Transition to Whole Milk

[Kindra178]

We are in the process of transitioning to whole milk. How long can whole milk sit out? I am used to making a bottle of formula and then starting the bedtime routine. Is 40 minutes too long for whole milk to sit out? Also, although we have never warmed milk, he nursed for months and we only gave him room temperature formula. So part of the problem with whole milk is the temperature, we have noticed. Can I warm whole milk in water in a glass and then let it sit for 40 minutes? Thanks in advance.

[elephantmeg]

I wouldn't let it sit out any longer than an hour total. And I wouldn't warm it first. It should be about room temp after 40 min I would think. I guess I would try it and see. You may also find that he does OK without milk at bedtime, DS nursed to about a year but at a year he stoped on his own and now eats supper and that's the last he has to eat/drink unless we run around a ton after supper in which case I'll offer him some water.

[MATTYSMOMMY]

When we transitioned 2 months ago, I accidently left milk out for a couple hours and it was totally disgusting. Make sure not to leave it out more than an hour or so - we do that and it is fine. I bought one of those car adapter coolers for the car. The summer is so hot, I was worried about when we just go out to the mall.

[sadiespetunia]

I would agree with everyone about the 1 hour frame and would even strive to not have it out for more than 30 minutes. Hard I know but probably worth it. Our son will often ask (by signing) if he wants his milk and then we just go to the fridge and get his cup. He'll drink what he wants and then we just put it back in there.

When I was switching over to milk for him, he's 13 months, I found this on the Horizon milk website:

"To preserve freshness, it is important to keep milk at a proper temperature. Milk should be stored between 33º F and 40º F, which is the typical temperature range for a household refrigerator. Milk will spoil more rapidly if unrefrigerated for even a short amount of time. If even one hour passes before you head home to unload your groceries and put your perishable items in the refrigerator, the milk you purchased will spoil faster than it normally would had it been kept cool. Handled properly, fresh milk keeps for approximately seven days after it is opened. Every hour that milk is above 40º F, though, decreases its life by one day. To prevent this heat shock, we suggest making the grocery store your final stop before traveling home, placing milk in your grocery cart last, and carrying a cooler in your car to help maintain milk's cool temperature."

When we go out I LOVE the Playtex Fridge to Go. It is AMAZING! I have found that it will keep milk cool for 9 hours. The perfect size for two sippy cups/bottles and a piece of cheese!

[ajrivers]

I'm really paranoid about the milk thing so I don't keep it out any longer than an hour AND I put a couple of ice cubes in the sippy cup to help it stay chilled a bit. DS was a dawdler when BF'ing and he is with a sippy cup as well so I also don't pour a lot at one time so I don't throw a bunch away. Good luck!

[MNmomtobe]

I have to second sadiespetunia's suggestion of getting the fridge-to-go. We have several of their products and they are pretty amazing. Right now, we are using the smaller fridge to go they sell at Target and BRU. Kept milk bottles cold even after sitting in a very hot car (has been in the mid-90's here lately) and the bottles were still ice cold after several hours. I also put little containers of baby food in there.

BTW, about the transition process, we recently transitioned DD too. We increased by 1 oz each day of whole milk while decreasing the formula by 1 oz. The formula was either at room temp or warmed then we added the whole milk to it. Since we did this gradually (over a weeks time) the bottles got "colder" as the amount of milk increased and formula decreased. So by the time DD's bottles consisted of just whole milk, she was used to it being cold and did fine.

[denna]

Sorry to hijack but I had to ask, warming milk in a pan on the stove is bad? I have done this occasionally for DS b/c colder drinks are bad for digestion and DS refuses to drink milk straight of the fridge.

I assumed it was okay because that is how Ive seen milk warmed in the past and that is how I make hot chocolate ;). So I thought it was safe. Am I totally wrong on this?!

[denna]

From about.com:

The fact that whole milk is usually cold might also cause a problem for some children. While you might be tempted to warm an infant's whole milk or let it come to room temperature, you might end up just creating a habit that will be inconvenient to keep up with. There is no rule that whole milk has to be served cold though.

Link:
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_change_milk.htm

"There is no rule that whole milk has to be served cold,"

So what we do is warm the milk on the stove in a pan for a few seconds just to get it at room temperature or slightly more. (Never microwave).

But like pp's said I would leave milk setting out for more than 15-30mins. It goes bad quickly.

ETA Link

HTH,

[LBW]

I don't warm DS2's milk because DS1 (4 1/2) still refuses to drink cold milk. Since DS2 has only ever had cold cow's milk, that's what he's used to and happy with. I've never heard before that it's bad for digestion.

[denna]

Tara,

MIL is a Medical Pratictioner of Chinese Medicine as well as a full time Acupuncturist and she gave us a few different books on Naturaling Feeding that talks about this here are a couple of things I found through Google:

(From NaturalHealingWays.com)
Cold Food & Liquid

If we drink or eat chilled, cold, or frozen foods or drink iced liquids with our meals, we are only impeding the warm transformation of digestion.

And from www.healthy.net:

4. Don't wash your food down. Too much liquid with your meals may dilute the digestive juices you need. Try to drink liquid before your meals so you won't feel thirsty during the meal. Cold or iced drinks may interfere with digestion according to Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. A little liquid with the meal may not interfere with digestion and a glass of warm water with lemon juice l/2 hour before a meal may promote secretion of hydrochloric acid.

And I undertand about setting precedence for having to continually warm the milk in the future as being a problem or a pain; but to help with transitioning I think it can be weaned down slowly in time.

For instance we give DS chilled water and diluted juice but warm milk when we have it available (not every time).

[LBW]

Thanks for the info and link!