How to introduce whole milk

OnCloud999

I am planning on introducing whole milk in a few weeks and I am at a loss as to how I should be doing it. My pedi is completely useless, so I can't get any advice from him.

Am I supposed to start once a day and is it supposed to replace on of the formula feedings? DS currently takes 3-4 bottles a day.

Also, how should I give the milk? In a bottle or sippy? Although DS has been using sippy (water at meals) for months, he is definitely not as efficient drinking from a sippy then a bottle and I worry that if I give the milk in sippy only, he won't drink much of it and won't get all the fluids/nutrients he needs. Am I supposed to wean him off the bottles when I introduce milk and what's the best way of doing that?

I am so confused. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Jess0823

I would play with it, there is no right answer to this question.  I switched over to whole milk cold turkey and dd had no problems at all.  I started at first giving them in bottles only because I didn't want to give her so much "change" at once....though she probably would have been just fine.  I'm sure he'll transition just fine, don't worry to much about it

mrshutch

Agree w/ PP- every child is different. We also went cold turkey when switching to milk. DD was already interested in the sippy cups, so one day I just didn't give her any bottles. But experiment and see what works. I know some people mix formula and milk for a bit. We didn't need to do this, but it's a thought. GL!

babydubs5

At first, I just introduced milk in his sippy during meal times, not replacing anything at 11 months.  Two weeks after his birthday, I dropped bottles and formula at the same time, and just gave DS milk in his sippy at meals. I did not mix formula and milk, I just thought it'd be one more step in the transition that he didn't need.

The thing to remember is that if you do drop the bottle, he isn't SUPPOSED to drink all 8 ounces in 5-10 minutes from a sippy like he used to a bottle. It's not a bottle.   During a meal, DS will take multiple sips from his sippy and will usually end up taking about half - 3/4 a sippy per meal total.   toddlers only need 16-24 ounces of milk per day, and it's easier to get than you think. 

DS did not take much from his sippy until I dropped the bottles.  As soon as the bottles were gone, he was fine taking sips from his sippy. 

 There are a bunch of different ways to do it.  I say go with what feels best for you and your DS.
 

ginanjason

We went cold turkey and DD was fine with it.  We did it with the sippy and DD chugged it right down! 

My one friend is having a really hard time to get her DD to drink the milk, just see what is best for your LO

aalana

I slowly added whole milk to his formula and once he was only drinking whole milk I then began using his sippy cup more. You will learn really fast that you do not want him to walk around the house with whole milk in his bottle...it leaks out everywhere!!! It is such a mess!! I took my time and made both of these changes within 2 weeks. The only time that he gets milk in the bottle is at nap time and bedtime.

 

Good Luck!

Mrs Manners

aalana:

I slowly added whole milk to his formula and once he was only drinking whole milk I then began using his sippy cup more. You will learn really fast that you do not want him to walk around the house with whole milk in his bottle...it leaks out everywhere!!! It is such a mess!! I took my time and made both of these changes within 2 weeks. The only time that he gets milk in the bottle is at nap time and bedtime.

This is how we're going to do it. I've already started offering whole milk in a sippy with meals. In two more weeks we're going to start mixing his formula and milk 1/2 and 1/2 and then move to all milk. Once he's gotten used to milk in the bottle, we'll work on taking it from a sippy. So far I think the worst part of the transition for him is going to be going from warm formula to cold milk. Right now if I offer him his milk in the sippy straight from the fridge he'll take it in his mouth and then let it dribble back out. If the milk sits out and warms up a little while he's eating, he'll take it much better.

breezy0629

DD is having a REALLY hard time with this transition....

She is used to warm formula and she does love her bottle. She just turned a year. DS#1 switched with NO problem, never cared what it was or what it was in... She is quite the little 'priss' about it and wants her bottle.

I think all kids are different and just do what you think is going to work.

As far as nutrition... I think after they turn a year, 16 oz of total Dairy is all they need (check with your pedi on this). ?Plus, if they are on table food for 3 meals and snacks, they really will be fine. ?There is some room for less rapid growth right around this time too - since they are more moblie and there is a transition of foods.??

mrsmikey

We switched one bottle at a time.  He takes 4 bottles a day, so the first week we did 3 bottles of formula and 1 bottle of milk.  The next week it was 2 and 2, and this week we're starting 1 and 3.  So far he has done really well.  He still drinks his milk like he does his formula, all at once.  But I'm sure that will change as he grows.  We started off by keeping the bottles, and I would just give him the milk in a sippy occassionally.  But this week we are doing all milk in sippies and just the one bottle of formula.  And next week when he's on all milk, we'll do all sippies.

JLSBWG

My DS just turned one in December.  For one week, I gave him a few ounces of whole milk after dinner to see how he would do.  He did fine.  He was a FF baby and has been eating yogurt since he was 9 months old, so I wasn't anticipating any problems.  After that first week, we cut out the formula and bottles cold turkey.  He has done fine with the transition.  I think giving them bottles and sippy cups is confusing.  I also introduced the sippy cup later than I probably should of, but he seems to like drinking out of the sippy cups. 

jodynjames2005

I started with 3 oz of milk/4 oz of formula in their bottles and changed the ratio by one ounce more of milk each day. I am glad I eased into it because it REALLY upset their tummies at first. I actually thought they were allergic or something. But, they seem to be adjusting now and are drinking it with no problems. Alice also hated the taste at first, but we're getting there.

I wanted to get onto milk first and then switch to sippies because my girls are sippy rejects, so that is our first priority. I've dropped them down to three bottles per day, so they are taking in 18-20 oz of milk per day now. I try to offer sippies with water in between but they reject them. I figure that someday they will give up the bottles, but I'm not pushing it yet. They have time.