Is it necessary to give formula after 12mths?

[Neiffer]

I've seen this covered before but can't find the thread, so sorry to ask again!
My LO is 11 months and formula fed. We did blwing and he eats a fair amount now. He still has 4/5 bottles a day and I'd like to move him into cows milk soon. I'm worried that he won't get enough vitamins in his diet if I do this as he can be hit and miss with quantity/type of food. Have I just been brainwashed by cow and gate to believe there are added (and useful) vitamins in follow in milk?! I'm not going to buy growing up milk either way, ill just leave him on follow on if needs be. Any wise people out there??

[FredFredGeorge]

Even if he does need vitamins (and supplementing vitamin D may well be worthwhile in the UK in winter) then giving him some vitamins would be a lot cheaper than formula.

Nutritionally he's very unlikely to get any benefit from continuing on formula - save your money and spend it on something that might help him - or just nicer food for you.

[Neiffer]

That's what I thought, good idea supplementing instead thanks x

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with Fred. The NHS recommend no bottles from 12 months and 300ml of full fat cows milk per day from 12 months to 24 months.

[Neiffer]

Is that all? My ds drinks way more than that. He's also not that confident about drinking from a tippee cup, why do they say to stop using a bottle?

[RightUpMyRue]

Once he is having less than 500ml of formula milk per day the recommendation is for a multi-vitamin containing vit d all through the year, not just in winter. Think about our summers, very little sun and when there is we cover them them up with sun block and keep them in the shade.

A vitamin supplement and a low risk of sun damage is preferable to trying to get enough vit d through sun exposure and risking his skin.

Full fat cows milk and multi-vits from 12 months as their main drink. Full fat cows milk in cooking is fine from 6 months.

[RightUpMyRue]

Bottles are more likely to lead to tooth damage and they promote a sucking movement of the jaw. You want him to be moving on from that sucking movement, it will help to keep his teeth healthier but also help with his speech to drink from a cup.

[Neiffer]

So should I make him start to drop milk feeds? He has a morning and night bottle then 2 feeds before his nap times in the day. It's part of his nap routine for him and helps him sleep. But maybe hes having too much for his age then? I'm a bit worried that having it from a cup won't quite be the same. Did you find that with your LO?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Around one they usually start to have one nap per day instead of two. How about buying some juice spouts for the bottles so that he can have a bottle before sleep but without the teat?

[Neiffer]

Hmm that's a good idea, I've got a tommee tippee flexi one which should fit on. I didn't realise they'd start to drop a nap at one. Damn!

[FestiveFiggy]

My DS is 6 days shy of his 1st bday the formula has just run out so he's on moo milk from now. Have bought some vitamins since its bug season but no follow on milk here.

Not quite dumped the bottles yet going to start doing so over Xmas holidays.

[Neiffer]

Are you going to transition on to cows milk or just go straight?

[babySophieRose]

I give formula only because my DD gets daiaria from even smallest amount of cows milk and she is not lacto intolerant, just not ready yet according to HV.

[BikeRunSki]

I did BLW and FF both my babies. Just moved them to cow's milk at 12 months, and have only supplemented with vitamins since I started getting the free ones, and acctually i usually forget.

[SkiBumMum]

Dd2 point blank refuses milk from anything other than her nice latex nuk teat which took us a long long time to get her to have in the first place . She only has 2 x 6oz a day so I'm not pushing it. Perhaps I should? I always thought the no bottle thing was really aimed at children who have juice and water from one all day?