Hey.. I am a first time Mom, my son is eleven months old. At the end of the month, he stops recieving formula from WIC, and it is to my understanding that he can then drink cows milk. Now, my question's are, how do you transition from formula to milk? I know I am supposed to be weaning him from a bottle, but he's taking his time with it, really only wanting to use a cup when I hold it and the valve isn't there. I don't think he quite realizes he has to suck it, so here and there I have been taking the valve out to just get him to cooperate, I suppose. I am not wanting to give him regular milk through a bottle out of fear that the habit will never be kicked. But, I am also curious about how much milk he should indeed recieve through the day. Would I just keep on the same scedual as now and offer him "x amount" of milk, instead of "x amount of formula"? I realize this is probably a really easy thing, and I am probably just over thinking this, but I am a little nervous. Does anyone here who has been through this before have any advice they can give me as to how I should go about doing this?
Thanks in advance!
Hey K., its your sister-in-law!! Well seeing that Austin is younger of course I have no expereince with this, but if you need help you know I'm here. Mainly I just wanted to say OMG I can't believe he will be 1 this month! Wow time just flys. I wish they could just be little babies forever!! Although all the stages are new and exciting! Good luck with the transition. See you soon.
I started giving both of my children whole milk in their 11th months to start getting them used to it. I'm not getting into whether that's right or not, just sharing my experience. Anyway, both of my children used straw cups before using traditional sippy cups. Healthflow has straw cups that have a spill resistent straw that flips closed. It's easier for them to learn to sip out of this. I would try giving him straight milk and see how he likes it. If not start with a 75% formula 25% milk mixture and as he gets used to it transition to 50%/50%, then 25%/75% until you get it switched. I think you're right not to give him milk in the bottle, it will help him make the transition off the bottle. Neither of my children were opposed to the taste of milk and ever noticed the difference (they were primarily breastfed). Good luck!
The Nuby sipper cups are great- no valve, and they have a soft silicone sipper top. Another good option are the take and toss cups. They are inexpensive and really do work well. I'd stay away from the straw ones for now since he isn't getting the hang of it yet. I think it is harder for them to drink through a straw. Keep working with him on getting him to hold it himself. As far as how much milk/formula, etc., it is basically an equal ratio. My doctor told me to give my daughter 24 ounces of milk a day once she turned one. He should only have whole milk (also called vitamin D), not 2% or 1% or skim, because they need the fats for brain development. As far as transitioning him to milk, usually they say start at a year, but if you start a couple of weeks early it won't hurt. If you have any milk sensitivities in your family you will probably want to transition slowly. It is probably best on his stomach if you do 1/2 milk and 1/2 formula (or 1/3 milk and 2/3 formula) at first and every few days or a week, increase the amount until he is just taking milk. It's not rocket science- just increase it slowly and see how he does. If he starts having lots of diarrhea, or really bad gas, or vomiting, slow it down more and talk to the doctor if it doesn't go away. If you had him on cows milk based formula which is most of them, (you would know if you had him on some specialty formula) then he should transition just fine to regular milk. You'll do fine.
One more thing about the sippy cups- if he decides to chew on the Nuby sippy cup, then you could try the Playtex ones, they work great.
If it helps, when it was time to transition my daughter, I followed the advise of a friend. Over the course of 3-4 weeks, I would incorporate cow's milk into her formula. 1 part milk to 3 parts formula. Then the next week 2 parts milk to 2 parts formula and so on.
As for the cup thing, what I did was first buy some of those Nuby sippy cups that have sippers (spouts) that are like nipples. Once he gets the hang of those, then slowly switch to the other ones.
Hope that helps.
