Switching from formula to milk?

Question

My son will be a year old on Sept. 22. We are actually going to be through with the formula this week. I was thinking of going ahead and switching him to whole milk. He is on soy-based formula. My question is: how do I make the transition? Cold turkey or alternate for a few days?? Will it hurt to mix the soy formula with the whole milk?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Great question! My daughter is going to be 1 on the 21st, hehe. A friend of mine switched her son cold turkey and he didn't notice a difference nor did he get constipated. This was at the reccommendation of their Dr. I am planning on going cold turkey and watch my daughter closely. Her 1 year check up is on the 26th and I plan on waiting til then to make the switch just to make sure she's not anemic.

More importantly have you thought of what you are going to do with the extra money that went towards formula?! Personally, I'm going on a bit of a shopping spree! teehee.

Answer 2

EEEEEH! Do not use the cold turkey method if he's on soy formula. In fact, don't mix them either, alternate the whole milk and then the formulafor about two days on everyother bottle then move to 2 bottles of whole milk then 1 formula, until you finally reach 4 bottles of whole milk without any stool problems. If gas becomes an issue, get gas drops and give the little one a massage when he gets out of the tub. IT HELPS! My little one got off of formula about 7 months ago and now he doesn't know the difference.

Answer 3

this was our transition:
Week 1: 1/4 Whole Milk, 3/4 Formula
Week 2: 1/2 Whole Milk, 1/2 Formula
Week 3: 3/4 Whole Milk, 1/4 Formula
Week 4: 100% on Whole Milk

My daughter was also on Soy formula.

Answer 4

I am not sure about how it works with soy based formula, but when my kids went from formula to milk we transitioned for a few weeks. You fill up the bottle with formula up to one ounce less than usual, then put milk in to get it to where it usually is. And then week by week, or every few days add more milk and less formula. But since you have soy based formula, you should probably talk to the baby's doctor about how to go about transitioning the baby to whole milk. And remember after the baby turns 2, switch them to 2% milk, it's better for them and also for everyone else in your family.

Answer 5

If you go cold turkey, your son could develop consitpation or diarrhea from the switch. If you normally give him a 6 oz bottle of formula, try giving him a bottle with 5 oz formula and 1 oz milk for about three days, then 4 oz formula 2 oz milk for three days, and so on, until he's on milk alone.

The 21-month-old baby I watch transitioned from formula about 7 months ago, but we still put one scoop of powdered formula in her morning sippy cup of whole milk, just for the extra nutrients.

Answer 6

I started when my kids were 9 months. I would give them a bottle of milk a day and by the time they were a year (a bit after) I would remove the formula from the diet.

Answer 7

I would try it cold turkey. You may have to warm the milk a little but he should switch easily. My daughter was on soy based to but she made the switch fine.

Answer 8

I alternated for my son. I wouldn't mix them, but I wanted him to start "liking" the regular milk. Watch his stool, and make sure he's okay. I'm lactose intolerant, so I was very cautious about my son switching to whole milk.

Good luck, and as always, check with his doctor. It's better to be safe then sorry.

Answer 9

start by mixing them together 2 oz mile 6 oz formula then half and half and so on until its all milk

Answer 10

Don't use whole milk try 2 percent it is much healthier for the baby and whole milk curdles quicker from my point of view.