Pure Parents

Question:

hi!  I can’t back this up with any research, and I don’t even know what the fat content is, but my brother and sister both drank goat’s milk from the time they were 4-6 months of age through toddler years.  They were allergic to both cow’s milk and soy-based formulas but thrived with the goat.  I have not had any problems with my own daughter (takes breastmilk and formula) so I have not really investigated the subject.  Perhaps someone else in NG could provide you a more educated response.  I have seen soy and rice milk at health food stores around my area.  Breastfeed as long as you can, the only reason why I give formula is I can’t produce enough to meet her nutritional needs. good luck

Response:

> Anyway, I have asthma and allergies. Milk products make my reactions far > worse, so I try to avoid them. For the same reason, I don’t want my son > to have cow’s milk. That being the case, does anyone have any > alternative suggestions, just in case he gets bored with nursing before > age 3.

Try soy milk products.  They’re available at your local grocer now.  You can also buy goat’s milk.  I’ve heard they cause a lot less allergic reactions etc. — Best wishes, Lynn. "The reason our eyes are on the front of our heads   is so that we can see where we’re going   and not be bothered by what’s past."  Sally Huss

Response:

>Try soy milk products.  They’re available at your local grocer now.  You >can also buy goat’s milk.  I’ve heard they cause a lot less allergic >reactions etc.

Putting Lynn McIsaac’s rudeness aside for a second, soy milk products may be available on prescription for your child if they show a bad reaction. (U.K.)

Response:

>Where do you get off telling people do THIS, do THAT, THIS is when, THAT is >when?  I don’t care if you teach parenting.  If you were good at teaching >parenting, then you would know that no one is exactly alike and not >everyone can or wants to exist upon some set out rules people like you >preach.

I’m sorry but you seem to be talking to yourself again here, we all worship and admire you for your all-knowing style – why complain about someone else who is obviously qualified in the field you have a 2 bit opinion about.

Response:

>If by "drink from a bottle" you mean "lie down with a bottle" I would agree >with you.  As I’ve been told, the bigger problem with lying with a bottle is >the threat of ear infection.  Even nursing can be a problem.  

Actually nursing is not really a problem like milk from a bottle because milk does not drip into the childs mouth from the breast the way it does from a bottle.  the child has to actually be actively sucking to extract milk from a breast, and if he is sucking he is also swallowing.  Milk from a bottle just drips nonstop onto the teeth and pools in the mouth which can cause decay.  the bacteria that form in these pools can get into the eustacian tubes and lead to ear infections.  SG

Response:

I have heard of rice milk, and I can’t find it.  Can anyone help me find some?  Is it powdered or liquid? Thanks, Teri

Response:

We buy rice milk for my step son at the local supermarket in Seattle.  It is also available at a few "health food" grocers in our area.  It is not in the refrigerated section (it does need to be refrigerated, however, after its opened) and it is a liquid.  It comes in chocolate, vanilla, plain, and I think, strawberry.  I find it not very pleasant tasting, but my step son doesn’t seem to mind. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have heard of rice milk, and I can’t find it.  Can anyone help me find > some?  Is it powdered or liquid? > Thanks, > Teri

Response:

That’s not an uncommon problem. But to save money you can use any good quality juice (100% natural, no artificial additives) and dilute it with water. Of course you can also give your baby water if he eats enough fruit. We have always used blackcurrant juice for our children, from 6 months. They tolerate it very well. I’ve also heard that apple juice causes loose stools more than any other, and that white grape juice is very easily digested. TVOCS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I switched my kids from formula to cow’s milk at a year of age. I >started by substituting approximately 1/4 of the formula in each bottle >with milk so they had 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk. I did this so as not to >cause any digestive problems that might have occurred with an abrupt >switch. Each week I would add a little more milk to the formula until >after a month he was on whole milk with no formula. >  I continued using the baby juice until they were nearly two because >they seemed to develope loose stools with juice marketed for older >children and adults.

