formula vs whole milk

Becky - posted on 10/16/2009

I agree with Bobbi. YOu should wait a couple more months then slowly mix milk and formula. That's what I'm doing for my son as well. Just be sure to give your baby lots of other foods and liquids with vitamins and iron in them. Of course you really just need to do what feels right to you. We can only give advice. Its up to you to decide what's best for your little one. Good luck.

Jessica - posted on 10/15/2009

As others have said, cows milk does not have the right nutrients that a baby that age needs so some parents may like the idea or the baby may like it but as parents we have to do what's best for our children and cows milk before they are 12 months is not what's best, child health nurses and doctors will all tell you that and theresa reason for that. That being said as soon as your child does hit 12 months change them over to cows milk because formula is a processed food so to speak and cows milk will be much better and natural for them.

Bobbi - posted on 10/15/2009

My son is 11 months now, last week I added 1 ounce of whole milk to his 8 ounce bottle of formula, this week is the second week so i added two ounces to 6 ounces of formula and so far so good. I went to WIC yesterday and she told me not to give him any milk until his first birthday and I looked at her and asked her "Do their insides magically mature overnight or something?" And she looked at me like I was crazy. I know many babies that started whole milk before 1 year. Ultimately it is up to the parent. At 8 months, I wouldn't yet, but I feel that 11 months is a good time to start introducing it by mixing it with their formula, not all at once, that is a big change. Same thing with the temperature, I've known babies to shy away from whole milk because of how cold it is compared to formula. Do what you feel is best in your heart. Just make sure you are offering him other foods and let him discover finger foods...my baby boy was amazed when I laid out some puffs for him!

Rachael - posted on 10/15/2009

All 3 of my boys were off of formula before age 1. I took them off because they were eating regular food and lots of it. They ate all kinds of vegetables and potatoes and pretty much everything except meat (well, they liked chicken nuggetts) anyway it all depends on how you feel about it and on their digestive system. If they are already having a problem with bowel movements than it might be harder for them to digest it, but as for my 3, I had no problems with them adjusting. Good luck.

Nichole - posted on 10/14/2009

I started mixing milk in with the formula at 10 months. Start with 1/4 milk for a month and then 1/2 milk for a month and by the time they are 1 you will be all the way on milk. But wait until he is at least 9 or 10 months.

Mandy - posted on 10/13/2009

My daughter did the same thing. At one point she didn't want formula but a week or so later that was all she wanted. I wouldn't give your child whole milk yet. But I wouldn't worry if your child doesn't want as much formula they start to not drink as much formula and will want other things.

Krystal - posted on 10/13/2009

I just took my 1 year old to the doctor for a wellness visit on 10/9 and he asked if I had started Jeffrey on milk yet. When I responded with no because we are unsure about what % to get, he said 2% is fine. He also said that Jeffrey will likely not drink as much milk as he was formula. At the same time, he wants us to try and wean Jeffrey from the bottle. Said to go cold turkey to the milk after finishing up the formula.

Crystal - posted on 10/13/2009

Cows milk has much more fat and protein than formula, which makes digesting much harder on an underdeveloped digestive system. It also contains too much potassium for the baby to absorb. And doesn't provied enough iron. I know most moms are eager to stop buying pricey formula and switch to cow's milk, but I definitely don't recommend it,

Christine - posted on 10/13/2009

I would stick it out until he is a year. Milk really shouldn't be introduced before that. Like all the other mama's pointed out, the nutritional value of formula and/or breastmilk is better than cows milk, even if he isn't taking that much of it.

Stephanie - posted on 10/13/2009

Talk to your ped. first any get feedback, a lot of moms on here point out the lack of nutrition in regular milk, but are not taking into account what else the child is eating. I started mine a little early, and I know of moms who started their children on milk much earlier, and have healthy kids with no allergies or food problems.

Janet - posted on 10/13/2009

I have two children, and from 6 months of age, I boiled the milk to get the skim off the top and then I purchased some "pentavite" (vitimans/minerals supplement) from the chemist and both of my children are healthy.

Brandy - posted on 10/12/2009

There are a few reasons why you are not supposed to start whole milk before 1 year:



1. If you read the nutritional value list on the side of the formula and it has all those vitamins and nutrients, milk has practically none of those. It's big on calcium but any other vitamin that it has is very minimal.



2. Babies tummies usually have digestion issues with cow's milk before a year.



3. The sooner you introduce an allergen to a babies body, the more likely he is to be allergic to it later on in life, even though you may not see symptoms of this allergy until puberty. Your child will be more likely to become lactose-intolerant later on in life if you give him milk now. Which is also why you aren't supposed to give peanuts before 2 years, not only because they might have a reaction right away but more because the allergen stores in the body at that young age and becomes an allergy later on in life.

Nancy - posted on 10/12/2009

I would talk to his pediatrician about it, or wait until he is at least a year old. Infants can develop allergies to foods their systems can't digest, so feeding them whole milk early could lead to problems.

CINDY - posted on 10/12/2009

i say as long as he is getting enough of the major food groups via solid foods then whole milk is fine,You just have to be sure he is eating a wide variety of solids I have 4 children and plan to and did start all of mine on whole milk by the 8th month

Christina - posted on 10/12/2009

Some mothers swear by whole milk, but it doesn't have all the nutrients that a growing baby needs. It would be terrible to start second guessing yourself in the future, so don't take any chances, this is the most critical time in your child's development. So talk to your pediatrician and do more research before you make any decisions.

Julie - posted on 10/12/2009

In my opinion he's too young to start whole milk. Kids generally reduce their formula intake as they get a bit older. By one year they are only supposed to have about 20-24oz of milk/formula. Is he drinking anything else? he could just be filling up on other stuff. I would see how it goes, see how much formula he is taking. If nothing else, you could always talk to his ped.

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2009

Babies need essential nutrients only found in breast milk/formula for the first 12 months of life. Cows milk just doesn't provide much other than calcium and vitamin D. If you were to compare the nutrition labels of a gallon of milk to a can of formula, you'd be shocked as to what your baby would be missing if he was drinking whole milk instead. Formula also provides the calories a baby needs.Ask your pediatrician and see what they think from a medical standpoint. I think parent that switch their children early, are doing it for the wrong reason. (They don't want to spend the $$ on formula anymore.) Why not give your child the very best start in life nutritionally? I say do the formula till 12 months...besides it's only a few more months, but very important few months developmentally.

Aniesha - posted on 10/12/2009

I personally wouldn't do it, as my friend (and mother of 3) told me that it can cause a twisted bowel because their body hasn't matured enough to digest it.