Confused by HV's advice

[HKateH]

There seems to be conflicting information everywhere! Here's what I thought: food before one is mainly for fun; milk (formula or breast milk) is the main source of nutrition; babies drop bottles on their own as their food intake goes up. My LO was BLW and so didn't drop a bottle until around 8 months. Now he's on three bottles of formula a day. He was having 2 meals a day plus a small snack until recently. However, since he's become mobile, he's been waking hungry so we've upped to three meals and snacks when we have them.

I've just introduced small amounts of cow's milk in a sippy cup with his lunch and he also drinks water. I thought this was all perfect and I've always taken his lead.

My HV came round today and told me he needs to be having two bottles a day and to replace the third (around midday) with cow's milk and to give him food if he's hungry.

LO will be ten months on the 1st March. Does this sound about right? I was given the impression by the HV that I should have been 'weaning' him off milk since six months and he should've been having more food than milk. This doesn't seem right to me... LO loves his food but I've never pushed solids on him and I've always milk fed on demand. Am I wrong?!

 

[coopfairy]

No I think you are right. With my lg who us now 2 she was never overly fussed about food until near her 1st bday anyway so she had lots of formula milk until she was 1 and just bits of food.

 

[deafgal]

In the U.S. Most moms tell me not to give babies under one years old cow milk. I would continue with formula feeding and offer solid food much as you can , especially at the same time when you are eating..they are not going to eat much solid so it is ok to keep offering to them.and formula/breastmilk will make up the nutrition they missed. The moms here seem think cow milk are just filler (it will fill your baby up).

 

[missk1989]

I would continue what you are doing with the exception of cows milk. Its not reccomended before 1 but then if it isnt doing any harm then you could continue as you are but i wouldnt increase the amount of cows milk until closer his birthday.

 

[HKateH]

See this is where the advice seems to conflict - cow's milk. I've introduced it in small amounts as a drink with his meals (like a few sips from his cup) as I'm aware that really it is just a filler BUT my HV said he should be having it throughout the day as a replacement to his lunch time bottle. I think I'm gonna keep offering formula between breakfast and lunch and not do as she says until he drops that bottle of his own accord. I'm sure he will as some days he only drinks 4/5oz!

 

[chezababy]

Definitely don't replace formula with cows milk. Formula should be the mean source of nutrition until 1. Silly hv.

 

[Rachel_C]

I'd ignore her advice - she doesn't sound like she's had any decent training for a while and certainly hasn't kept up with recent research. I would stop with the cow's milk, as others have said. If LO wants milk, give him formula until at least a year old. I wouldn't really expect a baby that age to have dropped any bottles at all, even if they're eating really well.

 

[Noodlebear]

I think she's talking out her bottom and you seem to have it all sussed pretty perfectly.

 

[HKateH]

I'd ignore her advice - she doesn't sound like she's had any decent training for a while and certainly hasn't kept up with recent research. I would stop with the cow's milk, as others have said. If LO wants milk, give him formula until at least a year old. I wouldn't really expect a baby that age to have dropped any bottles at all, even if they're eating really well.

He has though - he now has one in the morning and one before bed. He was having one at lunchtime but he's now refusing that.

This whole crawling business has changed the game again lol. LO is now SOO hungry all of the time and eats three decent meals a day, plus a snack! He's drinking between 16 and 20oz a day which seems about right to me I reckon!

 

[chezababy]

He needs to be drinking at least 20 oz a day of formula until he's 1. So long as he's getting that a bit of cow milk won't hurt.

 

[Noodlebear]

I'd ignore her advice - she doesn't sound like she's had any decent training for a while and certainly hasn't kept up with recent research. I would stop with the cow's milk, as others have said. If LO wants milk, give him formula until at least a year old. I wouldn't really expect a baby that age to have dropped any bottles at all, even if they're eating really well.

He has though - he now has one in the morning and one before bed. He was having one at lunchtime but he's now refusing that.

This whole crawling business has changed the game again lol. LO is now SOO hungry all of the time and eats three decent meals a day, plus a snack! He's drinking between 16 and 20oz a day which seems about right to me I reckon!

It's totally normal for them to drop to 2 bottles a day before they turn 1 so that's 1 thing she actually got right lol.

 

[lilesMom]

ur right on track hon,
dont mind hv, htey all seem to have different opinions
most of the time completly conflicting.
lo sees lots of docs for different health issues.
they all have completly different ideas ,
he has seena dietician.
they need 18-21 oz formula up till 1 for iron and vits etc, so ur fine
cows milk is ifne to introduce but not replace this xx

 

[HKateH]

Some days he'll drink 16oz then others he'll drink more like 24oz, so I reckon we average out at around 20oz daily. He loves his food. I've noticed a change over the last week actually - before he'd cry for milk and only eat solids if he wasn't hungry for milk, but this week he's been hungry for food. When we offer him a bottle he isn't interested but will drink it after he's eaten. I wonder if that's him transitioning from milk being his main food source to solid food being it instead?

I've always demand fed and never had a real routine with meals but this week he's set his own. My little man is growing up

 

[lilesMom]

My lo is starting to prefer food too. ;-)goid sign xx

 

[HKateH]

My lo is starting to prefer food too. ;-)goid sign xx

Is it a developmental thing as they get older? I've always been of the mindset that food under one is for fun, but my LO is like an actual dustbin!

 

[lilesMom]

My lil guy loves his food.
I think it's a natural progression for them.
He used to hve35. Ish oz milk
Now hewill hve 20-25 milk plus food.
He has dropped over 10 oz for his food ;-)