Switching from Formula to Milk

My baby's pediatrician told me not to give my daughter milk from a bottle after one year. She said to give it to her from a sippy cup if she wants any and that she doesn't need any kind of milk feeding schedule and can eat pretty much like an adult does after one year. It's hard for me to think that she doesn't need a bottle anymore so I still give her one (soymilk) when she first wakes up, and then again sometime between dinner and bedtime. She enjoys it, and I like it makes me happy to know that she's getting the extra protein and vitamins. I only give her about 4-6 ounces each time though. Once they're a year old they don't need any kind of feeding schedule with regular milk, just regular food. Good luck! : )

Hello, Andrea!

I copied this response that I gave to a similar question back in July. Hope it helps you . . .

The nurse at my pediatrician's office gave me some advice that worked out really well for us. She prefaced this by saying that if you ask ten different nurses, you will get ten different answers, but like I said we took this advice and it was helpful to us . . .

She said at this point, you don't want to do anything to make the bottle more appealing, so don't put milk in the bottle. Only give milk in a sippy cup. Make a big deal of it and offer it after a meal like a dessert (because milk can be an appetite suppressant). At the same time, start diluting the regular formula bottles, so your son will become less and less interested in them. We did this over a period of about a month- six weeks (3/4 strength bottle, 1/2 strength, etc.)

Another important thing to remember is that your son won't be drinking nearly as much milk as he did formula. He will be starting to get more and more of his nutrients from his solids, so don't be worried if he isn't taking the same number of ounces of milk that he did formula. Also, some kids just don't like milk and never become big milk drinkers. That's okay, too, if they can get their dairy from yogurt, cheese, etc.

Our son started out slowly with milk, but now he guzzles it. Using this method, he was off of a bottle completely within six weeks (at 13 1/2 months). I hope that helps. Good luck with the transition!

Here's what we did...maybe it will help.
We started decreasing the amount of formula and replacing it with milk. For example 4 oz of formula (made the normal way) with 2 oz of milk added to it for a total of 6 oz. Then we just went from their, decreasing formula and adding milk. If I remember correctly we just put it in a specific size sippie cup to try to keep up with how much she was drinking throughout the day.

Good Morning Andrea!

All the ladies had good advice so I'm sure at this point you are getting some of your own. I'm assuming your little one isn't allergic to milk? Also you could do some researching about the hormones that are put in milk. My suggestion (IF you are able to afford it) Is to phase into the NEXT STEP type formula and Add a little milk like the one mom mentioned or don't even add it at all. Consider the vitamins you'll still want him to be receiving and that the Next Step is formulated for just that- The Next Step- Unless he is just really having a balanced nutrient rich diet (at 1???) I'd go with the Next Step type with a little milk added or No milk at ALL. Hope this helps you.

W. R

I didn't transition mine really, I just gave him a cup and went from there, kinda cold turkey. Worked for us. I have also heard not to give them milk in their bottle, only in a cup, that way they get off the bottle sooner/easier.

Your baby needs to began to eat more food and about three bottles of milk a day is good enough. The baby needs water and juice.

B Armstrong

We drank whole milk for one year. After our children's 2nd birthday, our pediatrician said to switch both boys to reduced or skim milk. Our boys were not overweight at all, but his thinking was consistent with the article below.

http://www.babybag.com/vitalac.htm

"Although more than 80 percent of preschoolers overload on dietary fat, simply switching from whole to reduced-fat milk products would bring their diets in line with current dietary guidelines... Simply by substituting skim milk, 1 percent milk and part-skim cheeses for higher fat-milk products, the researchers calculate that the diets of most preschoolers would become consistent with dietary guidelines that only about 30 percent of total calories should come from fat. In addition, the resulting diet would almost meet the goal of less than 10 percent of total calories from saturated fat. The substitutions would shave 10 grams of fat and 6 grams of saturated fat from the typical preschooler's diet, the researchers said."

i was giving my son 3 bottles of 4 oz each fro breakfast lunch and bedtime, but my dr. said he needs at least 17oz. of milk a day to get his vitamin D and since my son has minor weight gain issues he should be drinking 20 oz probably.
hth

First things first, milk is not a substitute for formula! :-)

Probably no more than 8oz a day, and then water or diluted juice the rest of the time.

Many parents are under the impression that their child should drink as much milk as they did formula, which is wayyyyyyyyyy off base. Our bodies are not equipped to handle very much dairy, as cow's milk is made for baby cows, not humans.

Hi Andrea,
My pedatrician had me give him 1ounce whole milk to 7oz. formula for one week. And each week add an ounce of milk. It is a slow transition but my son tolerated it well. Do that every time you give a bottle. My son is now 5 yrs. and very healthy. Good luck!
K.