Toddler Nutrition

poustotah

Okay, I have a bunch of kids but this is about my youngest who just turned 9 months. I have been breast feeding her primarily but want to switch her to formula. I just got some samples of Enfagrow with a letter telling me all about how important DHA is and how this formula has DHA, Iron, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Now I do agree that all of these are important but my question is how important are they? With all of my other kids, I just gave them whole milk (because I didn't really know any better and just did what the doctor told me). Now that I am slightly more educated, I'd really like to avoid the whole milk but is this a good option?

lorierin22

Okay, I have a bunch of kids but this is about my youngest who just turned 9 months. I have been breast feeding her primarily but want to switch her to formula. I just got some samples of Enfagrow with a letter telling me all about how important DHA is and how this formula has DHA, Iron, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Now I do agree that all of these are important but my question is how important are they? With all of my other kids, I just gave them whole milk (because I didn't really know any better and just did what the doctor told me). Now that I am slightly more educated, I'd really like to avoid the whole milk but is this a good option?

I just switched my daughter from breast milk to whole milk at one year...didn't realize there was an issue with whole milk? I think by one year, toddlers can get the nutrients they need from foods in addition to regular cow's milk, but maybe I'm wrong.

poustotah

I just switched my daughter from breast milk to whole milk at one year...didn't realize there was an issue with whole milk? I think by one year, toddlers can get the nutrients they need from foods in addition to regular cow's milk, but maybe I'm wrong.

This is what I did for my other 3 kids and they're all fine but there are a lot of hormones in milk that I'd like to avoid but I don't know about a special formula. The whole 'add a bunch of DHA' thing kind of scares me I guess because I don't know a lot about it.

Maybe the solution is to just get organic milk.

Sidesteal

<

---

Daddy gives me whole milk, and I'm RIPPED.

Sincerely,
Baby Sidesteal.

lukeout007

Okay, I have a bunch of kids

Just the way you worded the first part of your post makes me crack up.

shaycat

<

---

Daddy gives me whole milk, and I'm RIPPED.

Sincerely,
Baby Sidesteal.

Sooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!

I gave my daughter whole milk starting at 12 months. My son gets 2%

EJsMummy26

Government mandates and regulates what is contained in any formula. I bought the Target and Sam's Club brands since they are very similar to the name brands. My little guy got formula from about 7 months to 1 year, then it was whole milk for us.

I'll keep him on whole milk until at least 2 years old. He's on the leaner side for kids his age, and he eats like a bird.

Spanaval

If you have the supply, keep BF-ing her. BM is a far superior product to anything in a can. The current recommendations of both the WHO and AAP is to breastfeed for a minimum of 2 years (if you can, of course).

mrsmangomum

I still bf my 14 month old, but he also gets whole milk in his sippy cup when we're out and about.

raylenebrooks

2% for my 2 year old once she turned a year (prior formula as she didnt come from my body ) her dr. says unless underweight they reccommend 2% my boys 12 and 9 got whole for a while but they all get 2 % now

Oh she also does not get juice and drinks lots of water

Pebble321

Who is the letter from? If it from a formula campany or anyone whose program is sponsored by a formula company, then their agenda is to sell you their product, it's not about the health of your child.
Talk to your doctor and see what they advise (I don't have kids but I know that formula is BIG business and the companies want to use your mommy guilt to sell you their stuff).

MB_Positif

I am drawing a blank on exactly what it is, but babies get DHA from our breast milk, so it is added to formula.

muwchck

I gave my oldest whole milk at 1 year, and at about 3 we switched back to 2% milk. My pediatrician suggests the same thing for my 9 month old. Oh, I was also told at 9 months I can supplement our formula with a little bit of whole milk, no more than a cup a day I think.

j77r68

i watched one of those investigative shows like 20/20 or one of those and it was about foods that stated things about DHA, Omega's 3+6 etc... and (this included formula as well) every product had enough of it to say that it was in it but you would have to have an exorbatant amount to get the amount that is actually beneficial. the only one i can remember is yogurt. i would've had to have had 100 yogurts to get an amount that would do anything for me. i was going to go the omega way when i stopped breastfeeding my daughter in February but when i seen that it did zilch for them and it was mostly a ploy to get you to buy more expensive items, i just went with the kind that had iron in it. plus it's much cheaper. don't know if cost is an issue for you but it's a huge issue for me. hope this gives you some insight

poustotah

i watched one of those investigative shows like 20/20 or one of those and it was about foods that stated things about DHA, Omega's 3+6 etc... and (this included formula as well) every product had enough of it to say that it was in it but you would have to have an exorbatant amount to get the amount that is actually beneficial. the only one i can remember is yogurt. i would've had to have had 100 yogurts to get an amount that would do anything for me. i was going to go the omega way when i stopped breastfeeding my daughter in February but when i seen that it did zilch for them and it was mostly a ploy to get you to buy more expensive items, i just went with the kind that had iron in it. plus it's much cheaper. don't know if cost is an issue for you but it's a huge issue for me. hope this gives you some insight

This is exactly what I was worried about. When I had my first 2 kids, the whole DHA thing wasn't even brought up - you gave your babies formula with iron and THAT was the big thing. For some reason, that seems to have changed and the latest fad is DHA. But if DHA is naturally found in breastmilk, do they put synthetic DHA in formula?

Justacoffeenut

ck with your child's doctor they know your child and their health requirements better then anyone on here.

steadk

I just switched my daughter from breast milk to whole milk at one year...didn't realize there was an issue with whole milk? I think by one year, toddlers can get the nutrients they need from foods in addition to regular cow's milk, but maybe I'm wrong.

