Help with Switching from Formula to Milk

Updated on November 09, 2006
S.G. asks from Anderson, IN
19 answers

When my little girl was itty bitty, I had her on a milk based formula. She started to projectile throwing up the formula. This wouldn't happen all the time, maybe a couple times a day. I ended up switching her to Gentlease Formula, which helped but she still threw up every once in a while. I then ended up switching her to soy and she never threw up with that. Well now that my daughter is almost 1, I would like to start switching her over to milk. I am a little nervous to do this because what if she starts getting sick again. I don't know if she has an allergy to milk, she has never been tested. What would you suggest I do. I never had this problem with my son. Help, Thanks for you time.

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R.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

You could try soy milk, which is supposed to be better for you anyways or lactaid milk. My 2 year old 3 in january is on lactaid milk. She can't drink reguler milk or eat foods that have a loy of lactose in them.

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T.H.

answers from Des Moines on

My third son was on soy milk, and when it was time to switch over to whole milk I mixed the whole milk and the soy milk half and half for a week or so and then added more until it was totally whole milk. He took well to this.

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B.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi!
My kids did the same thing, it got better with soy, but even early on they had to take baby Zantac, sleep in their pumpkin seats, etc. I think the soy AND Zantac helped them. I also primarily breastfed, and with my son, ended up changing my diet, to try to help him.
Maybe your child had a combination of reflux and sensitivity to milk-based formula. Most people I know, switched to soy because it was more gentle on the digestive system.
When it came time to switch to milk, both my kids did FINE. I think in part they grew out of the reflux so many newborns have.
But, this is a case that you should check with your child's doctor, they can give you the best advice especially when concerns revolve around allergies.
Good luck

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S.M.

answers from Raleigh on

I am guessing she's still on the bottle? I would try giving her milk from a cup. Try SMALL amounts, first. If she's going to have a problem, you'll know right away.

Why haven't you discussed this with your pediatrician?

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C.J.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

i had the same problem with my 2 year old. what i did is wenned him of the formula. i gave him formula the firstday and then the next day give him ragualr milk but give the o0ne year ols formula to during the day to. here is another suggestion finish the can of formula that you al ready have and starting giving the baby milk. my two year old didn't care what he got aslong as it was in a bottle. You also want try to give the baby a sippy cup when you give him regular milk to.

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E.M.

answers from Richmond on

It definately sounds like a milk allergy. Both of my children had milk allergies. My son is on the hypoallergenic formula now. My daughter is almost 3 and has long since outgrown the milk allergy. However, I put her on soy milk when I switched her to milk from formula. She loves it. I never have a problem getting her to drink her milk. She doesn't like cow's milk and I know a lot of people who have to put syrup in their children's milk to get them to drink it. That didn't happen with the soy. Plus it just naturally has less sugar and the same amount of calcium as regular milk. I am a big proponent for soy and if you are dealing with an allergy it's definately a great way to go. I use Silk and SoyBaby yogurt. You can get it in the health food section of most grocery stores, but it's also usually in the dairy section with the other milk and yogurt. Good Luck!!

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W.C.

answers from Lexington on

I understand the vomiting issue - we had to go to a completely synthetic (read: expensive) formula until my son was able to drink milk. He has reflux and was lactose intolerant. Just in the past year (at age five) we've changed from regular to organic milk and the change in digestion has been tremendous! He no longer regurgitates milk or other food in his stomach....

My advice would be to try organic whole milk first (Kroger brand is the best tasting I've found). If she has an issue with this, try the lactose free....

Good luck!

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J.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi S.,
When I switched my daughter to milk from soy-based formula, I just did it very slowly. I began by making her bottle 1/8 milk and the rest formula for about a week, then made it 1/4 milk the next week and just increased it about 1/8 per week. Hope this helps.
J.

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T.R.

answers from South Bend on

I never had to really ween eiter of my kids from formula, i just switched them and they did great.....but also by that time they were eating more solids so they didn't depend on the formula/milk like they had..both of mine were 9 months too. My daughter & son had a problem with formula when they were babies, i had to go from iron, to no iron, to lacto free, to soy and back to iron formula, all with in two months! If she has been on soy, i would recommend putting her on a soy based milk, but her body had changed and whole milk is nothing like formula, so i would talk to your doctor and do what they recommmend.

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H.B.

answers from Charlotte on

My son had the same problem with formula, but when he went to regular milk I had no problems. Just try giving her a little at a time. If she has an allergy it won't take much to set it off. If she begins to throw up with the milk, definately have her tested for an allergy.

