Overwhelmed with what I should be doing for baby at this age? Please can anyone advise

10 replies

oiff · 23/10/2023 05:51

I have an 11.5 month old. I know he should be on cows milk at 12 months but how do you transition it? I’m getting so stressed. I’ve given him dairy before but not a drink of milk, do I literally have to wait until 12 months? He will be at nursery then so I am worried about transitioning him when I’m not around all the time? How much does he have? A friend is still using formula for her 14 month, is that better?

What about vitamins, which to use?

So anxious about it

OP posts:

ScotchPies · 23/10/2023 05:56

I swapped my son's bottle of formula for milk at 12 months. You can use a cup or remain in a bottle. A cup is better for them but my son couldn't be trusted with an open cup of milk.

You can then add liquid vitamins to the milk. It's made for children for this purpose. Just add to the milk once a day.

DS then weaned himself off milk. He would push it away. Although I believe he still has it at nursery from time to time.

Zanatdy · 23/10/2023 06:02

I didn’t swap bang on 12 months but soon after. I think I mixed it, they are older teens now so can’t quite remember but sure I did like 1/4 cows milk and 3/4 formula to start, gradually added more cows. I wouldn’t change to cows milk and start nursery at same time if it’s giving you anxiety. He will be fine on formula for a few more months if you’d find that easier

MidnightOnceMore · 23/10/2023 06:05

Here's an article that explains https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x25010535/how-should-i-wean-my-baby-off-formula-and-onto-cows-milk

The main thing is to try and see how your specific baby gets on with milk, if they like drinking it you're away.

IsThereABarUpThere · 23/10/2023 06:14

Just give him a bottle of cows milk and see if he likes it?

PurBal · 23/10/2023 06:15

Relax. The guidance is guidance not law. DS hated the vitamin drops and refused cows milk for at least 6 months. I went with fortified cereal to get something in him. I wouldn’t panic.

RoseGoldEagle · 23/10/2023 06:16

I remember being told it was fine to give cow’s milks with things like weetabix, from 6 months (just not as their main source of milk), so I did that, which I guess made the transition to whole milk as a drink around 1 a lot easier.

BorisIsACuntWaffle · 23/10/2023 06:23

My DD wouldn't have formula after being bf. She had cows milk from 11 months with added vitamins. She used a bottle for a few months. Bottle refuser when bf was available. (Went back to work which meant she was being looked after by family)

Devilsmommy · 23/10/2023 06:23

Mines on soya but same principle. He's had toddler soya on Weetabix and porridge since 6 months and was the exact same age as yours when I moved him to toddler soya as I ran out of formula and knew that 2 weeks wasn't going to mean much. He will still only take it from a bottle at 13 months but at least he drinks it which is all I care about. I'd imagine cows milk tastes better than formula so wouldn't worry too much about the transition

Neurodiversitydoctor · 23/10/2023 06:26

RoseGoldEagle · 23/10/2023 06:16

This also Yoghurt. 12 month olds don't need milk as a drink if there are plenty of other sources of calcium in their diet. Over reliance on unfortiefied cow's milk can cause iron deficiency in toddlers. 2 X 200mls is plenty that includes any milk used in cooking and on cereal.

Totalwasteofpaper · 23/10/2023 06:34

I put cows milk on cereal from 8 or 9 months and I think when DD was about 11.5 we ran out of formula so I gave her warmed cow's milk (we always give full fat organic)
And had no issues.

I gave up with the stupid vitamin drops. They tasted gross and if put in milk made the milk go weird.

We try to include cheese and yoghurt too and she gets beef 3x per week.
She's 20m and bigger than some 2.5 year olds and can lift over 5kg 😂 so seems to be fine

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