Thanks for the mammaries, Mum: how to introduce cow’s milk to a one-year-old

 

MY WEAPONS of mass lactation look more like shrinking violets after a year of being sucked dry by Baby Holly. It’s the signal for her to transition from one old cow (me) onto a new cow (shiny plastic bottle in the fridge). Yes, goodbye free boobie juice.

That’s not to say I’m giving up breastfeeding just yet. We’ll be milking it for a while longer – pardon the pun. However, it is time to introduce the “other white milk’’ – aka, cow’s milk.

So far, it’s been a slow process. The first couple of times Holly wasn’t going to have a bar of not having her usual mid morning bazookas. She sprayed the cow’s milky goodness all over my face. Take that, Mum. This is despite having had cow’s milk on her cereal each morning for a while now.

Yesterday, I recalled a trick I used when Ella was weaning and put the warmed milk into a baby bottle instead of her sippy cup. It worked. She’s now on the road to saying goodbye to the best milk dispenser she’ll ever have. Ah yes, thanks for the mammaries, Mum.

Here are some other things I know about introducing cow’s milk to a one-year-old:

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  They're also good for chewing on!

  Introduce it gradually. What worked with Ella was dropping one feed per week. This has multiple benefits – your “girls’’ have time to adjust, it prevents them becoming engorged and the child’s tummy gradually becomes used to the richer cow’s milk.

• If they refuse the milk, try giving it to them in a different cup or bottle. Although, our aim is to get Holly back onto her cup as soon as possible. But whatever works to start with.
• Give your child pasteurised full-fat cow’s milk until aged two, by which stage they can go onto reduced fat milk.
• We warm the milk in a container of hot water so it’s closer to the temperature of breast milk.
• Offer the milk AFTER meals as cow’s milk is quite filling and could lead to a lesser amount of solids consumed.
• There are lots of other ways to help your child meet their calcium intake requirements, including cheese, yoghurt, baked beans and tinned salmon. Variety is key.
• Some children may be lactose intolerant. It’s best to see an expert if this is the case.
• **UPDATE**: Have just seen the child health nurse this morning and she suggested giving Holly the milk straight from a glass. If she refuses, take it away and try again the next time.

I’m no expert, so if you want to learn more, I’d suggest you check out Milk Intake on the Huggies website or the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

What are your tips for introducing cow’s milk to a one year old?

Linking up Shae from Yay for Home’s Things I Know.