Moving onto step 3..

[Stevie]

Now, i know some of you ladies are totally against putting your toddlers on to step 3 (i actually have no idea why?) but my husband has insisted that now that she's 13 months she should be moving onto step 3 (S-26 gold) so we have.
They say 1-2 bottles a day! DD still has a lunch/afternoon bottle, can i give her 3 bottles if i want to? Will it make her sick?
I was thinking tho, that replacing her lunch/afternoon feed with cows milk? or at least the 90%water 10%cows milk that you begin with? Tho DD has cows Milk with her b/fast cereal every morning and in anything that i cook for her that needs milk, so does this mean i can start off her milk stronger?
OR
should i just cut the middle bottle out all together and try and make her just have water?
thanks for your help ladies
x

[*TripleJ*]

when we changed DS over to cows milk we used 1/4 milk rest formul 1/2 and then 1/4 formula we did that over a couple of days and he was fine then when he was on full cows milk we started using a sippy cup and now he has milke when he wakes up and then when he goes to bed

[Michelle71]

The reason for the dislike of Step 3 is numerous. There is little difference in content between the stages if you compare the tins. When DS1 was having supplemental bottles he remained on the Step 1 until after 12 months. At 13 months there is little need for formula if they are eating a wide range of foods and (if you choose to give milk) it can be cows milk. It can also be advertised, unlike the infant formulas which can mislead parents into thinking their toddlers actually need it. Which they don't.

[studymum]

DD1 was on soy here, so couldnt have any step 3, but we weaned her to fresh soy pretty much the same way, started to mix fresh with the formula and slowly cut the formula down. 3 bottles probably won't make her sick. I think mixing it up though with one cows milk is a good idea, to get her used to it. Its also a good idea to start offering water at meals times to encourage it. Maybe one of each?

Much of the debate surrounding step 3 whether they really require it or not and how its marketed to make parents believe its required if you want a healthy smart child you have to move onto step 3. Its just revenue for the companies. Personally I don't think its necessary, they get all their nutritional requirements from their food and other dairy. Its rare for a child to suffer deficiencies as their bodies are suffer efficient at getting what they need out of food. But its personal choice, if you are happy to be spending the money for peace of mind than its your call, don't worry about anyones opinion.

[MantaRay]

I agree with Michelle. Step 3 is not a necessary part of the food process for babies. If you choose to continue giving milk after 12 months, straight cows' milk would be preferable as the toddler milks are high in sugars. And dearer than milk. Often they also fill a baby up and reduce the solids intake, which is more important at this age. This is the reason that only 2 bottles a day is recommended. The dietary guidelines also state that a baby over 12 months should have no more than 3 cups of milk a day. Milk is not required at all over 12 months as long as the calcium requirement is being met - which it can be from a number of dairy and non-dairy food sources.