When Did You Take Your Baby off of Formula?

1 year of baby formula, another 6 months on toddler formula, then vitamin D milk

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i'm sorry to say absolutely NO MILK until 1 yr old. it depleats their iron levels an will cause them to get really sick. even once they are 1 yr they shouldn't have much milk, b/c again, it depleats iron levels. you can always ask your ob or your sons ped. if they have any formula. most do, and they give it out often. i know, i worked for an ob-gyn for 5 yrs. i can't believe all of the parents on here that started their kids early... dr's know what they are talking about. iron depletion is quite serious and has symptoms not obvious to parents and affects the child long term.

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Hi J.!

I would definitely ask your son's pediatrician. My son's pediatrician always stressed that my son eating baby food was just practice. It's just supposed to teach babies how to eat; tongue placement, swallowing, etc. My son was getting ALL his nutrients and vitamins from his formula. So, I kept him on formula all the way to his first birthday.

I can understand the financial situation. But I think formula is the most important baby item. Is there any place else to cut costs? Generic diapers and wipes, second hand clothes, make your own baby food? WIC?

Good luck!

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Ask your pedi, most likey he or she will say one year. I kept my first two on formula till they were one. As for the toddler formula after one, I don't think so. I think it is just another way for these companies to make money unless it is a medical issue where your pedi wants you to continue with the toddler formula.

Hey-

I'm one of those by the books moms. I wait until they are 1 to start whole and then if I see fit drop down at 2. I know moms who have started their kids early on whole milk and they are just fine (MizTifs for example - very healthy children). I am only caution because my middle son has a sensitivity to all pasturized dairy products. So he is on all raw or organic dairy. You do what is best for your son. Maybe even discuss it with your doctor...and if it's a big deal go to WIC they give you free formula and food!!!!

Hi J.! As a fellow young, single mom (at one point, 3 under 3.5 years old!) so I know what it means to try and cut costs. My children and I were on WIC for baby formula and all, but what they gave us a month was never enough and I was still stuck buying a good $30+ worth of it every month. Doesn't sound like much, but it was breaking my bank! So around 5 months, I started mixing my baby's formula with whole, vitamin D milk. The first few days, he spit up a little more than usual - his belly getting used to the dairy. Nothing that seems to bother him... just a few extra clothing changes. :) I'd mix whatever it took to make a 4 oz. formula bottle, then just fill the other 4 oz. with the milk. That way I could cut out the costs and still get my baby the nutrition he needed. Of course if your baby has allergies to dairy you may have to try soy milk. And if your baby seems to be throwing up or having any other type of odd symptoms, you should talk to a doctor. But me and my best friend (we had our sons around the same time) have had nothing but success with our 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk bottles and my lil man is now almost 8 months so I say go for it! :) Hope this helps and good luck!

I did one year. Most people I know did one year, although I do know someone that started to mix half and half (half milk half formula a little earlier than a year to start to get them use to the taste.

1 year then whole milk. You should not take them off sooner as they grow so fast they need all of the vitamins and minerals to stay strong.

I started gradually switching my boy over to milk about 8 months. By this time he was eating table food because he would not eat baby food. He was also really close to walking at this time as well. I checked with our doctor who said this was fine especially since he has never showed any signs of food allergies before. I just added a few ounces of milk to the formula until we worked up to the full amount. My little boy is now 2 and I think spend just as much on milk as I did on formula! He loves it! :)

Please don't give your baby ANY cow milk before the age of one!! Some people have done it without having horrible problems (that they know of) but it's still not a good idea. I have several friends with children who now have dairy intolerance (different completely from lactose intolerance) because they gave them milk before they were ready. Milk is one of the top 8 allergens in the US and it's there for a reason. So I know formula is expensive but it's better than cow's milk (apply for WIC it's GREAT!!). Even cow's milk formula is not as hard on the digestive system as whole cow's milk. I have a friend who now a son who is deathly allergic to milk (can't even be kissed on the head by someone who has had dairy, without causing an ER trip). That bloating that one person spoke of and spitting up is NOT good. It's wiser to wait. It's only another 6 months or so. If you do decide to give him dairy please stop if he starts getting ear infections. Dairy is horrible for causing ear infections, chest congestion and runny noses!! Best of luck. Try rice milk if you HAVE to do something other WITH formula. NOT rice milk by its self either. They need the nutrition from the formula!!

