Whole milk vs. formula

Millie - posted on 07/20/2010

When I took my son to the doctor he was weight 21.6 pounds and they say he was overweight. The doctor recommended for me to start the half and half. At first he didnt like it and now he loves it.

Claudia - posted on 07/20/2010

i would wait til she's a year old..but if you want to start earlier, just talk to your doctor.

Laressa - posted on 07/16/2010

Babies need the fat in whole milk(when old enough for cows milk) To help absorb the nutrients in the milk. With out the fat they could become undernurited

Libby - posted on 07/16/2010

My daughter is almost 11 and a half months and I just started introducing her to Whole Milk with her formula during the day when she wants a bottle. I do about 2 oz of whole milk and 2 oz of formula. At night if she wakes up I just give her a bottle of formula without the milk.

Tracy - posted on 07/15/2010

it's recommended to stay on formula until 1 year of age and then whole milk until 2 years old - bottles are or should be gone by 18 mos because of teeth - I've tried my son on a sippy several times, it is a weapon, especially the ones with the handles, look out, you will get hit with it - so we've shyed away from it for now - I know with my daugther she was on a sippy by now and we'd put milk in it but wouldn't leave it sit around for too long, just mainly at meals and then water any other time -

Holly - posted on 07/14/2010

Wow took my kid to pediatrician the other day she said when Lily turns 11.5 months start switching her to whole milk and in no way should I ever give her 2% until she is at least two years old. They told me 2 % doesn't have the nurtrients in it to develop the babies brain like whole milk does.

Tonya - posted on 07/14/2010

Well everyone has different options. my daughter is on 2% and off formula all together and she 11 months old. The public heath nurse here say give whole milk but my doctor say 2%. so really i guess it comes down to your chose as being the parent.

Kristina - posted on 07/13/2010

its weird cause WIC here in oklahoma makes you do whole milk for your 1 year old until the day they turn 2 because it helps them stay at the weight they need to be atleast thats what they told me so I am doing whole milk for my son, my daughter just turned two in may and we are giving her 2% now

Rachel - posted on 07/13/2010

I don't know who any of you listened to about giving a baby whole milk, but they are completely wrong. Whole milk is awful for you (weight) and your child. 2% Is all I have ever heard is acceptable for a child, including when I was a child myself.
Also, I started giving my boys 2% milk at about 10 1/2 weeks -one bottle a day- and now I give it to them all the time and they are 11 months today. I am still giving them formula until our WIC checks for this month run out. But if anyone here is on WIC or is accepting government assistance, they should be telling you that you shouldn't be giving them formula at a year old.
As long as your child doesn't have an imediate bad reaction to it or ellergic reactic, you are completely fine giving it to them now. Don't believe everything people tell you, including doctors.

I had one doctor tell me that one of my twin boys needed a helmet because his head was flat (from sleeping on his back) and I thought that was BS so I went to a different ped. and my current doctor says that there is no reason for a helmet. Six months later (present day), his head is perfectly round and he never needed a helmet. So, once again, just becareful what you believe. Try new things, take a chance, live life. :)

Licege - posted on 07/13/2010

Looks like doctors have different opinions - my doctor says to NOT give whole milk until at least one-year old. I'd say given the differences, talk to your doctor, as he/she is more familiar with your baby's medical history and can advise if it's ok for you to move her to whole milk or if you should wait. All in all, I personally do not see any disadvantage in waiting and I don't think you have to move her to whole milk just because she is a pro at the sippy cup - the fact that she can handle the sippy cup does not necessarily mean that her internal organs are ready to handle whole milk.

Lisa - posted on 07/13/2010

I have slowely been changing my daughter over to whole milk. Her doctor gave me the go aheat at her 9 month appt. but we just started at around 10 months. My daughter is taking 6 oz bottles, so we started out with 1 oz of whole milk and 5 oz of formula- about ever week to two weeks I have been uping the amount of milk in her bottles. The dr. said this would help her get use to the milk and not upset her stomach as much. So far so good. We are up to 3 oz and getting ready for 4!

Sarah - posted on 07/13/2010

Yeah i was always told to transition slowly starting a month before they are 1 but certainly not to give them a large amount of cows milk at once! i think whether u do it the month leading up to ther 1st birthday or after they are 1 i defo think weaning them slowliy onto cows milk is the best thing to do! Its took them this long to learn to digest food and cows milk is so rich i think the slowly slowly approach is better than rushing in whole hog!
Hope that helps xx xx

Molly - posted on 07/12/2010

every week i add a oz. of whole milk in her formula. nd my doctor gave me vitamin drops to give her once a day for the vitamins she lose from getting less formular

Briitany - posted on 07/11/2010

I was nursing up till a couple weeks ago with my 11 month old. The only reason i stopped was because he got some teeth in and was biting me so hard that i was bleeding. I asked my sister who is a nurse and i go to for everything with my kids if since he was so close to his birthday if he would be ok getting milk yet and she said even though he was only a month away from his bday he still shouldn't have milk to wait till after his birthday then slowly introduce it to him.

Tricia - posted on 07/11/2010

My son will be one on August 1st and when I asked my doctor about whole milk he said NO WHOLE MILK, to give him 2% instead. I started giving him milk in his sippy cup either at breakfast or dinner time. He still has a bottle of formula before bed and sometimes on in the morning if he wants it. I have asked around about when to stop with formula and most people say to continue until he is 1, the doctor said he needs it until he has a well balanced diet. I am going to start getting him down to one bottle of formula so that in a month I can easily (hopefully) stop with formula!!

Savannah - posted on 07/11/2010

I took my 11 month baby to her nutritionist yesterday, and she said to start weening her slowly. She told me to put an oz of whole milk with her formula, then every week put another ounce and less formula. That way, she's not shocked with the change and can get used to it easier. She did say keep her on formula until she's 1, but slowly transition her.

Blackwood - posted on 07/09/2010

I'm waiting till one, becuz it's recommended for nutriance, digestion and allergies, when I do ween my son off of formula, I'll do one bottle at a time for about 3 days each, but my son doesn't like to eat much or try new things and he finds it hard to chew (only 2 teeth so far) and that way I know he's still getting what he needs. Best of luck

Emily - posted on 07/09/2010

I agree with you. I was always told to not start cow's milk until at LEAST a year. To me, that means that you start weaning at one year.. not that you're done weaning at a year. I didn't start my first child on cow's milk until his first birthday.. though I did continue to breastfeed him. Will do the same with my 2nd.