[mshah]

Omair has been on Enfamil formula, and continues to drink approx 20oz a day, as well as eating 3 solid meals and a snack (of which I use only organic foods, made myself). I feel like he's getting adequate nutrition, something I've worried about since I stopped breastfeeding at 5 months (a devastating letdown for me, I might add). He's remained at a stable 50th percentile since birth, never waivering, and has had great health.

I am well aware of the benefits of breastfeeding up to 2 years, and since I'm not bf'ing I had thought continuing formula would be the next best thing up to 2 years. Enfamil sells the next step up, Enfagrow for 12 months and older. I know cow's milk does not provide the same nutrition breastmilk does (cows don't need brains, their milk is tailored for fat - whereas human milk is tailored towards brain development).

Anyway, at our 9mo appointment, not only did the ped say Omair is having too much formula (he should have about 10oz total a day, apparently), but that he recommends all babies be off formula and on cows milk at 10 months. When I asked about going onto Enfagrow he said it's not necessary and not to waste my money, that cows milk will provide the nutrition.

This is all contrary to what I have learned about infant and toddler nutrition. I've had no complaints about this ped thus far.

Am I way off base here to feel that my baby needs as close to the same nutrition breastmilk can provide up to 2 years of age, and that cows milk does not provide that? What are you all doing? And on that note, how much formula and/or breastmilk (if known) is your LO still consuming daily on top of solid foods?

Thanks!!

[krislati]

I'm not sure what I am doing yet. With my dd she went right on cows milk but I didn't have another option then. I've been wondering about the Enfagrow and have been considering it. I wouldn't think it would be a waste of money if it provided the right kind of nutrition that the baby needed. I just haven't researched it fully. Tommy is drinking 5 6 oz bottles a day plus he eats 3 meals a day. My dr didn't even bat an eye at that much formula at his check up last week, she said it was fine. So I would think 10oz is not enough, I think they should be getting most of his nutrition from his formula still.

[mommydiva]

Rosie is still consuming anywhere from 24-32 oz of formula a day. It all depends on her mood if she wants to eat solids or not. And we are no longer doing jarred food so not sure on the ounces that she is getting from that.

Today our day started at 5 am. so it was something like this.
5am 8oz formula
830 scrambled eggs I would say it was maybe a spoonful not cut up.
11am 6oz bottle
1pm small handful cheerios with 1/4 banana and water in a sippy
4 pm 8oz bottle of formula
6 pm. mixed veggies

730pm she will get 6 oz bottle and head to bed.

She also has her sippy cup throughout the day. and its 10 oz I believe she will drink 1 a day on most days.


I haven't really thought about the enfagrow I sorta think its a ploy to compare with breastfeeding and I know a lot of people who wean roughly at a year and switch to cows milk so IMO its not all that needed in importance of like it is for that first year if that makes sense. But like I said I haven't really thought about it. I am okay with switching her gradually to cows milk and supplementing with DHA drops if need be and other things.

I don't know but 10 oz seems way to low for me and just wrong information.

[KMH]

Claire is down to about 20 oz of formula a day plus 3 meals and a snack. This week I started mixing her two middle-of-the-day bottles with cow's milk to start the transition. At her 9 month appointment, her pedi said by 1 yr she should be down to around 16 ounces of milk per day.

I guess I haven't really considered Enfagrow. I use Earth's Best Organic formula now, and they don't have a toddler formula. I plan to transition to cow's milk fully within the next few weeks, and I think she'll get what she needs as long as I continue to feed her healthy foods (we use organic/locally grown homemade foods for her as much as possible).

[krystal g]

I still bf Colby at night and sometimes during the day (just depends) and the rest of the time he gets pumped, frozen bm. He drinks around 20 oz out of sippy plus whatever he gets on the boob in addition to his 3 meals and snacks. I plan on using up my stock of frozen milk until I run out and then he will go to cow's milk. I figure I have enough to last maybe until 15 months. I'm not worried about it. By then he should be getting his nutrition from solids and as long as he eats a balanced diet, I think it will be fine.

