[Hannahsmommy]

When did you switch your child from formula to cow's milk? Usually most babies are given formula for the first year, I know, but wondering if you've received advice from your pediatrician that is different than that considering your child is internationally adopted.

We brought our child home last month at 11 months. He just turned a year and I'm still feeding formula. Is this what you all are doing too? My ped didn't even bring up the subject of milk/formula as there was more discussion about which immunizations to give or not give!

Thanks for your input.

Love,

[becky]

A lot of that will depend on the weight of your child...if he/she is smaller than what would be considered 'normal' and needs to gain weight your doctor may suggest keeping the baby on formula past the one year mark. If you child is at the proper weight for his age/height then it is typically the one year mark when babies begin the switch to cows milk.

I would recommend slowly introducing it by mixing it with the bottle in smaller portions and gradually introducing the amount of milk until you have him completely off the formula.


Good Luck!

[delaware1]

I'm a little surprised your pediatrician didn't bring this up. I switched my daughter to whole milk when she turned 1.
How is your child doing? Gaining weight steadily? Eating any solids? I would call the doctor's office and ask if it's time to switch.
-Kathleen

[foxl]

We kept our preemie daughter from India on formula mixed with cereal, in addition to table foodds, till 18 months, so she would get the extra nutrients. I do not remember if the pediatrician suggested it or I just did it though. He did recommend night feedings as long as she wanted them though, so staying with formula ight have been his idea.

I think the cows' milk transition guideline more typically has to do with allergies but in our case this girl was tiny and had delays ... whatever, it seemed to WORK, in her case!
Linda

[csw]

Hi
Our daughter was underweight..and..taking around 8-9 bottles a day at 9 months..even at 12 months she was probably still taking 4-5 bottles a day..way too much cows milk..we kept her on an organic toddler formula (Baby's Only Organic) until she was 21 months old..then had her on goats milk..there is a powder you can buy and it is fortified with extra vitamins since regular goats milk is lacking in folic acid if you use it you need to make sure the toddler gets a vitamin with folic acid in it..if the toddler has a problem tolerating cows milk they can usually tolerate goats milk better..

Because of her continued lack of focusing etc..after the thimerosal..we were told to take her off dairy and wheat (casein free/gluten free diet) so she is on Rice milk now and loves it.

By the way the organic toddler formula I am talking about has the same or even more nutrients than an infant formula..you can also buy the powdered DHA/ARA supplements from them to add 1 packet a day to a bottle, cup or over cereal..since the brain continues to form and be wired for several years..we felt it was important to continue to give Ana these supplements.

If you do change to whole milk..I would still recommend ordering the DHA/ARA supplements since cows milk doesn't have enough in it..