Response:

I think this is a question your should be asking your ped.  Both of my children (8yo and 21mo) were switched at 1 year, but I’m sure there are circumstances which could cause some children to be on formula for longer or shorter periods of time.  My first child was put on baby food at 3 – 4 months old and my second I was told to wait until she was 6 months.  Just to be safe I’d check with my doctor. Dawn (Taylor and Mackenzie’s mom)

Response:

Most Dr.s and nutritionists recommend that children receive formula until they are a year old.  It is easier to digest and more nutritious than cow’s milk. At a year you can gradually add milk to their formula until you have them drinking milk.  Ask your Dr. what % fat to buy.  Many Dr.’s recommend whole milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may recommend a lower fat content for an especially chubby baby.   Also, at a year, it is time to start eliminating the bottle and switching them over to a cup.  Many babies who continue to drink from a bottle during their toddler years develop serious tooth decay.  Even milk and juice cause this decay and  things like soft drinks or kool-aide are worse! (BTW, I teach Parenting).

Response:

I think its about a year old, but i started to wean mine at about 10 months, but i did it really slow! Tami – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My Daughter is 9 months old and Drinks formula and Juice, when can I move > from Formula to store bought milk, is her stomach ready for it yet? > — >            Tadow >            UIN#1488120

Response:

Aidyn had no allergies to cottage cheese or yogurt, so my Dr gave her the ok. She had no reactions and is doing fine on 2% since 9 months!! Kristina Aidyn Lea 6-11-96 Due 5-13-98

Response:

> Most Dr.s and nutritionists recommend that children receive formula until they > are a year old. >  Many Dr.’s recommend whole > milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may recommend a > lower fat content for an especially chubby baby.   Also, at a year, it is time > to start eliminating the bottle and switching them over to a cup.  Many babies > who continue to drink from a bottle during their toddler years develop serious > tooth decay.  Even milk and juice cause this decay and  things like soft drinks > or kool-aide are worse! (BTW, I teach Parenting).

Where do you get off telling people do THIS, do THAT, THIS is when, THAT is when?  I don’t care if you teach parenting.  If you were good at teaching parenting, then you would know that no one is exactly alike and not everyone can or wants to exist upon some set out rules people like you preach. First of all, my son was consistently in the 95th percentile for his weight, a very chubby baby.  I was NEVER told to give him lower fat milk, I was told to give him whole milk.  Babies need the fat to help in the development of their brain and body.  Once my son started becoming more active (crawling, walking, then running)  he lost his fat gradually.  I’ve never heard of a physician recommending low fat milk to developing infants or toddlers, regardless of their size.  It’s attitudes like that that perpetuate the discrimination of overweight people.  I have heard of changing to lower fat diets after the age of two, when the development tends to slow down. And as far as the bottle and sippy cup go-  YET ANOTHER BLANKET STATEMENT. And an incorrect one.  The only time liquids of any kind will cause serious tooth decay is when the parent isn’t using or teaching dental hygiene at the same time.  My daughter used a bottle until well after her second birthday, never a soother just a bottle.  I used a wet cloth to rub her gums before she napped and went to bed to remove the milk (or juice, formula, whatever!).  I started her brushing her teeth on a regular basis early.   A child who drinks out of a sippy cup and doesn’t brush their teeth or lets the liquid/natural sugars pool in the mouth, behind the teeth, MAY have serious tooth decay also. So don’t give us blanket statements.  Tell us what might happen, and what one can do to prevent bad results.  It isn’t the bottle that causes tooth decay, it’s the liquid inside of the bottle and how long the liquid is left in the mouth and on the teeth that CAN cause tooth decay. — Best wishes, Lynn. "The reason our eyes are on the front of our heads   is so that we can see where we’re going   and not be bothered by what’s past."  Sally Huss

Response:

My first son has been consistently over the 97th percentile for weight, slightly under that for height.  (There wasn’t a higher percentile listed, so we wondered if we had "the biggest baby in Britain"!) I agree with you Lynn – I never considered giving him low-fat milk, or anything low-fat.  I still give him full fat milk, yogurt, etc.  even though he is now 4 years old.  He’s slimmed down now, and is growing "up" rather than "out". – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >First of all, my son was consistently in the 95th percentile for his >weight, a very chubby baby.  I was NEVER told to give him lower fat milk, I >was told to give him whole milk.  Babies need the fat to help in the >development of their brain and body.  Once my son started becoming more >active (crawling, walking, then running)  he lost his fat gradually.  I’ve >never heard of a physician recommending low fat milk to developing infants >or toddlers, regardless of their size.  It’s attitudes like that that >perpetuate the discrimination of overweight people.  I have heard of >changing to lower fat diets after the age of two, when the development >tends to slow down.

