Is Bad to Take My 6 Month Old off of Formula - Watertown,NY

Updated on July 07, 2011
A.E. asks from Watertown, NY
37 answers

I was wondering if it is bad if I take my son off of formula? He had 2 teeth come in and we just kicked him off the bottle because he kept putting holes in the nipples, so I was wondering if it is bad to stop formula and introduce milk and juice?

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So What Happened?

Thank you, to everybody. It was just a question my husband asked me and I wanted to know the answer, I am not that cheap to not buy formula. It was just a random question but thank you to all the people that helped.

Featured Answers

G.T.

answers from Redding on

Two teeth and can bite through a nipple? What, does he have one on the top and one on the bottom?
I'd monitor him with his bottle, hold him while you feed him. Sounds like he's using the nipple as a teething ring and maybe isnt even hungry so he just plays.
He does need formula in a cup if you choose to toss bottles, but I dont think you should have to get rid of the bottles just yet. Let him know when he's biting it that you will take it from him... he'll learn to stop.

4 moms found this helpful

M..

answers from St. Louis on

Yes, its very bad. He is way too young. They need breastmilk or formula for 1 year.

I have a feeling this isnt even a real question..

4 moms found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Don't take the formula away! It's not too early to try a sippy cup, and that may work better. You can also try a different type of nipple on the bottle. If you're using latex nipples try switching to silicone, as they might be a little tougher. I'm also thinking he might be chewing on the bottle as a teether for his sore gums. You could try numbing his gums with a chilled teething ring or some gel right before feeding him.

3 moms found this helpful

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

NO.

For the 1st year of life, Breastmilk or Formula, is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition. NOT solids and NOT other liquids.
Formula or Breastmilk is more nutritionally dense, than solids.

Whole milk... is from 1 year old.

He STILL needs formula.
He is teething.
This happens.

6 months is also a Growth-spurt period, and they need to be fed their Formula, on-demand. ALWAYS before solids. And on-demand at other times.
"Scheduling' feedings, is not good. Because it does not coordinate with a baby's hunger cues.

6 moms found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I know that formula is expensive and have to wonder if that's why you want to stop? If that is the case than you can go to your local WIC office and see if they can help you. You can also write letters to whatever formula you are using and they will often send really great coupons to help out as well.
You can put the formula in a sippy if you are worried about holes in the bottle nipples (which I have actually never heard of before).
He is not ready for milk yet.
L.

4 moms found this helpful

M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

Yes it is bad. His formula can go in a cup, but his system isn't ready for milk and juice is just wasted calories. Wait until he is one before starting milk, and if you give some juice, always water it down first.

3 moms found this helpful

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

Have you not read any books or talked to your doctor? Babies NEED formula or breastmilk for brain development. And how would milk be different than formula? Would you put it in a sippy cup? If so, then that's what you need to do with the formula. But please talk to your doctor soon to make sure you're giving him enough.

3 moms found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

A baby needs breastmilk or formula as their main source of nutrition for the entire first year.
Try a sippy cup. Or you could try a regular cup although you'd have to hold it for him and tilt it. At about this age, if not earlier my daughter got really good drinking from a regular cup.

3 moms found this helpful

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Hi A., when my kids bit down (on me, not bottles), I put my finger in the corner of their mouths to release their latch, said a firm but gentle, No, and ended the feeding. They got the message PDQ that biting was not cool.

Maybe you could try this too when you see him chewing the nipple?

:)

3 moms found this helpful

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Call your pediatrician for advice on feeding a 6 month old.
Try introducing a sippy cup for the formula.
:)

2 moms found this helpful

C.D.

answers from Columbia on

I don't think stopping with the bottle means stopping the formula. I think babies need the nutritional componenets of formula that regular milk doesn't have.
Ask his doctor, but don't rush it. You can always put formula in a cup if you need to.
Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

S.L.

answers from New York on

Babies need formula to develop their brain. If you take him off formula it will seriously effect his future intelligence as well as his height and future health.

2 moms found this helpful
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G.S.

answers from New York on

At 6 months old he will not get the nourishment he needs with just milk and juice, besides how would you give him milk or juice? You could give him formula in a sippy cup as well if that was how you were going to be giving him other beverages. We went through a ton of nipples when our daughter began with teeth and it is frustrating and expensive, but he still needs the proper nutrition. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Honolulu on

Stay on formula, but see about starting a sippy cup.

1 mom found this helpful

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

He has to be on formula until 12 months for the nutrition. Milk does not have enough nutrients. You can put the formula in a sippy cup if he's putting holes in the nipples of the bottles.

1 mom found this helpful

J.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

They can't digest the protiens in cows milk yet.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Here is a great site for you and your husband that explains why cow's milk before 12 months isn't recommended:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002448.htm

That way you've got some solid facts to review. Basically, baby would get too much of the things they don't need and too little of the things that they critically need. And it's very hard for their body to process whole milk at this stage.

It's great if he's not using a bottle though! The AAP is now recommending that the pediatricians talk to parents about weaning from the bottle to a sippy at baby's 9 month well visit so you are doing great in that respect. No bottle fights in your house later!

