Dropping formula milk - how?

[Heirhelp]

My DD is coming up to 1 and we have been told to drop ff. How do I go about this? She also feeds during the night intermently. We also need to go animal free at the same time.

[FATEdestiny]

You don't have to drop formula milk at 12 months. It's just that you can swap to cows milk to drink of if you want to. Cow's milk is a lot cheaper than formula, which is a read on to. I'm not sure of the price comparison to vegan milk, so if it's a similar cost then there is no need or incentive to swap if she's happy on formula.

What you are supposed to do at 12 months is swap to use cups/beakers for milk drinks, rather than bottles.

In terms of the swap. Some children handle a straight swap without issue. If not, some tips for the introduction:

• match feeding method at first. So if using a bottle keep the bottle until used to new milk, then swap to cups
  
• match temperature. If used to warm formula, warm the new milk in the same way initially.
  
• have both, but at specific times. For example keep warmed formula milk at bedtime. Introduce new vegan milk, cold from fridge and in a cup during the day
  
• mix them. For example 7oz of formula mixed with 1oz of vegan milk. Then 2oz, 3oz etc and slowly morph the formula into vegan milk.

[Iamastonished]

I started off by mixing 25% cow's milk with 75% formula for a few days, then 50:50 then 25:75. It worked for DD. I also stopped a bottle at 12 months once she was on just cow's milk, with no problem.

Good luck.

[coffeeneeded]

We changed the morning feed to cows milk first and then the evening feed. My twins didn't notice a thing.

Mind you they were already having milk with cereal etc so they were used to the taste.

Personally I wouldn't mix it with formula..... I never saw the point. But each kid is different.

[Heirhelp]

Her current formula is lactose free and her dietitian wants her to go completely dairy free so we would have to change formula anyway. She was happily having lactose free milk in cereal etc but now we need to change this.

[clarabellski]

I just tried a straight swap in the first instance and it went fine for us. Some sensible sounding tips above if that doesn't work, but I'd recommend you just give it a go in case you don't need to go to the hassle of doing anything special.

[Emma2803]

My friends wee boy has cows milk protein allergy and also soya. He is 16 months and now full on coconut milk. She tried almond also. She introduced them gradually to make sure there wouldn't be a reaction. If I were you I would get the milk sorted first before tackling the fact he takes a bottle.

[Anditstartsagain]

I just done a straight swap it was fine both of my kids will drink any formula and any milk. I think i've only known 2 people who have had problems switching.