It can feel like everyone at home is ready to start her on cow's milk, and the shop shelves are full of A2 and organic worries. The good news is simpler than all that. The dairy in her food is already fine, and only the glass of milk waits a little longer.
1Why the glass of milk waits
Until she turns one, her breastmilk or formula is still her main milk, and it gives her what cow's milk cannot. Plain cow's milk as a drink is low in the iron and other things a young baby needs, and it sits heavier on her still-growing system, so there is no need to rush it. Dairy cooked into her food, like curd or a little ghee, is a different thing and is fine from six months.
2Which milk, once she is one
Once she is one, plain whole (full-fat) milk is the usual choice for her. Skip skimmed and 1% milk for now, because the fat in full milk is real food for her energy and her growing brain. Use pasteurised milk, or boil loose milk well before giving it, and never give her raw, unboiled milk.
3Starting the glass of milk
Around her first birthday, offer her plain full-fat milk in a small open cup at a mealtime.
A couple of small cups a day is plenty, alongside her food not instead of it; tell her doctor about any rash or upset tummy.
She may refuse it at first, and that is normal; keep offering calmly over the coming days, and it often clicks with time.
For how much is too much once she drinks it, and the details for each dairy food, see her weight page and the food pages.
Never give her raw or loose unboiled milk, never plain cow's milk as her main drink before her first birthday, and never skimmed or 1% milk before she is two.
4Myths around cow's milk
Desi, A2, or organic milk is not required for her, and ordinary pasteurised milk is a safe choice.
The guidelines do not ask you to pick a cow's breed or a premium milk. Plain pasteurised milk from a shop or dairy you trust is all she needs, so the A2 and organic worry can go.
Full-cream milk is not too heavy for her, and it does not need watering down.
Once she is one she needs the full fat, so give it to her as it is. If you want to ease her in gently, a smaller amount of full milk is better than a watered-down cup.
5 Questions moms ask
Everyone at home wants to start cow's milk now. What can I say?
The pushing comes from love, so it need not become a fight. One calm line helps: her doctor said breastmilk or formula stays her main milk until she is one, alongside her food, so we are waiting on the glass of milk. Fresh cow or buffalo milk is not a better main drink than that for a baby so young.
My toddler just will not drink plain milk. Is something wrong?
This is very common, and her food matters far more than the milk does. Keep offering it calmly, try it in a small cup, and never force it. Some little ones take to milk only well into the second year, and that is still fine. Her food-refusal page has more if it turns into a daily battle.When she refuses food ›
Do I have to boil the packet milk again before giving it?
Packet milk is usually pasteurised, and if the label says so, it is safe to use as it is, once it has been stored as the pack says and is in date. You can boil it if you like the malai, but it is not needed for safety. Raw or loose milk from a vendor must be boiled well first.
Could dairy give her an allergy?
Cow's milk is a common allergen, so bring dairy in gently, giving a little and watching for a reaction. A mild rash or an upset tummy can wait for her doctor. But trouble breathing, or swelling of her lips, face or tongue, means calling for help right away. Her allergen page walks through it all.Starting egg, nuts and other allergens ›