1 mom found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Provo on

I know you have received a bunch of answers, but I just wanted to chime in- please do not take him off formula or reduce formula! I had a good friend who did so when her son was 5 or 6 months. I can't even remember her reasoning as it was a few years ago, but holy cow, he lost so much weight I was SHOCKED when I saw him a few months later. She was feeding him juice and babyfood and maybe a tiny bit of milk. He was so stinkin underweight. Luckily she got him back on formula, at the urging of her friends and family, but that kid still is delayed and I have to wonder if it has something to do with his lack of nutrition as a baby.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

He needs 100% formula at this point. He should be getting numerous bottles every day. I think you just need to give him something to chew on that is for teething and put him back on bottles. He gets more nutrition this way. He can be using a bit of juice at this time but not more than 4-8 ounces per day. He needs the nutrition from formula. Talk to your pediatrician about your nutrition for your child.

1 mom found this helpful

B.L.

answers from Missoula on

Just give it in a sippy cup. Your baby needs that fomula til he's atleast 1.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Boston on

This has got to be a fake question

1 mom found this helpful
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K.H.

answers from Austin on

Introducing cows milk too early (before 1) has been linked to juvenile diabetes. There is a protein in cows milk that can penetrate their immature digestive tracts and causes the body to essentially attack the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Here is a short article explaining more.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826553.000-cows-m...

1 mom found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

My son weaned himself off the breast when he was 9 months old. I just gave him the food he was eating and no milk. His pediatrician said to give him whole milk (which he was allergic to). He's 17 now and fine... having said that, I'd give him formula in a cup or get a better nipple. I'd also talk to the doc about it. My son was fine but my other kids didn't eat as well as him so I breastfed them until age 2. My opinion is that your son may be too little to wean completely! Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

It is great if he is not on the bottle...quite impressive that you weaned him that early. However, formula has nutrients that milk does not and your son still needs those.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

To protect the bottle just make sure he only has it when he is drinking, and once he starts chewing take it out of his mouth. At 6 months you should still be there with him helping him feed so you should be able to see if he is sucking or chewing.

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B.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

He needs formula until a year old. You can have him drink out of a sippy cup but frankly, I think he needs a bottle also. I suspect if 2 little teeth put holes in the bottle nipples that the nipples were worn out and needed to be replaced anyway.

The bigger question is who in the world would "kick off" a six month old baby from a bottle? It sounds punitive to me and just plain crazy. You need to get 25-30 ounces of formula a day into your little one for proper nutrition and it is difficult to do without a bottle.

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M.H.

answers from Seattle on

My 19 month old grand son had shots today - he hurt all over his little body. He did not want to eat dinner - so trust me - this Grammy gave him his "ba ba" - rocked him to sleep with Georgie the monkey and slipped him into bed knowing that the formula mixed with a little rice cereal in the bottle he had just finished will carry him through the night - and hopefully to a better, not so sore, tomorrow. He could have had his usual sippy cup - but the comfort of the bottle and the good old taste of his formula - was calming, soothing and put him right to sleep. Do not throw the bottle and formula away - trust me - the child will let you know when he/she does not want them any more....Keep the formula going....good luck, Grammy of 5!

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

Stay on formula, but maybe ask your pediatrician or call a pediatric dentist to ask what kind of bottles they might recommend for the little chewer :) Perhaps there might be a sippy cup or something that will work for him. Good luck!

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Cow's milk can be introduced at 12 months. You can give goat's milk now if you like. But you should talk to your ped dr first.....

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J.B.

answers from Denver on

Yes. That's really bad. He needs the nutrients in formula.
If he's biting through nipples, maybe you should consider
buying him some teething toys. His teeth are likely bothering
him and a teething toy would give him something appropriate
to chew on.

Talk to your pediatrician as soon as possible.

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T.N.

answers from Milwaukee on

There's nothing wrong with having a six month old drink out of a sippy cup if he will do it... idk why this is being considered so terrible.. but of course he does need the formula... my daughter wouldn't drink juice until she was 2 so congrats on that too

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B.B.

answers from New York on

Are you nursing him? I want to believe that the bottle and formula is just to supplement your nursing him. If he is only on formula with no nursing, what are you planning to feed your baby? No offense, but everyone knows that cow's milk is a no-no until 12 months old. Also, what does he drink his formula in, a sippy cup?

C.C.

answers from Visalia on

i switched to milk when my child was 9mths out of ignorance . biggest mistake i ever made, she ended up being a slow learner at school. had to be taught one on one. my husband and i were the working poor and couldnt afford the Simulac at the time :( my older 2 girls were drinking milk as if we had a dairy or something so it was cheaper to introduce the 9mth old to cows milk.

so dont do it!!

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S.J.

answers from Saginaw on

Just put the formula in a sippy cup...formula doesn't have to be in a bottle. Then at one year put him on cows milk if you desire.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

He needs formula till he is one year old! This is for his proper brain development and growth.

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

Try a nubby sippy cup with formula. The nubby ones make a good first cup because the spout is soft (silicone) but thick enough to stand up to a bit of teething. There are some other soft spout sippy brands on the market as well. Babies need formula or breastmilk until 12 months at least. Wait on cow's milk until a year. Juice you can wait even longer if you want (I didn't introduce it until more like 18-24 months).

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