How/when to intro WCM?

Crequito · February 2014

Hello, sorry I'm lurking from the 9-12 month board but I figure you all have been through this so might have better answers. DD is 10 months old and will be a year on April 1st. I forgot to ask at her 9 month appt how and when I should start introducing WCM and her 1 year appt isn't until April 6th. Should I start before the 1st or wait until that exact date? Does it take the place of any formula she's been drinking (we're at 3 8oz bottles a day currently) or is it more of a small beverage at mealtimes? DH and I drink Horizon Organic 2% with DHA - can DD drink that or do I need to buy something else for her?

FTM and always confused/unsure of what to do! Thanks for any help.

EandIMommy86 · February 2014

We were told they should be on breast milk or formula for a minimum of a year at least. It would be up to your pedi to tell you for sure.

Once we switched to whole milk we stopped formula completely. Some people will give formula and whole milk until LO's body gets used to the whole milk, but everyone is different.

As far as the brand of milk that is up to you. I would try to give her something with DHA in it though.

GL!

Litgirl77 · February 2014

We slowly transitioned starting at one year by mixing formula with whole cow's milk, to total the amount LO was drinking at that point (it's hard to remember exactly, but it think he was still at 3-8oz bottles like your LO - every kid is different, and they do start to reduce their bm/formula intake as they increase solids). So we did a 25/75 mix, a 50/50 mix, and then a 75/25 mix each week until he was just having whole milk. I think by that point he was having only 2 bottles (morning and bedtime). Then his morning bottle became a zippy cup, and last week we traded the bedtime bottle for a zippy cup as well. He drinks water with meals and snacks, but that's just our preference since he also gets dairy in the form of whole milk yogurt and cheese.

Gradual transitioning worked well for us, but like I said - every kid is different. I've heard different things from different doctors about how much milk they should drink too. Keep in mind some kids don't even do milk/dairy at all - lots of people do almond milk, goat milk, etc.

All that said - just talk to your doc at the 12 month. Having formula for a week more isn't going to hurt. Or start introducing a little milk to see how your LO takes to it when they hit a year. Don't overthink it or stress too much (like I usually do!) - it's a waste of time and energy.

pb_bride · February 2014

I waited until after the 1yr pedi appt before we introduced WCM. I actually waited an entire week after the appt before I started - mostly b/c DS got 4 shots at his appt and I didn't want to confuse reactions to the shots with reactions to WCM.

Anyway, I was BFing DS 4x/day when he was 1, so I started him on only 2oz of WCM a day initially, and slowly worked the amount up. I offer him WCM at meals & snacks; water in between.

I believe the recommendation is whole milk for toddlers until 2, then you can switch to low fat milk after age 2.

hollygb22 · February 2014

I transitioned before 12 months..we started maybe 2 weeks before? I was BF and had a huge supply dip with my frozen stash coming to an end. We started the transition by doing 1/2 BM/ 1/2 2% in a bottle, then after a few days, it was 75%/25% and then fully on milk. We tried a sippy at first. She'd been using the Zoli straw cups since 6 months but she would have these tantrums with milk in the sippy.

After about 2 weeks on milk, we just quit bottles cold turkey. She cried for a day or two and then relented to the cup. We did check with our pedi since I knew I wasn't producing enough BM for her. They recommend 2% at our practice (I know dr's have different opinions about this), and we went with that rec. They also told us to shoot for 16oz a day and no more than 20oz and to treat milk like a beverage at meals vs. a meal. They said if she refused etc, since she was eating solids, it would not be the end of the world if she went on a milk strike for a couple days.

Good Luck! Again..this is what our doc recommended..I know different docs rec different things!

SLGILL1978 · February 2014

I also started the transition before 1 yr. My daughter just turned 1 on Saturday. For the last 3 weeks I have been mixing in WCM with formula. The first week I started with 1 oz of WCM and the rest formula (she usually drinks 6 oz). And so forth. We are up to 3 oz of WCM and 3 oz of formula. Last week at daycare she transition to drinking a few oz of only WCM at either breakfast or lunch.

Crequito · February 2014

Thanks everyone. I think I'll see how much formula I have left mid-March and let that guide how I start introducing WCM and then just let the pedi know when we see him April 4th.

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