Return to work and toddler milk query

[Ponyboy]

Hi all! I'm about to return to work 1-3 days a week and DD will be babysitted by my DH, my mum and a good friend with her DD. DD is 11mths old and usually has 2-4 day feeds in between her solid feeds. My mum keeps asking if she can offer DD some toddler milk (once she turns 1 of course) while she is staying with her. I wish to keep BFing but it may drop back when I'm at work, so my question is does DD need toddler milk? Or will she be ok with just water and solids?? Or should she just have regular cows milk??

I hope to continue BFing till DD is about 2 or maybe longer (probably only night feeds after that) but day feeds may have to drop off depending on work hours.

[draught]

I went back to work when DD1 was 12 months old and I didn't worry about toddler milk - all the experts I consulted said that it was more about marketing than anything else and that cow's milk is fine, especially if they are eating a good variety of solids. So water, cow's milk and solids should be fine. You may find that your supply is affected a little but I kept up the morning and night feeds for a while longer - then weaned as I was pregnant again.

[zenifa]

My DD is nearly 17mths and I still give her bf morning and night. I went back to work part time when she was 10mths old and gave her EBM until she turned 1 and then I gave her cows milk (full cream, doesn't need to be junior/toddler milk).
I agree with Draught, that its not essential for a toddler to have toddler formula or special toddler milk, and these products are mainly marketed to parents.
With water, solids and cows milk, your child can get all the nutrients/vitamins etc she needs.

[the_queen]

I agree with Draught too.

If you'd rather try something a bit gentler on her tummy than cow's milk, you could try her on goat's milk first. The composition of it is much closer to human milk than cow milk.