How much dairy...

[Aly Mac]

....for a one year old if they are still bfing 4 x day?  I know bf isn't dairy, but it's the calcium in dairy that its' important isn't it?  I can find heaps on how much dairy for one year old, but that is on the assumption that they are not having any bf or formula.

thanks if anyone knows  (or move it if it should go on the bf boards...)

[zed]

The question I would ask you is how often are you BFing? 

With my boys I BF until 14 months.  I fed morning and night only so I gave them 2 - 2.5 cups of milk/diary a day. 

What I find to be the easiest is to offer milk at breakfast, lunch and dinner.   However they want up to 4-6 oz. depending on how much they eat.  Right there you have 1.5 - 2 cups covered.  Then I usually supplement the rest of the diary in the form of yogurt or cheese.  I use yogurt for bed time snacks and cheese for any day time snack or even on their sandwich for lunch. 

This way I know they are getting enough milk and I don't even have to think about how much they did or didn't get.  Also in your case, you don't have to worry about milk getting in the way of BFing.  I believe that the Vit. D in the milk is as important as the calcium, but I am not 100% sure on that one.

[Aly Mac]

So you don't give any less milk, if you bf more?  so if they say 2-2.5cups of dairy a day, that's regardless of the amount of breast milk they get?  L loves her dairy, in all forms so no probs with her taking it, just not sure how much to give.

[Aly Mac]

Actually I just found some interesting info on Kelly.com about it. ?Should have looked there in the first place, silly me!!  they recomend that when dr's talk about whole milk and the amount, that it includes breast milk as it actually has a higher fat content and lots of the same vitamins.  Will read some more on it... as I want to make sure she's getting the right amount.

thanks for your advice.

[zed]

I don't know if BFing more or less matters.  That part of your question I was trying not to address since I don't know.  What I do know is that a lot of Mom's, especially first time Mom's spend way to much time worrying and obsessing about things that in the end they find out that there isn't a one catch all answer. 

Personally, I think that it can't hurt to give the entire recommended amount of milk if your LO is happy on it, is still BFing as much as she and you want, and most of all she isn't getting constipated from not enough water or juice.  I think that as long as everything is balanced there is no reason to stress but go with the flow.

[Aly Mac]

You're right.  She eats a balanced diet.  I should just think of the bf as extra really.  But, if she doesn't get the recomended of anything, the bf balances it out anyway. I'm just happy that she's eating (this week anyway  )

[zed]

I'm glad to hear that you have found your answers.

[Aly Mac]

thanks to you 

[Samuel's mum]

If you are bfing 4 times a day and she has 1-2 dairy servings you are completely covered.

Don't forget dairy isn't some magical stuff which our societies seem to feel it is. It is fat in emulsion and contains some calcium and vitamins and minerals. Human milk does all this and is more bioavailable.
Breastmilk isn't an extra - that's British National Health Service as well as kellymom.
 

[Aly Mac]

thanks Emma