How to wean formula to whole milk?
Are you tired of measuring formula, shaking bottles endlessly, and aiming for the perfect milk-to-water ratio? Do you miss the days when your baby only drank milk straight from the tap? Fear not! It’s time to make the transition from formula to whole milk. Here are some tips on how to do it smoothly.
When is it Time?
It all comes down to timing. You don’t want to wean too early as babies need certain nutrients such as iron that may be missing in cow’s milk before they’re 1 year old. So when should this momentous transition happen? Well, according to experts, around 12 months old or older.
“Timing is everything” – Shakespeare (probably)
Go Slowly
Transitioning too fast can result in a cranky little one with an upset stomach (& lots of tears). So take things slow by gradually incorporating increasing amounts of whole milk into their diet over weeks or even months.
Pro tip: Mix half breastmilk/formula with half cow’s milk and see if your child shows any signs of lactose intolerance (be prepared for unpleasant smells). If there aren’t many issues after three or four meals try adding another ounce until you’ve made a full transition from one liquid gold source (formula/breast) towards another white elixir(option two).
Table:
Week | Amount |
---|---|
One | Half an ounce |
Two | One ounce |
Three | Two ounces |
Start at week one and then add one more per week.
Milk Preferences
Nowadays, there isn’t just plain ol’ whole cow’s milk; there are different kinds- organic , grass-fed etc.! Just like us adults have our own preferences so will babies! They might prefer lower fat content i.e., 2% milk, or enjoy the taste of organic produced whole fat.
Pro-tip: Allow baby to try different brands and types of milks as his/her preferences may keep changing during the transition process. Eventually you both will find one that works best for your family.
New Cup
You’ve made it this far! Now onto introducing a new shiny cup into the mix. Drinking from a cup after drinking from bottles can be especially challenging but in time it’s worth it for their dental health since constant bottle use causes tooth decay (real-life horror story!).
It’s crucial to take cues based on interest shown in plain water. Start by filling said shiny new sippy to cups with WATER instead of MILK (gasp) For the first two weeks offer only water through this amazing straw-like device – after which fill up with semi diluted milk (exciting isn’t giving your child something other than formula/breastmilk?) Ensure training sippy cups are used and not cups with big-bore straws which could cause choking hazards.
Spare Clothes
Before you commit to any major changes ensure there is ample supply clothing spare once accidents happen as they probably will –‘somebody’ forgets he/she drinks cow’s milk now… & also don’t forget about those lovely lactose intolerant bowel movements(which we hope do not occur at inconvenient times!)
“A prepared person doesn’t have extra stains” – Benjamin Franklin(shouldn’t kid around— Ben was awesome)
Positive Reinforcement
Anyone who has potty trained a toddler understands learning needs positive reinforcement– Well same goes here!– babies particularly love praise! So applause when baba drinks form his/her exciting straw-cup device!!
Oh wow – such talent- clap, clap.
Positive attention thru playtime rewards good cross over behavior!! My little pony stickers anyone?
Pro-tip: Avoid negative reinforcement – it will make this process take longer and may irritate the child.
Stay Patient
Patience is key in all situations particularly with little children. Since every baby is different things might not go as smoothly or quickly as you’d hope (and that’s okay) slow and steady always wins this particular race- eventually they WILL transition!!
Live by: “Slow but sure”
Table:
Sign to Wait For | Example |
---|---|
Accepts half milk, half formula/breast milk mix easily for a week | No complaints about taste/feeding |
Increase ratio towards more milk gradually over several weeks till three-fourth cow’s(white) liquid elixir | Soft stool , no signs of lactose intolerance |
Replaces bottles completely with sippy cups full of whole cow’s matter-of-fact type white opaque entity after week four | Drinking whole milk from shiny new sippys like its nothing |
Start making attempts when your baby is around 11 months old then by his/her first birthday(yay!) you’ll be smooth sailing into navigating solid foods properly(hooray!). A lot of things may seem difficult at the outset esp. considering the diversity in babies but one should have faith(!) …& many extra wooly hats (for those crazy weather change poop episodes we mentioned before)
“Have patience my young Jedi” – Yoda
So there you have it folks! Everything short and sweet on how to initiate weaning off formula onto regular ole’ moo juice!
Cheers-to another positive milestone & reducing expense that goes along with justifying buying only ‘the most organic’ formula available it has been a long five months
Hey there, I’m Dane Raynor, and I’m all about sharing fascinating knowledge, news, and hot topics. I’m passionate about learning and have a knack for simplifying complex ideas. Let’s explore together!
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