Switching from formula to whole milk

Isa - posted on 02/10/2009

I do agree with Anthea, adding unnatural sugar is not good for the diet however breast milk and formula are both alot sweeter then cows milk. Cows milk is not a substitute for the nutrients in human breast milk and nor is formula, formula presents its own diet issues as the majority of it is made from GM soy beans which has unproven long term affects. The sugar found in formula and cows milk is similar to malt; milk contains the sugar lactose and malt is the sugar maltose both are complex sugars that require enzymes to break them down into simple sugars used for energy.

A varied diet with fresh unprocessed foods is the key. Both my girls are very healthy and rarely ask for sweet foods, they eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegies, I only used sweetner as a transition from breast milk and formula to whole milk for about 2 weeks, I no longer add sweetners to the milk, if your baby likes the taste of milk there is no need to add sweetners. :)

Anthea - posted on 02/09/2009

Quoting Isa:

I am pretty lucky as my husband is a dairy farmer so we have an endless supply of milk as I think milk is rather expensive, my girl has taken to milk realy well from about ten months of age, I have trouble keeping her away from it now, when I first took her off formula I would put a spoonful of malt in her milk to sweeten it, also brown sugar is a good sweetner and old wives tale is that it helps with constipation. My mother seems to think putting water in the milk is not good as it changes the nutrients in it (I have never listened to that) and water should be given seperately. Try not to give juice before bed as it is not good for little teeth :) Good luck.

Kids can have full cows milk instead of breast milk or formula from 12 months. Under that, they should be getting most of their nutrients from the breast/formula. By then they should be eating a full and varied diet - hence why you take them off the milk that has lots of added nutrients, not just calcium.

I wouldn't be sweetening the kids milk because that is just setting them up for a taste of sweet stuff, also sugar should not be given to babies. They do not need any added sugar, they get enough from fruit etc which has natural sugar in it. We have a nation of unhealthy kids and I think as parents we are responsible for making sure they get the best start to life.

Cara - posted on 02/09/2009

My daugther went on whiole milk at 10 and 1/2 months, with no reaction.  She ate alot of dairy as it was, and she loved it.  We just started out with a bottle of it a day for a few days, than switched to just milk. 

Sandra - posted on 02/09/2009

I started my son at 9 months, he took to it fine.

Isa - posted on 02/07/2009

I am pretty lucky as my husband is a dairy farmer so we have an endless supply of milk as I think milk is rather expensive, my girl has taken to milk realy well from about ten months of age, I have trouble keeping her away from it now, when I first took her off formula I would put a spoonful of malt in her milk to sweeten it, also brown sugar is a good sweetner and old wives tale is that it helps with constipation. My mother seems to think putting water in the milk is not good as it changes the nutrients in it (I have never listened to that) and water should be given seperately. Try not to give juice before bed as it is not good for little teeth :) Good luck.

Christa - posted on 02/06/2009

Thank you for your input - it is very timely, because I tried putting in some milk with her formula and she's been constipated since, poor bub.  the good news is that she likes the taste too.  I will try alternating with the water/juice.  Thanks!

Michelle - posted on 02/05/2009

Well, I was unable to breast feed my daughter, so she was a formula baby.  When she hit a year old, I started doing 1/2 formula, 1/2 whole milk.  It took like 2 bottles and she was not wanting anything to do with formula anymore and I gave her whole milk, and she was so funny...she would smack her lips and "mmmm".  She loved it!  I do give her the organic milk instead of the regular milk because it doesn't have as much hormones in it.  I think the whole milk tastes sweeter.

Malerie - posted on 02/04/2009

I have three kids. When they were 6 months old they all went onto whole milk. I bought the milk while there was still half a jar of formula. I alternated the bottles, one formula, one whole milk. I had no problems at all with my oldest two boys. They drank it straight away and when the formula was gone it was just the whole milk. My daughter has just started whole milk. At first she wouldnt drink it so I watered it down a little. About 150mls of milk then 60mls of water and she is drinking it fine. Her formula is now finished and she is completely on whole milk. Every day now I will increase the milk by 10mls until she is having no water and only milk. I would make sure you give your child water in between each drink of milk, the whole milk made my daughter constipated. I just give her 30mls of prune juice mixed with 60mls of water twice a day between bottles and she is fine. Good luck.