By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN, RM, Lactation consultant, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep Consultant)
HOW AND WHEN TO WEAN YOUR BABY OFF FORMULA
Is your baby ready to stop drinking formula? Here's how to know—and how make the transition.
When is the right time to wean them off of formula? How will you know when they’re ready?
When is the right time to wean?
Infant formula is generally recommended until age 1, followed by fresh gull cream milk until age 2
The key factor is that your baby is healthy and getting enough nutrients from solid table food (that they previously relied on mineral and nutrient-fortified formula to provide). If their diet is nutritionally balanced and includes a mix of fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains, they are ready to wean off formula at 1 year old. Don’t introduce cow’s milk until after their first birthday—there’s too much protein in it for a baby’s digestive system and kidneys to process, which can lead them to develop anemia and intestinal bleeding)
Some babies may need to continue longer with formula if they aren’t gaining enough weight, were born prematurely, have food allergies, or have not yet established a solid diet of table food.
Why is it important to wean?
If a toddler knows a bottle is still available, they may fill up on formula rather than eating solids, and miss out on important nutrients in their diet. Drinking formula before nap-time and bedtime can also promote tooth decay. But, after a year of daily enjoyment, how do you get them to give up their beloved, oh-so-comforting bottles?
How to help your baby wean off formula
Quitting the bottle cold turkey is a tough proposition; most babies will fare better with a gradual transition. If your baby tolerates cow’s milk well, give them small servings of milk where they would normally receive formula. Over the next 7–10 days, increase milk while decreasing formula servings until the formula is phased out.
Other tips to go bottle-free
Introducing a sippy cup at six months, before you actually expect your baby to use it full-time, is a low-pressure way to let them know other ways of imbibing exist. They won’t have the hand-eye coordination to use it properly (without spilling), but the exposure is nonetheless helpful.
Help your baby drop one bottle at a time by replacing it with a sippy cup of milk—or solid food. Morning or mid-day bottles will be easier to drop than the pre-bedtime bottle, so start there. Once your baby has gotten over the hump and eliminated daytime bottles, change up their bedtime routine to make giving up their nighttime snack a little easier.
SHOULD I GIVE MY BABY GROWING UP MILK? Answer
No, your 1yr old doesn't need growing up milk (also known as toddler milk, stage three milk or stage four milk).
Until your little one is a year old, the only milk she needs is breastmilk or first infant formula (stage one and two milk). After her first birthday, she should be getting all the nutrients she needs from her food, so she doesn't need formula at all. You can still continue to breastfeeding or offer full cream fresh cow’s milk as a drink if you like.
Growing-up milk are marketed at parents and claim to have extra nutrients such as iron and other vitamins and minerals, but it's actually no better for your child than cow's milk. However, it is more expensive, and more of a fuss to prepare. So, cow's milk is a better option for most families. If your baby is healthy, growing up milk isn’t needed If your toddler's a fussy eater, it's only natural to be concerned about whether she's getting enough nutrients to keep her healthy. But if you give her growing-up milk, this can fill her up and make her even less likely to learn to eat well.
Although growing up milks have added nutrients, they are also very high in sugar. This can in turn damage your child’s teeth and health in the long term. They can also suppress appetite and cause a feeding problem.
Water or full-fat cow's milk are the best drinks for your toddler. If you want to give her fruit juice, dilute it well (one part juice to 10 parts water), and only offer it at mealtimes.
The volume of milk a baby needs after 1yr decreases to 450mls to 500mls a day and should not be exceeding this. This includes milk in their cereal as well as yoghurt and diet. Having more than this can result in suppressed appetite, excessive weight gain or constipation
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