Weaning from formula to Cow's milk

[cwolff]

My DD will be 11 months next week, and I'm wondering when and how to start transitioning her to cow's milk.  I'm unclear as to whether she should be fully weaned by 12 months, or if I should start the weaning process then.  We've cooked with milk before and she's had yogurt and cheese and even a taste of vanilla ice cream (I know I'm bad).  Also DD seems to be uninterested in her midday bottles, and only really has a full 8 oz bottle when she wakes and when she goes to sleep.  The other 2 midday bottles she will usually only take half and then wants to play with the bottle.  I give her 3 solids meals a day, with water in a sippy cup.  She's a pretty light eater though in general, so I haven't really wanted to give her milk in the sippy cup for fear it would fill her up.  So any suggestions on when and how to start transitioning her to cow's milk? 

[tylersmommy]

We started after we got the okay at Tyler's 1 yr dr visit, which was 2 weeks before his first birthday. We started by replacing 1 bottle with milk to see if he'd even drink it. Once we knew he liked it, we started replacing a bottle with sippies of milk at meal and snack times. We'd drop one bottle every few days. He didn't drink much of the milk, just kind of sipped, so we got an insulated cup that he could drink from throughout the day. We also upped his yogurt and cheese intake to make sure he was getting enough dairy. After the formula and bottles were gone, it took him a few weeks before he really started drinking a lot of milk from the sippy. HTH!

[~Faye~]

We have had a few problems trying to wean DS off formula. We started around him turning 1, just before I think, and tried him with cows milk in a sippy and he refused it point blank. So I put it in a bottle and he would start feeding and then would just spit it out. So I did half and half cows milk and formula which he had. Then every three days cut it down by 1 oz until we got to 2 oz formula. He wouldn't have it with only 1 oz formula at all. So for a while we left it with 2 oz formula but we ran out and I didn't want to buy any more so I mixed a small bit of honey in now he is old enough to have it but at first he wouldn't have it. When he finally tasted it he realised he liked the taste and is having it, I just have to wean him off the honey! I haven't tried a sippy cup again yet but will soon.One piece of advise I got was to have two different cups for water and milk so they know the difference. HTH

Faye

[Baby Ethan]

Hi there, my ds is 11 months so probably also close to weaning, however if milk is not suitable as a replacement for formula for babies under one because formula is so much more nutritional than cows milk, why change to cows milk at all??? If they can get diary from other things like yogurt and cheese, isn't it healthier to continue with formula?

[momtoelise]

why change to cows milk at all??? If they can get diary from other things like yogurt and cheese, isn't it healthier to continue with formula?

Laura,

I actually know of a lot of people that do continue on with formula longer.  Formula companies make special kinds for older babies (9 mos+).  However, because it's so much more expensive, people generally prefer to go to cows milk when it's considered safe.  Maybe there are other reasons as well, but I think it's mostly financial at that age... 

Interesting thread - dd is almost 1 & I've been wondering about the weaning to cows milk process also!! 

[*Natasha*]

In Australia we have a toddler formula for 12+months which they say you can give if your baby isn't a big or fussy eater. If you are happy to keep feeding formula that is fine but perhaps give some cows milk in a cup occasionally so your baby is use to the taste.
I was advised by my CHN that i can wean DD at around 11months as she is a great eater and has a great variety of food. The reason i want to do this is as we are going away when DD is 11months i don't want to have to bother making up formula bottles. Otherwise i would probably wait until around 12months. DD also has cows milk in a sippy cup that she has with her breakfast and lunch and she doesn't mind the taste.
HOWEVER she still has her 3 bottle everyday which she almost always drinks all of them (may leave 10-20mls at a time). 

[~Faye~]

I was told by my HV that the follow on formula doesn't have that many benefits IF they are eating well as they should get everything they need from their food as it is more for the dairy that they have it now.  However if they aren't eating well then it may be worth still having some bottles of formula.

Faye