How did you switch your toddler from formula to cow's milk, at what age, etc. Did you have any problems?

Question

Did he/she like it, refuse it, did you use whole milk or 2%, any and all tips or suggestions would be helpful. My daughter just turned 1 and I'm not sure if I should just switch or do it a little at a time for a few days, etc

Answer 1

I have two children and what my mother told me to do that worked was to start by doing an 8 oz. bottle as 6 oz formula and 2 oz milk. do that for a couple of days. If no problem, do 4 oz formula to 4 oz milk. for another 2-3 days, then do 2 oz formula and 6 oz milk for a couple more days and at the last step do all 8 oz. milk. Is your child on a lactose free formula? Is the baby is then talk to your dr. about soy milk. I weaned both of my children off of formula the way that I described to you and had absolutely no problems. A baby is supposed to be off formula at the first birthday. Same goes for the bottle. You can do this with a sippy cup as well. THe best way to get off the bottle is cold turkey.

Answer 2

Around 11 1/2 months I started giving her half milk, half formula. After two weeks of that, I just started giving her the milk. My doctor said whole milk only. She's a little over 17 months and still drinking the whole milk. I will see at her next appointment (in 3 weeks) if I should switch her to 2% or not. I know they need the fat from the milk for their brain, among other things.

Answer 3

My son was 5 weeks early, so nutrition is an issue with me. I breastfed for 5 1/2 months and supplemented breast with bottle (breast milk formula). At 12 months I changed him to a Toddler Next Stage Formula. We started watering down the formula a bit last month and started offering 2% milk at times. We now have formula at night and with breakfast and will stop once the current container is empty and go to all 2%. And we have started a vitam drop that goes in the morning bottle. My son didn't like whole milk and you do not want to go less than 2% as toddlers need some fat to aid in brain growth and development.

Answer 4

I did it this way, I started two weeks ahead of when I wanted him on whole milk. I started putting 1/4 whole milkand 3/4 formula for a few days, the 1/2 milk 1/2 formula for a few days and so on. The child age 1to 2 needs whole milk not 2%.

Answer 5

I just switched my son, age 1, to whole milk from nursing him everyday. I gradually switched him to whole milk by putting breast milk with whole milk. He didn't like it at first, but I kept giving it to him and he eventually started liking it. It took three days for him to actually like it though. Give yourself a week.

Since you are using formula, then put one part whole milk to two parts formula. Eventually you put two part whole milk to one part formula, and then you just give her whole milk. DO NOT GIVE YOU CHILD 2%! If your daughter liked her formula warm, then give her her milk warm too. If she liked her formula cold, then give her her milk cold too. This will make the transition alot easier. Make it easy on yourself and your daughter. Put it in her favorite sippy cup, or bottle and hold her at first. She will get used to it, and she will be just fine. I also would put a little bit of sugar or honey in the whole milk. Don't put alot! Just enough so she can taste it. He loved it and would take it better because it was sweet. You might want to try that!

After you have tried all of these things and she still is having trouble, I would contact your daughter's pediatrician and ask him/her for advice. Good luck!

Answer 6

I gradually mixed whole milk with the formula for a while. My child was already drinking the formula cold, so that helped. Then we were on whole milk exclusively by 1 year old. I was told after the child is 2, it was ok to go to 2% milk. They need the extra fat at first for proper brain development. Check with your child's doctor if you have more questions.

Answer 7

Our doctor told us she can have it when she turned one. Only whole milk at first. She can have 2% when she's two years old.
*I breastfed so we had to wean her to a bottle (with the whole milk). She took to it after a day. She cried at first but then got used to it and liked it. It helped her sleep better. No more waking up at odd hours, she slept through the night after that.
If she refuses at first, just try to give it again. Just don't give in and go back and forth. Be patient and be consistent.
Good luck! I'm sure it will be easy. It seems that whole milk tastes better than formula.

Answer 8

I started giving my daughter whole milk, by alternating the bottles for a few days like, one formula, next one milk, and then just gradually got her drinking milk, she loves it, make sure you give her whole milk though they need the extra fat until they are around 2

Answer 9

Children should be weaned from formula to whole milk at one year old. You have to use whole milk because they need the fat in the milk for proper development.

Don't go from all formula to all milk in one shot, you'll have a fight on your hands. Better to mix three parts formula to one part milk at each time you give the formula, gradually increasing the milk and decreasing the formula as your child gets used to it.

Answer 10

I switched both my kids at 12 months...whole milk is the best for them...they still need the fat and calories from the milk...start mixing equal parts of formula and the milk...then gradually decrease the formula...