Anyone NOT give any kind of milk after one?

[VisualiseAHorse]

LO just turned one a couple of weeks ago. He was on 3 bottles of formula day, plus 3 small meals. I dropped his afternoon bottle (replaced with a snack of yoghurt and fruit).

But the other two bottles? I know I don't have to keep him on formula any more, but (for some reason) I'm really not keen on giving him 7oz of cows milk twice a day. I know there are also other alternatives (rice milk etc), but do I need to give him milk at all now he's one?

This morning he had water in a sippy cup and a massive bowl of porridge (bigger than he would've had as he hadn't had a bottle), and now seems really content.

He has cows milk with his breakfast, plus yoghurt and cheese throughout the day, and eats a wide variety of foods at the moment, so I'm not worried about his diet suffering. Why can't I just give him water?

[HappyAsASandboy]

I don't think you need to give him bottles of milk now he is over one I thought the guidelines were to give at least 300ml of 'milk', which includes milk used in cooking (porridge, custard etc).

I offer milk with meals (in a sippy cup), use milk in porridge/weetabix for breakfast, and give yogurt/custard for/with pudding. My DTs get through about a pint a day, maybe a bit less because some of it gets thrown away. They have water in a sippy cup if we're anywhere other than at the kitchen table!

Nursery give them water with meals an milk with snacks I think. Plus milk on weetabix for breakfast.

[SmeeHee]

The dairy industry will be very upset if you don't give him milk!

In all seriousness we have been rather brain-washed into believing that dairy products are an essential part of a healthy diet. This isn't the case at all and, while I'm as suspicious of the anti-dairy lobbyists claims as I am of the dairy industry advertising, I don't think it's good idea to give children large amounts of milk once they're established on solids.

I personally wouldn't drop all milk at once - I gradually reduced it for both my DSs and they both occasionally have a glass of milk with breakfast or ask for one during the day, but it isn't an essential part of their diet.

If you've done your research and you're happy your DS is getting sufficient calcium in his diet then I can't see any issues with him not having milk to drink.

Disclaimer: while my degree involved nutritional science and I've read through quite a bit of research/information about the benefits and problems with drinking cows milk I am not a trained medical professional or nutritionist!

[VisualiseAHorse]

That's what I was thinking SmeeHee - it just seems weird that children are kind of expected to drink another mammal's milk consistently. I presume that if you are still BF at this point you're not advised to give cows milk?

I might stick with the evening milk for a little while longer (just to make sure he doesn't get hungry overnight), and just give him water the rest of the day.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

You are right if you are bfing there is no need to offer other milk although many bfing mothers use full fat cows milk in cereals and cooking from 6 months.

The advice is 309ml of full fat cows milk per day from 12 to 24 months but if you don't want to offer it I think its the protein, fat and minerals that you have to replace although I could be talking out of my area on that one

[noblegiraffe]

My DS never drank cows milk as a drink, but I think with cheese, yoghurt and milk in his cereal his calcium intake works out fine according to the guidelines.

[VisualiseAHorse]

I think he's getting enough calcium etc from his food.

I ended up giving him a wee bit of cows milk last night to tide him over while I made his tea. He downed it in one and proceeded to have a tantrum until I gave him another huge cup full!

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

My DC didn't like cows milk as a drink as it wasn't as sweet as breast milk or formula so got all their dairy after 1 from yogurts/cheese and milk in their food. I spoke to the HV a few times with DS1 (PFB so I worried ) and she said it was fine.