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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Can I use milk to make up formula?

34 replies

PlumSquid · 26/12/2025 19:38

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:28

Punkerplus · 27/12/2025 08:36

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.

Probably the only kind comment here. Yes very fussy 20 month old with CMPA and prescribed formula! She will not drink oat milk and have soya milk with added calcium and vitamins.

She will drink it during daytime but not before bed although she's probably trying to tell us she doesn't need/want it anymore. Just me trying not to admit she's no longer a baby!

OP posts:
Original poster
PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:30

SleafordSods · 26/12/2025 23:34

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

To wean off the taste of formula milk to soya milk?? Try having a fussy baby

OP posts:
Original poster
PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:30

LoveSandbanks · 26/12/2025 19:39

How old is the baby and why soya milk?

20 months and CMPA

OP posts:
Original poster
PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:31

drspouse · 26/12/2025 19:44

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.

Edited

This is why I make the bottle as I will follow the instructions and then top up with soya milk.
Soya milk has been recommended to us as an alternative to dairy due to a CMPA. Sure there are better options, try getting her to drink any!

OP posts:
SleafordSods · 27/12/2025 19:41

I don’t think anyone was having a go at you @PlumSquid, I know my post was meant kindly.

And yes i do have a fussy child, diagnosed with ARFID and i have CMPA so probably have just a little experience…Smile

Has anyone mentioned that roughly half of all people with CMPA are also allergic to the protein in Soya?

Nearlyamumoftwo · 27/12/2025 19:44

Hi @PlumSquidspeaking very kindly, and I appreciate for me it was 2022 and there might have been some sort of grand discovery since then, but soya milk is absolutely not recommended for children with a dairy / cmp allergy. I think they said over 90% of children allergic to cows milk are also allergic to soya. Are you absolutely certain your child is not allergic to soya, and if you are certain then how are you certain??

MarvellousMonsters · 28/12/2025 10:56

PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:30

20 months and CMPA

Show quote history

Ohh, be wary of soy with CMPA, the proteins are very similar and can cause reactions. Oat milk is a good dairy alternative, also consider reducing/removing the bedtime bottle at 20 months, it can cause dental caries.

acorncrush · 28/12/2025 15:00

PlumSquid · 27/12/2025 19:30

20 months and CMPA

Show quote history

In that case your technique of mixing up the formula in the proper ratio and then mixing some properly made formula with some other milk is the way to go.

Formula is approved for babies and infants only if mixed according to the instructions. This means it has to meet a lot of standards to ensure it is safe for infants. Formula not mixed to those ratios has not been tested or approved for infants or babies. The same way you wouldn’t use medicine not approved for babies I also would say to your partner he shouldn’t use formula not approved for babies. Formula not mixed according to the instructions on the packet, which is what he is suggesting, is exactly that.

Superscientist · 29/12/2025 14:02

Yes you treat the formula as the prepared formula so scoops plus water and then the alternative milk separately.

My daughter has a dairy and soya (+other allergies) and will only drink oatly barista. My mum has the Aldi oat milk as she is dairy intolerant and my daughter refuses it.

Key things to look for in an alternative is it being "full" far so 3g fat/60kcal per 100g, 120mg calcium per 100g and additional iodide.

If you are dropping below 500ml of formula a day you might need to add a multivitamin as it's recommended that babies and children have vitamin D and a couple of other vitamins in addition to their diets

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