Question for raw milk users...

[Lucy in Australia]

We have recently switched to raw milk and all I can say is "Where have you been all my life?" Wow... What a difference! I can now drink 2 or more glasses of milk and not get a churning stomach! :hurray:

 

My question is about my baby; she's 6 months old and on formula. She's doing really well, this particular formula agrees with her and she's eating plenty of good solids. Has anyone given their baby raw milk before 12 months? I know there is a raw milk formula recipe on the Weston Price website, but there are too many other ingredients we can't get hold of. My naturopath suggested adding about 20 mls to her formula now, and gradually increase till she's on raw milk at 10 months. I think it's a good idea, I just don't know anyone else who's done it.

[Quickbeam]

Hello Lucy in AUS; I'm Lucy in NC;)

 

I love Nourishing Traditions and I love raw milk. We enjoy the recipes for lacto-fermented veggies. But their recommendations for infants are not supported by current data. In other words, the AAP and the WHO say that human milk or formula needs to be the primary source of nutrition for children until they are 12 months.

 

Please consider that diluting her formula with raw milk is replacing food she needs with food she can have as a supplement. At 9 months she can have yogurt and cheese made from raw milk; why not wait until then? Cow's milk, though it contains wonderful live compounds, also contains proteins that are huge and hard for little ones to digest. So in other words, you can mix probiotics into your baby's mashed banana instead of giving cow's milk, and she will benefit. HTH

[MaryCatherine]

My nephew really struggled with formula so my sister started giving him their fresh goat milk. He's a new baby! He was 6 months old when she made the switch.

 

I have no research to support or dispute raw milk. I've just seen it in practice.

[Quickbeam]

Now that you mention it, I wish there were goat milk formulas available. I, too, have known people who couldn't handle cow's milk but do well with goat's milk.

[Tangerine]

There are recipes in NT for homemade formula (milk based and meat based). I would consider (IF you want to take your baby off formula) that you look into that before putting her on just milk.

[Melissa in Australia]

we use raw milk to. I have had a house cow for the last 14 years.

from my understanding, you should Not give children under 12 months cows milk. goats milk is different. the fat molecules in goats milk are much smaller.

[Ellie]

Having lactose-intolerant children (yes, even raw milk caused problems for them) sent me on a search regarding giving cow's milk to children at all. So my vote is no cow's milk, raw or not, before 12 months.