Leaving formula before one years old

[zizii]

Hiya!

I needed some advice ... My daughter does not really like formula. Her preference is full fat milk! I give her 3 bottles I formula ( which she only drinks max 3 ounces off out of 6!) and one bottle of full fat which she usually drains 6 ounces of.

We have had some unsettled nights and my lo has always slept through the night but we have had some really off nights for a month now. I think she is still really hungry when she is sleeping as she does not drink enough now she would finish off her bottle before sleeping but now is a fight to get 3 oz down every half hour or so!!

So basically last night I gave her full fat milk after she drank 3 oz of formula she drank 3 oz of it and fell asleep. And didn't wake up!

I want to ditch formula now is it ok to do this? My daughter has been putting on weight more ( she is very thin!) since I started full fat milk has her mid morning drink!

 

[kelkel]

Im not sure how old ur lo is but my ds was completly off formula at 10 mths.
He judt wouldnt take it so i mixed 1/2 milk 1/2 formula for a while then slowly started adding more milk andvless formula.

 

[MrsKyliePaton]

How old is your LO? My lo is 10.5 months and I've started introducing half formula half cows milk in her bottle as she is not keen on the formula now, could you try that?
But if she's happier and putting weight on maybe just stick to what your doing
Sorry I can't be of much help

 

[aliss]

The rule is 12 months. I think a lot do it at 10-11. I know I did at 11 with my 1st.

 

[overcomer79]

We were told yesterday to keep her on formula until 12 months. They also encouraged us to start introducing whole milk at 11 months.

My fear is she will be like my son. Once my son had whole milk...he refused to drink the formula so we didn't have a choice. It's a lot of $$$$ to just waste!

 

[weewdy]

I spoke to my hv yesterday about this and she said it is conpletely fine to have them off formula even at 8/9months. As long as they have a varied diet and the milk you give is whole milk.

 

[LuckyYem]

Dd1 was off formula (and bottles her choice not mine ) totally by 9mths, I spoke with HV and GP and like PP said as long as its full fat milk and a varied diet they should have no problems.

 

[annanouska]

good to know. I may try introducing after I've used the 4 tubs in cupboard. He eats well and tbh only wants a bottle if he sees it x

 

[Noelle610]

I think our babies are about the same age, 11 months? I've started slowing transitioning to cow's milk with my girl and she seems to prefer it. I think it's fine if you want to fully switch. Nothing magical happens to their gut at one year

 

[kelkel]

Im not sure how old ur lo is but my ds was completly off formula at 10 mths.
He judt wouldnt take it so i mixed 1/2 milk 1/2 formula for a while then slowly started adding more milk andvless formula.

 

[zizii]

Sorry guys forgot to mention my LO is 11 months! Due to be one on may 13!

I have 4 unopened formula tins of aptamil number 4! And one currently being used :/

My uncle upon me having a general discussion that the aptamil powders are really hard to get now due to some craze of people re selling went shopping to sainsbuys saw the tins on the shelves ( the shelves have been so empty on my shops!) picked up 2 tins bought them walked out , came back in picked up 2 more and bought them!! So nice and sweet of him but now I have 4 formula tins lol!

 

[aliss]

I'm not sure about the UK but here in Canada, the food bank/women's shelters are always in desperate need of non-expired sealed formula. Why not donate it and then go onto cow's?? I did this. He loved the wagon ride to the food bank, LOL.

 

[Laurenmomma]

Yes 11 months is fine! That's good that she likes it! Dd was exactly the same and helped her stomach settle so much more!

I think it's a fab idea to donate them or if u want the money for them there's always eBay etc x

 

[bubbles123]

My daughter is 11 months tomorrow, I've a tub of Aptamil with about 3 days left and one unopened one so I have about 2 weeks of formula left, then I'll go to whole milk, so she'll be 11.5 months. I would wait until she was 12 months but with the supply issues I think it's best to leave the formula to those who need it, especially as my LO has first milk, I've never used follow on. I will give a vitamin drop too as soon as she's off formula.

 

[lilmissdanni]

My lb was 10 months when we switched. We didn't even do it gradually. The only thing I have noticed is that his poo has gone really hard and he really has to strain! He's put on weight and it hasn't affected his sleeping patterns. The only thing is he won't have it room temperature like his formula, has to be warm.

 

[aimee-lou]

Eddy is reaching the age when formula just doesn't cut it any more- he has an 8oz bottle at 6pm, but I often have to make up a 2nd 6oz bottle for him to have too, and then he'll wake at around 11pm and have another 6oz bottle. I remember his older brother going through the same thing. The cure was leaving formula behind altogether. I hope to get to 1 before we have to do that - he's developing so much at the moment the extra nutrients are handy for him, and it doesn't hinder his appetite in the daytime. He's stopped all other formula in the day now, in favour of water or cows milk, so in 2-3 weeks we'll start replacing bottles of milk with sippy's of cows milk.

 

[melfy77]

I've read that unless your ped says otherwise, you can introduce cow's milk around 9 months.