Formula after 12 months?

[PLUTO2]

I know of women continuing nursing after a year and I was wondering if anyone does that with formula? My pediatrician was pushing milk at his 9 month checkup but I wanted to wait because I feel there are more nutrients in the formula than plain milk. He is not really big on solids which also had me wondering about continuing the formula. We will be at WDW when he is 13 months old so I am wondering about if I need to think about packing formula. Thanks for your input. (DS is 11 months now)

 

[Servants of Evan]

Our pediatrician wanted formula until 12 months, then switch to whole milk and soft (baby) foods. You've probably already started to introduce some rice cereal mixed with formula into his diet, and that'll get him started on the squishy texture stuff. As we know, sometimes with kids it's as much a textural issue as a taste issue.

Servants of Evan

 

[PLUTO2]

Our pediatrician wanted formula until 12 months, then switch to whole milk and soft (baby) foods. You've probably already started to introduce some rice cereal mixed with formula into his diet, and that'll get him started on the squishy texture stuff. As we know, sometimes with kids it's as much a textural issue as a taste issue.

Servants of Evan

He loves his cereal and squishy veggies and fruit. When I tried to give him chopped bananas he kept gagging so we stopped that for awhile. Unfortunately this is still the case with any food that is not pureed.

 

[Servants of Evan]

My son did pretty much the same. It was a matter of starting to introduce a "chewing" motion, rather than something that could just be sucked down. You might try chopping the bananas into smaller chip sized pieces, then smashing them a bit with a fork. This way it is not puree smooth -- he'll still have to use his tongue against the roof of his mouth a bit, but there's nothing so big that he should gag. Obviously just feed him small bites.

Have fun, you'll find the next couple of years are a blast!

Servants of Evan

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

our pediatrician has 8mo DD on Gerber 3rd foods and bananas, pasta and other foods that can be mashed with the gums..she loves it! She is also eating the Gerber star puffs, wagon wheels, toast. at our 9month we are going to TRY milk but still not eliminate the formula, she said she will then give us further directions from there...everything she's told us has been great so far!

 

[Traveliz]

If you want to go to thirteen months its fine - My plan was formula til age one then switch to the milk but my daughter was ill at the time (nothing serious) just a cold or something like that and we decided rather than confuse her with the milk to stay on the formula a bit longer.

Its your child and your decision - this is certainly not one that would hurt him either way so do what you are comfortable with.

Liz

 

[GEM]

My little guy is 28 months and still nursing - so obviously I don't go in too much for what is "standard".

I do know lots of little ones who are still on formula after a year, but they are mostly kids in our preemie group who are very slow weight gainers, delayed in eating abilities, etc. I can't imagine it would hurt your little one, though, if you feel like that's he needs. Some company even makes a special toddler formula, I think. I'm not sure which one, though, since we've never used any formula and I don't know much about it.

One thing I wouldn't do, by the way, is make a switch right before you go on vacation. I would either introduce milk well before the trip or stick wtih formula at least until you get home. Lots of babies have tummy troubles when they start cow's milk - and you don't want that on vacation!

For what it's worth, I would think milk would be much easier at Disney, since you can just buy a carton of that at any of the counter service places, etc. and you wouldn't have to worry about mixing formula (or packing it). But, as his mom, I firmly believe that you know what's best for him - and if that's sticking with formula for awhile, then I can't see why there would be any problem with it.

 

[PLUTO2]

Thank you for all the input.

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

I think that we switched DS(3) from formula to milk after he was a year old. I wanted to do it sooner rather than later (just for cost), but I seem to recall his pediatrician wanting us to hold out a little longer (he's always been in the 95th percentile, so it wasn't a size issue). If I remember correctly, it was b/c of the iron that the formula offered that cow's milk does not.

I think we did half formula/half milk for a while and then gradually went to all milk.

Mrs PB

 

[staci]

We never did formula, bc I breastfed, but the previous poster is right about the iron. Most formulas have higher iron amounts than regular milk. When I was starting back to school ds was 11mo and I had to leave him 4 hours a day. I thought he might get thirsty, so I asked the ped about substituting cows milk or formula if the daycare needed to give him something. They tested his iron, his levels were fine, and so they said there was no prob with cows milk since it was only once a day. she said if his iron was low she would want the formula because it would help with that.

I would go with what your son is familiar with for your trip! It may actually be easier to do formula, you can bring bottles of water and add the powder as needed, instead of keeping the milk cold all day.

Good luck!

 

[PLUTO2]

It is okay to bring glass jar baby food into the parks, right?

 

[Amyality]

I know of women continuing nursing after a year and I was wondering if anyone does that with formula? My pediatrician was pushing milk at his 9 month checkup but I wanted to wait because I feel there are more nutrients in the formula than plain milk. He is not really big on solids which also had me wondering about continuing the formula. We will be at WDW when he is 13 months old so I am wondering about if I need to think about packing formula. Thanks for your input. (DS is 11 months now)

Okay, what to do now...
I agree with the poster who said not to do anything different to your childs diet prior to your vacation. This could spell disaster. You may want to consider packing some of the liquid formula because, florida water is nasty. I used the powder but, was thinking "ick" the whole time.

