Someone remind me again why the general rule of thumb is no cow's milk before 1yo. Allergies? Stomach sensitivities to the complex proteins? Hormones in milk? My mom's new idea for getting Anna to eat is to "just give her cow's milk already" and before I even start that fight I want to be prepared. I tried googling it and all I came up with is a bunch of blogs about moms who can't drink milk while nursing, or diets for lactose intolerant kids.
I think it is part allergies and part a reaction to our parents generation who were advised to put us on cows milk as soon as they could. The proteins aren't good enough for a developing brain. Cows grow great muscles and bones but cow brains aren't so smart...
I haven't looked at Erika's link (which I'm sure has it all...I love Dr. Sears' website!), but one reason our ped gave us was that cow's milk doesn't have the same amount of iron and other good stuff that breast milk and formula have. HOWEVER, he also said that past about 10 months or so, it is fine to give it too them in small quantities to work up to giving them just milk when they are 1 year. As long as their tummies can handle it, it won't hurt them as they are nearing 1 year.
Yes, we did start yogurt at 9 months. We used whole milk yogurt by Stoneyfield Farms. We did plain yogurt, but they do have the YoBaby yogurt in little cups with different flavors too.
Thanks girls - my mom is really trying to help and honestly with the drama that DD is putting me through, I would consider it if it weren't bad for her. Only two and a half months until I can try yogurt with her - maybe that will help!
I think you can give yogurt earlier than 9 months...babycenter says 8 months. I feel like we tried it even earlier than that with Annie, but she didn't like it, so she didn't have much.
So yogurt can only start at 9mo (based on the article Erika posted) too? That is going to be her next question.
Christine has had Yogurt for almost a month now...It regulated her digestive system and she LOVES it. I always started foods way earlier and my kids always seemed to do fine. I will probably start eggs soon since she likes to feed herself and I need some more soft foods for her to pick up. I get the Yo Baby and she eats all the flavors. Buys me time when she is too busy to nurse. She did take three ounces out of a Medela pump bottle today (first time in about FIVE MONTHS!) and I was very happy about that!
Just as a reference, I checked my American Academy of Pediatrics and it states that you can start yogurt at 8 months, which is when I did, I think. I second what Sarah said about all of the great digestive bacterias the yogurt gives too!
Why no milk before 1yo? 
Good luck!
Linear Mode
