Formula to Cows milk at 12 mo's, increase/decrease amount, food intake??? SO SO SO CONFUSED!!!

[Nip]

I'm a but unsure of all this so i really need some help.

Apparently after 12 months the DC can go onto cows milk as they will be getting the vitamins and nutrients from the food they eat. But do they drop milk, or should we move them away from it, or do they keep having the same amount?

My DS wakes up and has 8oz at about 7am in the morning, then at about 9am he has breakfast... Should we swap this around? Does anyone know?
He also has 8oz mid afternoon(which he usually only has half of) - and 8oz before bed at 7pm. Will this reduce, what happens, he always finishes his food so should i give him more?

I really dont know what i'm doing and have no-one in rl to ask? HELP

Hi Nip, I think if you aren't having any trouble with feeding then don't worry! My DS is 20mths and has a cup of milk after breakfast, a cup in the afternoon, and a cup of milk after his eve meal before his bath.

We switched it to after his meals as he was filling up on milk beforehand and not eating properly. I think they are still supposed to have about 1/2-3/4 pint per day including milk used in cooking (I'm sure someone will be able to confirm the recommended amount)

I gradually introduced cows milk at 12mths by switching one of his drinks to start with to get him used to the taste.

Hi nip - what you are doing sounds perfect to me! we always gave dd her bottle of milk first thing, followed by breakfast an hour later and it worked perfect - as washersaurus said, once hes eating his food its fine!. At this age he will start to tell you (or cry for!!) more if he needs/wants it but if hes happy for the minute your obviously doing great!!

Ok, so i guess i just keep going then..

washersaurus - i had thought about gradually introducing cows milk - thanks for the confirmation!

I think i'm going to have to speak to a HV or something because i'm so confused and dont really know what i'm doing in so many aspects of feeding.

THANK YOU

Just don't let those HV put you off what you are doing if you are both happy - your instincts are best!

Washersauraus - i have no instincts thats the problem. I have got this far with books, and info from the HV - hence why i'm struggling - all the help and advice dwindles after 9 months!

I am trying to do the best thing, and my DS is well and eats well. But for example, he eats lunch at 12, bottle at 2, food at 3.30 and tea at 5 - this is stupid - but i dont know what time he should be eating - he's at nursery until 4.30. I give nursery all this food and they feed him (and he eats it all happily) - but should we perhaps not give him so much at once - i dont know, i;m stuck - i'm getting so worked up about this and making myself ill.

ah Nip - please stop doing that to yourself - it all sounds perfect to me!! you are doing fantastic from the sound of it. I think his meals sound perfectly spaced and if he is eating it all (once its well balanced and not rubbish) of course you are not giving him too much all together!! hes a growing little boy, as my granny used to say

You really will make yourself ill!!

you also said he is healthy and happy - surely this shows you are not going far wrong? he would tell you if something is wrong - seriously, my dd is 17 months and will say "yum yums" when hungry or "baattle" when she wants her milk - before this, shed cry if she wanted something

I agree Nip - STOP WORRYING! (sorry for shouting). As a guide, my nursery actually feeds the LO's at 12 and then again at 3pm and I give him his tea at about 5.30pm.

They need to be offered frequent meals at this age and if they eat them all up then all the better!

I agree that if you were offering too much/little your LO would soon let you know about it!