My experience and things to consider carefully in the near future...
I breastfed my first until 9 months then switched to formula and kept my son on the formula for a bit over 12 months. The we did ORGANIC milk for our first guy. Look into this, "conventional" milk is filled with pus, hormones, antibiotics and is not as nutritious. I'll get slammed for this but, I don't care, what I say is a fact. When 9 year old girls have breasts the first thing the doc does is cut the "leaded" milk.

My second child turned out to be milk protein intolearnt so, I nursed him for 1-1/2 years then put him on organic soy toddler formula (the "conventional" soy formulas contain 1000 times the aluminum found in breast milk or cow based formula...you can imagine the conciquences for an infant with a thin blood-brain barrier). Anyway, I loved Natures One Organic Soy Toddler formula, gave this to him unitl he was over 2 then switched to Silk Organic Soy Milk.

And finally...
My advice would be to read, read, read, before making any decisions...and dig deeper don't just trust the gov. at first glance...they are run by Monsanto (Clarence Thomas is an old Monsanto executive, this freaks me out). Don't take advice that you get here either without checking and re-checking with several sources. Ask your pediatrition the same question but, in different ways or have a friend ask their pediatrition (spelling, I am terrible, I know) the same question. It is amazing how different the answers can be. I implore you to look into organic foods for your baby, the prices are really coming down and we need to support organic farmers and companies! Going organic is a wise investment and a wonderful gift.

I think bringing glass babyfood jars in will be fine. Its better than the plastic anyway because, when the food gets warm or cold chemicals leech out of the plastic into your baby's food. Ick!

Go ahead and slam away folks...I can take it!

 

[PLUTO2]

Amyality thank you for sharing. I have to say I was very surprised when pediatrition thought he should already be drinking regular milk at 9 months when everything I have read has always stated waiting till 1 year before switching to regular milk. I had seen the formulas that are made for children up to 24 months which got me wondering and asking the question I had posted. I have to admit even though the jar food seems more convenient one of the reasons I like them is they lack the salt used in regular cooking. I myself use very little salt in cooking so I can really taste it when we go out to eat.Thanks for letting me share, being a Mommy is wonderful and scary all at the same time.

 

[kidshop]

Amyality thank you for sharing. I have to say I was very surprised when pediatrition thought he should already be drinking regular milk at 9 months when everything I have read has always stated waiting till 1 year before switching to regular milk. I had seen the formulas that are made for children up to 24 months which got me wondering and asking the question I had posted.

Your ped isn't the sharpest tool in the shed LOL! His own organization (the AAP) says no milk until after 12 months. You are right, and I bet your doc is an older man. Formula is much more nutritious than milk and much better for your baby even after 1 year of age. I think the extended formulas will help make extended bfing more normal and that is great too!

 

[Amyality]

Amyality thank you for sharing. I have to say I was very surprised when pediatrition thought he should already be drinking regular milk at 9 months when everything I have read has always stated waiting till 1 year before switching to regular milk. I had seen the formulas that are made for children up to 24 months which got me wondering and asking the question I had posted. I have to admit even though the jar food seems more convenient one of the reasons I like them is they lack the salt used in regular cooking. I myself use very little salt in cooking so I can really taste it when we go out to eat.Thanks for letting me share, being a Mommy is wonderful and scary all at the same time.

Yes. I would be supriesd to at the 9 month thing too, milk is hard on the tummy and as the other poster said, the AAP reccomends 12 months. I forgot to mention that adding milk to a little one's diet can be very binding. Go slow when you do make the leap so, you don't get you little one in a jam - sorry for the pun...hee, hee, hee. Anyway, if that does happen mix the baby food prunes in apple sause till everything comes out okay...hee, hee, hee again! Also, you are wise not to add salt to your babies diet, your little one will be getting enough of that when you add milk!

I'm sure whatever you do decide to do will be just right for you and your family. You sound like a very good and thoughtful mommy.

 

[ZanneMarie]

Our Dr. had the kids start at 9 mos with 1/4 milk mixed with 3/4 formula, then 10 mos-1/2 milk, 1/2 formula and so on until they were at 100% milk. My 2nd did not tolerate the begining of the switch well (gassy, fussy etc.) so we backed off and waited until he was 11 or 12 mos then did the gradual switch. I liked the gradual approach. Officially right or wrong -I don't know but it worked well for us.

 

[yyzgurl]

Our DS2 is not a good eater and never was. We kept him on infant formula until he was 18 months and then switched to whole milk. We contemplated changing to a toddler formula but infant formula has more nutrients and fat which I wanted for him since he was not an overweight baby.

Our pediatrician had no problem with this as long as we could afford it!

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

It is okay to bring glass jar baby food into the parks, right?

FYI - Gerber makes the plastic containers for the stage 2 fruits and veggies. I'm not sure about the other stages, as DS has been off baby food for quite some time. (I can't recall if the parks have a problem with the glass or not)

Mrs. PB

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I weaned DS and DD right around the 1 year mark. Their pediatrician said to start to introduce milk around 9 months but not to do the total switch over until one year. Both did fine. We were kind of worried about DD because she was collicky and drank Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula for a year. But she weaned fine and LOVES milk.

 

[PatricenPete]

My DS will be turning 1 while we are in Disney in October. Our pediatrician gave the green light to start whole milk 2 weeks prior to our trip (to see how he adjusts to it). I was so happy because him being on whole milk will be SO MUCH easier than having to schlep formula around.