Cow's Milk for Girls

I would definitely change to organic milk, and organic food products overall. Actually, my entire family is slowly making the switch to full organic. There are hormones in cows's milk that's been linked to breast cancer and abnormal hormonal development in lab animals. Additionally, the milking process for cows can be incredibly cruel, with cows forced to be milked constantly, even if they are breeding infections, like mastitis. Organic products not only are hormone free, but many of them (not all, however, read the label!) use humane processes, and that results in a healthier product.

I have read in several places, that if can afford to change one thing it should be to organic milk- for both boys and girls...

I agree with what's been said. Organic milk is best.
Anything labeled Organic cannot contain antibiotics or hormones or pesticides. And to be certified organic by the FDA or USDA (not sure which agency grants certification) 95% or more of all ingediants have to be organic.
However I try (when it's doable) to do Organic and Grass fed milk and meat. A "vegetarian diet" is not enough. The Corn feed that these animals are being given is not what god intended their bellies to digest. Most stock animals were intended to eat grass and an animal on a plant diet produces meat, milk and eggs that are higher in nutrients and omega-3's. Think about it, if you are what you eat, and veggies are best, don't you want your meat eating veggies? Corn doesn't really count because although we call it a vegetable it's biological compounds are closer to starch and there is actually very little in the way of nutrition in there.
You won't get sick from eating non organic milk, but I have found that there are some great options out there now. If you live in New York, Fairway Grocery Stres have a store brand of Organic Grass Fed milk that is low cost and produced in Pennsylvania. I like this better than some of the big-company organic varieties that are trucked in from California or Wisconsin. At several of the Farmer's Markets in NYC ther is a company called Milk Thistle which is produced in Ghent, NY that is the BEST milk I have ever tasted. It is pricey, like $14 a gallon pricey, but if you put a value on good food and you don't waste it, it can be a true source of joy. I don't know about you, but I love good dairy.
Good Luck!!

I have always heard that also.
My daughter is going to be 13 in January. She drinks lots of milk and eats lots of ice cream. She has just started to develop a little bit and hasn't gotten her period yet.
There is hormones in everything even the meat we eat.
Go figure I was 10.

Good Luck,
J.

My pediatrician insists on organic milk. It is much more healthy, and actually tastes better than regular milk, which will encourage the child to drink more.

Hi A.,
The hormones affect the boys as much as the girls - I see so many boys nowadays at the lake and beach with "man boobs" and I"m sure that's where it comes from. If you can afford to go organic, do it for your family, not just the girl.

fyi hormones effect boys as well. organic meats poultry and all dairy as well

i gave and still give my girls organic milk because when we switched from formula to milk they didn't go for the regular milk. i don't like how regular milk tastes either, and they love their organic milk.

I gave my daughter regular milk when i switched from formula. I now know better and give her organic cows milk. My whole family has switched over to organic it tastes better and the 2% tastes like whole. My daughter 3 1/2 loves it and so do we. I have heard the hormones in the milk do cause breat development.

AB-SO-LUTELY! I would go organic for all animal-sourced products for your kids - regardless of gender. I'm a vegetarian and so my daughter will be raised that way as well -but we have Horizon or Stonyfield Farms brand milk in the house always. Worth every penny

A.,

I give my son organic cow's milk. Those hormones aren't good for boys either.

Good luck,
R.

I have my girls on a 90% organic diet. All chicken and dairy, including milk, is organic. Most everything else as well, except on the rare occasions that we eat out, and I can't control it. This is due to both the hormones in chicken and dairy, and the pesticides in fruits and veggies. I just feel more comfortable knowing that isn't going into their systems. It's only marginally more money but completely worth it in my opinion.

Hi A.,

I am a firm believer in giving my daughter only organic milk in our house - it's all we've been giving her since she was a year old and went off of her formula. Between hearing all of the reports, as well as seeing first-hand all of the young girls who are developing years before we did, I am convinced that organic is the best way to go. In a world of so many things that are beyond our control, when there is something that we can control that is good for our babies, why not do it?

Best wishes,
Jen

Regular milk tastes like bug spray compared to organic...spend the extra money, it is worth it!

Hi A.,
I really don't know if milk has anything to do with breast devolpment and such at all. If you start with milk, you will move onto other foods.

I have 2 teenage daughters, a 9 year old son, and another little girl who just turned 3 last month.

All of my children drink milk - its not their favorite, but its in cereal, chocolate milk, ice cream, they drink it with school lunches. I have never given them organic anything, I just try to feed them healthy - with lots of fruits and veggies and meats - pork, beef, and chicken - nobody likes fish.

My oldest daughter was a late bloomer, breasts began around 14, but wasn't up to a B cup until almost 17, and didn't start her period until 15. I was concerned, but out doctor wasn't; he said some girls just bloom a little later than others.

My second daughter is 16 and didn't get her period until just after she turned 16 in February, and she still really has no breasts to speak of, currently in an A cup - with room to grow.

I can't really count on this being hereditary because I was fully devoped - a C cup and period by the time I was 12. As were my 3 older sisters - and most of their daughters.

I give my family all organic milk at home (sometimes it isn't available if we are out). I think it tastes better and fresher, at least to me (I love to drink milk and am very sensitive to the taste being "off"--not only not fresh but I can taste the plastic if it was in a plastic jug.) I started when I first found out I was pregnant I never regretted it (especially with the hypersensitive taste and smell in pregnancy). My kids are still young (son 3.5, daughter 11mo.) so I don't know how it might effect their development. I try to get organic dairy and meat (and some veggies) whenever possible. I try not to get crazy about it but I think the milk makes a big difference since they drink so much as babies and toddlers.

I'm not sure if it is what is in the milk or what is in the chicken!! And I would have the same concerns for your sons as your daughter, the results are just more visible in little girls. My daughter is 6 1/2. We only buy organic milk, and love it!! I try to buy chicken and beef without antibiotics (none of the supermarkets near me sell organic meats). When I do buy chicken nuggets, I've found Bell&Evans to be very good. You have to bake them, they're not pre-cooked, but they are real pieces of chicken, not pulverized chicken pulp shaped into a nugget.

Other steps are harder, organic milk is one really easy thing to buy, that I believe is far healthier for your kids AND the environment. Good luck!

You are right to go organic! As others have posted, it's well worth the extra money in the long run.
We use goat's milk for our daughter as it's easier to digest than cow's milk.

I don't know where you live, but on Long Island I buy Oak Tree or Tuscan brand milk. Neither company uses artificial hormones on their dairies. Tuscan is availale at Stop and Shop and Oak Tree at Rite Aid and Asscociated.