To think that toddler milk is a marketing con?

[MumNWLondon]

I am currently BFing my baby and hadn't realised how expensive formula was (well I'd forgotten as older DC haven't had it for a while).

What I don't understand is why anyone would continue to pay for formula past one year when cows milk can be given? (Unless money is literally is no object etc)

Before anyone says my DD will not drink cows milk, mine didn't either took 6 more weeks and 2 more tubs to move from 7oz of formula to 6oz formula 1oz cows milk, 5oz formula 2oz cows milk etc.

So who buys this stuff and why?

[SloanyPony]

It is nutritionally superior to cows milk. That is a scientific fact. Whether they need it or not is due to their diet.

That does not alter the fact that it is nutritionally superior.

If your toddler is getting all the nutrients that they need from their diet, it is still nutritionaly superior to cows milk

It may not be necessary, but it is still nutritionally superior.

That is a scientific fact. It contains more nutrients per 100ml than cows milk. If you deny that fact, you are wrong, and I'm sorry, but you dont understand analysis of basic scientific facts.

Compost is nutritionally superior to A4 white paper. You dont need either. Both are minging. Compost is nutritionally superior

[Sassybeast]

The adverts are shit and very misleading. DH (who is actually fairly sceptical about advertsing and fairly intelligent at times ) watched that one about needing that huge vat of toddler milk in order to get the full amount of iron and did actually ask if DD would benefit from it as she didn't drink much milk. He felt like a bit of a numpty when I pointed out that she was tucking into a plateful of brocolli and spinach so would probably get a bit of iron from that

[shockers]

Go straight to Goat's milk... apparently it's easier to digest than cow's. DS2 still drinks it age 10.

[milliemoosmum]

SloanyPony you are being quite rude. I have a Science degree so I am able to understand science fairly well . I do not disagree that follow on formula is fortified with more nutrients than cows milk I do disagree, however, with the term superior which implies it is better when it would actually be no better for a child who is getting enough of these nutrients already.

[SloanyPony]

It is still better than cows milk nutritionally, in that it contains more nutrients per 100ml

The fact that a toddler doesn't need it, does not alter this fact.

What you are saying is it is not more suitable than cows milk if the nutritional needs are already being met? If that is what you mean, then I couldn't agree more.

I dont see how disagreeing with the way you worded a post, which was quite specific and altered the meaning of what you were saying, is rude. Sorry. But I apologise for my shortcomings nonetheless.

[MarthaQuest]

I gave it (and still give it) to DD after she suffered a severe bout of salmonella aged 14 months.

Cows milk seemed to make the diarrhoea much worse, poor lamb, but the formula seemed to be digested more easily.

And as she wasn't eating properly for what seemed like ages afterwards, I felt better knowing she was getting some nutients and vitamins.

She is now 18 months and I'm thinking about giving cows milk another go, but the cost doesn't really come into it. The dried stuff lasts for ages in her case, at least 10 days, so v comparable to a pint of full fat each day.

[SpeedyGonzalez]

Sloany, what are you on about? This thread is about toddler milk, not baby formula!

Toddlers eat food. Therefore if a toddler is eating a balanced diet, that's all they need. Also we absorb nutrients far better through natural food sources than through manufactured products, not least because the 'bouquet' of nutrients present in natural foods works better with our bodies. This is why it's better to eat 5 oranges than to take a Vit C pill.

If a child is picky about their food, I say it depends on what 'picky' means: they may not clear their plates, but apparently most children will still eat a balanced diet over the course if a week.

Who was it on this thread that was worries about calcium intake? Yoghurt/ from frais are good sources, as are cheese, sardines, beans and pulses (mash them into food), broccoli too. You can find lots if info on the wb.

[milliemoosmum]

I have to disagree again. If a toddler is getting all of their iron needs for example and drinking a lot of follow on formula fortified with iron they are likely to become constipated. Far better to consult with your doctor if you're worried about your childs diet and get supplements if they are needed.

[Housewife2010]

The ready made toddler milk IS better for travelling. Both my children (1 & 3) went onto cows' milk at 12 months. However, we always have a couple of 200ml bottles of Cow & Gate Toddler milk in our car or in my bag for emergencies. In hot weather I don't want to carry cows' milk around all day and sometimes on a long car journey when the only thing that will get my children to sleep is milk and I've run out of fresh this "emergency" milk is perfect. It's a lot quicker to open the glove compartment or open my bag than to go to a newsagent or service station. At 40p for the occasional bottle it doesn't break the bank.

[FindingMyMojo]

DD never took formula - she always refused it warm and was mildly more enthuisastic about it cold. So she went from BF to 14 months and then onto goats milk (easier to digest & higher in iron than cows). She ate yoghurt too. So I only brought one lot of formula & threw 90% of it out.

