When to Start Whole Milk

What I did with my 1st daughter and plan to do with my 2nd is the first week, make her bottle 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk, the second week, 1/2 and 1/2, the third week 3/4 milk and 1/4 formula. I did that with my first and it went very well and she drank milk no problem and still does.

I started at 11 months because my daughter was under weight, but she absolutely hated whole milk. After trying for 2 weeks to get her to drink it, I switched to 2% and she took it from the beginning. Since she wasn't getting the whole milk with the fat the doctor just watched her weight carefully to make sure she didn't start losing weight.

She is now 5 and is doing just fine.

I started switching at 10 months with docs permission b/c my daughter did not like formula nad I had to stop breastfeeding. I would mix the formula and milk together and by 11 months she was completely on milk. My doc told me that she should be getting no more then 24 ozs of milk a day and to increase her food. I also never gave her milk in a bottle and she has not had a bottle since she was 11 months old! Talk to your doc!

My son is also 11 months and my dr. told me not to make the switch until after his 12 months check up so we can talk about it. I am tempted to let him try it now but dont know know if I will. Good luck

I couldn't get my girl on whole milk right away either so I tried skim and she took it, and mixed with 2% gradually then mixed 2% with whole milk and that's how I got it done. Good Luck! Oh, I even had to heat it a little to start with.

Hi A.,
I personally waited until my kids were past one then I slowly introduced milk into their diets. I would more likely do 2oz milk then 6 formula for about 5-7 days then add an ounce every 5-7 days of milk thus reducing the formula over 3-4 weeks. But if your daughter tolerates other dairy fairly well then you can add milk a little more quickly. Hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day!

J. O

HI!

I have a 15 month old and at about 12 months I started her on the milk and she took to it well. However, on easter morning, she woke up after sleeping 16 hours and was very lathargic(sp?) I tool her to the ER and the problem was constipation and she hadn't pooped in 14 hours.(do to milk)Problem got resolved. Start small with the milk and talk to the peds dr., they know best!

Hi,

My son started boycotting his formula bottles around 11 months, so I called the doctor to see what we should do. They said it was fine to switch him over then, since there was only three weeks until his birthday. I gave him the whole milk in a bottle and in his sippy cup. It took about three days for him to get used to the taste but then he started sucking it back, which he never really did with his formula. Now, it's just one bottle in the morning and the rest of the milk is given at his meals in his sippy cup. Good luck!

Hi A. F,
I am the mother of two (16yrs. & 4yrs.). With both of my children I started milk ( although I don't drink whole milk, I drink 2% and that is what I gave my kids) at 11 months. I started off by diluting the milk half and half with nursery water. Gradually I used more and more milk until they got used to all milk without the nursery water. This took a period of about one month to complete. I wouldn't worry about the weird colored stool as this happens when you change a child's diet. Good Luck!

I eased my kids into whole milk. 1/4 milk 3/4 formula one day; 1/2 milk 1/2 formula the next day; 3/4 milk 1/4 formula the final day; and then the whole milk from then on. I think my son's biggest shock was the coldness of the milk. Once he got over that, he was fine and hasn't looked back. I also took this opportunity to move him to sippy cup. He had quite the week! Good luck.

HI A.,

We always started mixing the whole milk with formula at 11 months (I have two kids). We put it in their bottles at first. Could it be the sippy cup she doesn't like or is she used to it? It may also be that it's cold (or is she used to that too?). Maybe if she's not try to warm it for just a couple seconds at first just to take that chill off. I certainly think she'd be ready for a little bit of a mix (a few ounces at a time). Good luck, milk is expensive these days, but when you compare it to the price of formula! The faster she's on milk the easier on the pocket book! Happy days!!

I switched both my kids gradually. Equal parts milk & formula. I started around 11 months and went to full milk by 1 year.

I DID NOT however, use whole milk. Mainly because I drink 1% or 2% myself and I did not want to nor could I afford multiple kinds of milk in the fridge. I was afraid that my gallon would spoil before I could use it all - thereby wasting money. Plus the kids were on so many solids then, and apple juice for snack that they were not consuming a gallon in "x" days.

Do what you feel is best!