Seeking Advice on How to Wean/switch My Almost 1 Y/o from Formula to Milk

I have always started any change very slowly. I would suggest mixing the formula with the milk, maybe 3/4formula to 1/4 milk to begin with.(Maybe a little less if the baby has had any digestive track issues). I have stayed at that proportion for about a week and gradually increased the milk. This takes some time but I found that it really helped the transition not only for the taste difference but also without upsetting the digestive track.

I switched both of my kids to milk at 12 months. I didn't have a problem with either one of them. They didn't even act as if they knew the difference.

I switched my son cold turkey on his first birthday. I just offered it to him in a transition cup and he sucked it right down. No problem. You may just have the same luck!

Pretty much with all three of mine on their first birthday I gave them a cup of whole milk and got rid of the formula. None of them gave me a problem, I also got rid of all the bottles at that time too.

Good luck, but I say do it all at once that way you won't have to deal with getting rid of the bottle later!!!

A.

When my daughter was about 11 months old, I started adding milk in with her formula. So, if your daughter takes 8 ounces of formula, give her 7 with one ounce of milk. Then just add another ounce after about 4 or 5 days until she is completely off formula. Hope it helps!

I just switched my daughter last week. I was surprised at how easy it was. I just gave her whole milk instead of formula and she looked at me kind of funny and only took a few drinks at first. I realized she's use to warm formula so I put it in the microwave for about 35 seconds then give it to her, and she drinks it fine. Just remember that she's losing all those calories from the formula so will be hungry a lot more, mine started waking up at night or really early in the morning from not having a full belly, but I can deal with that when I'm saving so much money, Good luck!

With both of my kids (at the age of 1), I would mix 2 oz of cold whole milk with 6 oz of warm formula for 1 week. Then the next week, I would mix 4 oz of cold whole milk with 4 oz of warm formula. Then the 3rd week I would mix 6 oz of whole milk with 2 oz of formula. Then the 4th week would be all whole milk. The transition needs to be slow. Slowly mixing cold milk with warm formula will help her transition better without belly aches. Good luck!! :)

We started by mixing formula with the milk, I started out with mostly formula and a little milk and slowly increased the milk. It worked for us. You could always just give her a sippy with milk in it and see how she does. She may take right to it! My daughter didn't like the taste at first, so that's why we did a more gradual change. I think it took us about a week to get her on to solely milk.

I would slowly reduce the amount of formula and add that much milk, ie 6 oz formula w/ 2 oz milk and try that for a week then reduce another 2 oz of formula and add 4 oz of milk until the formula is done. Good luck C.

I started at 11 months with all of my kids. Just replace one bottle per week (or every few days, depending on how long you have until her 1st birthday) with a small meal and sippy cup of milk. Last bottle the day before birthday then throw them all away (or put away if you are saving for future babies). The before bed bottle was always a favorite for my kids, so it was the last to go.
good luck!
~J.

Hi J.
It sounds like you have a a very smart little girl on your hands. i don't think you will have a problem getting her to take full milk from a sippie cup since she is already drinking from one. It certainly sounds like its time.

Good luck with that,

Of course you should talk to her Dr. about any questions you may have but I like to share my opinion on things I have experienced. When I made the transfer from formula to milk I was worried about milk allergies since it runs in the family. I started off slowly. I would substitute 2 ounces of formula with the milk. So if she was taking a 8 ounce bottle I would use 6 ounces of formula and 2 ounces of milk. I did this for about a week. Then as the weeks go on substitute more of the formula with milk until she is 100% milk. See how that goes but like I said talk to her her Dr. She may have a better plan for you. Good luck!!

I did a 'gradual' switch when weaning my boys from breast to formula and then formula to whole milk. For the 1st few days, I put 2 oz milk, 6 oz formula in their 8 oz bottles (they were still on bottles then). Next few days, 4 oz milk, 4 oz formula, etc. until they were on whole milk completely. It worked like a charm - no issues at all! Hope that helps...

A.

I switched my son at 12 months, but I did it gradually. I mixed formula and whole milk for a few days. My son didn't care much for whole milk, so I went to 1 percent for a week, then 2 percent for about 2 weeks, and then went to whole milk. I think the taste and thickness of formula compared to whole milk can be a big adjustment. Good luck!!

Have you thought about trying Enfamil Next Step for Toddlers? I just weaned my 13.5month old son from BM to Next step during the day (at meal/snack times) and then I nurse him at night before bed and in the morning when he wakes up. He is getting more vitamins/DHA/ARA, etc. than what is in whole milk.

I just started mixing formula and whole milk in a sippy, about 1/2 & 1/2, at around 11 months, and I didn't warm it. I did that until my last can of formula was gone, then they were on whole milk and done with the bottle by about 11-11.5 months. All my kids (now ages 7, 5, 3, & 1 yr. old twins) did fine...no problems at all. You will find that it is easier than you think it will be! Good luck!!