[MVV]

Need to know what is good for a 3 month old... formula or cows milk

[shygrneyzs]

What does your pediatrician say is best? Cows milk is generally not advised for children under the age of one. Talk to your doctor.

[MVV]

Thanks. What I'm confused about is that one paed said formula or cows milk. If I couldn't get my help at home to mix the formula well enuff for the baby then I ought to give him cows milk instead. I just changed my paed and this one tells me no cows milk unless absolutely necessary, instead it can be used as a medium for other meals, like cereal, mashed fruits etc. Im to start work in 20 days soon and he tells me I should start 3 meals a day: one with cereal, one with veggies and one with fruits in a pasty consistency. I was quite shocked because we start normally when the baby is 4-5 months at least and not all 3 meals should be semi solids. Is he right? Also back here in india most of the people have been using cows milk over the years... so I really don't know... help me through this predicament!

[shygrneyzs]

I am surprised too that your doctor advises three meals a day with semi solids. If anything, just introducing one food and staying with that one food until you know there are no adverse reactions to it. Slowly adding other foods. As in introducing a new food every two or three weeks. But I am not your doctor either. If you are not comfortable with what your doctor told you, can you seek another medical professional's opinion?

[MVV]

Exactly what I was thinking. This new paed is bit aggressive but is amazing with kids. I was thinking of mebbe formula... will probably change my mind if it doesn't agree with him. Also introducing a meal a time and watching for reactions is something I would be comfy doing after he's 4-4.5 mnths of age... let see. So far no kid I know of has reported reactions to cows milk so...

[BartsDiamond]

I was always told that formula or breast milk is always best until age one. Cows milk will curdle in the child's stomach because a baby's body cannot digest the complexities that are in cows milk. As far as eating solid foods, I gave my son baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk between 4-5 months because he was so greedy and growing so fast. Other than that he didn't get much other solid food. Every baby is different I just think that babies can't eat the SAME foods we do that early. Just my opinion.

[J_9]

Formula or breast milk is recommended before age 1 as baby's tummy is not developed enough to break down and digest cow's milk. Also, giving Moo Milk too early has been known to cause allergies to dairy products and possibly cause lactose intolerance.