Formula/Cows milk question?

I didnt really know what to title this thread. DD is fully weaned from the breast after being breastfed for nearly 13 months. I have tried giving her cows milk but she is not interested. I have even added half a teaspoon of milo to entice her which she likes. She is a really good eater, especially fruit but I really want her to get some extra vitamins etc so I tried some formula but she flat out refuses it.
Now she is sick so I really really want her to get some extra vitamins from somewhere if that makes sense just in case she is not getting enough from food.
Any suggestions or ways to get her to like formula.

If she is eating plenty of solids then she shouldn't need the extra vitamins.

As for taste maybe try her on lactose free milk because it is sweeter.

i think you can get a liquid multi-vitamin called pentavite for children that young.
or, i saw some stuff called 'boost' at woolies in the baby food aisle, i think it is made up like nesquick or something but has vitamins in it. i didnt really look into it though so dont know much about it.

I agree she shouldnt need them but I think she does - it cant hurt, even as adults we cant get everything from just food alone. I have also seen it in friends kids and nieces and nephews who are great eaters, they are weaned then sick all the time.

Thanks hollo

DD has had a really bad run of sickness last couple of months and dropped weight - so I started boosting her milk with toddler formula because she lost her appetite for food as well and needed the vitamins as well as the calories!! It has worked!! and she hasn't got constipated - it makes the milk a bit sweeter and also has the same milk taste - so you might want to try one or two scoops to a bottle and see how it goes? Or you could make up formula normal and then try watering her milk down with it little by little till she's used to it (ie 1/4 formula to 3/4 milk. Toddler drink is over-marketed but personally I'd prefer to use it for a while than a sugary nutritional drink like milo - and watch the nutritional supplements in the other sections if you are looking out for soy as they are mostly based on soy protein isolate. Hope your little one feels better soon - it's so miserable when they are sick.

Part of the reason she might get sick more often is that she's no longer getting the antibodies from your bm. You can't replace that with anything, unfortunately. We're bracing ourselves for our DD's first winter without bfing and I'm expecting the worst!

A balanced diet is absolutely fine for her nutritionally and a multivitamin can't hurt if you feel she needs a boost. But there's no need to increase her milk intake if she's getting adequate calcium already. It won't stop her getting sick. Unfortunately at her age they're often playing with other small children (AKA germ carriers!) and toys that they've touched - even bm wouldn't have been able to help her completely!

hmm i thought we were supposed to give them 100% cows milk when they are 1 years old? my dd is nearly 12 mnths old and is still on formula, maternal nurse said i should start switching to cows milk, but i saw that nan gold has a formula for ages 1-3 years old...so which is more beneficial for the toddler -cows milk or formula with all the vitamins??im so confused

Salad it's hard when they get sick... :hug:

I wouldn't be giving her formula - it's really just not necessary. If you really feel that she needs a boost of her nutrient intake then pop into a health food store and speak to a naturopath who can assist you with a really good quality vitamin supplement. I know a few that I have used for my kids now and then - when they have been ill, stressed etc... Pentavite is a vitamin supplement but personally I think there are better more "natural" & thus better utilised supplements.

Formulas for toddlers are really just marketing to us Mamas who want the best for their babies/children... It annoys me how it's marketed to play on our teeny inner voice that questions if we are doing the "right" thing...

I would also steer away from milo - it's chock full of sugar and caffeine!

It sounds like she eats well & it's your intuition that she needs a little something to give her a boost. I would suggest following that & purchasing a good quality supplement. Floradix have a childrens formula which is a favourite of mine... :hug:

Thanks everyone for the replies, I do appreciate it. I am going to persist with the cows milk but give her a supplement even if its just whilst she is sick or if I feel she may be coming down with something.
Thanks so much Innana, your right it is my mummy intuition that makes me feel she needs something extra. Thank you very much for suggesting the naturopath, I didnt think of that when usually I would. :hug:

Inanna has given great advice as usual. I totally agree. A healthy diet really should be all she needs, but if your instinct is telling you there's something lacking then a natural supplement won't hurt. Another option might be to see a dietician to get some reassurance about your DD's diet, and perhaps some extra ideas.

Bubbles81 - cows milk is a far better option. Toddler formulas are not good for babies - they are a marketing gimmick playing on mother guilt, as Inanna said. They do not provide any nutritional advantage over a good diet and cow's milk. In fact they generally have the opposite effect - they fill babies up so that they don't eat as much solids, which is what they really need. Don't waste your money.