Are 12mth olds meant to have formula??

My hubby and I were just talking after seeing an ad on telly about some formula for toddlers.

Are we meant to be giving Jaxon who is 13 months Toddler formula .. He is breast fed still twice a day, morning and night. and  give him cows milk at lunch time and he drinks plenty of water.

My plunket nurse never said we should and said cows milk is fine...

What are your thoughts?

Nup he doesn't need formula. In fact at 12mos you can usually wean kids off bm and formula and only on cows' milk. The reasons to delay that after 12mos are allergies, not seeming ready, and being particularly underweight.

Nope, normal cows milk/breastfeeds and water and food is perfectly fine for him.

Toddler formula is a clever way for formula companies to advertise as they cannot advertise breastmilk substitutes for babies.. therefore they try to make mums think that toddler formula will make their child more healthy.... while also putting their name out there as a company that makes forumla.. so mums looking for a formula for their newbies get that brand.. oooh that and they like to make money so why not make mums beleive their chld NEEEEDS it.. when really they don't.

Fact is, at 12 months, i think i remember being told that about 500mls of milk is enough per day.. and that because by then most babies are having normal food, and water to drink.. no other formula is really needed, it takes very little food to give them the amount of nutrients they need and that is best gotten from fresh fruit and veges and meat and all that. no matter what, there's always gotta at least SOMETHING, some sort of fruit/vege that they'll eat, even the fussiest kid has something.. but the ads target mums of toddlers.. who mostly are naturally fussy eaters anyway, and they pray on the fears of mums that their kids aren't getting enough nutrients to grow.

Plenty of generations of all of us grew up without it, on normal cows milk from 12 mths or whatever, and were probably so fussy it drove our mums mad.. and we are fine. Kids go through times where they don't eat much, they are fussy too, the only veges i can get Ayja to eat are carrots and the occasional pea(which you'd think i asked her to eat something poisonous) but she's great with fruit. Over the last 2 nights, she has barely eaten more than a few bites from her plate from each thing, but she eats a great brekkie, she has snacks of fruit and crackers, and is pretty good with lunch and water and drinks of milk.

I guess, after the novel.. My answer is.. nope toddlers dont need the toddler formula.. all it teaches them is that instead of learning to eat the right foods slowly that they can substitute it milk.

Edited by mum2paris

both my older two kids went onto cows milk just before 12 months - and so will RHyley. I don't see the need in having more of an expensive on top of everything else. As some one said if your child has allergies so be it but nope don't need it - espec if still BFing.

Breastmilk is great for babies and toddlers until a minimum of 2 years. And even after that it is of great value to them.

(my own personal opinion is why should I give my child milk from another mammal that was made for their babies when I can give her milk made for her.)

Dont get me wrong. Formula can be really great and cowsmilk has its place as well. But there is no need to stop BFding if you as a family is still fine with it.

Formula can sometimes be great if your child is not eating as much veg and fruit and not getting enough iron in. A while ago I actually stopped using cowsmilk on McKayla's porridge and gave her formula over there.

On the other hand cowsmilk is great if your child has a varied diet and dont need extra supplements in vitamins and iron.

So you have to look at your own indidual situation and see what works out best for you guys. You are the only one in the best position to determine that. (with your partners help that is.

I think if you are happy with the boobie feeding continue it. A lot of professional people (PN's included) don't advocate BFing in toddlers as they are at the age of weaning. Personally I think there is nothing wrong with it and you should keep doing what you're doing if it is making you happy.
Toddler formula is good for the added calories etc etc if they aren't eating well. OR if you have FF from birth I have found a couple of websites that recommend FF till 18 months.
Otherwise just milk and water!

Weaning means to detach from source of dependence or to take food otherwise than nursing (check out Wean - definition ). So as soon as you begin solids the process of weaning begins so technically you're both right.

I actually agree with you Emma, I think that we know a lot more about nutrition now and extending things like BFing and giving toddler formula can be an added boost. I don't think there is anything wrong with personal choice of sticking to it or switching on to cows milk/water. People do what they do!

I have brought my last 2 formula tins then I will try Rhyley on cows milk since he will probably be 12 months once finished the tins. If he gets allergy from cows milk I proabably will use the toddler formula but if not then we will stick with Cows milk.

Thats right.....But they can have RICE Milk and lots of it in puddings and custards and in mashed veges..there are lots of other food sources for to get Calcium from apart from Dairy/Soya etc which have the protein which causes havoc :o)