[Shirley Sue]

Hi ladies,

just looking for advice on weaning and introducing cows milk to 15mo dd. Over the last few weeks I've been trying to introduce cow's milk. She eats cheese, organic yoghurt- loves them. She has a few mouthfuls of it, screws up her face, says "nup" and hands it back to me.

So far I've tried:
-serving it at different temperatures.
-serving it in different containers (sippy cup, baby bottle, melamine mug). I even placed a stubby holder over bottle and sippy cup so she couldn't see the contents until she tried some.
- got dh to drink some first (usually want to eat whatever he has as she is daddy's girl atm).

She is bf'ed once over night (4a.m.), after lunch and before bed. She drinks water really well.

I'm really over bfing- I want my body to myself for a while!

Should I:
-water it down until she gets used to the taste (my mum suggested this).
- try goats milk?
- try a2/zymil? (I don't tolerate milk well myself- but it seems to be more of a taste thing for her).


HELP!!!

[Jenflea]

She doesn't NEED cows milk. If she gets dairy in the form of cheese and yoghurt she's fine.
Also calcium is found in green leafy veges(broccoli as well) so if she eats those I wouldn't worry.
My 2.5yr old hardly drinks milk but eats pretty much everything else, including the odd spoonful of ice cream(I know, I'm a terrible mum) and frozen yoghurt so I don't force the milk issue.
Oh she does LOVE a babycino! I make them at home most mornings.

[MissM86]

Jenflea, do they really not need cows milk? I didn't know this!

I am having the same problem with my 14 month old refusing cows milk (she has one or two bottles of formula a day but she is starting to lose interest in those). Have been stressing over cow's milk refusal too so am glad to hear its not necessary. Do you know how much other dairy they should be having each day to make up for no cow's milk?

[Jenflea]

I think from memory its 3 serves a day, so one yoghurt(the less sugar the better) one cheese stick(not processed, real cheese) and almonds or other calcium sources,.

[tick]

Compared to breastmilk, cow's milk is horrible stuff! My 3 year old has never drunk it. It never even occurred to me to worry about this, there's plenty of other sources of calcium! Sounds like your child eats plenty of dairy anyway.

If you're looking for a breastmilk replacement for weaning purposes, maybe try fortified rice/almond/oat/soy milk? My DD seemed to find soy and rice milk a lot more agreeable than cows milk. The cartons all seem to bang on about not being a complete milk drink for children under two but for an older baby who eats well and gets plenty of other sources of calcium/fat/etc I really don't see how it's a problem myself!

[Shirley Sue]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

My local child health nurse did tell me that as long as she has 3 serves of dairy it is ok. It just worries me that she isn't getting enough good fats in her diet. (She is already on the tall and slim side).

Today I gave her watered down milk in an opaque drink bottle of dh's. She now thinks she's a big girl drinking from a big bottle like Daddy. I plan on getting her use to the taste and slowly upping the milk and lessening the water.

She has real yoghurt made at a local dairy, real cheese and plenty of vegetables (loves, loves her vegies). I'm a bit wary of giving her almonds as I have and allergy to some nuts. I also sneak milk and dairy into other foods.

I really am starting to 'get over' bfing and would really like to wean soon....