Response:

>Ask your Dr. what % fat to buy.  Many Dr.’s recommend whole >milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may recommend a >lower fat content for an especially chubby baby.

Babies do not NEED the fat, they need the fat-soluble vitimins found in the fat.  A chubby baby needs them just as much as a skinny baby.  whole milk and whole milk products are the best source of these vitamins.

Response:

I switched my kids from formula to cow’s milk at a year of age. I started by substituting approximately 1/4 of the formula in each bottle with milk so they had 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk. I did this so as not to cause any digestive problems that might have occurred with an abrupt switch. Each week I would add a little more milk to the formula until after a month he was on whole milk with no formula.   I continued using the baby juice until they were nearly two because they seemed to develope loose stools with juice marketed for older children and adults.

Response:

I was told to give my overweight baby 2% milk too, by a qualified nutritionist, not a doctor. IMHO nutritionists are better experts to consult than any doctor for this subject. Doctors are better at medical matters. Most family doctors and even paediatricians have only a partial understanding of nutrition. The voice of common sense "Mistakes are the well-travelled bridge between inexperience and wisdom. If you want to get nowhere follow the crowd."      - Ann Landers

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Most Dr.s and nutritionists recommend that children receive formula until >they > are a year old. >  Many Dr.’s recommend whole > milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may recommend >a > lower fat content for an especially chubby baby.   Also, at a year, it is >time > to start eliminating the bottle and switching them over to a cup.  Many >babies > who continue to drink from a bottle during their toddler years develop >serious > tooth decay.  Even milk and juice cause this decay and  things like soft >drinks > or kool-aide are worse! (BTW, I teach Parenting). >Where do you get off telling people do THIS, do THAT, THIS is when, THAT is >when?  I don’t care if you teach parenting.  If you were good at teaching >parenting, then you would know that no one is exactly alike and not >everyone can or wants to exist upon some set out rules people like you >preach. >First of all, my son was consistently in the 95th percentile for his >weight, a very chubby baby.  I was NEVER told to give him lower fat milk, I >was told to give him whole milk.  Babies need the fat to help in the >development of their brain and body.  Once my son started becoming more >active (crawling, walking, then running)  he lost his fat gradually.  I’ve >never heard of a physician recommending low fat milk to developing infants >or toddlers, regardless of their size.  It’s attitudes like that that >perpetuate the discrimination of overweight people.  I have heard of >changing to lower fat diets after the age of two, when the development >tends to slow down. >And as far as the bottle and sippy cup go-  YET ANOTHER BLANKET STATEMENT. >And an incorrect one.  The only time liquids of any kind will cause serious >tooth decay is when the parent isn’t using or teaching dental hygiene at >the same time.  My daughter used a bottle until well after her second >birthday, never a soother just a bottle.  I used a wet cloth to rub her >gums before she napped and went to bed to remove the milk (or juice, >formula, whatever!).  I started her brushing her teeth on a regular basis >early.   A child who drinks out of a sippy cup and doesn’t brush their >teeth or lets the liquid/natural sugars pool in the mouth, behind the >teeth, MAY have serious tooth decay also. >So don’t give us blanket statements.  Tell us what might happen, and what >one can do to prevent bad results.  It isn’t the bottle that causes tooth >decay, it’s the liquid inside of the bottle and how long the liquid is left >in the mouth and on the teeth that CAN cause tooth decay. >– >Best wishes, Lynn. >"The reason our eyes are on the front of our heads >  is so that we can see where we’re going >  and not be bothered by what’s past."  Sally Huss

Response:

Hi Julian’s Mom, We went from breast milk to soy milk.  The soy milk is fortified the same as cow’s milk except the brand that I buy actually has more calcium that cow’s milk.  All of our chees is soy as well.  We drink rice milk, oat milk and some carob flavored rice or soy.  My daughter drinks tons of it.  Children get used to what ever they are given.  If you want specific names of brands, etc….feel free to email me. ~debra~

Response:

