Dairy- i cant bring myself to give her any

[Inanna]

I am another that doesn't subscribe to the belief that cow's milk is necessary for healthy development.

If we lived in many countries in the world our children wouldn't be fed this way at all!
It's all personal choice - and what we each choose to do for our children is led by the knowledge and beliefs we hold as individuals.

I just think it curious that so many in this country feel that if you don't eat cows milk then you are missing out. That is not necessarily true.

I also don't agree that it is safe to feed small babies across the board from all food sources. I do believe that the human gut is not mature enough under 12 months to accomodate the huge lactose and protein infusions of drinking/eating dairy.

Cows milk is perfect for cows babies not for human babies. I personally feel awful if I have a big wad of dairy in my body. It is not easy to digest. It's even harder for little peeople. But that is my personal belief and knowledge I have gleaned over the years.

[Shanti]

I'm sure a little bit of cows milk on their cereal of a morning every 2-3 days wouldn't be too much 'overload' on their little bodies though?? That's all DD gets and she loves it. Not as much as her boobie juice though of course She has unlimited BM.

I don't see the big deal with it really but thats JMO. When they are older like most kids they are going to want to drink cows milk on their cereal, or milkshakes etc....

[Olive]

There is no need to delay the introduction of dairy. Its important in a growing body which IMO far out weighs the "i cant bring myself to give her dairy". At the end of the day, its not only how u feel, but what she needs.

im sorry holly but i dont agree that she needs cows milk at 9 months!
im concerned about our obsession with our kids having copious amounts of another animals breastmilk! so my concern far out weighs the 'its important in a growing body'.
FWIW i have started giving her some on her cereal but at this point in her life to me its not an essential part of her diet.

[Trillian]

Ausgirl - cows milk not as a whole drink to replace formula or breastmilk in the first 12 months.

There is no need to delay the introduction of dairy. Its important in a growing body which IMO far out weighs the "i cant bring myself to give her dairy". At the end of the day, its not only how u feel, but what she needs.

I too have heard that with holding dairy or other foods can lead to more allergy issues than if they werent introduced earlier.

Can you back that up with fact please? Many babies and toddlers who are BF to term DON'T need animal milk and dairy products and calcium requirements can be met from other sources. And if you are successfully maintaining a term BF relationship why would you even entertain the thought of adding something superfluous to the childs needs? I'm sure a vegan Mumma would give you a hearty 'PFFFT' and roll her eyes out of her head if you suggested to her that it's not about how she feels, but what her baby needs.

[Inanna]

My kids go to an Ananda Marga school. No eggs, meat, garlic or mushrooms. Many members are vegan. No dairy there and they are all healthy little tackers...
It is our societal norm that we eat dairy food. It is not a nutritional fact that we need it.
People live their whole lives without it. Whole countries live without it.

I think it's healthy to question anything that "seems" normal or okay. It's kinda like saying we all need red meat. We don't! Or we all need 8 hours sleep a night - we all don't!

[onthefly]

Personally, at that age and given that you're breastfeeding, I really wouldn't worry about it. We don't need dairy, just some of the things in it, which can also come from other sources.

[Trillian]

It is our societal norm that we eat dairy food. It is not a nutritional fact that we need it.
People live their whole lives without it. Whole countries live without it.

Innana, I saw an interview on David and Kim some time ago now that had a woman on there talking about how dairy is actually bad for us and we don't need to have it. Children yes, but not as much as you think and calcium should be gained from other sources and not relying completely on dairy to meet calcium requirements. Now I love a big glass of icy cold milk, but what she was saying made sense. I wish I could remember who she was so I could link some info.