Transitioning from Formula to Milk

Hi, B.. Well, there are drinks that give the child a transition from formula to stuff that is a little closer to milk, but are not plain milk. It's been a long time since my child was that age, so I forgot what it's called, but it's something like "stages" or "first steps."

Plain cow's milk at too young an age may be a factor in Type I diabetes in very young children, so that may be why ppl have told you not to feed your son plain milk.

Unless he has a weight problem, formula will not hurt him. It has more calories than plain milk, so if you need to watch his weight, then you will want to feed him something else, but otherwise, formula will not hurt him. You could try soy-based or rice-based drinks for children, but at his age, he should be eating solid foods and will not need to take most of his protein and vitamins from milk or formula the way a baby has to.

Peace,
Syl

I don't think any doctor would say to keep them on formula until they are 2. If you don't want to use whole milk now ask your doctor for some alternatives, such as organic.

Ask your pediatrician. When I was in the same situation with my son, I asked the doctor at his 1 year check up. I had read the same thing in a magazine. His opinion was that formula companies generated that information through the media and the AAP does not recommend (meaning it is not necessary) to give formula past the first birthday. There are always other factors to consider (i.e. was your baby a premie or is his weight below average for his height, etc.) so always consult with your pediatrician first. Good Luck

I have read that breastfeeding is best if you can continue till the age of 2. But with Formula my pedi told us with our 1st son by the age of one to have him off of it.

What you do is over the next couple of weeks or days depends on how you want to do it is put a little bit of milk in his formula. Then slowly increase the amt of milk untill you are no longer giving formula.

I am sorry I do not remember the exact messurements my oldest is almost 6 and I am still nursing my 15 month old.

You can move on to the "next step" formula but his growing body truly needs the milk also if he is eating food he is getting more than enough of "what he needs". Talk to your pediatrician...........................

I breastfed my kids and then switched to formula at different points with each of them. I was told to switch my kids over to whole milk when they turned one because they need the extra fat and vitamins that formula doesn't have. When my kids turned 1, I started adding whole milk to the formula and every couple days adding more until it was all whole milk. I transitioned to 2% and eventually skimmed milk the same way. But they should drink whole milk until they are at least 2, and if they are thin, it can be beneficial to have it a little longer. I was told that had I chosen to continue to breasfeed, it would have been good to also give them whole milk too because it has things breasmilk doesn't. (my kids are 8, 5, 4, 2)

Personally, I agree with you. I don't think that the MINUTE our babies turn one is magic & we should change everything just because he is 365 days old!! I kept my son on Toddler Formula until he was about 15-16 months, and then mixed it with Organic Whole Milk with DEA. Then I weaned him off in about a month or 6 weeks. I never consulted with anyone, it just felt right for him. I did tell his DR., who said, "ok.".

Hello B. ,

I have two boys and one of them transition to regular milk when they were but one , my younger son is lactose intolerant so he has soy milk ( Organic West soy ) , I have never heard of a child after 2 still on formula , I would talk to your ped , Breastfeeding is all fine until 2 but not Formula , that is what my ped told me .

Good Luck !!!

I know that a Mom in my Mom's group told me that she has not given her son milk yet and he's almost 20 months old! She did breastfeed until 17 months and has been using Enfamil's Next Step Formula with him, too. The formula certainly has more iron than milk would and is fortified/formulated to use instead of milk... I would guess it would be your choice. Milk is certainly less expensive (Organic or not), but I understand that it may not be as convenient at times... I remember thinking, "How can I go places and take milk with me?" The thermal sippy cups keep it cool for a few hours and there are plenty of places that have milk... Starbucks, McDonalds, convenience stores... so you can stop in for more, if needed.
Do what works for you... make sure your son gets a vitamin if you are worried that he isn't getting his nutrition in his food/drink otherwise. Talk to your ped about this.

T.

I buy organic milk. Publix now makes their own, Greenwise.

Make sure your child is eating healthy:
fresh fruits & veggies (or organic frozen or organic canned)
dairy products: look for highest % of calcium (when I buy frozen cheese ravioli, I buy the brand that has the highest % of calcium)
low sugar (I check spaghetti sauces for their sugars- look at Ragu! terrible!)
high fiber (look for the lowest sugar, highest fiber bread & tortillas)
no nitrates (watch out for hotdogs & deli meats!)
no food coloring (who needs blue or red drinks?)
if you give juice, give natural juice and add water

so: milk is fine! just make sure that on the whole, your toddler is getting a good diet!

B., my pediatrician said that babies need to be on formula only until their first birthday. After that, they can be switched to whole milk until they turn 2. Formula is expensive and there is no reason to continue feeding him formula after his first birthday. My ped said that whole milk until the baby turns 2 is necessary because the fat in the milk is essential for continued brain development. I took my son off of formula when he turned 12 months.

Never heard that before, 1 is usually the age to switch unless he has had problems with the milk.