toddler milk

[AuldAlliance]

I live in France and everyone here is advised by doctors to give kids from about 12mths on "lait de croissance" (literally growth milk), special milk with extra vitamins and minerals and some (doubtless evil) vanilla flavouring. I'm just curious to know whether such a thing exists in the UK: when I left over 10 years ago perusing the baby/toddler aisle was the farthest thing from my mind. I can't think it's really necessary to give them such souped-up stuff and wonder whether the fake vanilla taste doesn't encourage a sweet tooth, so I've been contemplating switching to ordinary, albeit organic, milk for DS (18mths). Any feedback would be welcome...

I think the general consensus is that follow-on milk or 'toddler' milk is probably a total rip off. Stick to normal milk. I can't see that in France their 'toddler' milk would be any different from the stuff here, except at least in uk there's no vanilla stuff in it. Yuk.

I'm in Switzerland and was told the same. I tried a little and it is incredibly sweet and flavoured, not something I would be happy to give to my DD (16 months). It was full of unnecessary sugar as well (made by Nestle of course it would be).There are toddler milks available in the UK (less sugar though) but I really doubt they are necessary if your DS has a well balanced diet.
My DD has been on organic milk since she was 11 months and she is thriving. It hasnt made me very popular with the playgroup type mums, but I wasnt going to pay so much money for something I consider unnecessary. Plus the organic stuff here is so delicious and creamy it gives me an excuse to buy the full fat stuff for myself too!

Full fat ordinary milk is fine from 12 months for an averagely healthy child.

Hipp Organic do a Vanilla flavoured milk drink.
But DS had just the normal organic cow's milk from 12 months.

Thanks everyone for your comments, which merely confirm my suspicions. I'll brave the "oh la la" raised eyebrows from fellow mums and cut the stuff out of his diet. Should be good for my bank balance,too...