I'm trying to wean my daughter Ruth (1 year old in a few weeks) from formula (I lost my milk months ago) to whole past/homo milk. I've been for 4 days mixing her bottles half and half formula and whole milk, about every other bottle. She will take it, but slowly. The problem is she's always been cheerful and happy, but now she's getting fussy and spitting up 3 or 4 times a day. She's never been a spitter up to speak of. Is it too early? Am I doing the wrong thing? Formula is soooo expensive though... What should I do? What would you do? What did you do, and when??

Please help us.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 19, 2001

Answers

They say that a year old can be weaned to whole milk, but before that the protein is to much for them....(they say). Don't know who said that but that is what I heard. Is she drinking ok from a cup yet. I weaned mine from nursing(about 14 months) to a cup. Was the formula one with milk in it or soy? I don't know much about formula, but I've had friends that used it. Does she tolerate other forms of dairy? Maybe she is lactose intolerant? She might just be cutting teeth and is having trouble with that and the change in diet. I know mine spit up a little more and drooled to when they were cutting their teeth at that age. It is harder for them to cut those uppers! Give her a hug for me and keep trying!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 19, 2001.

If I knew when my kids were little what I know now They would never have had cows milk..Try rice milk.Almond milk, Goat milk would be good.. Your baby is trying to tell you something..A lot of babies have a reaction to cows milk that will cause problems as they get older

-- Doris Richards (dorisquilts@webtv.net), January 19, 2001.

Well she is definately old enough to be on regular milk. My kids were put on regular milk about 6-7 months old. She could be having trouble with the large fat particles in cows milk. If you have or know someone who has goats you might want to try her on that. Also in order to get her to like it a bit better you might add a bit of sugar to it. Do not put honey in it(that would be what I would have done if I was trying to stay as natural as possible but it is a no no). Honey can contain traces of salmonella that can make children under 2 yrs old sick but it is fine once they are older than 2.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 19, 2001.

I agree with Amanda. Mine were all drinking cows milk by the age of 7 months. I also added a little sugar at first to get them to drink it at first. My children were always sickened by the formula, so never used the stuff. She may be just getting old enough to not want to use a bottle. You might try to drink some milk yourself, then let her drink from your cup. She might like it better that way.

-- (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), January 19, 2001.

I think if she is spitting up, it is an indication of an allergy to cow's milk. I would give goat's milk, or just skip the milk, and give the child calcium in other foods. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), January 19, 2001.

If you're not quite ready to give up the bottle yet, you might also consider "Follow Up" formula. I think it's Carnation, It's been awhile. It is meant specifically for babies about that age who are already getting a good amount of their nutrition from other food. It's less expensive, and comes in a powder form, which can be very conveniently mixed as you need it in the bottle.

-- mary,texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 19, 2001.

I will probably hear back on this one, but to encourage my baby to learn to enjoy cow's milk, I put a little chocolate in it. Our milk was fresh from the cow though and all the cream was skimmed. The pediatrician said that some babies just can't digest the protein in the milk. The doctor also gave us some literature from the country extension office that told us that homogonized milk breaks down the fat in the milk and allows it to penetrate the stomach wall (which in turn may be related to the fat getting in the bloodstream resulting in plaque in the arteries). If your little one can't digest cow's milk, I think I'd try goat's milk, but I suspect that is even more expensive then formula. Anyway, my three year old weaned easily at age 1. I'm just getting ready to take my 11 month old off formula. Email me if you have questions, with 5 kids, I have a pretty good idea of what you're going through.

-- Anne Tower (bbill@wtvl.net), January 19, 2001.

I'm raising my second one, now 3 years old. He was breastfed for quite awhile. Because of this, he, along with the rest of my family, drinks 1% milk now. I make sure he gets plenty of calcium from other products too. My frist child was formula fed. She didn't want to give up the bottle even at 18 months, but I felt it was contributing to ear infections. At that time she was on 2% milk because she was a hefty baby, and prior to that, she was given Carnation formula, the cheapest one on the market in 1993-94. It seemed to be to her liking. But every child is different. So, my advice is to try other milk substitutes as other readers have been suggesting, until you find one you like. I agree that you child is trying to tell you something. Some babies are much gassier when you try to switch them. Good Luck!

-- Cheri Jacobson (jakeco@mhtc.net), January 21, 2001.

IF your baby is haveing any fever, runny nose, dark marks under the eyes , look in each ear to see if it looks as if the holes are swelling up, some times there is a rash with milk allergy, both of my children are cows milk sensitive, both vomited milk, loose stools are also common, my youngest now 7 has declined milk products of his own accord since age 5 just because he was aware the milk/cheese/butter/ ice cream products made him feel bad, both can eat yogurt products with out any trouble, the oldest had some goats milk no trouble, youngset hasn't just because it cost too much in the store. Also watch the baby sleep after haveing cows milk, the congestion seems worse at night.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), January 24, 2001.

Gosh I hope it is hormone free cows milk you are trying to feed her. Don't add sugar,and for God's sake don't add honey. Milk already has sugar in it, it is called lactose. If she is spitting it up, then don't feed it to her, maybe she is alergic, or it makes her feel bad like it does me. If you feel she needs milk, try goats milk. Other wise what's wrong with water or diluted juice? Undiluted juice could give her the runs or diaper rash if she is still in diapers.

-- Carroll (waelibry@gvtc.com), January 25, 2001.

Thanks for all of the answers. After a week and a half of trying, with no success except an unhappy baby and lots of diarrea and spitting up, I gave up on cows milk, at least for another few monthes, then I will try again. Wish I knew somebody with fresh goat milk to sell, I'd even offer to take a shift milking in return for milk, but I can't find anyone close to Emporia KS. I guess I'll keep her on formula for a while longer.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 26, 2001.

Marty, Don't push the cows milk. Get on the web and find out all the bad that cow's milk does to a young (and old---but admittedly I'm hooked) respiratory system. It has been DIRECTLY linked to numerous medical maladies as ear infections, sinusitis, colds, flu, asthma, etc. etc.... I started my daughter on rice milk right away. She is almost 2 now and has had only one ear infection in one ear. Almost unheard of, most kids her age have had a least 1/2 a dozen by now. I do attribute it to her not liking cows milk. She will drink it at her daycare, but I do not offer it at home. She gets rice milk and loves it or (very watered down) Juicey-Juice. There are multiple ways to fulfill the calcium requirement other than milk. Do your child a favor....skip the cows milk. Try different ones...soy, goat, rice. They cost a little more, but they are worth it. Good luck! Maria

-- Maria Pirillo (maria_pirillo@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.

Hi: I'm confused about this milk thing. I was born in a research center in Wichita, KS. From day one, I was on regular milk that was sterilized in the bottles. Never on a formula or breast milk. I'm 41 now and expecting a little girl in July. The other thing that my parents told me is that I slept all the way thru the night starting the day they took me home. I did not ever have an ear infection or any other health problems. I plan to put my child on homogonized milk from the grocery store, because it did not hurt me one bit. Everyone down here in Alabama is really shocked when I tell them that, but I think this formula thing is just a way for the big companies to make money.

-- cynthia reynolds (creynolds@fdic.gov), March 26, 2001.

If cows milk is so bad why aren't we all dead ? I have 4 children oldest 15 .3 of the 4 have never had ear infections .# 3 did and had to have tubes , she was breast fed until almost 2 no dairy products and barely anything else .I think every child is different and should be treated that way .Just my opion and I don't mean to upset anyone.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 26, 2001.