Paediatrician told me 12 m.o. should be on follow-on milk - advice?

[funwithfondue]

Dd is almost 13 months old, I'm in the process of finishing breastfeeding her (down to one feed a day now). I have exclusively breastfed all her life so far, with blw from six months old. She's got a great appetite, her favourite thing is green vegetables, although she doesn't eat a lot of meat, maybe 2/3 times per week, plus fish 2/3 times per week.

I live in Switzerland, where I know things more medicalised that the UK, but at her 1-year-check/MMR, the Paediatrician (who has a GP role here) insisted that dd MUST be on follow-on milk (or Lait de Croissance in French) until she's at least two. For iron and vitamin levels, etc.

I queried this, saying 'in the UK, the NHS says it's not necessary', but the doctor told me new research has proven that it is the best thing for dd.

Now, I do trust my instincts, and that dd is doing brilliantly (she was born on 25th percentile, went up to 97th percentile until she was 10 months old, now on 60th percentile, she's walking, developing well, tons of energy etc). Also the same doctor insisted I give dd vitamin D drops while I was breastfeeding - I ignored this advice as it was too much faff, and followed the NHS recommendations instead - that vitamin d isn't needed, especially when she's outdoors every day in her pram.

But I'm feeling doubtful about giving Lait de Croissance, despite the fact dd's been on it for two weeks now. Doubts partly from being a first-time mum living overseas away from family and friends, partly because the paediatrician is great and experienced etc. But I've been really pleased not to buy formula and feel irrationally disappointed giving in now (especially in a country when Nestle is a source of national pride). Also, Lait de Croissance is basically longlife milk, and I prefer the idea of fresh cow's milk.

Sorry to go on, but I'd love to know what do you all think about this. Did anyone give their baby/toddler follow-on milk? Maybe just even for her bedtime feed?

Apologies also if this is a recurring thread - I checked and couldn't see much from before.

you instincts are right - if she's eating a balanced diet then full-fat cows' milk is fine.

if it was just for the bedtime feed you could always bf then...

I think the only thing that she might lack is a bit of iron and my understanding of the research is that the iron in formula is not well absorbed
see here. If you were worried about it I think you would be honestly better off still bf

If you didnt want to give formula then cows milk and a vitamin/iron supplement would do the same job but probably be cheaper.

Thanks for your replies so far.

I'm stopping bf because I feel ready to, I think dd is too, and I'm also ttc soon - not had a period for two years now, so need to get those back first!

I wouldn't not give dd formula on the basis of me not wanting to line certain companies coffers, but I'm thinking I should give it to her for a few months until she's eating a bit more?

Did anyone out there give their LO follow-on milk, and if so, for how long?

I used follow on from 8/9 months until 1 year at which point I switched to full fat cows milk.

I'm in France, where paeds also pressurise you to give lait de croissance. While sitting there surrounded by merchandising from milk companies.
I ignored it, gave DS1 fresh cow's milk from 12mths on, and he was hale & hearty.

Oh, and have you tasted lait de croissance?

It is very sweet, and usually flavoured with nasty synthetic vanilla. That pretty much swung it for me, I wanted DS1 to be used to what actual milk tasted like, rather than that sweet rubbish.

I hate all the crap about needing follow on milk for vitamins and iron. For a child over 12 months who is no longer being bf then going from bf or formula to cows milk is fine and you don't need any extra supplements so long as they have a good diet. Milk isn't the only source of vitamins and iron at that stage!

just wanted to add that it's likely the extra iron could make your DD constipated. I moved my DD on to it ( as well as BF) & I think it bunged her up terribly.

Ideally infants should be breastfed for at least 2 years for optimUm health, so it would make sense to me, that if you couldn't breastfeed for the full time lengh you would need to substitute it...
I've never had to worry though yet so IDK

From a year, regular milk is fine. The added iron in follow-on milk is likely to constipate your DD.

I've never bothered with follow-on milk. It sounds like your DD eats a healthy diet, so full-fat cow's milk would be fine. My DD1 isn't fond of meat but has always eaten a lot of vegetables and fish. have you thought about including lentils in her diet? They are a good source of iron, and DD1 would happily eat them instead of meat. She and DD2 have been known to trade chickpeas for meat across the dinner table these days (DD2 is a confirmed carnivore ).

If Lait de Croissance is Nestle then I wouldn't use it on principle anyway. There was a great deal of hoo-ha a few years back because Nestle were deliberately marketing their powdered milk to mothers in developing countries where the water was not necessarily safe and there were babies dying as a result. They had claimed to have improved but I think there have recently been problems with them in the Philippines so I continue to boycott them.

We didn't bother with follow-on milk for DD1 since she was getting all the nutrients she needed from her diet and I'm sure your little one is too.

I think full-fat pasteurised cows milk is just fine, providing your DC has a good healthy mixed diet and goes outside every day.