Most parents count down the days until their baby’s first birthday with excitement — and not just because it’s such a huge milestone. There’s another reason why a first birthday is cause for celebration: It’s usually the point at which you can start introducing your little one to cow’s milk.
Even if you’ve loved breastfeeding and plan to continue for a while, being able to substitute some of that liquid gold for whole milk is going to free up precious minutes in your schedule. Meanwhile, cans of formula are as expensive as actual liquid gold, so no parent is going to miss forking over that cash.
So by the time your baby turns 1-year-old, you’re likely to be more than ready to make the switch. But can you do it earlier? Does it have to be cow’s milk? And what can you expect to happen once you start the transition? Here’s a guide to when — and how — to introduce whole milk.
When can babies have cow’s milk?
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), babies over 1 year of age can begin drinking cow’s milk instead of breast milk or formula.
It should be whole milk — not a lower percentage or skim — because the fat included is good for your baby’s brain, which goes through some pretty important development in the first 2 years of life.
That said, in instances of a family history or risk of obesity or heart disease, caregivers should discuss the most appropriate choice of milk with their pediatrician.
Why is it important to wait until 12 months?
We get that it’s tempting to start introducing milk a little sooner than 12 months, but you shouldn’t jump ahead here. Breast milk and formula contain iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients, many of which aren’t included in cow’s milk — or at least not in high enough quantities for your baby to thrive.
However, by the time your baby is 1-year-old, they’re able to compensate for many of those lost nutrients with a well-rounded diet comprising fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and whole grains.
