Not Wanting the Bottle

I would stick with formula if at all possible. If he does not want the bottle, but does fine with the cup, then just put the formula in the cup. Formula does not have to come out of a bottle. I started transitioning my son onto whole milk by mixing it with breast milk around 11 months, but there are nutrients in formula that will be lacking in cows milk, so if he will continue with the formula until a year, I would try to do that. I also agree that juice is just unnecessary sugar and calories that probably take away from the amount of formula he takes in. Water is a good substitute, but if he is not taking bottles, I would give him formula in his cup for meals. Good luck!!

My daughter refused the bottle at 10 months too. she had been using sippy cups since she was 6months with milk in it and I let her. What is the point in wasting your energy to try to get the bottle in him as long as you are feeding him healthy food.

My baby did the same thing so I just stopped with the formula and bottles a few weeks before he turned 1. His doctor was ok with it so I wasnt worried about it.

Why can't you put formula in a sippy cup???

Hi C.
I had the same problem with my oldest. She stopped breasfeeding at 7 months and wanted nothing to do with formula. I did give her milk at 9 months, the pedi highly recommend I keep her on formula for a bit(it was a struggle). She did fine and did not have milk allergy at all. I did tell her pedi she did not like the formula and I needed to give her something to drink as giving juice more than once a day was too much. I look at as you know your kid best and I know Dr.s get paid the big bucks but you also have to have a happy child at the same time. Your son is almost 1 so I cant imagine the pedi not letting you give it to him more now.
Good Luck

Hi C.. My son never drank out of a bottle. He went from nursing to drinking w/ a straw or sippy cup they say by 14 months they should be completely off bottles anyway so offer him a sippy al the time it can't hurt call your pediatrician's office and ask them about the milk depending on the size and health of your baby they might give you the okay to start milk a little early.

EDITED: I'd like to add after reading some responses my youngest is allergic to dairy and he didn't have any dairy no cheese, no milk, no yogurt until her after he turned one so I see allergies as no matter what you do you either will or will not have them I don't care what the books say.

It is only my opinion but I started the change over to milk at 10 months. Start week 1 with 6 oz formula and 2 oz milk. Week 2 use 4 oz formula with 4 oz milk. week 3 use 2 oz formula and 6 oz milk. Week 4 whole milk. It is important not to use reduced fat milk for a child under 2. Children his age only need 24 ounces of milk a day.

Oh, and use the sippy cup if thats what he wants!

Hi C.,
I have to say it seems like you are jumping the gun a little bit. I'm shocked that your infant is eating 3 square meals a day. Before the age of 1 - food is really meant to be fun and experimental and their nutritional and brain development needs (DHA/ARA) should be attained through breastmilk or formula. At the age of 1 - your child's digestive tract should be ready and producing the necessary enzymes to handle things such as dairy. Offering a child before the age of 1 can predispose them to allergies and lactose intolerance later in life. (I want to highlight this, b/c I see what other people wrote and just b/c there is not an immediate allergic reaction does not mean that your child is in the clear for the rest of their life)I know it seems like you're only a month away, but really you should just be introducing a grown up routine to the child after age 1, so there is a transitional window that buys some more time. It's great that he is eating the same food as you guys and not jarred stuff, but be careful of those allergens. Any family history of asthma or allergies require more restriction, caution, and delay. Eggs, nut products, dairy...all should be held until at LEAST 1 year of age.

Also, consider just giving your son water. 10 months is awfully young for juice and unnecessary sugar. Hemp milk is also a great drink or addition in cereal. It has all the good for you fats.

My son is the exact same age and I know how tempting it is when he is smacking his lips at my scrambled egg w/ feta and spinach, but I know it's all right around the corner and it's so much better to start them off on the right track and have children with great eating habits and to know I made every choice possible to protect him from future problems.

good luck. hope this helps 8)

C.,

You should wait until age 1 for cows milk, as this is how babies develop allergies to milk, and their intestines can't handle the enzymes in milk just yet. As far as juice, look at the ingredients, they all have sugar in some form. I avoided giving it to my daughter for the longest time, I give her frozen orange juice now, as it seems to be the only w/o sugar(even baby juices have sugar). My daycare provider will not give her "students" any juice, just water and milk or formula. She says they can get the juice from the fruit she provides them..

You sound like you have your child on a regimented strict feeding schedule, whatever works for you...

Good luck.

C.

In other cultures at 10 months they feed cows milk. As said below you know your child best and if he doesn't like formula and will drink milk from a cup why fight it? you won't need to bottle break him. He already has done it for himself. and they only need two and a half cups of milk a day not 3. but if he has more or less a day it doesn't really matter over time as long as he gets the nutrients he needs, he will grow right on target:) beside formula is exspensive iwouldn't waste my money on it. 2 of my 4 did betetr on milk anyways :)