thread: Toddler Milk or Cows Milk???

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Mar 2010
    505

    Toddler Milk or Cows Milk???

    DD is just about to turn 1, she's on formula at the moment but I'm wondering if I should move up to the 12 months + formula or start her on cows milk? The GP just said it's up to me which I didn't find particularly helpful.

    I've read conflicting things online and am more confused than when I started looking! She eats regularly and has a variety of meat, fruit, vegies & bread... she currently has 3 bottles a day

    What's the pros/cons of both? Just looking for a bit of guidance!

    What did you do and why?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Near the Snowies!
    2,975

    I'm transitioning DD to cow's milk atm, she's down to half & half formula/cow's milk but I still have a brand new tin of formula to use so will be a while before she is having straight cow's milk.
    IMO the toddler formula's are a waste of money, and really just a marketing ploy on the part of formula companies. If you do find your DD isn't taking well to the cow's milk then I'd think about it, but I would try transitioning onto cow's milk first. FWIW DD is still having the step 1 formula, her body just couldn't cope with the Step 2 formula, so I think the "extra's" are just for marketing purposes...
    You can still leave her on the formula she is on for a little while longer, it won't hurt her either way.

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Member
    Add Party-of-five on Facebook

    Sep 2008
    bunbury WA
    2,114

    I put DD on cows milk, after a year of formula I was more than ready to finish with formula, DD is a great eater always has been that made the choice easy for me

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add boobaloo on Facebook

    May 2006
    Brisbane, Australia
    1,024

    if she has a well-balanced diet, i'd go onto cows milk, there's no need for the formula if a child is getting all the nutrients they need out of thier diet.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2010
    505

    thanks for your replies! I love the idea of not having to buy formula... but the formula companies make it seem as though if I don't put her on toddler milk she won't be getting all the vitamins & nutrients she needs... talk about playing to my mum guilt!

    I would put her on cows milk if I was absolutely sure she'd be getting all the nutrients she needed, but i'm questioning if she would or not...

  6. #6
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    ttc2, toddler milk is not a good option. The added nutrients in there are not readily absorbed, and they are high in sugar and tend to fill babies up so they don't eat the solid foods which will give them the nutrients they need. At 12 months some babies just don't eat well, and sometimes reducing the milk intake can be helpful. If your little one is not eating well and you are concerned, vitamin drops would be a better option than toddler milk. Sometimes the vitamin drops can also stimulate appetite so they end up working in two ways.

    All the best.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Apr 2009
    in the garden
    3,767

    Sorry to hijack but what toddler drops MR, and where would I find them?

    FWIW ttc2, I agree with the others - toddler milk is more marketing then anything else IMO.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Mar 2010
    505

    Thanks so much for your advice! So if at the moment the formula milk tin says she needs 2-3 bottles per day, does this mean she needs the equivalent amount of cows milk, or do they not have as much milk after 12 months?

    MR - In a typical day DD will eat: baby porridge, vege rusks, multigrain sandwich with some sort of spread on it, a few fresh fruit pieces, a bran bar, 200g of dinner (usually meat & rice, or meat & vegies). Do you think her diet is good, or should be accompanied by some vitamin drops?