As to whether formula for toddlers is a con - I guess no more so than any other advertising. It's just another product marketed to parents and it fills a role for some babies & toddlers. It was never relevant to us, but I guess babies who like formula are also toddlers who like formula?

[SloanyPony]

"Sloany, what are you on about? This thread is about toddler milk, not baby formula!

Toddlers eat food. Therefore if a toddler is eating a balanced diet, that's all they need".

I know. But the follow on and growing up milks are nutritionally superior to cow's milk.

It doesn't mean they should have them

It means they are nutritionally superior - they contain more nutrients per 100ml of product than cow's milk does.

That is a scientific fact.

I am not saying they should or have to have them. My children have NEVER had them. But - I recognise, as is a scientific fact, that these products have more nutrients per 100ml than cows milk has per 100ml. It is a scientific fact.

I am not saying toddlers need this product.

I am saying this product is nutritionally superior to cow's milk.

On that note, you do all, hopefully, realise that toddlers dont need cow's milk either? But that cow's milk is nutritionally superior to water? But that doesn't mean they need it? (Cow's milk, I mean)

[chandellina]

slightly off topic, but most children and adults are deficient in vitamin d, healthy diet or no.

[SloanyPony]

That is because Sunbeds are nutritionally superior to Factor Duffle Coat

[ProcessYellowC]

I like to make my own toddler milk. It's free.

[allmychoicesaretaken]

Have skimmed through so not sure if it has been mentioned but it is illegal for formula companies to advertise stage 1 milk in the uk. All the milk that is advertised is either follow on milk (from 6 months) or these so called toddler milks. It is my belief that one of the main driving forces behind these milks is the freedom to market them and therefore get the message out there re the company products

[SpeedyGonzalez]

But Sloany, since we're saying tots' formula is comparable to vitamin supplements, I (and many health pros) would not encourage the use of vitamin supplements by people with a balanced diet. So for the 'good' eaters it's a complete waste of money, yet the point of this thread is that the formula-producing companies are marketing this as an important part of a toddler's diet, which is a lie. For most toddlers it's not important, and not necessary. So, to come back to the thread title, it is a marketing con.

Now, as for your scientific facts, the one thing you haven't said is whether taking tots' milk is better than or, at least, as good as a balanced diet - in terms of the child's ability to absorb the nutrients. There's absolutely no point in scoffing loads of artificial nutrients if your body can't absorb them, now, is there? So do you know whether they're as well-absorbed as natural food?

[SpeedyGonzalez]

at Process! Also your tots' milk has lots of lovely antibodies...

[moondog]

'I think toddler milk has its place with very very fussy eaters or very very sick toddlers who would be malnutritioned otherwise'

Gosh, yes, the developed world being awash with 'malnutritioned' toddlers.

If they are 'very very fussy' cramming them full of a ridiculous made up product will make them more so.
Duh!!!

[SloanyPony]

"Now, as for your scientific facts, the one thing you haven't said is whether taking tots' milk is better than or, at least, as good as a balanced diet - in terms of the child's ability to absorb the nutrients. There's absolutely no point in scoffing loads of artificial nutrients if your body can't absorb them, now, is there? So do you know whether they're as well-absorbed as natural food?"

Speedy - hell no. That is why my well balanced diet toddlers have never had it.

[beanlet]

Oh FGS -- noone needs to drink cows milk either. Bleugh. Apparently, when my mother stopped force feeding it to me aged 12 months I never touched the stuff again.

East Asians think Europeans smell weird because of all the dairy in their diets. Traditionally they don't drink animal milk at all.

I'm not a vegan I love cheese and yoghurt but children over the age of 12 months need to drink neither formula nor cows milk, as long as they are getting enough calcium and other nutrients another way.

[shockers]

Tis nice on cereal though....

[Miggsie]

DD hated milk, I gave her cheese. She drank water.

And surely toddler milk is cows milk that has had the f*ck boiled out of it with lots of extra stuff thrown in (with no proof that the nutrients contained in it can actually be digested) then about 300% mark up for packaging and advertising.
I'm not paying for crap like that.

[beanlet]

Miggsie, I like your style!

[moondog]

Too right Mig, I never gave my kids milk either when they stopped breastfeeding.

[MarthaQuest]

But how do you know if they are getting enough calcium?

I'd love to be less hung up re: dd's milk intake as she really isn't fussed about milk but you know where you are with it- the guidleines recommend a pint a day .

I just don't know the quantities of other dairy products to be confident that she'd be getting enough calcium.

If someone could say- look- one babybel, one petit filous and one clump of broccoli= enough daily calcium, I'd feel so much happier!