Now I have 3 kids so Im not a do-do bird, lol Its just my little Faithy drinks so much formula that I was wondering at 10 1/2 months is ok to start the switch? She would be drinking Goats milk cause she has a lactose problem. I cant remember why we wait to the exact age of 12 months to switch them and Ive heard of some women taking infants as young as 6 months switching. Anyone with any advice?
TIA!
~Michele~

I would absolutely start switching her over. I switched DD2 when she was 5 1/2 months old, because the formula was costing a small fortune and DH wasn't working at the time (not eligible for WIC, etc.) She's almost 11 now, and she's just fine. DD3 is 6 months now, and I think I will give her 1 more month, then I will switch her too. As long as you give the oral vitamins along with the milk, she will be fine. You may have to lie to the ped for a while. They don't like you to do it, but I think it's a gimmick. I switched DD3 formula from ISOMIL to Carnation Followup because I got some free ones and had coupons. She's perfectly fine. The Follow up formula is somewhat cheaper, so it saves some money, and I use the powder. The oral vitamins I used were Poly Vi Sol. HTH:smball:

I switched my ds just shy of a year (he's 2 1/2 now) as well. I just got so sick of buying formula and the cost is outrageous. I did the same with the carseat. I turned him around at about 10 months (he was already 20 lbs then) because he would do nothing but scream while we were in the car- so I figured he hated the view, LOL!

I think you're supposed to keep them on formula for a year for the iron, if I remember correctly. Personally, I think it's to keep the formula companies rich. I have a friend who's baby couldn't handle any formula, so she gave her diluted evaporated milk along with vitamin supplements and she's healthy as a horse.

If your baby is mostly eating table foods now, like fruits and veggies, I say make the switch, since she would be getting a ton of vitamins from that. Just don't tell the dr- you're the mom, you know what's best for your child.

Laura

I say check with your pediatritian...tell him/her how much your dd is drinking and let your dr. decide. I agree that it stinks to have to spend so much on formula, but I do think that in the case of little babies, a dr. should be consulted first.

Good luck.

Chelle :ribbon:

Its so funny that you say that Chelle cause thats exactly what I did LOL I called the Dr. office and talked to his nurse. Who then talked to him and called me back. He said if I switch that I needed to make sure she was getting LOTS of iron and gave me a list of foods that are high in iron. Also suggested the vitamins. Thanks girls, this is saving me a TON of money :)
~Michele~

I took switched ds to the follow up at 6 mo and then went to whole milk at 10 mo.He has had no problem with it,I think a lot of it is allergies and tollerance to whole milk.Plus iron and viatamins,but if you are serving them foods with plenty of iron and viatamins they should be fine.I know for a while there all he wanted was his bottle of milk,so we just chunked out the bottles and went to a sippy cup.Now he is eating his food better and not tanking up on milk.I still believe this is why dd now 4 is still a picky eater,cause she wasn't off the bottle till 15 mo and wouldn't eat any baby food.

I think it is confusing cause the drs say they need to be on formula till 1yr and off the bottle by their first birthday.I have a friend and her dd is still on formula and she is almost 2,the drs told her she needs to be off it.I was fed whole milk from day one and am totaly fine,a bit over weight but that is because of having babies and miscarraiges etc.

The reason "they" recommend formula for the 1st year is because there is a higher chance of developing an allergy to milk before age 1. Other common allergies are strawberries, chocolate and peanuts. Many, many, many babies were raised on cows milk in the good old days. As long as your dd eats a balanced diet she shouldn't have any problem. Adding a vitamin supplement certainly won't hurt her any though. Remember it's important for children under the age of 4 to get sufficient fat in their diet for proper nervous system development. My dd is 4 months old. I haven't been able to start solids yet due to a poor appetite related to sinus problems. I plan on getting her to drink from a cup as soon as possible, and after she starts eating a good variety of solids, switch her gradually to whole milk.

Karen,
Really?? Cause she has never had any cows milk and has an allergy to it lol My other Dd was the same way. We gave her Nutragiem ($20 a powdered can, 3 cans a week.....just like we were doing now), then eventually Goats milk then regular milk,which in our house is powdered non fat milk. But we dont give her whole milk cause we tried that once (Im speaking of Dd who is 4 now) and she was doubled over in pain & bawling from it. So to hear that dont want them on cows milk cause they might be allergic to it really surprises me considering I have 2 girls who never touched it but are allergic to things that contain it (cheese, yogurt) etc.
I think Goats milk has plently of fat in it, no? I hope so. Cause thats all she can tolerate.
Doctors tend ,IMO, treat kids in groups. No milk before one, cup at one, potty at 2 etc. What about kids who fall between the cracks? Kinda get left to flounder around here ya know? For example my 10 year old son is 4 1/2 feet tall and 120 lb. Last year he was at his physical and they noticed from his blood work he was eniemic (sp?). They told me to boost his protein to help him get more iron. More red beef.
This year, he is still basically the same weight etc, they say to me "We are concerned about Christians weight". Now they have him on a low fat, low carb diet at 10!!! People who see him do not see an overweight kid. Yes he is large but he is built large. He is tall for his age. I call it football player his father says his solid, he is not fat by any stretch of the imagination. Yet his weight is not good for his age they say, HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOO he is TALL LOL Ya know??? They just kinda lump him in with others.
Anyways back to the subject at hand, Im glad I switched. Who ever posted that mothers know best is so true.
~Michele~