From breastfeeing to formula or cows milk

Hi Ladies,

Just interested to know what others may have done in terms of weaning. I am currently still breastfeeding Alyssa (9 months old), but am thinking of trying to start weaning soon in preparation for my return to work.
It has been suggested that rather than weaning now, I wait until she is a year old so that I can go straight to cows milk rather than formula. Just as a note, we have no history or dairy allergies in the family.

Has anyone else done this? I mean, I always assumed everyone goes through a formula stage so it never occurred to me to skip that part. Would she be missing anything by not having any formula?

Hi Pepsi, yep I have taken two girls from BM to cow's milk and water. Hannah was 11 1/2 mos and Briona was 10 1/2, which is perhaps a little early but she had no probs. The girls went straight onto sippy cup at that point. It is ok for a 10-12mo to live off cow's milk, water, and whatever food you are giving them because they will get most of their nutrients at that stage from their food. Hannah actually wasn't too keen on milk at first, she basically went from BM to water but she obviously survived off that and her weight never dipped. I guess she must have filled up on food.

What generally happens with babies who go from BM to cows' milk, is that they don't usually have a before bed drink, most of their drinks are at (5) mealtimes. Makes it a whole lot easier to skip formula, and easier on the pocket too!

Hmmm I think most people know that too much cows' milk is not so good. But the same argument has been used (by the same author) against formula as well.

I went and got Hannah's baby book for an example of foods she was eating at Alyssa's age - at 10mos Hannah was having about 6 feeds per day, finger food (soft veges) and crackers. She had just stopped having chunky purees at 9mos, preferring veges she could pick up to eat. By 11mos she was having 2 feeds a day (the rest was water and food and up to one-half cup of milk each day) and I dropped her night feed without any fuss. Two weeks later I dropped her morning feed, she would ask for it but I'd get straight up and offer breakfast or read a story and she'd get distracted - which was proof for me that it was a habit for her, not a need.

Thanks for your comments so far, I'm still not sure what to do but glad to hear you have actually done it and it worked out fine busymum :) If I do decide on going to cows milk and no formula in between I will just keep breastfeeding until she is 1.

One good thing is that Alyssa loves water and has been having it for months, although I restrict it to mealtimes just to wash down the food. She's still only eating pureed food so not sure if she might be missing any vitamins or things from some of the chunkier foods or finger foods that she doesn't want yet?

Just a question about formula...if I was to start up on this, would I begin with the starter stuff since she has never had it before, or do I go straight to the "follow on" stuff?

Id get the "follow on" formula which is for babies 6mnths+
Also found this you may like to read?!?

Formula should continue till 18mnths

maddy has been on formula since she was very young i have just started indoucing cows milk instead of formula and she seems to like it i and i found a cows milk that was good for 1 to 3 year olds called JUNIOR made by meadow fresh which is design for toddlers from1 -3 years old.

That junior stuff is good or i just use dark blue mainly b/c of price.

Theres toddler & toddler Gold. Which ones are sales Ploys? Or are they both? I was under the imppression the gold was *all sh#t* & yes way more expensive than the regular stuff.

Glow wrote: Theres toddler & toddler Gold. Which ones are sales Ploys? Or are they both? I was under the imppression the gold was *all sh#t* & yes way more expensive than the regular stuff.

Both. They do have extra vitamins and fish oils etc., but nothing that bubs can't get from a varied diet supplemented with cows milk.

And the difference between standard and Gold with the infant formulas is that one is casein dominant and one is whey (not sure which as my kids have never been able to have them) so I presume it's the same with the toddler formulas?

Glow wrote: Id get the "follow on" formula which is for babies 6mnths+ Also found this you may like to read?!? Formula should continue till 18mnths

Didn't read your article but have to say as a breastfeeding mum, wtf??
I don't agree with that. At one year, food is more important than milk, kids should be getting their nutrition from that instead of milk. I would rather make sure that enough vitamins etc are coming from food than an artificial source.

We switched to cows milk at just over 1 year, I too made a gradual change and by 13.5 months Ella was drinking cows milk. We decided to continue giving her a night time drink though, and put the cows milk in a bottle, so that dad could have special time with her. She stopped using the bottle at 20 months (and she only ever had it at night).