I took my daughter off of formula at 10 months and my son was 7 months. I started by adding two tablespoons of mike to their formula and gradually add more mike until they were totally off of the formula. My son had acid reflex so I thought that I would start weening him sooner than I did my daughter. By the time I was done weening him off the formula his acid reflex was gone and he didn't spit up as much. I think that the milk was not as rich as the formula.

If you think that your little one is not getting enough vitiams you can buy liquid vitiams for baby at Baby store like babies "r" us or a drug store to give them. Go with your feelings if you think it is time to ween the little one then thats when you should start.

Good Luck.

I would stick with the one year because transitioning babies onto wheat products and whole milk too soon can increase their propensity for allergic reactions to food including eczema, asthma, and other major food allergies. Their little bodies just haven't built up the ability to metabolically process these foods yet. 6 months is too soon, when he gets closer to 10-11 months I would talk to your pediatrician again and see if it's okay. Even then, I would split half formula/half milk and wean him off of the formula slowly so by 12 months he can completely be on whole milk. Also, talk to your pediatrician about providing you will formula samples. If you let them know that you're having a hard time, they should be able to provide you with a good amount of samples.

How old is your baby? If he's between 9 and 12 months old I'd gradually start weaning him from formula as long as he's getting the nutrition he needs from solid foods. Lots of people swear my that "majic month" that they feel a baby should be before weaning from the formula. Remember formula is designed to provide all nutrients for baby until they are getting those same nutrients from food. Just my opinion.

1 year then I started Vit D milk. They need all the nutrition that formula has.....so ask your doctor and go from there :-)
Good Luck

Well to give my opinion.. My 1st child went to cows milk at 8 months old, because my neice is 8 months older then my daughter, they switched bubbas one afternoon and my daughter drank milk, after that she would gag if I gave her the formula so I just made the switch... my son was about 9 months old, my children had no allergies and they were fine.. it all depends on the child, I would watch for allergies, but mine were ok..

I started giving my kids regular milk at 11 1/2 months almost twelve but you shouldn't do it till a year old. I you do you should give them vitamin D milk. a friend of mine started at 8 months and the doctor told her to give her son vitamin D milk.

<b>The best advice I can give u is just what I did. Around 6 months after he started solid foods I would warm some up and give it to him in a bottle, or add it to his cereal. He was pretty much off formula by the time he was 10ish months.
Honestly its a personal choice. Their is no rule book for being the best parent, just guidelines what doctor's give us...
If u feel that his body is mature enough to handle a lil milk here and there for the next few months then go for it. But formula is also important for him to have too! It gives him other nutients that milk can't.
And if he is just thristy, suggest water! My first born hated it, my second son loved it! All trial and error.

Good luck!
MiZTiF

i've always heard that you should wait till babies are 1 yr old to switch them to whole milk becuase it doesn't offer all teh nutrients babies need for proper development...also i think there is an increased risk of allergies if switched before. the best person to ask for sure is your kids ped.

At least one year for formula. Have you tried Target brand or Walmart brand formula? They are really almost the same and just as good as Enfamil and Similac. Even with my very very spitty boy it didn't seem to make a difference. I would stick with that and not the Next Step stuff even. Same price and not as good of ingredients.

I waited until one year, to switch to whole milk, then down to 2% when my daughter turned 2. I have never heard of starting milk prior to a year old~

my baby will be 1 year next week and she's been on whole milk for about 3 weeks. we warm it up a bit, just to take the chill off. she usually has one bottle in the a.m, one in the afternoon and one at night before bed. she also gets water throughout the day in a sippy cup.