Hello!

Just wondering when you’re supposed to stop formula feeding your baby and when they should start eating just solids?
I’ve heard and read mixed views about weaning them off by 1 and just giving them cows milk once a day but it just seems a bit harsh/quick to me?!


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  • I think its very dependent on your child. If they don’t eat much, or a variety of foods – like my son, I would still keep a bit of formula to get all those nutrients. As a mum I am guided by my child – but I encourage food before milk always.


  • I switched to a sippy cup first. You can gradually reduce the amount of milk you put in it.
    You have made a start if your child doesn’t actually take the bottle to bed. Does your child have milk in cereal or other food at all? No doubt you are aware your child needs calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Some don’t like cheese unless it is in cooking either. Some also have difficulty digesting cheese because of its fat content. How old is your baby? Many medical professionals suggest it is best to give baby formula for the first 12 months unless you are able to breastfeed for that long or close to it.


  • My daughter is 1 in just a few days and I used her last tin of formula to wean her onto cows milk. Before I started weaning I would offer small amounts of cows milk to her with breakfast just to see how she reacted to it. She finished her formula tin this morning and will now be having cows milk. She has 3 bottles a day. 1 when she wakes up, 1 before her afternoon nap and 1 before bed. In a few weeks I will take away her morning bottle then wait another few weeks and take away her afternoon nap bottle. She can keep the night bottle for as long as she needs it till she is around 18 months I will probably take that one away too.


  • I till feed mine because she doesn’t eat a big variety yet so she’s still getting nutrition from formula


  • I think solids is after 6 months but every baby is different
    and formula may be started to be weaned after 12 months depending on how much food and milk they drink at that stage but some children drink for longer some less


  • My GP suggested starting the process gradually around six months, and taking as long as each child wanted – it varied for me, from 2 months to about 6.


  • I’m still giving my almost 3 year old because she doesnt have an all round diet yet. When she does ill stop


  • Yes I also changed around 1 to normal cows milk. My kids at that age weren’t keen to drink a lot of milk any way at that age as solids became more important. It’s a natural and gradual process. Some kids are slower than other kids and that’s ok, it’s just a guideline.


  • I stopped formula and bottles around 13 months with both kids. They transitioned to regular milk in a sippy cup/cup at night


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