Formula to Milk

I understand that formula may be more nutritious, but if he is eating solid foods, he should be getting most of his nutrition from the foods he eats. When we moved to milk, we started by mixing his formula with milk, and gradually decreased the amount of formula until he was completely on milk.

My son didn't like milk. He would drink it for anything. But he would drink ovaltine. So I switched him to that. He still won't drink regular milk. He was on formula until he was about 3. Hope that helps
C. H.

When I switched my oldest daughter from formula to Vitamin D milk I did it slowly by adding a little milk at a time. Eventually switching all the way. That's what my pediatrician said to do. She liked it too. She never seemed to have a problem of mixing the two together. Just a thought for you.

We are moving our daughter from formula to milk by making her bottles half & half. We make a 4 oz bottle of formula and then add organic whole milk. We have been decreasing the formula and increasing the milk over a couple of weeks so as not to shock her system. The milk is much higher in protein and harder to digest. It has been working beautifully!

With my kids I mixed half & half for a few months. I did it because I wanted the nutrients.

We did the same as Heather suggested...we did 1/4 whole organic milk and 3/4 formula. We did that for about a week, then switched to 1/2 formula and 1/2 milk for another week, then 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk for the next week. Within a month they were drinking whole milk and loving it! (We love the organic milk, because it doesn't have any hormones in it, but everyone has a right to choose for themselves) Believe me, they get enought nutrition now from solid foods that they only need milk 3 times a day. Hope this helps!
J.

You could try mixing a little milk in with the formula at first. Add a bit more milk each week, using less formula each time. My daughter started on milk at 12 months but it took a month or so for her to get totally used to the new taste. Give it a try and see how it works!!

Yep, I'd say your best bet is to start mixing milk with formula too. I have a 7yr old and there never was all this Step 2 stuff for her and she and all her 2nd grade friends are perfectly normal and smart so I'd opt not to waste the money on that stuff!!

Good luck!
S.
www.shariegraf.scent-team.com

Hi Johna
When I was switching my son to milk, I started mixing d-milk in w/his formula. I'd put a little more in each week until there was more milk than formula. He had even been on soy formula, because he as a baby, had a hard time w/milk based formula. he did very well w/the switch. He is now 3yrs old and is still on the whole milk and sometimes 2percent. I give him 2 gummy vitamins a day. He is a healthy boy. Don't be afraid to switch, your 15mo. old will be just fine on milk and vitamins. His taste buds might even appreciate the taste of milk better. Good luck and everything will be fine..M.

When we changed from formula to milk I exchaged one cup of formula for 1 cup milk. Two weeks later I'd exchange another cup (=2 cups) forumla for milk.

We get (3) 8 oz cups of milk a day. However, according to ped and food pyramid they should only be getting 2 cups. My children are 4 and 2.

You are right that milk is not as nutritious as formula, but by 15 months your child should be eating enough solid food to make up the difference. I can tell you that when it come to kids nutrition/eating habits all the doctors and nutritionists tell you to base their eating on a weekly basis rather than the daily version that used for adults. Kids can be picky eaters making it a creative challenge for the parents to make sure they get all vitamins/mineral they need :)

Good Luck.

Also, with the moving from formula to milk - this was a smooth process for us (ie little fuss except the very first day and that just took a stern look and tone saying we are growing up, if you want milk this is the kind you get and the cup you get it in). If they didn't want the milk but seemed thirsty they were offered water.

~A.

Formula is more nutritious for infants that aren't on solid foods yet. Older chilren should be getting part of their daily nutrition from solid foods. If your son is refusing to eat fruits, veggies, etc..then you have a good reason to be concerned. If he's eating normal (for a one year old, which isn't much) then milk is fine. He needs the fat in the milk.
God bless you and your family. Also, if he hasn't been drinking out of the sippy cup for very long, he might just be having problems getting used to the new sucking motion that the sippy cup requires. Keep trying and he'll get the hang of it.

To be honest, I would talk with your pediatrician and see what he/she has to say. I transitioned all four of my children at 12 months old and none of them had any problems. After 12 months of age, babies should be getting their nutrition from food.

