When to stop using formula milk in the baby’s feeding
Both breast milk and formula provide your baby’s body with rapid growth of nutrients.
While breast milk or formula provides your baby’s body with rapid growth of much-needed nutrients early in life, his dietary needs change as he grows and begins to eat regular foods. To make sure you get everything your body needs, you need to transition to regular milk at the right time.
Index
THE CORRECT AGE
Once your baby reaches his first birthday, you can start giving him whole cow’s milk, as long as he also has a balanced diet . In addition to milk, your 1-year-old needs foods from the same four basic nutrition groups as you, including fruits and vegetables, dairy products, grains and meats, or other protein sources like fish, poultry, and eggs.
You should not give your baby cow’s milk before their first birthday because babies under 12 months of age cannot digest cow’s milk as completely or easily as they digest formula. Additionally, cow’s milk contains high concentrations of protein and minerals, which can affect a baby’s kidneys and cause illness. By the age of 1, your toddler needs about 1,000 calories per day for adequate growth and energy.
TYPE OF MILK
After changing formulas, you should offer your baby whole milk with vitamin D. Your 1-year-old usually needs the high fat content of whole milk to maintain normal weight gain. In certain cases, like if your child is overweight or at risk of being overweight, your pediatrician might recommend 2%, or reduced-fat milk.
If your child is intolerant of lactose , you can provide milk and fortified soy milk alternatives. Talk to your child’s pediatrician about the most appropriate options for you. Ideally, limit your child’s milk intake to no more than one liter per day after he is 1 year old. Once your child reaches his second birthday, you can talk to your pediatrician about switching to 2% milk.
START WITH DRINKING FROM A GLASS
To familiarize your child with drinking from a glass, start offering him a glass of water or sippy formula when he is around 6 months old. This is in addition to your regular bottle feeding. Even if most of the content ends up on the floor, your little one needs practice. By the time you are 12 months old, you should have the motor skills necessary to drink from a glass. It won’t be a pro, but it should get more in your mouth than what falls on the floor.
PUTTING THE BOTTLE ASIDE.
When your baby reaches his first birthday, you want him to stop drinking a bottle completely . Keep in mind that it is advisable to remove a child from the bottle before they are 18 months old, since prolonged use of the bottle can cause tooth decay and can encourage the child to drink more milk than necessary.
Also, the more your child drinks from a bottle , the harder it is to break the habit. If your baby is still quite attached to his bottle or formula after his first birthday, you may need to try some transition techniques to get him to quit. Try offering cow’s milk in a cup with sips throughout the day. When you give milk or formula in a bottle, begin to gradually dilute it with water over the course of a week or two. At the end of this time, the bottle should be made of water. You will most likely lose interest in water and opt for cow’s milk in a glass.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.