13 months on first stage formula??

[Irish Eyes]

He was bfing the first few months then went to first stage formula with no problem. At 13 months he still doesn't eat very much. I tried him on cows milk 3 times, the last time just 1oz to 5oz formula but he gets a bad tummy. Also due to him having between 21-28oz per day, I think that would be far too much cows/goats milk for him to have. Toddler formula smells so sweet & I read it has a high sugar content compared to cows milk.

Is there anything wrong with him still having first formula?

 

[Scottish mum]

I think the reason they say change to 2nd stage formula is it hold nutrients babies over 6 months need.

Some say there is no difference! My lo is on second stage formula think it depends on you but 1st stage is useuly for babies 0-6 months x

 

[Charlee]

My 9 month old likes cows milk but milk is still a big part of his diet despite the fact he's a good eater, he loves his milk! I switched him to cows milk to find it made him constipated and uncomfortable, I switched him back to first stage. I did try Stage 2 SMA and he was fine but I personally believe the first stage is better.

I say go with what you feel, but I think getting all the nutrients from his milk is good if he isn't eating very much!

 

[Irish Eyes]

Scottish mum the NHS recommends you don't change to stage 2. Although it has more iron its disputed how much a baby actually absorbs & stage one has more nutrients in general. It just feels a bit weird that he's still having stage one at this age!

Charlee are you going to try again with cows milk? Someone suggested that goats milk is much gentler on their tummies

 

[sg2011]

Goats milk is gentler but you need to be careful as it lacks some nutrients needed for growing child that are found in whole cows milk.

 

[MumToEva]

Eva was on first stage milk at 13 months too. I held off changing her to cows milk because she was quite sick around that time, and didn't want to upset her further by changing her milk. I changed her over at 14 months - she didn't take to cows milk that easily, so I mixed formula with cows milk, gradually reducing the amount of formula. I did consider second stage formula, but there didn't seem to be much difference in terms of nutrition on the box, and I read conflicting advice on it online.

 

[randomrach]

I think the reason they say change to 2nd stage formula is it hold nutrients babies over 6 months need.

Some say there is no difference! My lo is on second stage formula think it depends on you but 1st stage is useuly for babies 0-6 months x

Although SMA follow on is for 6months+ their stage 1 milk is for 0-12 months. The website says you can switch to stage 2 or carry on using stage 1. Stage 2 has more iron, stage 2 has more other nutrients, calorie content is about the same.

I would rather use stage 1 for a few more months than switch to stage 3 milk. Apparently tastes like sweet vanilla milkshake.

 

[Sunshine12]

try a bit of cows milk diluted with water quite alot of water. thats what i do with daisy otherwise she would get too much too x

 

[Sparrow85]

My LO is nearly 7 months and I am not switching to stage 2 formula. He has a multi-vitamin every day and as far as I've researched, stage 2 is a marketing ploy, as they are not allowed to advertise stage 1. Stage 1 is fine until 12 months.

At 13 months, I wouldn't think it would make much difference. Have you tried making the switch to cows milk gradually, by giving him say 3/4 formula and 1/4 cows milk, then half and half, etc.?

 

[MrsFernihough]

My midwife said babies should stay on first milk, that the rest are higher in sugar and really just money spinners x

 

[Charlee]

Scottish mum the NHS recommends you don't change to stage 2. Although it has more iron its disputed how much a baby actually absorbs & stage one has more nutrients in general. It just feels a bit weird that he's still having stage one at this age!

Charlee are you going to try again with cows milk? Someone suggested that goats milk is much gentler on their tummies

Yes, but as you aren't meant to give anything but babies milk as a drink before 1 year old anyways, I'm in no rush. Don't get me wrong, if Lennon was fine on it, I would have had no problem but maybe that guide line is there because some babies suffer discomfort. I think it goes on a baby to baby basis.

My health visitor is against Stage 2 and claims it's all a marketing ploy.

 

[randomrach]

It is a bit of a marketing ploy as formula companies aren't allowed to advertise stage 1 even though the majority of people do use formula these days. I use stage 2, my lo has only 18oz which is the minimum.

 

[Noodlebear]

I never switched to stage 2 as I was advised to stick with stage 1 for the reasons already listed here - seems to just be a bit of a con really.
I'd keep giving whatever formula your LO has been having for now, I wouldn't bother with toddler formula but it sounds like going to the doctors might be a good idea if it's consistently upsetting his tummy. Don't forget aswell that once they get to a year old they don't need to be having as much milk so you wouldn't necessarily have to give such a large amount of cow's milk per day.

 

[Irish Eyes]

I've tried cutting down how much he has but then he wants a bottle at night so I think he must need it? I tried 2oz cows milk with 4oz formula & he still had a bad tummy. I didn't know about the lower nutrition value of goats milk so that's interesting! He has a vitamin boost each day so hopefully that would balance it out. Its not a problem for me that he's having it, things always make you worry a bit when no-o.e else you know does the same!

 

[Nessicle]

The sugars are the same as first stage, the added bonus with follow on is discounts and club card/boots points. There is slightly more iron in stage two and about 1 calorie extra per 100mg so not much difference.

It's really personal choice if you want to change personally I think first stage is a joke in how much it costs!

Re the cows milk my daughter had toddler formula til age 2 - cows milk is very high in proteins and is harsh on the tummy. It was also costing £2 a day in milk so It's a load of crap that its cheaper than formula!

 

[Noodlebear]

I've tried cutting down how much he has but then he wants a bottle at night so I think he must need it? I tried 2oz cows milk with 4oz formula & he still had a bad tummy. I didn't know about the lower nutrition value of goats milk so that's interesting! He has a vitamin boost each day so hopefully that would balance it out. Its not a problem for me that he's having it, things always make you worry a bit when no-o.e else you know does the same!

I dunno what your LO's routine is in terms of food and milk but we replaced a bottle with a snack and something to drink and Lucas didn't seem bothered at all.
He'll now only have 1 bottle a day if he has porridge for breakfast (quite a lot of milk goes into that) and 2 if he doesn't get the milk from his food. I think I'd get a tummy ache if I drank loads of cows milk too but when the time comes for us to swap to it I think just a drink of it with his breakfast sometimes and one before bed will work well. Perhaps this could help? x