This is what I did for my other 3 kids and they're all fine but there are a lot of hormones in milk that I'd like to avoid but I don't know about a special formula. The whole 'add a bunch of DHA' thing kind of scares me I guess because I don't know a lot about it.

Maybe the solution is to just get organic milk.

you can get hormone free milk. Not necessarily organic. I get non-hormone treated milk at aldi for 2.64 a gallon for skim milk. whole is like 2.74 a gallon. I have switched my toddler to skim milk because we use full fat cottage cheese for her, and give her a healthy rounded nutritious meal the rest of the day. We supplemented with formula and then full formula since she was born. But i would say you can do off brand formula (we did target brand) and it was 1/2 the cost. Just do a little research and I'm sure you'll find whats right for your baby and your family's needs.

lindsayjdodd

I would say to breastfeed as long as possible, and then switch over to whole milk when you're ready. I give my two kiddos raw milk, and they love it!

jennyjennbug

I would at least keep it on it until a year old then I switched to whole organic milk.

Sapporo

Whole milk is just as good as the formula. Formula is a bunch of crap to make those companies rich. I'm still BF'ing my 14 month old and she drinks cow milk at daycare since 1 year but wouldn't have bother with formula if we had stopped at 9+ months. My Mom switched me and my sisters to whole milk at 8 months old. Health Canada recommends no cow milk until a year I think but my local health unit says 9-12 months cow milk is okay. We don't have hormones in our milk, I think most USA milk doesn't anymore either.

Spanaval

This is exactly what I was worried about. When I had my first 2 kids, the whole DHA thing wasn't even brought up - you gave your babies formula with iron and THAT was the big thing. For some reason, that seems to have changed and the latest fad is DHA. But if DHA is naturally found in breastmilk, do they put synthetic DHA in formula?

DHA in breastmilk is a more recent discovery. Since the idea is for formula to be an approximation of BM, the manufacturers started adding it (and ARA, I believe).

michelleepotter

With my kids - and I have even more than you, LOL - I breastfed as long as I could and then switched to whole milk. Formula is, IMO, a processed food. Better than most, and wonderful for babies who can't be breastfed for whatever reason, but not as good as real food. I also wouldn't trust the formula company to tell me what's healthy, as their agenda is sales, not education.

Definitely go for hormone free milk over formula.

jenluvsushi

They also sell milk with DHA added...I think it's by Horizon and it's organic. They have it at Target....it is very expensive. My DD could not drink cow's milk due to eczema until she was 15 months old so I had her on soy with DHA (silk)....I also BF her until she was 13 months and luckily still have a supply in the freezer that I supplement her with now at 19 months.

Im_NotPerfect

I switched both of my kids to whole milk at 12 months (actually my son at 11 months). But actually...the only major difference between whole milk, 2%, 1%, and skim is the milk fat amount. They all have the same vitamins and same AMOUNT of vitamins. Both of my kids (almost 6 and 3) are on skim now because I figure they get enough fat out of other things they eat. Our DR approves this change as well. As long as they're getting milk a few times a day for the vitamins, he's good.

That being said, however...I didn't switch my daughter to skim until she turned 2. She was on Whole milk from years 1 - 2.

Honestly...I think the Enfagrow and all of those toddler "formulas" are just a way for the formula makers to make more money after kids turn 1.

mlkleve

I have a daycare and our guidelines are as follows: breastmilk or formula until age 1. Whole milk until age 2 and then 1% after the age of 2. Formulas all basically have the same ingredients unless it's for a special diet. I use Target brand milk-based formula with Iron and the only difference between that and Similac is the price.

Im_NotPerfect

I have a daycare and our guidelines are as follows: breastmilk or formula until age 1. Whole milk until age 2 and then 1% after the age of 2. Formulas all basically have the same ingredients unless it's for a special diet. I use Target brand milk-based formula with Iron and the only difference between that and Similac is the price.

My brother used to work at Target unloading trucks and he said that the Target brand formula actually came in Enfamil boxes. It's made by the same company!

Same goes with Target brand diapers and Pampers! LOL

lorierin22

I have a daycare and our guidelines are as follows: breastmilk or formula until age 1. Whole milk until age 2 and then 1% after the age of 2. Formulas all basically have the same ingredients unless it's for a special diet. I use Target brand milk-based formula with Iron and the only difference between that and Similac is the price.

My brother used to work at Target unloading trucks and he said that the Target brand formula actually came in Enfamil boxes. It's made by the same company!

Same goes with Target brand diapers and Pampers! LOL

Target brand wipes are just like pampers also!

secretlobster

Clicked on thread hoping to learn about the nutrition benefits of eating toddlers

Left disappointed

lorierin22

2% for my 2 year old once she turned a year (prior formula as she didnt come from my body ) her dr. says unless underweight they reccommend 2% my boys 12 and 9 got whole for a while but they all get 2 % now

Oh she also does not get juice and drinks lots of water

My son was a "chunky monkey"...we still gave him whole milk until he was 2 and then started progressing to 2%, then 1% and he is on skim milk now (he's 5). For my daughter...I may keep her on whole milk a longer because she has been in the 5-10 percentile category for weight since she was born...she's a tiny little thing, so I don't think the extra fat will hurt her.

UponThisRock

Make sure he's eating 8 meals a day to keep his metabolic furnace smoldering.

Rae6503

My doctor said whole milk at a year is fine. Formula or breast milk before that.