Can I use milk to make up formula?

[PlumSquid]

Having a slight disagreement with my partner on how to make up bedtime formula bottles.

I'm still using 60ml of boiling water to 2 scoops of formula and then topping up to 120ml with soya milk.

My partner thinks we can put in two scoops of formula, little bit of boiling water to dissolve and then the rest with soya milk.

Which way is correct? Weaning off formula for bedtime to soya milk!

How old is the baby and why soya milk?

Boiling water is necessary to kill bacteria in the formula. You can’t just put in a tiny bit of hot water and then cold milk. I don’t understand why you’re doing this at all. Just stick to the instructions and then switch to cow’s milk at 12 months. You don’t need to wean.

If you want to wean onto another milk, I'm not sure soy milk is recommend even for older babies and toddlers but you mustn't make the milk stronger by substituting water for milk. Make up half the amount you want with water, then mix with the milk you are weaning on to. Any reason you can't use cow's milk?
Edit to emphasise: it's REALLY dangerous to make milk stronger by substituting milk for water.

Soya? Why?

Oatly as it’s fortified is the non dairy milk to wean onto.

You make up the formula as per instructions on the pack for the volume of liquid formula intended ie powder and boiling water to scald the powder. You can then add your soya milk or milk to increase the volume if you are slowly introducing milk in its place. Your DP's suggestion would create a formula that was too strong/potentially dehydrating for an infant.

Neither. Make up the formula according to the instructions, with just water. If you want to mix formula and soy milk together the formula needs to be made with the right amount of water, then add soy milk to it. But don’t use soy milk instead of water.

Is there a reason you’re switching to soy? It’s not really ideal for toddlers, whole cows milk is what’s recommended.

Is there a reason you've picked soya? Oat is alot better for little ones if there is an allergy, or if not I'd just go normal cows.

However I wouldn't be mixing it your partner's way - I'd do either straight formula or straight milk

I don't understand why you're mixing it in the first place?

But I agree with PPs that what you mustn't do is make the milk extra strong by adding powder to milk instead of water, it's not safe.

Presuming your baby is over 1 year?
Definitely agree with the others re not making the milk 'stronger'
Also, this is the updated guidance on dairy alternative 'milks'

Good lord soya???? Ultraprocessed shite and full of phytoestrogens. Of all the things to feed your baby this should be last. Water is the only liquid they need after breast milk and should be the only liquid used for formula.

Babies don’t need milk once weaned. Only humans continue to drink milk once weaned. Cows don’t drink milk.

Good lord neither! If you want to wean to a different milk, offer it during the day in a cup with meals.

Don’t mix formula with anything but water.

If they are over 12 months you don’t really need to wean. Just reach the end of your tub of formula and switch. If they aren’t used to the taste, use it in meals they do like, offer during the days or gradually offer less formula and top ups of milk in a separate cup.

The whole point of formula is it’s milk that has been processed to the point where it won’t stress out the baby’s kidneys in the way normal milk would, has the extra nutrients needed that the baby would get from breastmilk but not cows milk and is gentler on the baby’s body until its organs are mature enough (mainly the kidneys) to be able to process normal cows milk.

Other than that there is no point to having formula. So if you mix milk in with the formula you’re completely negating the point of giving them formula in the first place.

If your baby is young enough to need formula, don’t give them milk. Their bodies can’t take milk, that’s the ENTIRE point of formula.

If you mean "weaned=not drinking milk as a source of nutrition" then you are correct. But in the UK "weaned=eating solids as well as milk".

We use Alpro growing up oat milk for our allergy girls, it’s fortified with all they need

If he’s got a dairy allergy you should have a dietician who advises on alternative milk. Ours advised the Barista oat milk because it’s fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Are you mixing with the formula to get your child used to the taste? If so I guarantee you that soy milk is tastier than the CMPA formula and you probably don’t need to do the mixing thing at all.

Age of the baby is quite key here.

Go on then @PlumSquid, explosons why you’re adding any milk to the formula? I’m genuinely perplexed

When my eldest was transitioning from formula to normal milk, he wouldn't drink milk straight away so we used to mix oat milk with formula and gradually increase the amount of oat milk until he got used to the taste. We were advised on this so perhaps this may be why the OP is doing it.

However I didn't soya was recommended as it is low calorie. My eldest had CMPA and was on amino acid formula and we were advised oat and used the batista one as it was fortified and had highest calorie content.

I also don't understand why you are doing this at all.

If your baby is under 1 you make it according to the instructions on the box and use only the powder and hot water.

If your baby is over 1 and you’re trying to wean them off formula and on to cows milk (or a dairy free equivalent) then you still need to make the formula properly with the correct ratio of powder to water e.g. 4 scoops to 4 ounces of water to make a 4oz bottle then you can top up with the regular milk to whatever size bottle you want. Then the idea being you decrease the amount of formula gradually over time until they’re accepting of ‘normal’ milk. But you always have the make the formula with the correct ratio of one ounce of water to every 1oz scoop or else you risk making baby unwell.

Also, has the HV or GP given you the ok for soy milk? Just asking because babies with CMPA are often also allergic to soya and it’s also lacking nutrients so wouldn’t normally be the first choice for a dairy free toddler milk. Oat milk might be better.

By the way if you're using a CMPA formula, some of them can be made using cold water.

Why soya milk ?
Are you not concerned re phytoestrogens ?
Also very bad for dental caries .
Formula should be made up as instructed .

How old is the baby?

Why soya milk?