Advice on Milk

Updated on December 12, 2007
N.N. asks from Secaucus, NJ
12 answers

Hi all-
My son just turned a year old. I was wondering what everyone thought about staying with formula or switching to milk?
He is not very attached to the bottle, he has one when he wakes up and another before bed--never takes the bottle to bed.
Eats just about everything I give him.

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A.J.

answers from Albany on

I myself have always dropped the formula as soon as 1 year bday came. Our peds supported that as long as it was whole milk we switched to. My first 2 hated milk so i would fill them with other dairy & calcium fortified OJ. My 3rd didn't like milk until one day i decided to give it to him in a big boy cup with a straw! Worked like a charm.
A.

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Q.F.

answers from New York on

hi, i was on wic, and had about 12 cans left over when my daughter turned one. her ped. said to just give her the formula until she's out of it since they get more vitamins they need through the formula then through regular milk. she also said that either way, she should be having 18-24 oz of it a day. i wanted to put her on milk earlier, but being that i was on wic, i had no choice (other then when i'd be out, and not have enough formula on me). i think if he doesn't care, just go to the regular milk, and make sure to give all his vitamins. if you think it may be a problem, try switching back and forth between and see if there's any difference to him. if not, stick with what's easier for you. after all, if you feel more comfortable with the formula, there are the next stages formula for older kids.

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S.M.

answers from New York on

N.,

Every mom is different. I started to give my daughter 2% milk when she was 9 months old and has been on it since. She has never gotten sick from it or has any developmental issues yet. She is 2 now and looks, talks like she is 3 year++. My pediatrician had no problem with that he is very old fashion which is what I like. My daughter was still getting the nutrition she needed. I just gave her milk and she took and never looked back. Good luck I switched real soon.

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C.Y.

answers from New York on

Hi N.
I started taking both my kids off the formula around 10 months. Don't just switch from formula to milk, they have to be weaned off. Start with 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk. every day add a little more milk.
Whole milk is best. I never to this day use anything else, especially that we are not much of milk drinkers.
GOOD LUCK
C. Y

About me: I have 2 children, 16 and 8, full time working mom

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S.D.

answers from New York on

Why not switch to Milk, you'll save a ton of money on Formula. It is much easier, you can get milk anywhere if you are traveling or visiting friends and family. It is usually a very easy transition. Make sure it is whole milk. I usually get the either organic or I make sure that no hormones or preservatives were added.

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K.W.

answers from New York on

Go ahead and switch him to whole milk.
There are inmportant nutrients his body needs.
I wasn't sure myself when my son turned a year old how he would react to bovine products. We had him on soy formula all his life and he adjusted with no problem.
He is the same way as your son, not very attached and only has two bottles a day now.
One around naptime in the morning and one near bedtime in the evening.
I put some milk in a sippy cup and he didn't care for that. He is used to to having juice and water in his cup I think.
K.

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F.B.

answers from New York on

Hello - I don't know much about bottle feeding - I nursed both of my children but I do have a concern about milk because I think it can be to harsh for little bodies and not needed for adults. My son is now 19 and he never had milk and my daughter still nurses at 21 months and I will never offer her milk. It is full of calcium but unlike with greens which have more calcium, with the milk you just piss it all out, the fat that we need can be got from avacado or by mixing flax in the food or olive oil or wild salmon.As humans we don't need cows milk so I suggest looking at other sources of nutrition and researching on milk -Even organic yogurt is more gentle than whole milk etc. I was on google and typed in milk and the notmilk website came up and I learned a great deal - anywhoo good luck to you and your wonderful baby
F.

C.V.

answers from New York on

N.,

If he doesint need to be on formula for any special reason, then I think its ok to start him on whole milk. I started my daughter on whole milk when she turned one. She only drinks two 8 oz bottles a day, one in the morning and one rite before bed. Just make sure that he gets at least 16 oz a day. He will be getting the same nutrition that he was getting while on the formula from the wwhole milk and the solid foods he eats, if thats your concern. Give it a try and see how he likes it. It will also save a great deal of money if you pay for formula!!! Good luck!

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K.Y.

answers from New York on

Definitely switch to whole milk. It's way cheaper and your doctor will recommend the same.

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S.R.

answers from New York on

Switch to milk slowly and mix it with milk, but it should be OK by now. My son got terrible diaper rashes when we gave him too much milk, and we had to stay on formula for a while, but once he was OK with it he liked it. We did not try lactaid or goats milk. Also, serve it warm like his bottle, decreasing the temp as it gets closer to summer, until you are just knocking the chill off to get him adjusted to drinking regular milk. Also, if you could switch to a sippy as soon as possible, the better, that way you won't have to fight him for the bottle later, especially if he likes warm milk. There are several with good valves that work well.

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L.U.

answers from Glens Falls on

From what my doctor told me, the fat in milk is a very important brain developer in children, in addition to the well known need for calcium. That's why they tell you to use whole milk, not 2% or skim. You don't want you little guy getting bigger and prefer formula. It's too expensive, he gets what he needs from food now, and his body needs what milk can give him.
My 3 year old had some trouble switching to milk. We breastfed for a 11 mo., I thought I'd try giving her a little milk from my glass one day, (I remember thinking, what's a couple more weeks), and within 1 minute she vomited a LOT !! and she broke out within 30 seconds with red blotches around her mouth with most dairy. She could tolerate swiss cheese melted on toast, and yogurt, I believe. My doctor told me to keep nursing, and giving her things she could tolerate. I had to try milk again every couple of months. I think it was 15 or 18 months that she was able to tolerate more dairy, and then she just didn't like milk. I think around two she drank mildly flavored chocolate milk, which she continues to do today. I buy the syrup and mix my own. The pre-made choc milk has way too much sugar per serving for me. I don't know if the sips of milk that I gave her a couple of weeks before she was one, created an allergy or not. Their tummy's just aren't ready to digest it yet I guess.
Here's a link for a Freihoffer's outlet near you.
http://freihofers.gwbakeries.com/outletResults.cfm
I've found they carry hormone free milk, cheaper than my local grocery stores, and/or economy grocery stores in my area. Also everything they carry is approximately 1/2 the cost of grocery store prices.

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M.R.

answers from New York on

I see no problem with giving him milk - though I would do it in small doses to see if he has any allergies to it. Start with whole milk and perhaps reduce it to 2% or 1% from there....

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