Baby formula is the best substitute for breastmilk if the mother is unable to breastfeed or chooses not to breastfeed. It provides all the nutrients that your baby needs and allows the mother to take a rest from feeding by handing over the responsibility to another adult. As a mother who breastfed three babies, I have always appreciated having baby formula as an option to keep my babies full when I had to go back to work and needed a break for myself. As the babies grow up, parents face the problem of deciding when they can stop giving baby formula to the baby.
Transitioning from baby formula to regular cow’s milk will not look like a big thing for us because both of them are dairy-based, rich in minerals, and fortified with iron. But baby formula contains essential nutrients that are necessary for the growth of your little one. So when to make this transition should be a careful decision. On the other hand, you cannot expect your baby to give up on his bottle of baby formula and fall in love with a cup of cow’s milk in a single day. Keep reading this article to know when and how to stop giving baby formula to your baby?
CONTENT
1. When can I stop giving baby formula to my baby?
2. Special circumstance to avoid starting whole milk
3. How to switch from baby formula to cow’s milk?
4. Does cow’s milk have the same nutrients as baby formula?
5. Can I give any other milk than cow’s milk to my baby?
1. When can I stop giving baby formula to my baby?
Until your baby becomes one, his kidneys are not capable of handling the strong proteins that cow’s milk contains. It also contains minerals such as sodium which is not good for the immature kidneys of your baby. This is the main reason that you should not offer cow’s milk to your baby till his first birthday. But this does not mean you should switch to regular milk as soon as your baby becomes 12 months. It is always up to you to decide along with the guidance of your pediatrician.
After the age of 12 months, there are no health concerns of offering cow’s milk to the babies because the kidneys will be matured by that time. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians, 16 to 24 ounces of whole milk should be given daily to toddlers between 12 to 24 months.
Although your baby starts solid food at 6 months, they will be eating a little of other foods so you will have to supplement their diet with breastmilk or baby formula. When they reach the age of 12 months, they will eat enough solid foods to meet their nutritional needs and there will no longer be a need to offer breastmilk or baby formula as a supplement.
2. Special circumstance to avoid starting whole milk
If your baby has kidney diseases, iron deficiency, or development delays, your pediatrician will advise you to avoid offering cow’s milk to your baby. Babies with kidneys diseases will not be ready to digest cow’s milk even they reach the age of 12 months. Baby formula has high amounts of iron mixed with milk powder so your baby will have to continue it to fulfill his extra need for iron if he has a deficiency.
It is not recommended to give whole milk to babies who have a family history of obesity, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Always consult your pediatrician before deciding on switching to whole milk. Babies who have family histories such as this can be offered 2% milk instead of regular cow’s milk.
When your baby starts drinking cow’s milk, it does not mean you have to stop breastfeeding. You can still nurse considering breastmilk as another supplement to their diet.
3. How to switch from baby formula to cow’s milk?
The transition from baby formula to cow’s milk does not have to be one-day work. It is always good to follow a gradual approach as the digestive tract of the babies needs time to adapt to the regular intake of cow’s milk. There will be higher chances for stomach problems and constipation if your baby is switched from baby formula within a day or two.
You can start by mixing baby formula or breastmilk with cow’s milk. Mix 25% cow’s milk with 75% of baby formula and increase the amount of cow’s milk after two, three days until your baby drinks a bottle of unmixed cow’s milk. As babies need 16 to 24 ounces of milk every day, you can offer this amount through few small feeds throughout the day or two eight ounces feeds.
4. Does cow’s milk have the same nutrients as baby formula?
The nutritional composition of cow’s milk and baby formula differs significantly. Regular milk has more protein and certain types of minerals. But the baby formula is fortified with iron and Vitamin C in the right proportions required by the newborns. When your baby is taking a considerable amount of solids, he will receive these nutrients from those foods, so there is no issue switching to regular milk.
5. Can I give any other milk than cow’s milk to my baby?
Soya milk is recommended for babies with milk allergies. They have a comparable amount of proteins so it is a good substitute for cow’s milk. There will be many substitutes available in the market for cow’s milk but they will hardly be equal to the nutritional value of whole milk. Rice and Oats milk is very low in the amount of protein contained and they also have sugar added to them.
No alternative milk contains the mineral that cow’s milk. You have to remember that low calories are only a benefit to the adults from non-dairy milk and it does not serve the nutritional needs of the babies. If you cannot offer dairy to your baby, go for sugar-free soy milk.