>>Many babies who continue to drink from a bottle during their toddler years

develop serious tooth decay.  Even milk and juice cause this decay and things like soft drinks or kool-aide are worse!<< If by "drink from a bottle" you mean "lie down with a bottle" I would agree with you.  As I’ve been told, the bigger problem with lying with a bottle is the threat of ear infection.  Even nursing can be a problem.   If your child falls asleep while suckling, I recommend uprighting the kid and jostling them (diaper change, switch to jammies) a bit in hopes that they’ll waker and swallow a few times to clear the throat and sinuses.  Then you can put them down for a nap.   I also feel this practice is important because it gets the child in the habit of lying down awake and being comfortable falling asleep alone.  This is essential for a good night’s sleep, which (for all of us) actually consists of several breif sleeps.   – Ron Low Levity is the dearth of gravity.  Brevity is the height of clarity.   non-commercial e-mail always welcome

Response:

> >Ask your Dr. what % fat to buy.  Many Dr.’s recommend whole >milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may > recommend a >lower fat content for an especially chubby baby. > Babies do not NEED the fat, they need the fat-soluble vitimins found > in the > fat.  A chubby baby needs them just as much as a skinny baby.  whole > milk and > whole milk products are the best source of these vitamins.

Cow’s milk is essential to baby cows; it is NOT essential to human babies. Whole cow’s milk may be better than nothing, but human milk is what babies (and toddlers) need. In many cultures, cow’s milk is NEVER given to children. In fact, most of the people in these cultures are lactose intolerant at an early age. Of course, in these cultures, children are usually nursed until 3 years of age. Anyway, I have asthma and allergies. Milk products make my reactions far worse, so I try to avoid them. For the same reason, I don’t want my son to have cow’s milk. That being the case, does anyone have any alternative suggestions, just in case he gets bored with nursing before age 3. Julian’s mom

Response:

> >Ask your Dr. what % fat to buy.  Many Dr.’s recommend whole >milk because babies actually need more fat than we do, but may recommend a >lower fat content for an especially chubby baby. > Babies do not NEED the fat, they need the fat-soluble vitimins found in the > fat.  A chubby baby needs them just as much as a skinny baby.  whole milk and > whole milk products are the best source of these vitamins.

From what I understand the fat is necessary for developing neurons. Fat is an essential part of myelin which covers nerve endings. -Alexis

Response:

My Daughter is 9 months old and Drinks formula and Juice, when can I move from Formula to store bought milk, is her stomach ready for it yet? —            Tadow            UIN#1488120

Response:

> My Daughter is 9 months old and Drinks formula and Juice, when can I move > from Formula to store bought milk, is her stomach ready for it yet? > —

Our pediatrician recommended a change to whole milk around one year of age.  I’m sure many people will have different views on this, but it worked well for us.  Whole milk was specified because the high fat content is still necessary for proper development. Karen — "We did _not_ survive a NUCULAR war!  It was a NUCLEAR war!  A NUCLEAR war!"

Response:

First, when you do switch to milk, you should use whole milk, because the fat in it is needed to build your childs neurological system. Second, I was told by a nutritionist that you do have to wait to the age of one to move on to whole milk. This is because although your child may be eating many table foods his digestive system is still immature and pushing things such as whole milk to soon could provoke food allergies. Instead she told me to offer formula in a sippy cup at meal time. I did wait until my kids were 1 yr. old because I myself have allergies/food allergies and if theres anything I could do to prevent my children from having them I’ll try it. Good luck!

Response:

I really think this is something you should be discussing with your dr. and the reason I say this is because the date i was given changed with each child, i have 4 kids aged 4-7-9-11 and with the first one I was told to switch by 6 months old and my last one after ayear of formula he wanted me to continue on with that follow up formula….of course I didnt do that I just switched to milk. Was wonder anyone else out there git advice from the same dr that changed from child to child? Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->First, when you do switch to milk, you should use whole milk, because the fat >in it is needed to build your childs neurological system. Second, I was told >by >a nutritionist that you do have to wait to the age of one to move on to whole >milk. This is because although your child may be eating many table foods his >digestive system is still immature and pushing things such as whole milk to >soon could provoke food allergies. Instead she told me to offer formula in a >sippy cup at meal time. I did wait until my kids were 1 yr. old because I >myself have allergies/food allergies and if theres anything I could do to >prevent my children from having them I’ll try it. Good luck!

Response: