What age do i start changing from formula to normal milk?

Kristin - posted on 03/24/2009

At our last visit my pedi told me to wait until she was 1yo and even then we don't have to go to whole milk, she can have 2%. I am planning on waiting and will transition for her. However, I am very excited about not having to drink whole milk, with my older son, we had to have whole milk for him and 2% for the rest of us, I am looking forward to a much cheaper Sam's Club bill - with 4 gal of 2 % instead of 2 gal and formula!

Susan - posted on 03/24/2009

Current recommendations in Canada state that you can start cow's milk at 9 months unless there is a history or risk of allergies. Some pediatiricians' still prefer to wait unitl 12 months. As long as you have a baby that likes a variety of foods and eats sources of protein and iron (pablum/baby cereal has lots of iron) they are fine being on cow'sn milk and no formula. Both my kids were breastfed until 9 months and then switched to cow's milk. Just make sure they are getting the high fat milk.

Hope this helps!

Heidi - posted on 03/24/2009

We switched our older son when he was 10 1/2 months and are in the process of switching our little guy to Cow's Milk. He is 10 1/2 months old and is at 50% formula and 50% cow's milk and it seems to  have reduced his gassiness too. He has 8 teeth and eats really well, so it works well for us.

Nikita - posted on 03/24/2009

i switched my daughter onto cows milk at 9 months and she likes it better then the formula, i give her a multi vitamin with it once a day and plus she gets the Nestle cereal during the day so she gets her iron. Her doctor was fine with it.

Valerie - posted on 03/21/2009

I have just started to transition my son to cow's milk as well.  He loves it! I am also trying to get him off the bottles, too.  As far as the nutrition goes, I think as long as your baby eats well, it should be fine, also, you can buy Poly-Vi-Sol vitamin supplement for babies.  It mixes right in with any liquid you give them!

Suzanne - posted on 03/17/2009

I've been told by a few pediatricians and public health nurses that before 1 year is fine as long as they are eating a good variety of other foods. I also give mine the infant vitamin drops.

Bonnie-Rose - posted on 03/16/2009

The general guidence in the UK is not to give cows milk until 1 year. My 10mth old keeps pinching her elder sisters cows milk to drink and seems to love it but wasn't interested in formula. I believe there isn't enough nutrients for a child under 1 but I guess as with everything it depends on your child. I would try to hold on for another month or two before stopping formula.

Lea - posted on 03/16/2009

hmm, i think it might depend on the baby....  my baby was premature, so I think I will wait till 1 year for sure... I thought about calling my doc, cuz he does tend to refuse the formula sometimes... but I just feel that I already know what my doctor would say...

Jessica - posted on 03/15/2009

My daughter is 10 months old and she is on regular cows milk. She was always drinking her big brothers milk drinks so I asked his dietitan about it and she said that because she hasnt had any kind of reaction to it, it should be fine. However, dont give it to her as her main drink, up until 12 months babies need breast or formular because cows milk doesnt provide enough iron and protien.

Angie - posted on 03/15/2009

According to my pediatrician, I was told to wait until Ryan was a year old to switch over to whole milk.  Would love to do it sooner, formula isn't cheap!! We'll see.....

Katie - posted on 03/13/2009

We just recently switched our 10 month old to regular whole milk just to see how she liked it and she loves it....she was losing interest and the taste for her formula. We've decided to switch over completely once this can of formula is gone...I'd rather her drink milk than none at all since she wasn't really getting much formula.

Christine - posted on 03/13/2009

My daughter Aniyah will be 10months on the 25th and I switched her to milk around 9 months. She is a very good eater as well and I find she likes the milk better than her formula. At meal times she wouldn't drink most of her formula so that is why I tried giving her milk and she loves it. My doctor didn't seem to have a problem with it.