Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

When do I stop the formula milk...........?

17 replies

mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:07

Hi all, can anyone offer advice on formula feeds? My ds is 12 months tomorrow (cant believe it!) and not sure what to do about milk feeds.

At the moment he has a 8 oz bottle of sma white in the morning with some weetabix.
He then has lunch (no milk at all) and water to drink through the day in a cup.
He then has his tea, and before bed has 8 oz of sma white.

He used to have a 6 oz sma in the afternoon, but he started to lose interest in it about a month ago, so I stopped offering it, and he didnt seem to miss it.

He has yoghurt every day, and whole cows milk on his cereal. Should I offer cows milk instead of formula, or do it gradually, say one feed at a time. Am concerened he wont get enough nutrients!

Sorry for rambling...

OP posts:
jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 08/01/2006 22:10

Cows Milk is fine from 12 months - Full fat though.

We switched Jess overnight and she didnt miss it but you can do 6oz formula with 2oz cow milk and wean him down over a few days if you prefer.

hotmama · 08/01/2006 22:15

Hi. My dd is 15 months. I believe that from 1 that they should have the equivalent of a pint a day (20flozs) this includes yogurts etc. It is O.K. to give just full-fat cows milk from one - so you can ditch the formula.

However, if they are a 'picky eater' then you might want to give formula/growing up milk/full-fat milk. - so you feel a bit calmer that they are getting additional nutrients etc.

I mixed formula/cows milk initially until dd got used to the taste - and she eats o.kish most of the time - she seems O.K. anyway. I have now swapped to just cows milk - I give organic cows milk as it is naturally rich in Omega 3 which is good for brain development. I try to give organic when I can - but don't get hung up on it as 'normal' stuff is O.K. - and cheaper! HTH

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:16

Thanks, think Im being paranoid! Suppose it feels wierd to go to cows milk. Have one tub of formula left, so think I will finish it off then switch to cows milk.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:18

Never thought of mixing the two either. Ds is a good eater, he will eat anything! What do people think of the cows milk with omega oils added? Saw it today in sainsburys.

OP posts:
hana · 08/01/2006 22:21

dd2 was 1 2 weeks ago and I switched her overnight,she hasn't had any problems with the switch

QE2 · 08/01/2006 22:23

ds4 has just turned 1. For a few days I mixed the formula with full fat cows milk at his bedtime bottle and his afternoon one was all cows milk until I had used the last of the formula.. He took to it fine and is now having those 2 bottles of only cows milk.

By the time he is around 13-14 months I will give him this milk in a cup and ditch the bottles at the same time lamenting on how my little baby got to be so big so quickly.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:26

Qe2, I was thinking of doing what you have done. He has water in a cup, but not sure how he would take the milk in a cup.

Know what you mean - ds is looking like a little boy more and more...wheres my baby?!

OP posts:
laundrylover · 08/01/2006 23:16

We started giving Tilly cow's milk when she was 11 months old as we were travelling in Argentina with limited formula. She didn't notice at all and had cow's milk full time when we got home.
By the way mumfor1sttime we also started getting very broody at the same time and number two due in March! Watch out for those hormones!!!

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 10/01/2006 19:42

laundrylover - I hope not! Not just yet!

I am giving one 8 oz of formula a day now, and 1 or 2 cups of cows milk in the day, followed by 8 oz of cows milk at night before bed.

I have noticed that he seems so hungry over the last few days, he wants more food though and not milk. He 'steals' from our plates and when he has had his meal he cries for what 'appears to be 'more food.

He has on an average day -

2 weetabix, 8oz formula, 1 banana, cut up for finger feeding

sandwiches, or cooked meal followed by yoghurt and cup of cows milk

rusk for a snack, cup of water

cooked meal for tea, eg mash veggies and fish, with cup of water

8 oz of cows milk

Is this enough? He is a big boy, tall for his age, some people say he looks 15/16 months and not 12 months.

Am I fretting too much? Going to get him weighed tomorrow and scared that he is under fed!!

OP posts:
Witchycat · 10/01/2006 19:59

Ooh. Can I join in?

DD was 1 on New Year's Eve and I've been trying to swap to beakers and cow's milk too. She drinks water out of a beaker no problem but refuses to drink milk - either formula or cow's from a beaker.
Lately she has refused whole milk altogether though had some semi-skimmed today. Might try mixing it & see if that works.

Mum41sttime - sounds like plenty of food to me. Lilian has 1 weetabix mixed with fruit & milk for breakfast then maybe 4oz milk mid morning, lunch & yoghurt, sometimes a drink of milk pm, then her tea & 5-6oz milk at bedtime.

Oh, and she usually has the odd biscuit &/or bit of fruit as a snack early evening when we are eating as, she too, nicks food off plates when anyone isn't looking, or screams for it if it's out of reach. I don't think she's hungry though, I think it's more about wanting to join in.

Good luck at the weigh in - sure you won't have any problems though.

expatinscotland · 10/01/2006 20:05

We also switched DD1 to cow's milk overnight from Cow & Gate Follow on and she never missed it. We buy organic, though, for the Omega 3s.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 10/01/2006 22:05

Thanks witchycat, thats made me feel better. Suppose he could just be trying to join in, never thought of that. I will try giving him some fruit or something while we are eating.

He drinks his milk fine in a cup, but it isnt half messy!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 10/01/2006 22:06

Isnt 'follow on milk' formula? Am confused?!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 10/01/2006 22:08

MFFT, organic milk has more nutrients in it than ordinary, so I just buy that rather than arse about with ones that have added omega 3s, etc. Tastes nicer too!

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 10/01/2006 22:09

Thanks, hunker. So many types out there!

OP posts:
hercules · 10/01/2006 22:09

Mmm, much prefer organic milk too.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 10/01/2006 22:12

Me and dh have semi skimmed from milk man, but have been buying whole milk from supermarket, thought it might be cheaper. Then I saw all the different milks!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page