"Whole milk provides important fatty acids that your child needs for his/her developing nervous system. The fatty acids are used to produce myelin, which helps to increase the speed of signal transmission along the nerves."

I am not sure if the necessary fatty acids are in formula or not, which is why I recommend talking with your pediatrician.

Good luck to you.

Hello.. The way I changed my daughter who just turned 1. I put strawberry flavoring in the whole milk. I talked with the Dr. and he said that it is fine to do that as long as she is getting the milk. My daughter doesn't seem to like whole milk at all. You could also try to mix the formula half and half with the whole milk. half formula and half whole milk and gradually put less and less of the formula and then he will be on the whole milk. Sometimes children don't like the taste of whole milk compared to formula because the formula has a much sweeter taste. I hope that you find this helpful.
C.

When I transitioned my 3 I started with 3/4 formula and 1/4 whole milk. Then gradually it became more milk then formula and then all milk. The process takes a good week to do it slow, but it works! Now I have to get my 18 month old to like cold milk, I still heat it up for her. Which isn't a problem until we are not home! Good luck!

I just started putting whole milk in a sippy cup. I would stop the formula all together. Your child is getting the nutrition he/she needs from table food and when they get thirsty they will drink what you have. However your child does not need more than 16oz. of milk daily. To much milk is not good for any child. Also if you do not get your child off the bottle it will mess up his teeth. I did take it cold turkey the day both my children turned 1 year old. They went to bed with a bottle and got the next morning and all the bottles were gone. These are all just suggestions. I'm sure you will figure out what works best for you.

Put a little milk mixed with formula in his bottle. First start with half formula, half milk mixture for a few bottles, then lessen the formula each time after that until it is all milk. Or you can just quit the bottle and go straight to the sippy cup with the same mixture. Sometimes we put our feelings on the kids and don;t really see what they really want. If he is not addicted to the bottle, he really should be off the bottle by now. It helps to show him he is a big boy! Good Luck

No child has ever died from not drinking enough milk. All of my children (13, 21, 24) stopped or cut back on the amount of whole milk they drank when I took them off the bottle. It just seems to be a fact of life. Most kids don't like milk. Don't worry, they will get the vitamins and nutrients that they need from the food they eat or you can put them on vitamins. My granddaughter (now 3) was very frail and did not drink much milk when we took her off the formula/bottle. I bought some polyvisol vitamins from Walmart and put a dropper full in her orange juice everyday and she started having a good appetite and started putting on weight (almost too much) but don't be afraid of putting them on whole milk but ask your pediatrician. He they don't have a problem, then I wouldn't worry.

Hi Johna,

I agree with KT. Don't stress it. Cow's milk is really for cows...but if you want to substitute then try Organic Whole Milk. It probably has as much nutrition as the formula that you are using and all the allergens that people associate with milk are really associated with processed milk.

Organic milk does cost more per ounce but it tastes so good and it's so rich that you don't drink nearly as much. Our spending hasn't changed a bit!

M.

I to kept my son on Next Step formula until he was 16 months old. He weaned himself from nursing at around 10 months and I felt like he needed formula. Then when I tried milk he refused. I started mixing his formula with whole milk one ounce at a time until he eventually was drinking all whole milk...he prefers strawberry milk. I hated to add the flavoring but at least he's drinking the milk. I also watch the labels on milk.. I won't buy the ones that have the Growth Hormone in them, and if it doesn't say not produced with Growth hormone then it has it in it. I buy ours from our local gas station...cheaper too! Good Luck. Mom of 3 boys!

Though I just went "cold turkey" with both my boys. You could try mixing half formula with half whole milk. Do that for a week gradually decreasing the amount of formula.

Kathy's response is what I was going to say. When we started the transition, we'd do 3/4 forumla 1/4 milk. We worked our way up to 1/2 and 1/2, then finally 1/4 formula 3/4 milk. We'd change about every 2 weeks so it was gradual. We kept it in his bottles during that stage and he did really well with it. Hopefully this will help you. Good luck!!