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Weaning

Do I need to give cows milk?

13 replies

VisualiseAHorse · 15/02/2013 20:59

So, LO is 9.5 months old. Formula fed, and has 3 7oz bottles a day. I know that he shouldn't have cow's milk as a drink until he's one.

My question is....do I actually need to give him cows milk as a regular drink after he is one, if I stop giving him formula? Does cows milk have something super important in it that he needs?

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unluckyfriedkitten · 15/02/2013 21:20

Not unless you gave birth to a calf Wink

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youmaycallmeSSP · 15/02/2013 21:22

Ideally, yes, toddlers should drink milk and water. Great article here.

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frazzledbutcalm · 15/02/2013 21:29

Does cows milk have something super important in it that he needs?

Forgive me for stating the obvious .... Calcium for healthy strong bones and teeth for a start ...!!

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Lamazeroo · 15/02/2013 21:33

No need as long he's taking fluid, protein and minerals from other foods. Remember that most of the world's population doesn't drink cows milk. Far more calcium in broccoli than cows milk.

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AmericanExpress · 15/02/2013 21:35

No, absolutely not. Try oat or almond milk, for example. Much more nutritious. Make sure he has sufficient fat, and you're better off NOT giving him cows' milk.

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ilovepowerhoop · 15/02/2013 21:44

milk is a way of getting calcium, protein into them so even if they dont drink milk they still need alternative sources e.g. other dairy or non-dairy sources of calcium.

nhs info on dairy

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Lamazeroo · 15/02/2013 22:15

Ilovepowerhoop milk is one way of obtaining calcium, not the only way. There is certainly no need for any dairy whatsoever if calcium is obtained elsewhere.

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ilovepowerhoop · 15/02/2013 22:18

you'd have to eat an awful lot of broccoli to get the same amount of calcium. I didnt say milk was the only way and mentioned non-dairy sources too.

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AmericanExpress · 15/02/2013 22:23

No, that's not true ilovepowerhoop. Broccoli is a better form of calcium that cows' milk. Better absorbed and certainly better retained by the body.

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Lamazeroo · 15/02/2013 22:40

Gram for gram broccoli contains more calcium than milk.

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ilovepowerhoop · 15/02/2013 22:46

I have read that 1 cup of milk gives around 300mg of calcium but 1 cup of broccoli would only give 178mg calcium. It is easier to get children to drink milk that eat lots of broccoli!

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ilovepowerhoop · 15/02/2013 22:55

www.nnuh.nhs.uk/docs%5Cleaflets%5C197.pdf - gives calcium contents of a selection of foods

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VisualiseAHorse · 16/02/2013 09:17

Thank you ladies - I was pretty sure that babies don't need it, after all, there must be hundreds of babies that don't have access to cows milk.

At the moment, he eats anything (apart from fresh fruit, but I just mash it and put it in his porridge). I'd still give him yoghurts etc, but I just wanted to know if it was actually nessacary to give cow's milk as a drink.

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