Toddler formula or cows milk

[Mummy2Amelia]

Hello fellow bottlefeeders:wave:

I bet my questions have been asked and answered a million times already but I am just after some answers.

My DD is going to be 12 months old in just over 2 weeks:eek: (where does the time go?)
I am thinking about putting her onto some kind of Toddler formula. No real reason for me to choose toddler formula as my girl eats pretty good (at the moment). She is on Nan Gold 2 at the moment and is having around 3x 180ml bottles a day. I was thinking how easy it is to go out with formula. It would not be so easy with cows milk as it would go off wouldn't it? with my DD's formula I put it in the dispenser and make it up as I need it. So really, toddler formula would be easier..
What are your opinions on this...what should I do? I mean my DD is healthy, she is around 9kg's and started taking steps a week before she turned 10 months and is now full on walking everywhere.
BTW, she has cows milk in her cereal every morning, so it is just going to be formula in her bottles/sippy...

Decisions decisions:rolleyes:

[Little Gorilla]

I would go cows milk if shs is eating well - plus she enjoys it on her cereal too.

Its not so bad having to use cows milk...we always have fresh milk in the house now...and if you do need to go out somewhere and she needs a bottle, you can buy the little "popper" type cartons of long life milk (so it goes in the pantry until it is opened) and you could just use if you are out and about...however, milk is availabe everywhere in the little cartons, so not to hard to just grab a carton if you are out.

[Mum&bubs]

Well Summer is breastfed but also takes a bottle too so we put her on cows milk when she was a little over 12 months but she hated it. So shes on toddler formula atm & seems to like the taste a bit more.

[Ana Gram]

If she is fine with the cows milk and is a good eater, follow on toddler formula isn't really necessary.

DD still has her toddler formula, she hates the taste of milk and is a very fussy eater, so toodler formula is great for us.

[pookiesossige]

If she likes the taste of cow's milk, and is eating well, then by all means give plain, fully cream milk a chance.

Ronan, however, has toddler formula as he seems to vomit up normal (not modified) cow's milk and is so fussy with what he eats (strange.. his mum is happy eating everything in sight!). Don't get too caught up in all the advertising for toddler formula (the manufacturers don't refer to it as formula, so it's ok for them to advertise it) that describes it as a necessary part of their diets. It's just helpful if they would otherwise miss out on certain nutrients through a normal diet.

[theycallmemum]

I didn't use toddler milk with my two older boys, they went straight onto cows milk at 12 months. Toddler milks are quite high in sugar and most nutritionists don't like them at all.

Your daughter sounds so petite, my 3 month old son is already 8kg, he's our very own budda LOL

[MrsScatterbrain]

I agree with BubbaGanoush - cows milk is wonderful - no more mixing up powders! It is so much easier to get your hands on when you're out. Not to mention heaps cheaper than Toddler formulas - I don't think there is any need for them if your bubs is eating well.

[almond eyes]

My DS was also on Nan 2 HA Gold (being a hypoallergenic formula, it was recommended by our pedia since we have a strong family history of allergies). I was scared DS would get a reaction to cow's milk. Luckily, when I tried using on his cereal at first, no reactions. So, I decided to give him cow's milk.

If you are worried your bub isn't getting enough nutrients (say, she all of a sudden becomes a fussy eater), you can always give her a multivitamin supplement like Pentavite.

I, too was worried it would be a hassle getting around (I loved my milk dispenser) but it actually is so much easier. When we go out, I already put milk in the bottle (it's usually okay for a couple of hours) and give it to DS. If he wants more, you can buy a small carton of milk practically anywhere.

I posted a thread here months ago about the possibility of using long life milk when we are out and about. I bought 3 small cartons for "emergencies" and you know what, I haven't used them. Although, if you wish to use UHT long life milk, go ahead, it is perfectly safe and just as good as fresh (it's only been sterilised at real high temperatures to keep longer).

:)

[Little Gorilla]

I posted a thread here months ago about the possibility of using long life milk when we are out and about. I bought 3 small cartons for "emergencies" and you know what, I haven't used them. Although, if you wish to use UHT long life milk, go ahead, it is perfectly safe and just as good as fresh (it's only been sterilised at real high temperatures to keep longer).

:)

I bought 6 small cartons of the long life milk....they have only been used by me and DF when we have run out of milk for our coffee:laughing:

[Lil X-men]

I agree cows milk is fantastic so so much easier than formula.

As she gets older you will find it easier too as she won't need a bottle when you are out in town etc, so you wont need to be making up bottles in advance all the time.
My 18month old now has a cup of milk two to three times a day just whenever, he's not attached anymore and doesn't scream the house down if there is no milk on hand when we are at the shops etc like he did when he was a baby.

Although obviously I always pack a water bottle, which he sips on all day.
I have a tin of toddler formula in the cupboard and I give him a cup everynow and then just for a top up, but not everyday.

When I first introduced cows milk at 12months I started by mixing 1/4 cows milk to 3/4 formula and slowly upped the ratio till he got used to the taste. It only took about a week, and we never had problem with the transition.
Also in the mean time if you still need to be taking bottles out with you during the day, then a cooler bag should be sufficent in keeping the milk fresh. It worked for us when Xavier was still reliant on his bottles at certain times of the day. Otherwise if you forget to take some shops sell little cartons of fresh milk that fit perfectly into a 250ml bottle.
We enjoy saving $20 a week we used to spend on formula :D

Good luck hope it goes well for you and your daughter!!

[Toffee apple]

I am about to start DD on this journey aswell although I am scared she may have a reaction to milk ,as she suffers eczema & we have only started her on tiny tastes of dairy eeekkk so far so good :o ,otherwise my mhn suggested soy , so that's another one thrown into the mix:rolleyes:

[reAllytee]

We only use Toddler Formula with Boof cause like Chellegoth's little girl he wont have a bar of normal cows milk & half the time doesnt even eat a full meal each day so i at least know he gets something !!
Just slowly make the change & im sure all will be fine !

[almond eyes]

I am about to start DD on this journey aswell although I am scared she may have a reaction to milk ,as she suffers eczema & we have only started her on tiny tastes of dairy eeekkk so far so good :o ,otherwise my mhn suggested soy , so that's another one thrown into the mix:rolleyes:

I was the same! DS is now 14 months (oops 15 months tomorrow!) and is on cow's milk. Just try a little bit of cow's milk to begin with in his cereal, fruit or veggies. If he is allergic, you'll see a reaction then eliminate it from his diet right away. Try giving him other forms of dairy that has milk in it as well like butter and cheese.

I hope your bub transitions well. :)

[mother2]

:smiliedance: My dd is 13mnths, my dh and myself give her cows milk on cereal, and for drinks we give her cows milk and S26 gold step 3 formula. Find that when we go out shopping, its easier to just buy a smll container of cows milk, to put straight into her cup. This saves having to carry around formula that could go off, ( especially in this heat).