From Formula to Milk: A 13 month old's opnion

[Phoebe]

DD4 hates milk. She will drink formula with no problems which I think tastes like ass. We have offered milk in several different ways by mixing it with formula, warming it up, serving it cold in both bottles and sippy cups. I have tried almond milk which is what I use, whole milk and lesser fat varieties. Everything gets pushed away. We are now out of formula (which we got from a rep). I don't want to buy anymore but I am really tired of making bottles. She drinks water out of a sippy cup willingly. I am not worried about her dairy intake because she will eat yogurt and other things. Our ped says to keep offering it to her. I do, but it is a waste. None of my other kids had any issues transitioning to milk. Really, who wouldn't rather drink whole milk than gross-tasting powered stuff. This girl has her own ways of doing things as those who have seen my latest FB video of her can attest. My main concern is that we are going on vacation next week and a 12 hour car ride. DH thinks we should just buy more formula because it will be easier and wait until we get back. WWYD?

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Is it a calorie issue? Unless she's super nice with her bottle, do you really want formula splattered all over your car when you're on vacation? When does she usually get formula? How many oz is she drinking per day? Maybe this is your chance to get her off formula and wanting something more than water. Maybe just have water for her to drink and after a day or two, offer some milk? I'm stumped - DD will eat anything that is offered to her I do have to say, though, that organic whole milk tastes so so much better than the non-organic kind. To the point where DH even will use it (he's always been a skim only guy, and was grossed out that I only drank whole growing up).

[migirl]

None of my kids (as toddlers) liked milk (or formula!), and our ped said it wasn't a big deal if they didn't drink it. So, they didn't drink it then but like it just fine now.

So, if I were you I wouldn't buy more formula and would just continue trying to give her whatever your family already drinks.

[Phoebe]

I've only bought organic milk so far. My other kids won't drink milk now so I only buy almond milk for cooking and when I want it. It's not a calorie issue. Our ped said that she needs 4 to 6 oz of milk a day which is way less than I expected. She was drinking 4 to 5 ozs of formula about 4 times a day in the last couple of months where I supplemented Vit D for her. Food is much more exciting than the drink. She likes water. I don't plan to give her juice.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

4-6oz? That is a lot lower than I thought, too. I say skip the milk and skip the stress!

[ides]

I say forget the milk. She doesn't need it. Stick with water. If you really want her to have milk then try chocolate milk. That's what I did since I thought he needed it (totally don't) since he wouldn't drink regular milk. I would cut it in half with plain milk and he'd drink it up.

[ladymoreta]

Were having problems with DD drinking milk, too. She loves it from a bottle, but will only take a few sips at a time from a sippy cup. It drives me crazy to see it wasted, but I keep offering it. That's great to know that they don't need much. We are still letting her have a bottle of milk (yes, before brushing teeth) at night, but I'm ready to drop that for a sippy cup, too.

[v-girl]

I'd quit trying. We did goat milk to transition the boy from nursing to whole milk. That was expensive!

[Pollyanna]

Will she miss the formula on your vacation? If that creates a stressor then is bring some formula with you. Vacation is no time to add in a new stressor. If not then just go with the water and allow her to eat dairy in other forms.

[Thirteen]

I say forget the milk. She doesn't need it. Stick with water.

+1. If it's just another fight, and you don't feel like fighting, let this one slide by.


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[spotty_dog]

My kids had (human) milk as the base of their diet at least through 18-20 months, after which it tapered in importance. However, cow milk is not a beverage of choice for anyone in my house after age two. So I'm not a big pro-milk person, but I'm kind of a big liquid-toddler-diet person. I think it's such a trustworthy source of fat and protein (especially in households where older family members are mostly stocking low-fat low-cal foods). Unless you are really super confident in the breadth of her solids diet, I might keep pushing or stick with the formula. There's also the Nesquik mix that might sweeten up the cow milk...not as sweet as commercial chocolate milk, but enough to make it more like a treat?

[alison]

Start mixing formula with milk or water. It's fine at this age to dilute it. If she drinks 6oz, start mixing 5oz formula/1oz milk. Next week? 4 and 2, 3 and 3. And so forth.

[Phoebe]

We're going to continue with formula as recommended by our ped. Her wet diapers have decreased drastically. We have tried milk and formula but not milk and water as a mix.

[alison]

I wasn't able to write as much as I wanted earlier. When we tried to wean dd off formula, we were told to try diluting the formula with water or milk to the point where it was just water or just milk. We had feeding issues on top if it all, so I ended up giving her a bottle of 100% baby formula in the morning and at night until she was at least 3. Oh well... It's so freaking expensive! At this point, past age 1, they don't get enough nutrients from baby formula alone, but I wouldn't push weaning her from it unless you really have to.