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J.H.

answers from Richmond on

Hi S.. I am 26 years old with 2 1/2 and 4 year old girls, who both had trouble with milk-based formulas as infants, so I can relate to your problem, I ran into the same thing when they turned 1 also. I asked my pediatrition, and she suggested to start supplementing her formula with whole milk. Maybe start off with 1/3 whole milk in her bottle and the rest formula for about a week, then do 1/2 and 1/2, and so on until she's totally weaned off formula. Of course, if she is allergic to milk, it should be pretty clear very quickly, but that's rarely the case. They just don't digest it very easily as infants, and usually their little tummies can handle it as they get older. However, if you're still unsure just call your pediatrition, they don't mind answering questions. I hope my advice was helpful. Good luck!
J. Chesterfield, Va

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E.C.

answers from Richmond on

I had the same problem with my daughter who is now 3. We started out breast feeding and when we put her on formula, (not my choice, bc pills dried me up, whole nother story) we had to eventually go to Soy based. It was not until she was almost 2 1/2 that she could drink regular milk. Every 6 months we would try her out on regular milk and it would make her sick. She would show asthma like symptoms so we would try again in 6 months. I would try the soy milk and see how she does with that, being on a soy formula she will probably adjust to that best. BTW, I never tested Jordan for allergies, didn't see the need, I already knew she was alergic to milk, no need to prick her for them to tell me what I already knew. Good Luck!!!

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C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi S.,

My son (now 4 1/2) was the same as an infant, he could not handle milk based formulas. After a week he was probably on soy and was much better. At a year I tried milk and it just made him so sick. To this day he is still on Silk (soy milk). He can eat other dairy based foods in moderation (cottage cheese, sliced cheese, ice cream, mac & cheese) but when he drinks milk straight it upsets his stomach.

I would suggest trying it in moderation and if you notice it upsetting her tummy or other symptoms than I would suggest trying soy milk or consulting your DR to have her tested.

Best of luck!

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I.M.

answers from Parkersburg on

I am in the same boat, sort of, I have a 14 months old son and I am trying very slowing to swith him to milk too. I have 3 children all of which were on soy formula from the start. With my 1st, I was pressured to get her off formula and the bottle, needless to say she did not take the milk very well and to this day won't touch it. My 2nd, I kept him on the soy formula, Isomil 2 until about 14 months, then I gradually gave him half milk and half formula, and continued the process for one month. Eventually it was 2 oz of formula and all milk. Now he drinks milk with no problem, but prefers it with olvatine. My son that is 14 months, is still on the bottle and I am having a tough time switching, I will do the half and half once a day for a week. If I don't see it upseting his stomach or unusual bowel movements, I will continue the process until his body gets accustomed and then slowly start using less formula and more milk, around 15 month. I feel since he is on soy formula, he has a sensitive stomach to regular formula and milk base formula's. Switching to regular milk can be h*** o* their little stomachs, therefore I suggest to slowly introduce the milk, and gradually minimize the soy formula. I hope this is helpful, I would not rush it, especially since your little one had a sensitive stomach to the other formulas as a baby. Sincerely, I. McDonald, OH

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A.M.

answers from Greensboro on

Switch over graduaully if you give her 8 oz of her reg. formula give her 6 oz of reg and 2oz of the new every two wks until it's 8 oz of the new formula.

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K.K.

answers from Richmond on

try switching her over slowly, my sister had this problem with her son. she was putting like 2 onces of milk in with the formula and after a week of no problems she went to 4 and then so on and so forth.

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P.

answers from Charlotte on

If she reacts badly to milk, you could give her some Soy milk (ie: Silk, it has a smooth texture so is quite pleasant to drink). It is what I gave my daughter and my pediatrician said it was OK.

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L.W.

answers from Raleigh on

S., if you want to put her on whole milk you can try diluting it with some water and see how she does. I know it sounds gross, I wouldn't drink watered down milk but she won't know it's supposed to taste different ;)

Of course neither of my girls had a hard time with milk, but I wanted to be safe than sorry when I switched over so I just added water. I did the same thing with juices.

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A.D.

answers from Greensboro on

My son was also allergic to milk. He is now 3 and we put him on milk and he did fine. Just try one sippycup with something you know wqill not mess her belly up and you will know very soon if it will bother her. If it does give her silk milk. A.

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