Toddler Formula VS. Whole Milk

MeL2185

Our girls have always been small. Born at 34 with IUGR weighing 2 and 3 lbs. We have never been on the growth charts and still aren't. We are at about 17 and 17 1/2 lbs at 13 months. We were on Neosure until 11 months and then doc said we could switch to toddler formula. I am just wondering if it is really a neccesity b/c I have read the calories are the same and I 'm pretty sure I saw that the fat intake would be more on whole milk- wouldn't they help them gain more. I know the formula has extra things but they both do a daily polyvisol vitamin and are eating great lunches and dinners. We are still on bottles and I honestly feel like the only way to totally transition to cups is on milk and not formula. Formula in cups just seems too difficult to me.

Opinions, TIA!

kelliwill

My girls were about 18 lbs at 18 months.  They are 22 months, will be 23 mos on the 14th. and Ava weighs more that Grace but she is still maybe 23 lbs. and Grace is likely 20 lbs (haven't been to the Dr in a few).  They are not on the charts either and are really small.  They were born at 36 weeks and weighed 4 and 5 lbs.  Grace had IUGR.  We were on neosure for maybe 6-8 mos. (can't recall exactly) and then regular formula.  Once they hit a year we went to WHOLE milk.  Our Dr. also has us feeding them all the time and sneaking butter into whatever we can.  They pretty much eat whatever they want or whatever they will eat and we offer snacks a lot.  They like mashed potatoes so we add butter to those heavily.  I can't even imagine still buying formula after they turn a year and yours were on neosure for 11 mos. That stuff is expensive.  I can't speak to the cup thing since mine REFUSE to drink milk out of anything but a bottle and we are struggling there but I say make the switch to milk at a year.  Also, we add vitamins to the milk 1x per day, like you said the polyvisol.  GL!

 

MeL2185

thanks that is what I was wanting to hear.. I think I am just going to make the executive parent decision and switch to whole milk.. So do your girls still take bottles during the day? I hate the stress the pediatrician put on us and said really work on getting them off a bottle. I wanted to scream b/c we worked forever and ever to get them to be good bottle eaters- took a long time and now they finally are and love their bottles and feed themselves in the boppy and it is just an easy thing. We drink water out of sippies but tried formula once and it was an epic disaster.

caitdana

Mel will you let me know how that works out?  We are a year on Saturday and the cardiologist suggest we keep thickening up Neosure to 30 cal for Ella until 15 months when she will be 1 year adjusted.  The pedi said that Sophia could come off Neosure at 10 months acutal could go to whole milk at a year and that the extras in formula really arent as beneficial after they turn 1. But she wanted us to asked the cardiologist and nutrienist (sp?) about Ella since she is not even 14 lbs yet. Sophia is closer to 18 lbs so I get why but I am just dying with the neosure.

CaliDutchGrl

From what my pedi told me, the difference between formula (milk based) and whole milk is that formula has vitamins and minerals added to it...but once they are eating solid foods (table foods) they are getting those vitamins and minerals from food based sources. My pedi gave us the okay to start the transition to whole milk at 10 months since my boys are very good eaters. They are almost 11 months now and we haven't made the whole switch over yet..

pizzo84

Hi Mel!

My girls have always been about the same size as yours... about 14 months now, I'm not sure if they are even at 17lbs yet...

My pedi had told us that toddler formula is a bit of a marketing gimmick, and that WCM would provide sufficient nutrients. That being said, DH is adamant that the girls have toddler formula in the one bottle that they get at night (the rest of fluid throughout the day is with straw sippies... water/juice between meals, milk with every meal and snack).

And to the PP who mentioned butter overload in the meals... I am with you all the way! It is amazing how much butter and olive oil we go through in this house!

MeL2185

pizzo84:

Hi Mel!

My girls have always been about the same size as yours... about 14 months now, I'm not sure if they are even at 17lbs yet...

My pedi had told us that toddler formula is a bit of a marketing gimmick, and that WCM would provide sufficient nutrients. That being said, DH is adamant that the girls have toddler formula in the one bottle that they get at night (the rest of fluid throughout the day is with straw sippies... water/juice between meals, milk with every meal and snack).

And to the PP who mentioned butter overload in the meals... I am with you all the way! It is amazing how much butter and olive oil we go through in this house!

 haha us too- we just got a brand new huge thing of country crock just a few weeks ago and almost gone..

kelliwill

My girls actually still take bottles with their milk.  Yes, they are 22 mos...I know!  I have tried to stop it but that's the only way they take their milk and I don't want them to not drink their milk.  Now they only get bottles at nap/bed time but it used to be more and we cut it way back so they would eat more.  They are VERY picky eaters though.  We do butter/olive oil, they love muffins, those vienna sausages (which have alot of fat), yogurt, chef boyrdee (new thing for us), and mashed potatoes.  They love chicken too but are funny and want it without the breading.  Oh and french fries.  My Pedi says let them eat all the things that we shouldn't eat....GL!

erinruns

Caden was born very small for her gestational age.  She was always around the 5% for weight.  I continued one 8 oz bottle of formula for her until she was 15 months old.  To be honest, I wish I had continued that until she was 18 months or longer!  It helped a lot.  The rest of the day she drank whole milk and she was an excellent eater, but formula gives kids nutrition in a way that milk never will be able to.  At age three she plateaued with her weight so I started her on a carnation instant breakfast drink every morning.  It's helped tremendously.  Don't underestimate the little things and remember, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.