Next Step Toddler Formulas - Necessary?

I never used it. My son was a premie baby and always small. I gave him whole milk with a good diet and he did just fine. Is five now and is almost as big as his older sisters. Milk has been around forever and its cheaper!!

My daughter is in the less than 3% for weight and head cir and she takes the poli-vi-sol vitamin for iron. And my pedi said that as long as she ate a well rounded diet -- I didn't need the toddler formula. That being said -- we use both whole milk and the toddler formula (and we are still weaning from BF). I find that the toddler formula is great when we go somewhere and I am going to need to give her milk (I put the mix in a sippy and add water later) or when we run out of whole milk ;-). My daughter will drink anything in a cup so no problems for us switching back and forth. I just ask my pedi for a free sample every time I go -- and since we don't use it full time -- it will mostly last me until my next visit.

I would just ask your pedi at your 1 year visit to make sure there are no concerns for your particular child.

S.,
My son recently turned one year old. We've been on the infant formula. Per the pedi, we are transitioning to whole milk. So, I would say skip the toddler formula and begin the fun of transitioning to whole milk.
Good luck,
A.

Milk is what has been used for centuries - the species seems to have done ok on that. That said, according to my sister she put one of my nephews on toddler formula and not the other - the one on formula apparently got sick at daycare much less than the one who went straight to milk only.

Anecdotal - I know.

I just breastfed, so not a lot of personal formula experience.

Unless your pedi recommends the toddler formula, I would just do whole milk.

I think it depends on where he is on the growth charts. My youngest has always been in the 3-5% range so he needs the extra vitamins/calories from those formulas for now. Check with your doc, but if your child is charting above 50% I would suggest going straight to whole milk. You can always squeeze in some pediasure for good measure if it would make you feel better.

What I do is mix one scoop of Next step into her whole milk to give it a boost of vitamins. She can't tell the difference, and it makes me feel better. You can sign up for coupons at enfamil.com. It really isn't expensive if you do it like I do.

Our pediatrician said the next-step formulas are a waste of money. By this age, they should be eating a pretty big variety of foods that should provide all the nutrition they need.

If you have any doubt, talk to your pediatrician or call and talk to a nurse.

I would just save some money and give him milk.

I skipped toddler formulas with both of my boys, and our pediatrition said that was fine. If you have doubts, I would ask the doctor. I sure remember how happy I was to be finished with formula! Good luck. :-)

I just asked our pedi the same question. He said in most cases they are a waste of money. Even if your child needs extra vitamins, a simple multi-v like poly-vi-sol is fine. You only need the Next Step if your son has real weight or food issues - in which case you should talk it over with your doc any how.