me like there are so many people who are lactose intolerant now, maybe it's best to hold off. American consumes much more milk than other countries. My daughter is 13 months and I'm going to hold off a few more months--she eats yogurt and cheese too, and drinks water from the sippie cup. After looking on the Le Leche League website, I've decided breastmilk is much better than milk, so long as I can and decide to supply it to her. Hang in there!
A doctor I trust recommends waiting until a child is 18-24 months before introducing milk. It makes it much less likely that they will develop an allergy. If your baby is still breastfeeding, she is getting what she needs from that. (Yes, even after 9 months). None of my girls are big milk drinkers (maybe 6-8 oz. a day), but they eat yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and sometimes have a gummi bear calcium supplement. I always nurse my babies until at least 18 months so I don't worry about giving them milk until after they wean. When my oldest was a baby, we discovered she had a milk allergy/sensitivity, and now at 9 she still doesn't drink cow milk.
Keep doing what you're doing. I'm sure your daughter is healthier than most!
The longer you can keep your daughter away from cows milk, the healthier she will be in the long run. I highly recommend you google the dangers of cows milk.
She's getting natures most perfect source of nutrition from the most appropriate source -- YOU!!!!
I flat refused cows milk as child -- still won't drink it (eeyech! the idea makes me shudder). And I've been MORE healthy in my life than my peers who chugged gallons of it it a week. The best thing you can do for your daughter is get her in the habit of drinking WATER!!
Blessings,
M.
As long as she is getting enough milk from nursing. At that age they need the most calcium they can get along with protein.
I wouldn't worry a whole lot about milk until your are done nursing. I had one doctor tell me that whole milk is especially important between the ages of 1-3 because the fat is important to brain development.
You are doing everything just right. Kids, adults, people, don't really need milk. It is great that you are still nursing her and that is the best milk she can have. Water is all she needs besides that and as long as she has a good varied diet there is no need for additional supplements or cows milk.
You know I thought the same about my kids who are three and six, they love cheese and yogurt, they are big water drinkers, only get juice with breakfast and eat healthy. They like milk but would choose water to drink instead with meals. My Pediatrician though said they need at least two to three glasses a day. She told me that cheese and yogurt were great but not a good substitute. I was told that the calcium and vitamin D in milk is so essential for healthy bones and teeth, not to mention growing bodies.
If she is nursing, ask what your Pediatrician thinks. All Dr's think differently. It cannot hurt to get her used to the taste a bit at a time so when you stop nursing then she will no freak out. The longer you postpone change the harder it will become later.
I know a lot of advocates against milk however I can say at 43 I just did a bone density test and it came back awesome! I have only had two cavities when I was a teen, never a broken bone and have always loved milk. My kids thankfully love it and I serve it with lunch and dinner now and try to make sure they are getting what they need.
Your the mom, just follow your intuition and you'll do just fine. I personally wouldn't keep her away from milk completely but just give her lots of healthy options. My son doesn't eat a totally balanced meal every time but because I give him choices that are healthy I know that he'll do alright and I've noticed that if he eats mostly all carbs or protein one meal that he'll eat his veggies or fruit really well on another. Let them listen to their bodies, that'll be their best asset in the long run. Your body naturally wants to be healthy so the better tuned in to it that you are the more healthy you'll be and the same applies to kids when healthy choices are offered.
That's my advice anyway, but you need to do what you feel is best and not worry too much about what others think you should be doing.
Since you are still BF I don't think your DD needs milk....yet. I would just put some in a cup with meals so she gets used to the taste, but I wouldn't worry about how much she is drinking, you are still providing everything she needs, but in the future she will need the fats that come from milk to help with brain and bone growth, supplements are good but milk is a better source.
As long as she is healthy and happy, and you are comfortable with nursing, I would recommend you continue. Some children have problems with regular milk. To nurse up to 2 or 3 is not unusual and breast milk is the best for your child.
I found with my two kids it was easier to wean if they were already drinking milk. That doesn't mean you dd needs it now, just before you wean. It doesn't hurt to let her have a bit every now and then to acquire a taste. It doesn't even mean it has to be cows milk, just whatever milk you decide is best for your family. We started with both our kids with goat's milk since it is closer to breast milk. GL on whatever you decide.
You can also try the next step formula. We use it with our one year old as I think that he still needs more than what just milk can give to him. During the day I mix it with regular milk and at night full strength. It has the DHA and ARA that babies get from breastmilk and formula.
If she is still nursing and eating yogurt and cheese she should be fine. My children, no longer babies, had a hard time changing from breast milk to regular white milk. Some of my children had a harder time than others. We tried options such as flavored milk but there is the sugar issue. We also tried adding milk to other things for a while such as cooking oatmeal in milk rather than water, and using powdered milk as additives in homemade foods such as bread and meat loaf. Good luck.
I nursed my daughter until she was 12 months but for a snack i did start to give her a sippy cup of whole milk at about 10 months. I just think it was a very easy transition when i started to wean because she was already used to cows milk. But you nurse your baby until you and her are ready to stop. So if you are thinking of stopping soon i would start to introduce her to cows milk. Some kids don't like it at first but just offer it to her with her snack and if she doesn't like it right now it's no big deal because she is still nursing.
