Changing from formula to cows milk

**Rainbowbrite** · 13-04-2006 15:59

A good ff friend of mine was wondering when & how to go from formula to cows milk. Her DD turned 1 on Monday

Any hints/tips would be appreciated thanks

**the_queen** · 13-04-2006 16:50

Originally Posted by Rainbowbrite

A good ff friend of mine ...

LOL I thought you were stuttering there for a sec, Donnelle!!

But you meant formula-feeding, yeah? LOL.....

*ahem* anyway, back to the topic:

Vallerie was pretty easy in this respect, she wouldn't drink formula past 9 months old, and I think I started her on cows milk as a drink at about 11 months (oooh naughty me...) I guess my advice would be, just offer it without much fanfare, and if she doesn't take to it straight away, just try again the next day. As long as she's eating well, getting enough meat and green vege's, as well as yogurt and cheese, then I would say it's no big deal if she takes a week or so to get used to the taste of cows milk.
I would personally be putting it into a cup, but then I'm not a fan of kids having bottles at all, let alone after the age of 1. BUT that is my personal opinion which I am not trying to push on anyone else

. A sippy cup, or a straw-thingo might work during the transition from bottle to cup.

Or, make a healthy smoothie? Milk, fruit, and yogurt, et VOILA!!

Or sneak the milk into her diet, eg white sauce in things like lasagne or cauliflower au gratin.

Hope I've been of some help!!

**Foxy** · 13-04-2006 19:53

On the advice of my lovely CHN, I started with half formula / half cow's milk for about a week, then 1/4 formula and 3/4 cow's milk for another week and then, *hey presto* DS was fully converted.

I agree with the_queen that this is a good opportunity to ditch the bottle, however my very independent DS is so busy all day that bottle time is the only time I get a long cuddle and some attention!

**lukaelmo** · 13-04-2006 20:08

I am going to get bludgeoned for this, but the dude won't drink formula and the other day I needed to be out so I told DP to give him cow's milk

.

He loved it

I am not anticipating any problems here...

Apart from my little anecdote, I have nothing else to offer here

.

Oh, the dude is 9 months.

**My3kids** · 13-04-2006 20:35

I'm slowly introducing cow's milk I start about 6 weeks ago, A CHN suggested introducing it slowly I started at 150ml formula to 50ml milk than have moved to equals parts, you get the drift, so on till it's fully milk.

**Starlet** · 13-04-2006 20:40

I stopped formula completely when both my boys turned one and gave them cows milk. And they loved it.

We tried that with DSD2, but she wouldn't drink the cows milk, until we warmed it up for her(she used to drink formula cold tho, so it was weird).

**rynosmum** · 13-04-2006 20:42

One day we ran out of formula and DS wanted his morning bottle. I had been planning to change him over soon anyway so just filled his bottle full of cow milk and he just drank it !

When we travel I take bottles of water and formula in little containers - he will drink either (or both

)

**reAllytee** · 14-04-2006 00:53

Well here is me with a bubs that has to be different !

He refuses anything with cows milk so even at 9mths when i tried to cook stuff with it for him nope it got spat out or thrown at me

So as you can imagine he refuses to drink the stuff even now at 13mths !
Thats why i have the god send called toddler formula LOL !!!!!
Im still trying though so time will tell who knows maybe he will prefer soy ?
He still uses a bottle because even though he was using a sippy cup around the 6mth age he decided after a month or so nope never using them again ! So i now have 4 different types of sippy cups & 2 different straw cups that sit collecting dust !!!! Ive tried just a cup but he refuses & as much as i said past 12mths he wouldnt be using a bottle who am i to stop him ? If he was bf he would still be sucking so just because he uses a bottle to do his sucking its not a bad thing.
Ive spoken with my CHN & as she advised if bubs wants the toddler formula thats fine but otherwise as long as he has 3 good serves of dairy a day thats all he needs which he does as he loves yoghurt, custards & cheese

**jessgray** · 14-04-2006 06:53

from 9 months i started giving DS cows milk in his food like mashed potato and with his his ceral. at about 11 months i started giving it to him in a bottle. he still has formula but we are planning to slowly phase formula out so he can get used to it.
i also did the half cows milk half formula when i started giving it to cody in bottles