How old was your baby when you started switching from formula to whole milk?

Question

My baby is 11 months old, just wondering if I can start slowly switching from formula to whole milk? Any advice on the best way to do this? Thanks!

Answer 1

This is a great (and probably quite common) question.
There are details and tips at: http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/formulafeed/1334703.html

My baby girl is 10 1/2 months and will be starting daycare part time next week and full time November 6th. I return to work November 14th. Her birthday is November 25th.

I've only been breastfeeding and now I can't get her to take formula at all. (I tried for a week and she freaks out and gets completely hysterical so I gave up.) I'm hoping that the daycare might be able to convince her to drink fromula. (Some people have said this is a possibility... different environment and I'm not around with the BM "on tap") WE'll give it a whirl, but I won't be pressing the issue too much if she's still refusing formula.

Once she's full time at daycare I plan to continue BF 3 times a day for at least the 3 weeks until her 1st birthday. Her 1-year "well baby" check-up is a week after her birthday and I'd also like to ask her pediatrician before switching her to cow's milk.

People have told me that BF babies are better with straws than with sippy cups or bottles and trying with water at meals I've found this to be true, so I'm planning to introduce milk with a straw too.

We'll be following the 3 day allergy rule, not introducing anything else new during this period and watching for signs of allergy or digestive problems... I might even double up the 3 days on this one because it's a big transition. (Although she does already eat yogurt, cheese and the occasional smidge of ice cream without a problem.)

I'll just have to see how it goes and like we do for everything else I'll let my baby be my guide. If she won't get on board with formula, then milk may be coming a couple weeks early. Like someone else said, I'm not convinced that a couple weeks one way or the other is a huge deal. Like with everything else, every baby is different so why this strict rule about milk at age 1?

I hope she likes it though!! Her Dad and I are huge milk drinkers!!!

I'll be watching this one for other replies, hints and suggestions! Thanks!!

Answer 2

I think you can start introducing whole milk early. It is not an easy transition and this can make it SO much easier for both you and your baby!!!
This is what I did to help my 3 kids make the adjustment from formula to whole milk:
I would start at 11 months and if I was making an eight ounce bottle, I would mix 6 ounces formula to 2 ounces whole milk. I got better results when the mixture was warmed slightly. ( I think that it helped the mouth feels as milk and formula feel very different.)
Gradually, I would add a little more milk and a little less formula. Soon I was just giving them slightly warmed whole milk.
Another suggestion is to stop giving them the bottle ASAP. I used the milk transition to start getting rid of the bottle. I timed it as to be giving them 100% whole milk in a sippy cup and totally getting rid of the bottle. On the day of their birthday, they did not see a bottle and I put them away so that it was an out of sight and out of mind. For some, it might be tough....but it is better than having a two or three year old walking around with a bottle!

Good luck!!!

Answer 3

11 months is the perfect age to start switching to whole milk. Just substitute the formula with whole milk slowly until your baby is completely off of the formula. Start with 1 serving of whole milk the first day, then give a little more each day. My two boys loved the whole milk, hope you have the same positive experience that I did.

Answer 4

11 months is a fine time to start the transition so hopefully you'll have the baby off formula by the first birthday. My baby was 11 1/2 months old and it only took about 4 days to get him switched over. I'd just mix the formula and milk together, sometimes more milk than formula and eventually he took only milk. Some people prefer to transition over a few weeks, but the approach I used worked for me.
Good luck.

Answer 5

I started around 11 months with all my kids on cow's milk and had the full conversion by a year.
Most formulas are cow-based so I don't see how going to cow's milk at 11 months is so health devestating as some are claiming.

Just give it a try and see how the babies digestion seems to handle it. I used lactose free milk with my third when she seemed to have a problem with the regular and she did fine. I breast fed her mostly until then and the conversion was easy.

Good luck and I hope all goes well.

Answer 6

I started switching him at 11 months three weeks. I would put a little milk in the bottle with the formula, and gradually increased it until he was only drinking milk. He also liked the milk warm until he was about 15 months.

Answer 7

It's always best to check with your childs Dr. first. My first child switched at 1 yr, and the Dr recommended my second son to wait until he was 15 months to switch beause he was very small. When my boys were ready to switch I would make a bottle of 90% formula, 10% milk, and each day or two increase the milk until you are at 100% milk. Just don't rush it.

Answer 8

i wud recommend that u start the whole after ur baby is 1 year old.

There are several reasons to delay the introduction of cow's milk until your baby reaches his first birthday. Most important, a baby's digestive system can't digest cow's milk proteins. Cow's milk also has too much sodium, potassium, and chloride, which can tax your baby's kidneys.

Even if his system could handle it, cow's milk doesn't have all the vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin E, zinc, and iron) that he needs for growth and development in his first year. Giving a baby cow's milk could even cause iron deficiency and internal bleeding. And it can increase his risk of an allergic reaction.

Once your baby's digestive system is ready to digest it, though, milk becomes a powerful ally. A great source of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and magnesium, milk will build your toddler's bones and teeth and help his body regulate his blood coagulation and muscle control. Almost all milk is fortified with vitamin D, which helps the body absorb the calcium it needs.

Milk also provides protein for growth, as well as carbohydrates, which will give your child the energy he needs to toddle all day! And if your child gets enough calcium from the get-go, there's evidence that he'll have a lower risk of high blood pressure, stroke, colon cancer, and hip fractures later in life.

Answer 9

well, first of all, dont' forget to ask your baby's pediatrician.
I understand that you can switch to whole milk at the age of 12 months, and since she's almost that age I think it should be fine for you to start weaning her from formula to milk, but ask the doctor, just in case

he can also give you tips on how to do it

good luck!

Answer 10

It is suggested to wait until a year to introduce whole milk. The best way to do this is slowly add more and more milk to her bottle while decreasing the amount of formula.

NOTE: Please be careful when introducing the milk however, milk is highly allergenic. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. Introduce just a small amount of milk in the bottle the first time early in the day and watch for signs of a reaction. Hopefully all will go well.

Good luck!