confused about how much milk for a 13 month old baby and in what form

[kalidasa]

DS is 13 months and is currently having three bottles a day - mid-morning, mid-afternoon and just before bed. We offer about 200ml for the day-time feeds and a bit more (about 240) before bed. He usually finishes two completely and has most of the other. Our childminder however thinks he should maybe be dropping one of the day time bottles, and I am struggling to find any clear advice on how much milk he needs at this stage. He eats very well (in fact I am a bit nervous about our health visitor appointment next week as he seems rather fat!) and will eat anything at all with enthusiasm. He has milk on his weetabix in the morning and enjoys cheese and yoghurt but doesn't have them every day, so he's not getting loads of extra dairy. He has three meals plus a small snack. He switched to cow's milk once he was one without a murmur.

Any advice or experiences? I'd like to get a sense of how much milk other babies this age are having. And should he be having his daytime milk in a cup now? He can use a cup fine, in fact loves doing so, but we have used it just for water so far.

[CornishYarg]

After a year, they need about 350ml of milk or other dairy/calcium sources) per day. I would definitely offer his milk in a cup now as the recommendation is ideally to stop using bottles at a year. You may find he drinks less milk when it's in a cup.

As he's on cows milk now, NHS advice is to give a vitamin supplement.

[lilyaldrin]

NHS advice is 350ml full fat cow's milk between 12-24 months - though you can include cheese and yoghurt in this total.

[stargirl1701]

350ml which includes milk in cereal, yoghurt, cheese, etc and drinks. DD is 15 months and has dropped all but the bedtime bottle.

[ExBrightonBauble]

The problem with drinking a lot of cows milk is that it is low in iron and can inhibit iron absorption, so there is a risk of developing an iron deficiency. I would limit the cows milk to no more than 500ml in a day, and offer water instead, and as CornishYarg says, a cup would be best if he'll accept it.

[kalidasa]

Ah brilliant thanks everyone, that's much clearer than anything I could find. It sounds like the childminder is right and he's having a bit much milk. I'll suggest he drops to just one during the day and one in the evening, and I'll sort out a cup for the daytime milk. He loves his cup for water so I don't think it'll be a problem.

[kalidasa]

Maybe all that milk is why he's so fat! Feeling a bit guilty now . . .

[stargirl1701]

Motherhood is guilt no matter what you choose! I wouldn't worry. He's only 13 months. If you are really concerned book an appt with the HV and see where he plots on the weight & height charts.

I'm very sure he will be totally fine!

[kalidasa]

Thanks stargirl. We've got an HV appointment next week (1 year check up - bit late because of Christmas). I did weigh him myself a week ago and unless our scales are way off he is pretty heavy, so fingers crossed he is also quite tall! (Though I'm sceptical.) He isn't walking yet though and my mother keeps saying it is normal for them to get quite fat before they get going on the walking, I hope she is right.

[stargirl1701]

Yes, that is very true. DD was very chubby before she started charging around everywhere Her shape is really different now and we can see muscles really clearly in her legs.

[lilyaldrin]

Up til 12 months they still need 500-600ml, so it's not like you're expected to halve their milk overnight - it does reduce gradually.

[kalidasa]

Thanks lilyaldrin - I had 600ml in my head and that explains where that came from, glad to hear he hasn't been having too much for ages. We shall cut down gradually now.