>What do you all say to the mom who has an appropriately aged baby (7
>months), who is more than enjoying his first tastes of  the traditional (in
>the US) first foods-- rice cereal, fruits, veggies.  She is also interested
>in some "hold him over until I get home" suggestions for liquid extras-- but
>does not want to pump to get some breastmilk, baby refuses formula and
>juice, water is a short time period option.
>
>Her question to me was : Why can't I put a taste, an ounce, maybe two, of
>cows milk in an occasional cup?  Her doctor says absolutely not, not until 1
>year, not even sips; he told her to just use formula.

Karen,
I had a call from a mum not long ago with a similar query. Only she had
tried cow's milk as well and baby wouldn't drink it either! I felt that
since baby was still having about 4 breastfeeds a day, she was getting
plenty of milk for her needs, and could probably get by OK with water and
solids when mum was not there. I suggested if she was concerned about milk
intake, then she could increase milk-containing solids like yoghurt,
custards, etc. that baby did like.

Perhaps the concern with *absolutely no* cow's milk before 1 year is
because the Dr is worried the amount will creep up and up and become a
major part of baby's diet. He might also not be very familiar with babies
still breastfed at 7 months, rather than being on formula already, and may
not have come across a baby that *doesn't like* formula.

Joy Anderson IBCLC, NMAA Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia
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