We are switching our 11.5 month old to formula and we're struggling with the rule of using the formula within an hour after she's started drinking it because our daughter is a grazer (1-4 oz at a time, we never know how much) and we've been spoiled with feeding her breastmilk up to this point -- we didn't have to worry about leaving it out because she usually would finish a bottle within a 3-4 hour period.
Now, we don't know how to feed her without wasting lots of formula or risking her drinking formula past the hour. Also, I'm not sure if she is still not overly fond of formula which could also be causing her to not drink much at a time.
We could switch to milk, but I'm wary of what people say about cow's milk and wouldn't we have the same issue of she can't stop and start, can't leave out for longer than an hour?
Thanks!!!!
Why bother with formula at all? At almost a year old, kids get most of their nutrition (or should) from table food and should be transitioned to whole milk, or soymilk or something else at a year anyway.
Try insulated sippy cups.
At 11.5 months od, your child has undoubtly eaten something worse then over-the-hour formula.
Formula is best used within the hour, however if you KNOW you will be using the rest of it within 3-4 hours, pop it back in the fridge when she's done the first graze. I would recommend heating using boiled water (not boiling, but just short of it) and make sure to heat the bottle thoroughly, then run it under cold water for a moment to bring it to drinkable temps.
I would also recommend making small bottles, and keeping them pre-mixed in the fridge. -OR- make up a batch of formula each morning, and fill bottles from it through the day. This worked great with my oldest. Start with 2oz bottles, then refill as needed.
Good luck!
Edit: I would also say try transitioning to milk, though keep in mind milk doesn't have near the nurtitional value that forumla does, and if your munchkin isn't eating a substantional amount of solid food, she will be losing precious nutrition by simply switching to milk.
My kids all went on whole milk before they turned a year old and never had any problems. My daughter went on it at 9 months and my boys went on it at about 10 months with the exception of my 2nd son who had health issues. All 5 of my kids are fine. My sister did the same thing and so did most of my friends. I found that the milk was easier on their stomachs too. At first I added water to it and then gradually reduced the water until I had all milk. If she was my daughter I would try the whole milk and see how it goes.
Hugs,
T.
try goat's milk instead of cow's
Cleavanessa, I don't have any input about formula, but I'm a bit concerned about the leaving the breastmilk out for hours, if someone were to read that and think that they can leave refrigerated bottles of breastmilk out for a long period of time. Just clarifying for anyone who is reading that, it's only freshly pumped milk that you can do that with - breastmilk that has been in the fridge should be used within the hour.
I would try to begin to switch to whole milk. We switched my daughter 2 months ago and she was 11 months old. She loved the milk, we use organic whole cows milk. She never had any issues with it, and actually I saw her begin to take more ounces of it at a time, than she was taking with formula. Also with the milk, if you pour her 4 ounces of milk, and she only takes 2 of it, you could put the rest back in the fridge (as long as you didn't heat it up to begin with)..then in a couple of hours try to give her the rest. I wouldn't even bother with continuing to try to give her formula at 11.5 months. Good luck!
I wouldn't waste the money on formula. This is the time that you usually start the transition over to milk anyway. My daughter was switched to milk at about 9 1/2 months and she is fine. She was a graizer also. Since it's winter time I wouldn't worry to much about it sitting out over an hour. It's really the hot months that you have to worry about it spoiling more. Good luck to you.
Jenn
We started our breastfed babe on soy milk at 11 months, no problems. She now drinks cow's milk. I too was worried about what the docs said about cow's milk. She loved the soy milk. I would just put the left over in the fridge or while you are out you can have a cold pack and small cooler bag for milk and snacks.
Dear Cleavanessa,
I wouldn't even bother with the formula, most babies are transitioning off to milk at that age anyway. If you have a problem with whole milk try soy milk, kids usually love it because it is sweeter then whole milk. As long as your daughter is eating a well balanced diet the formula is no longer necessary. Good luck and Happy New Year!!
I'm pretty bad about this, but we don't really stick to the one hour rule...
And my son is just fine! We let him "graze" on formula for 2 hours or so, and then we take it away. We're a little more careful on cow's milk, because he doesn't like it at room temperature.
I have to say though, why use formula at all? It's so expensive, and your daughter is almost a year! We're almost done with formula, and I am so relieved! You can always use fortified soymilk, if you don't want to use cow's milk...
