when to switch to reg milk?

[christinas1]

Hi, I have an 11 month old, friends and family are telling me I should have started
giving her whole milk already when and how should I do this, should I mix formula with the reg milk or just go to the whole milk by itself. Please let me know how you did it. Thank You.

[ncarter]

Hi, I dont know about if you should mix it or not. But my son is 10 months old but i got told to wait untill his 1st birthday.

[lizfer]

I just asked my sons pediatrician about that and she said to wait until the first birthday for whole milk because breast milk and formula have more calories than whole milk and they need it until then. She also said you could start adding a little whole milk to the babies formula if you want them to start recognizing the taste.

[christinas1]

Thanks Lizfer, how old is your son? I actually started giving her Enfamil next step
I don't know if that tastes more like whole milk or not but, she loves it. Did your ped mention how much to mix in by any chance? my daughters next app isn't until after her 1st b-day, I guess I could wait.

[RImommy]

If you're giving her next step, you really don't need to do a transition as that is supposed to be an alternative to milk ,providing more of the nutrients toddlers need. You can give milk in a suppy cup (after first birthday) at meals or snacks to let her get used to the taste (and put in foods such as cereal), but if she is doing well with the next step that is designed for toddlers up to 24 months.

[sweetpeahun]

Hi, I am a mom of a 13 month old. We have been working since she is a year to get her to take whole mlk and she completely refuses. She has been strictly breatfed from birth and has never taken a bottle. I was unable to pump but I am ready to be done nursing. I am unable to mix because I can't pump-does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get her to start taking milk? Please help!

[RImommy]

sweetpeahun, will she drink milk from a sippy cup or regular cup? If its an issue of not wanting the bottle, since she's 13 months old I think you could just skip it altogether. If its the taste of milk, you could try something like the enfamil next step to see if she likes that better or even try adding milk to cereal that she likes to introduce the taste slowly. If all else fails, maybe your pediatrician would have some suggestions for you.

[ra11en]

My ped had me start switching my DD right at 11mo - by her 1st birthday we had her completely switched over. We were instructed to slowly mix her over to whole milk. We made a 3/4 size bottle with formula, and filled it the last 1/4 with whole milk for the first week. Second week was 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk. By the 4th week, which was the week of her 1st birthday, she was finally on just milk.

So, I would talk to your ped. She said 11 mo was when to start for our DD. Our DD had cows protein allergy and had to be on special formula due to it, so if it was okay for her I can't see why it wouldn't be okay to start with one that does okay with regular formula. I tell ya, its a lot cheaper to buy a gallon of milk! :) At least, it was for us.

[sweetpeahun]

She has never taken the bottle and I don't want her to especially now, but She will not take milk out of a sippy and she takes very little when it comes to a regular cup. She will not eat cereal if it has milk in it like oatmeal. Does the enfamil next step have a different taste then the formula? Does any one know? She would not take formula when we tried to introduce it to her months ago,so I am just wondering if the next step tastes the same-Thanks!

[wright1212]

Are you warming the milk up just a little? If they have been on formula and BF it might need to be warm. (ha I know most of you probably are, but needed to say it). I do want to mention to use the opportunity to get rid of bottles. After 12 months they dont need bottles, they have more control and can handle a sippy cup, or a transition cup. By 18 months there is no need for a bottle at all and they can start to master an open cup! Transistion liquids is a great chance to do this.
Another tip, do they have a favorite juice they like? Perhaps 2x a day put juice in a sippy cup and 1x a day put milk in the same looking cup. Also I know my kids always wanted whatever I had no matter what. Maybe you could just put some in a glass to sip on in front of her, and she may gain interest "oh what does mommy have".
(ps dont put juice in bottles)
Hope this helps someone

[CandiceBrooke17]

My childs Dr. Told me no earlier than 1 year.

[zoesmama90]

my doctor said not to give her milk until she is one, but i know a lot of people who switched earlier and their kids are perfectly fine. you dont ALAWAYS have to go by what the doctor says, use your instincts and do what you think it best.