At what age should I take my little one off of formula?

Blythe - posted on 08/04/2010

We switched both of our children to whole milk when they were 1. No problems. Doctors usually recommend this unless your child is lactose intolerant.

Kellie - posted on 08/04/2010

it depends on how much solid food the child is eating. my daughter didnt go off formula till she was almost 2. shes now almost 4 and im thinking about putting her back on it. normal cows milk doesnt feed the child the way formula does. just look at how much solids your little ones eating. if they start getting fat then maybe take the formula away and use cows milk then

Ann - posted on 08/04/2010

Most pediatricians say 1 year of age. Of course, it's best to discuss this with your child's pediatrician at their 1 year check up. Pretty much every response differs to some degree. The only person that knows your child's medical & nutritional needs as well as you do is their pediatrician.

Amanda - posted on 08/03/2010

my son was a year when I took him off., I think it would be up to you.

Ally - posted on 08/03/2010

1 year is correct, if they have issues with the transition such as liquid stool or barfing talk to your doc right away.

Tiffiny - posted on 08/01/2010

if ur straped for cash start easing him/ her off w/ half formula and half milk for about a mth. then at about 9 mths old u can put baby on straight milk . w/ my first child i was strict about the formula, 2yrs , we used that stage 2 , w/ my second i did the whole half formula half milk at 9 mths. , w/ my 3 rd she was drinking milk from her brother's sippy cups and quit drinking the formula so i gave her staight milk at 7mths. dr.s will tell u to keep them on formula at least till a yr old but i think its fine at 6 mths or so to give milk

Melissa - posted on 07/30/2010

My babies pediatrician recommended I not change Rowan to cow's milk until after her first birthday. At 11 months I let her try some to see if she liked it. She did and it was an easy transition when on her birthday I took her off it. I did start giving her a kid's multivitamin to make sure she gets all her vitamins and minerals since toddlers pick at their food at times.

Lisa - posted on 07/28/2010

Whole milk is the bestest after a year! To give a lil' treat, add a lil' chocolate syrup. That'll entice them! ;)

Joy - posted on 07/28/2010

At about a year (or a little older), I started adding a little milk to each bottle (about 2 oz in the 8 oz bottle). Then about a month later a little more, etc., until it was just milk. Doing it slowly adjusts the child to the change and you can also see if there are any lactose issues you may not know about yet. But most doctors agree that at about 1 is when to start on milk, but never before 1.

Gina - posted on 07/28/2010

our doctor said to switch to milk at 1 yr. we went about 1 yr and a week cause we wanted to use up the formula. we also switched from bottle to sippy cup telling our son that formula was baby milk and that needed to be in a bottle, but now he was having big boy milk he has to have it in a cup (he'd been using cups on and off already w/ water to pratice it wasn't full 'cold turkey'!) it took aobut 1 day and he was fine w/ the whole milk and the cup.

Rachael - posted on 07/28/2010

Yvette, I did the same as you did with my oldest child, (mixing formula and cow's milk to introduce it) but when I told my Plunket Nurse (Child Health Care Nurse) what I was doing, she was horrified! Apparently it can make children very sick. I'm not sure why but she was adamant that I give them separately. She suggested give formula for one feed and milk the other.

Sabrina - posted on 07/28/2010

1 year, then whole milk for a year then skim or 1% after that

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2010

Ya. I'd say 12 months too. I switched mine over to whole milk at 9mo and they did good, but I wish I could have afforded formula for a couple more months just because I know its probably better.

Jennifer - posted on 07/28/2010

My little one has been on full cream milk since 1 year and is thriving. Her dad had seizures when he started on cow's milk as a baby so I just kept an eye out for any changes or signs that she is intolerant but we have done just fine.

Delaney - posted on 07/27/2010

With my daughter, she was on formula until a year, at least that's what the dr told me to do. She was eating solid foods before then as well. She was always a healthy eater so she wasn't on homogenized milk for long, but just go with what your dr says.

Linda - posted on 07/26/2010

My son's Dr. sadi to take him of off fourmula at 1 yr of age.Although we started to mix his formula with whole milk cause the Dr sadi to put him on it at 1 yrs old to make the change eaiser for him.

Marea - posted on 07/25/2010

12 mths old you can give cows milk i did give a bit sooner then this but i put a bit of water it or get lactose milk to start they are already eating everything that you are so it wont hurt them i have 5 kids and had no problems with any of them.

Candice - posted on 07/25/2010

I give my little one. a vitamin with vitamin D in. But ill definately check with a pedatrician. My niece is 18months and my sister took her off formula at about a year, but my fiances brothers daughter is a year and she is still on a formula called nan (the number 3) which is for a year and over, thats why i was just wondering !!! thanks for your help everyone (-:

Sarah - posted on 07/24/2010

12mo!!! THen use Vitamin D/Whole milk, they need the fat content in their diet until they are at least two!

Lisa - posted on 07/24/2010

If your child is otherwise healthy and is eating a reasonable range of fresh, healthy foods you can cease formula after 12 months. You do need to ensure that your child is getting adequate food from enough foods though. If you are unsure you should check with your child health specialist. As long as there are no food intolerances cows milk should be fine after 12 mths if you ensure that your child is offered fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat/protein products every day. Did you know that a toddler (over 1) needs as much iron each day as a grown man?

Yvette - posted on 07/23/2010

You can take your baby off of formula once he/she turns one. Then whole milk is recommened. If your baby can't tolerate whole milk, then 2% is good. I weaned my daughter off of formula when she turned 1 six months ago. I started off with a 1/4 of the bottle of milk and the rest formula and gradually increased until she became accustomed to the milk. Maybe you'll luck out and your baby will like milk!

Nakita - posted on 07/23/2010

oh ok, a year is good, his digestive system is working pretty good by then. my son only had breast milk until he was 4-6 months, during that time i gave him formula with no baby food. i gave him solids at about seven months. let his digestion system develop good. dont give solids too soon it could affect the child negatively.

Candice - posted on 07/23/2010

Its a Formula.

Nakita - posted on 07/23/2010

what is nan?