Toddler parents please answer!?

Question

OK. I know I have to wean my babies off formula. They are now taking a formula bottle every 3 hours. So, do I just put milk in a sippy cup and give it to them every 3 hours or what? They already drink water out of sippy cups through out the day, but I am a little confused about how they will just stop drinking so much formula. Will there be screaming? Obviously I replace it with more food and milk, right. Can someone please give me a play by play of how this will go? Thanks.

Wow that was quick. Thanks for all your answers - Yes, I take them to the doctor and they are very healthy. I think 6 months is way too young to wean off formula, but thanks anyway. They are 11 month old twins and they still want bottles, but they drink out of sippy cups and eat solid food. I have been giving them less formula. Just wondering what everyone else does. Again, THANKS for all the info.

Answer 1

What I did with my son who's now 3 is I mixed his formula with his milk i started with 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk, then went to half and half, then 3/4 milk and 1/4 formula, then eventually all together milk. I did each one for about a week or two, then added more milk and less formula. As far as the bottle vs. sippy cup, I agree with what's previously been said, use the same type of sippy cup, and don't let them see bottles anymore, eventually they will realize that's all they are gonna get and they'll just start taking it. I just gave the same advice to a close friend and within a day she said he was drinking his milk out of his sippy cup and wasn't on a bottle anymore and he'll be 1 this week. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 2

I agree with Safi, just start replacing some of the bottles with whole milk.

We have a 12 month old who we needed to switch to milk. We first switched to sippy cups for their formula (we wanted them to work on self feeding). And then swapped out one of the formula feedings each day with milk, then two, and so on. It only took a few days before he was completely off of formula. The first day or so, they complained a little at the taste difference, but they quickly learned to prefer the milk. In fact, we still have several unused cans of formula that we will now never use.

Answer 3

Babies usually can stop using formula at a year old, but some formula brands offer some stuff that you can use for up to 18 months.
If they are taking water from a sippy cup then they can learn to take milk from a sippy cup. Some babies need to suck to feel safe so don't be suprised if they don't like to do that right away.

Answer 4

Mix 3/4 formula with 1/4 milk for about a week. Then 1/2 and 1/2 for a week and so on until they are on 100% milk three times a day (12 oz each time).

There should be minimal screaming with such gradual adjustments. The babies should be 1 year old before introducing milk.

Answer 5

Most people recommend a slow transition to whole milk. Start by mixing 3/4 formula with 1/4 whole milk. Do that for a day or two. Then go to half formula and half milk for a couple of days. Then 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk. Just be sure to watch their BMs to make sure the milk isn't upsetting their tummies.

Answer 6

I really don't think you will have so much trouble. I had a cut off of formula at 1 year. I switched it for milk. I think you can balance it off, while the last of your can of formula ends. Try giving them milk, if they refuse maybe you can mix it with a bit of formula, and if they still refuse then use the formula itself. Gradually make the change. I honestly do not remember, but if I had trouble with this, I would. I just switched her, maybe one day formula, and the other milk, and then more and more milk while they get used to the taste. I still have the bottle and she is almost 2, she can also drink from cups, but I had a bottle till I was 8, so I won't go running to take her bottle away from her.

Answer 7

When my little guy was approaching his first birthday, I started switching him over from formula to whole milk.

At first I gave him several bottles of formula a day, interspersed with a few bottles that were 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk.

After a week or so, he was on half formula/half milk for all his feedings,

And another week later, he was all the way on milk.

I wouldn't just switch them over suddenly -- do it gradually.

Watch for signs of allergies or problems.

Answer 8

Well we arent sure how old your babies are and that makes a difference. You dont really want to switch to milk until 12 months old at the earliest. Some brands of formula can be used longer, like Enfamil Next Step, which I chose to use to about 15 months old with my daughter. By then, I was so tired of mixing formula I was more than willing to give it up! You want to give them whole milk, unless directed otherwise by your dr., and they should also be getting some juice everyday as well, even if you dilute it a bit.

Answer 9

You just stop giving them formula and give them milk instead. If they can drink out of sippy cups then they should be taken off the bottle all together!! They should be old enough for you to ask them if they are thirsty or not, you don't need to give them a sippy cup on a schedule!! How old are they, are they, babies or toddlers? If they are toddlers, then you need to stop thinking of them as babies! They should have been off formula at 6 months or for sure no more than a year!! Get them off those damn bottles ASAP!! Don't you take them to the Doctor or anything, he should have been telling you when to get them off the formula?!

Answer 10

How old is your child? They make a formula that is for 9-24 mos. (enfamil next step) and for 1-10 years (enfamil kindercal)
Weaning from a bottle to a cup depends on your baby's need to suck and his ability to drink from a cup. A baby is usually willing to be weaned between 9 and 18 months. When your baby is 6 months old, you can start giving him a cup, but wait to completely wean your baby until he is about 9 months old.
You can put breast milk that you have pumped in the cup. You can also use formula in the cup. Use iron-fortified formula until your baby is at least 1 year old to prevent iron-deficiency anemia. If you baby is over 12 months you can use regular whole milk.
Plan ahead. From the first months of your baby's life, use the bottle only for feedings. Don't let your baby use the bottle as a security object. For example, do not give the bottle to your baby in bed, because your baby may link the bottle with security and comfort. He may be reluctant to give up the bottle and this can make weaning harder.
Take your time. Give your baby time to get used to the idea of a cup. At about 6 months old, you can begin giving an occasional cup of breast milk, formula, or juice just to show that drinks can come in another container. A cup with two handles and a screw on lid with a spout is best for a baby to learn with.
Plan ahead and give yourself and your baby plenty of time. Slow weaning gives your baby time to adjust.

Start small and increase the amount of milk. When you ready to wean your baby, you can start by giving your baby a cup with 1/2 oz. of milk or formula at every meal. (Juice should not be used as a replacement for milk at feedings.) End the meal with a bottle of milk. Your baby will slowly take more and more milk from the cup. Once you start weaning, make sure you give a cup at every meal.
When your baby is taking at least 4 oz. from the cup at each meal, you can stop giving the bottle. Drop the bottle for the least preferred feedings first. The evening meal is usually a baby's favorite and is generally the last bottle-fed meal he is willing to give up.

If your baby is taking a daily total of 16 to 20 oz. of milk by cup, in addition to 3 meals of solid food, and doesn't seem to miss the bottle, he can be considered successfully weaned.

Setbacks in weaning can be caused by many things, including stress, major changes in meal or bed times, or illness. If such setbacks occur, wait until the situation improves or the illness is over, and then continue the weaning process. Call your baby's doctor if you have any questions or concerns.