Toddler formula

[Finny88]

So Walmart sells this toddler formula that is for 9-24 months. I am thinking about keeping my son on it after he turns one because in nursing school they said that starting you child on cows milk too early can cause type 1 diabetes of course I am a freaked out about it. What do you guys think.

 

[pinklightbulb]

Well, formula itself is made up of cow's milk so I wouldn't really be too worried if it's the dairy proteins that are supposed to up the risk of T1D. Otherwise the only difference is that toddler formula supposedly has more calories than cow's milk, which is why I was told to put Eamon on it when my breastmilk dried up at 11 months.

 

[Ktothema]

There's no actual connection between Type 1 diabetes and cows milk protein. There's some research into the potential but nothing has been established and afaik looking like it will be. Type 2 on the other hand may be. But as pp says nearly all formula is cows milk based so if you're already FFing baby is already exposed.

 

[rory83coyotes]

I think if your baby is going to get diabetes then short of feeding them mcdonalds with milkshakes every meal you will have no affect on the outcome. I kept mine on the toddler milk for a bit as she wouldn't drink regular milk and I wanted her to have the dairy. My mom started all 5 of her kids on cows milk at 6 weeks when her breast milk dried up as there wasn't a good forumla alternative at that point. None of us have diabetes.

 

[HellBunny]

Since your LO is already on formula i'd just switch to normal cows milk at 1 yr as the others have said. x

Type 1 diabetes has nothing to do with diet/mcdonalds, type 2 diabetes is to do with obesity/diet etc.

 

[Finny88]

Well I just want to make help one of the statistics. It seems like little boys have the high prevalence for everything and it drives me crazy =(

 

[pinklightbulb]

If it makes you feel better, nobody knows what causes T1D. They think it "may" have environmental triggers, but there is no actual known correlation between anything and developing T1D. There are heightened statistics for siblings/children of a T1D being at risk but this is the only link that is actually known and it is still a dicey one at best.

 

[HellBunny]

I've got t1, its a pain so i can understand why you'd want to prevent it hun x

 

[vintage67]

Type 2 Diabetes has a "weight" connection because glycologen (sugar) is stored in fat cells. Therefore if you already have a genetic propensity to have a low functioning pancreas combined with becoming overweight, then your risk will go up.

However, people that don't process their carbohydrates properly (into energy rapidly, usually) gain weight easily and are in an insulin resistant or pre-diabetic state. So, this becomes a bit chicken and egg.

My family has lots of overweight people and lots of Type 2 diabetics. They do not always go hand in hand. My endocrinologist office waiting room is a mix of people overweight and not with both types of diabetes. I have gone to nutrition and cooking classes for diabetics and everyone there was certainly not overweight and I mean the Type 2's.

I only want to point this out as there is starting to be some hurtful things said in the media and online that almost seeks to pit Type 1 and Type 2's against each other. I saw one woman point out on a forum that she had "type 1, you know the kind that wasn't my fault." No one needs that kind of stigma attached to a disease that can shorten their life, cause their kidneys to fail, raise their risk of heart attack or cause them to have a limb amputated.

Just an FYI.

 

[HellBunny]

I agree vintage, i'm type 1 but was only diagnosed fully in july (had what they thought was GD with both pregnancies) i'm on the diabetes.co.uk facebook page and there is alot of horrible comments from people with type 1 to those with type 2, its really not nice. Diabetes is horrible despite which type (though obviously due to DKA and extreme high levels type 1 is usually more dangerous) the divide isn't nice at all.

Sorry this is turning into a diabetes thread! xx

 

[Kristin52]

I'm using it. I don't believe in full on cows milk for children until 2 it older. Even when my son turns 2 I will be giving him an alternative milk other than cows milk.

 

[mommy0629]

Don't waste your money. If your lo is eating well at 12 months and good about eating a wide variety of foods and getting a well balanced diet, it's not necessary. Technically they don't even need the cows milk either, but we all give it because they're used to having milk and it's more habit at that point. In reality all they need to drink once they're past their first birthday is water.

Not saying I don't give milk, my son is almost 8 and still LOVES milk and drinks 3 glasses a day. It's a good source of vitamin D and calcium, but you can get that from other sources so it's not even nutritionally necessary .

 

[bubbles123]

I completely understand the anti dairy view point (my OH is a vegan) and understand them but if surely formula is made of cows milk so they are exposed anyway? I won't use growing up milk as in the UK it has added vanilla favouring and maltodextrin and i would worry she would get a sweet tooth. I did cows milk and a vitamin drop at 12 months as I did with my son.

 

[Finny88]

I did not mean type 2.....I have never heard of a baby having type 2 diabetes. Type 2 is due to resistance to insulin....that takes time. I am talking about type 1. I only posted this after going over diabetes in nursing school. In my notes it says that studies have shown that there is a trigger between type 1 diabetes and cows milk too soon and usally seen in blonde hair blue eye people. Anyways between my son and I.....I would be more prone to type 2 diabetes because I am overweight. lol

 

[jenn2282]

my daughter is not on cow milk formula( not toddler) so not all formula has milk in it

 

[overcomer79]

James went on cows at 11 months. He started throwing his bottles down refusing to even drink anything so I called his dr and he said that since he wouldn't drink it then we didn't have a choice but to do whole fat. When he turned two he started drinking 2 percent. He is 3 years old and doesn't even weigh 30 lbs yet so I don't think that has had an impact on him.

 

[nicki01]

I had charlie on toddler milk from 12 months till 18 months and she had diarrhea the whole time on and off (probably 3 times a month for a week at a time)! I didnt link it at the time but as soon as stopped it and went to cows milk she has been fine since!

i dont know if this is just me but i wont use it again with my next one!