Transitioning from Breastmilk to Whole Milk (Help)

Cows milk is never superior to breastmilk! Oh my gosh, where did you hear that?!? I agree with you about babies don't really need the milk of another species. Saying that, even though all my children drink alot of it, including the 15 month old, who also is nursing. Milk is so hyped to be so good for you, but you can get calcium and vit D in alot of other foods. Since you said you would love to keep nursing, then why only cut it to twice a day if you're worried about nutrition? That's one of my reasons why Im still nursing my 15 month old, I swear he throws all his food on the ground!

Breastmilk is so superior in nutrition and immune fighting properties that countries are fighting to see who can win the race of creating the MOST genetically altered cows and goats to produce human milk. Cancer and HIV patients with a lot of money can afford breastmilk therapy - where the properties of breastmilk that are the most wanted - anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, nutrition and antibodies are emphasized in the therapies,.

Having said that, I would recommend a very slow process of weaning him from what he knows of on demand nursing... you can definitely still continue to nurse him on demand if you choose too... but if you feel tired of it, then don't offer cow's milk, instead offer cheeses and yogurts of the organic variety. Cow's milk is not necessary to development of the human species.

***ADDED***
I wanted to redress some misinformation being posted on this site about breastmilk's nutritional qualities.

JUST BREASTMILK ALONE has the following precentages for children 1 year old and older. Cow's Milk does not even have ONE of these properties:

In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements
-- Dewey 2001

Lots of concerns here, and that's okay. It shows you care.

Have you been drinking milk at all while you've been nursing? If he didn't have a reaction then, he probably won't now. Milk proteins pass into breastmilk - if you've been drinking it, he's been getting it. If you haven't had milk at all (I mean AT ALL - sour cream? Cheese? Anything?), you will still know he's having a reaction if and when you decide to introduce cow's milk products. A milk protien allergy will most likely present as diarrhea, and probably a full-body rash to go with it. I had to drop dairy entirely in my own diet until my oldest was six months - she was nursing, and allergic. She outgrew it, thankfully. It seems like your son is getting cheese, though, so if not reacting to that, then milk is most likely going to be fine. (I'm not an allergist, so I won't say it's definately going to be fine, but I'd bet that your chances of an allergy to the same type of milk the cheese is coming from, at this point are pretty slim.)

We are big milk drinkers here. We buy hormone-free milk. We are lucky enough that our local grocery store (HEB) only buys their store-brand dairy from hormone-free dairies. I understand the concern of milk with hormones - I'd probably seek out hormone-free, even if it wasn't so easy for us to find.

As for iron, if you are terribly concerned about it, try introducing Cheerios. They are iron-fortified, and they are just fun for little ones to eat.

My husband and oldest daughter both have texture aversions to vegetables, but we've discovered the joy of V-8 Fusion. True, juice is a best-in-moderation item, but when the kids do drink juice, we make it as worthwhile as possible. Also, Apple and Eve makes Fruitables juice boxes, which is also a combination of fruit and vegetable juice, just in a more convenient box. My kids approve of every flavor we've tried so far.

As for dehydration, once he's got the hang of using them, leave out a sippy of water where he can find it (we always have cups or sports bottles in the same place for our kids, so they know where it is). He knows when he's thirsty - trust him to take care of himself this way.

Hang in there, lady. You seem like a good mom.

Cows milk is meant to put 1500 lbs on a calf in a year. It is food unfit for human consumption. Put him on yogurt made from whole cultures without sugar or fruit in it. If you add fresh fruit okay but remember he's just learning about foods and so they must be in very small pieces.

There are many ways he can get what he needs without drinking milk. yogurt and cheese are both excellent sources of dairy (giving the same healthy vitamins and dairy fat needed for brain development).

There are studies showing negative influence of hormones in the milk, too.

So, what I'm saying is don't worry about him drinking enough "milk" as long as you get the nutrients in other ways.

Will he drink water? From a sippy or real cup? That's actually the best for him - but no juice. Juice is pretty much the same as soda.

Also - don't label him as picky in your mind yet. Lots of kids have to be introduced to foods 4 or 5 times before they decide they like it. It's the first way they tell you they don't like anything new!!!!!! Just keep offering and make sure that you ONLY offer him healthy options. Then, it doesn't really matter if he's picky - he will learn to like what you give him. Kids won't starve themselves, really they won't. Some kids do have texture issues or whatever, but most 'picky' eaters are a product of it being easier to let them dictate what they eat then to actually only offer them healthy foods or nothing and letting YOU guide THEM in learning how to eat instead of THEM guiding YOU in what they want to be fed.

If he's not crazy about carrots, peas and green beans can you broaden to offer him brocolli, asparagus and jicama? or squash? As far as meat, cubed turkey is usually a hit with toddlers, or you can get chicken sausage which has good flavor and not too much fat, but still lots of protein.

Good Luck

The transition to cow's milk is easiest if you mix the two together at first. Mostly BM, then increase o 50/50 etc. My kids liked it and it went smoothly. However each child is different.
A side note...
I personally think that this "disdain" of cow's milk is a total overreaction. There are SO MANY other foods and evironmental elements that are much more concerning - milk - really people??? Do we "need it", no. Does it hurt us, I don't think so.... I would talk to your doctor and get her recommendation.

I'm very suspicious of cows' milk. I hear the calcium is not assimilated. I do know that my son had constant ear infections until we stopped drinking milk. Then they cleared up completely. Also if we catch a cold it is far less severe and of shorter duration than it was when we drank milk.
We drink almond milk, which is fortified with calcium.

Breast milk is almost nothing on this age, it doesn't have enough nutrition on it, and cow milk is more for the fats, he should be taken vitamins with vitamin D , I give cow milk to my DD since she turn 13 months because my milk supply was almost gone.....I never have any problems at all , she's very healthy. the ped. recommended 24 oz. a day.

No, breastmilk is the best. look up info on kellymom or call your local la leche leauge. Call the hospital's lactation consultants. They have saved me frin feekubg gyukty or wrong for breastfeeding. I send you love. I am glad to know their are other mommies like me in the US. My son is 10 1/2 months. I am anxious about turning one year and how we will adjust to new milk/schedule. Its sad and happy. I have found out that they still get their energy requirements met and are able to relieve tension, Breastfeeding past one year gives your son the ability to come back to a familiar safe spot hence he will be more secure. I would just do morning and night feeding. Eat oatmeal. Your milk will adjust just fine.

Is breastmilk still superior at 1 yr? I don't know. It does depend on the study you read. Can the body handle cows milk? yes. It took awhile for my kids to make the transistion. they preferred water to milk most of the time until about 2. i just made sure they got dairy in other forms like yogurt or string cheese.
If you are still breastfeeding once or twice a day you will continue to give some of the nutrients that may be missed in picky eating. Yes picky eating is normal. They are more able to show preferences even if they previously liked it.
As far as dehydrating just have a sippy cup of water or 1/2 water/ 1/2 juice throughout the day. Not all of breastfeeding was to keep them hydrated but to give nutrients.