When Do Babies Stop Drinking Formula?

As families consider weaning, they may think they must completely stop bottle feeding or breastfeeding cold turkey. However, weaning is best when it is a natural progression in your little ones’ development.

Weaning generally lasts four to six months as solid food is gradually introduced.

Between four to six months, rapid growth and development will require more energy and nutrients than breast milk or bottle feeding can provide alone. Families will need to start adding solid foods to keep up with growing needs.

Please remember that your baby’s main nourishment should be breast milk or baby formula until they are 12 months old to meet the required specific nutrition, which can only be provided through breast milk, baby formula, or a combination.

Baby’s digestive systems before the 12 months are very immature, breastmilk and European baby formulas, designed to mimic breastmilk, offer gentle nourishment that is easy on delicate systems and settle gut flora while solid foods and sippy cups are introduced. 

There are many ways to introduce solids after four months. Feeding approaches such as baby-led weaning and pureed first baby foods are a wonderful place to start.

Starting at 12 months, Stage 3 or toddler formulas are designed to provide the extra nutritional boost you’d like to incorporate into the foods in your older baby’s diet. Although whole organic, pasture-raised cow’s milk is a safe, traditional, physician-approved suggestion, toddler milk’s only purpose is to meet your young child’s digestive, physical, and cognitive needs.

European toddler formula has more protein, vitamins, and minerals. It provides an easier transition to a healthy diet, especially if your baby has sensitivities or allergies that may be exacerbated by switching to whole cow milk. 

Some stage 3 and stage 4 also offer prebiotics and probiotics to promote healthy gut flora making this adaptive food period even easier. 

For children older than 12 months, plain whole cow's milk is a reliable source of vitamin D, and many cow's milks sold in stores are fortified with vitamin D.

A major benefit to Stage 3 and Stage 4 toddler formulas is that the nutrients far outweigh whole milk, and this includes vitamin D.

Complementing a toddler's diet instead of replacing it, European toddler formulas offer support for every system including Vitamins A & C to boost immune system response, Vitamin D, and iron to strengthen bone and joints, and naturally occurring Omega 3 and Omega 6 to help the brain development and eye tissue maturing.

Your baby or toddler may drink less after starting solids, but this transition will happen gradually.

Families and caregivers likely will not notice a substantial change in breast milk or bottle feeding for the first few months’ solids are introduced. Even at 12 months old, most babies still take up to 30 ounces of breast milk or formula daily.

Introducing a sippy cup is the perfect way to ensure your little one gets the hydration needed. Your little one should start replacing bottles with cups by their first birthday.

When you are ready to introduce a cup as an alternative to the breast or bottle, there are advantages to cup training earlier rather than later. Introducing a natural cup as soon as your little one can sit up helps your older baby or toddler gain mastery over their mouth muscles while fostering fine motor skills and coordination.

This learning time lets your older baby know other ways to find their favorite European toddler milk, breast milk, or even water, which further aids the weaning process.

If your child struggles to switch off a bottle and move to a toddler’s milk simultaneously, making one change at a time can help ease the adjustment. Remember, a sippy cup is best when made with the same clean materials as the non-toxic baby bottles your family trusts.

There are a few signs that you can look for to make sure your older baby is ready to transition from formula or breast milk. Talk with your child's pediatrician to ensure they get enough nutrients from their diet to wean off the old baby formula or breast milk. 

Parents may find that switching cold turkey from infant or follow-on formula to toddler milk is easy, especially when using the same European range. Some families, however, may find that their babies need more coaxing and time to switch from breast milk to whole cow’s milk as taste and textures vary greatly.

We recommend that a gentle transition over a few weeks is best, regardless of which bottle-fed baby moves. This allows your baby’s digestive system to adjust completely to the toddler formula or whole milk.

You may consider following a transition schedule that gradually mixes the old with the new:

🥛Day 1 & 2: 25% Toddler Formula or Whole Milk; 75% Old Formula

🥛Day 3 & 4: 50% Toddler Formula or Whole Milk; 50% Old Formula

🥛Day 5 & 6: 75% Toddler Formula or Whole Milk; 25% Old Formula

🥛Day 7: 100% Toddler Formula or Whole Milk

If your child is moving away from a plant-based toddler formula or there is lactose allergy or intolerance your family may prefer a vegan alternative leaving out dairy milk altogether.

Parents and caregivers often think of fortified soy milk or unsweetened soy milk, especially when there are digestive worries. However, we suggest soy milk as a last choice only with your child’s pediatrician’s guidance.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using soy formula for infants and toddlers because of estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones that can adversely affect the immune and endocrine systems.

When children consume soy in substantial amounts, there are also risk factors for Kawasaki Disease and other developmental concerns.

There are many other options available that will not place your toddler in harm’s way.

Pea protein milk may be an excellent choice for plant-based milk. A plain, unsweetened variety fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D is a good option. Oat milk can also be possible as it is easily digestible by toddlers and can help them stay full longer, and provides the necessary energy needed for busy bodies.

As always, check with your family medical provider to ensure all dietary requirements and essential nutrients are met.

Other drinks families look at include fruit juices of all kinds. There are children’s hospital recommended drinks that include juice but only in strict moderation.

Caregivers should make sure that their choice is 100 percent non-GMO fruit juice, preferably organic to reduce pesticide residues. Apple, orange, cranberry, or pomegranate are sweet enough and do not need added sugars to taste good.

They can provide some nutrients as part of a balanced transition from formula but just remember, intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 ounces daily for toddlers aged 1-3 and juices do not provide protein or fats.

Transition from fully bottled or breastfed to a healthy solid diet does not happen overnight. European toddler milk can offer a nutritional and digestive option to fill gaps left by healthy food exploration.

The Milky Box is your trusted source of powdered formulas from birth all the way through the third year. Pure, clean EU certified nutrition without toxic or harmful ingredients.