I do, however, think 10 oz of milk is not enough. I think Colby is simply thirstier than that. And when it's really hot out, he can polish off 6-8 oz at one sitting! My ped recommends cow's milk at 12 months (if you're not bfing) and I believe 16-24 oz a day and not over 32 oz at 1 year.

Also...My brother, who is 31, was a really, really fat baby. The ped had my mom stop bfing and put my brother on 2% cow's milk at 6 months because he was getting too big. Needless to say, things have changed in 30 years and it's not a decision I would be comfortable with personally, but my brother turned out just fine. I think that sometimes we worry too much; we humans are pretty resilient and adaptable. Again, not saying that's an advisable thing to do at 6 months, but I think babies are fine at 12 months on milk. Oh, how the times have changed.

[Celine]

That's a great question. I have been wondering about cows milk, too. I think Sophia gets more than 10oz of BM every day, since I pump 10 oz for her meals and the rest she breastfeeds. I would also say that 10 oz is not enough.

My friend transitioned to cows milk at 11 month to supplement breastmilk. It works pretty good. Maybe you can do half of the enfagro and half cows milk and see how it goes?

I am not sure what I will do. Sophia has still lots of gas issues w/ food and I am afraid to introduce lactose. I think I will go w/ lactose free organic whole milk after she is 1 yr old.

[Irish_Wristwatch]

Im not sure what we are going to do as far as milk/formula once Ross hits a year, we have quite a bit of formula left here so im thinking we will use that until its gone and then switch to cows milk. But Ross drinks 7oz of formula in one sitting, I couldnt imagine only giving him 10oz all day, he probably drinks close to 35oz a day plus foods

[mshah]

I'm so flippin' confused, I swear.

I went on the Enfamil website, and they also offer something called Enfapro, which is like a middle ground between regular formula and Enfagrow. It's to be started between 6 and 18 months, and supposed to help them transition to cows milk while still providing nutrition that cannot be found in it, such as DHA. Then they recommend switching to enfagrow as a nutritional supplement in addition to cows milk.

But, maybe the DHA supplement drops would suffice if we just went to cow's milk? I just dont trust my ped with nutrition now and dont know who to ask!! I want to make sure Omair gets as close to the same nutrition he can get as if I bf'd him up to 2 years.

[Jeanie915]

Miranda, I think you should do what you're comfortable with. After you research it all and figure it out, then you should do what you think. Doctors don't always know best. That being said, I don't think 10 oz is enough during the day. At this age, up to 1 year, they should be taking 16-24 oz/day.

Hallie isn't wild about her formula and we only get in 15 oz on a good day. But she also eats at least 20 oz of food per day so her pedi was ok with her formula intake. We will start transitioning to cow's milk after her 12 month well baby visit. But as far as Omair is concerned, you do what you think is right!!

[Trish36]

Don't go by what your dr. tells you, go by your gut instinct. I think your dr. is a bit nutso to suggest that Omair should drink only 10oz of formula. Miranda still drinks between 20-26oz each day on top of her solid foods and snacks. If you feel that Omair should be getting the next level of formula until a certain age, that is your decision. Dr.'s don't always know best and 2 dr.'s will tell you 2 different things.
Usually I go straight to whole milk after the baby's first birthday.

[hilachu]

my doctor has been telling me all the nutrition he should be getting should be from formula and other food is just an extra added benefit so not to push solids too hard with him
we've been lazy with it as well, daycare does him good because they strike a good balance with formula and real food

[TeresaSuperMama]

I think your doctor is whacko to say 10 ounces only a day. That's just nuts.

Link and quote

Preschoolers should not drink more than a maximum of 16-24 ounces (2-3 cups) of milk each day. After age two, give your child reduced fat milk (skim or 1% milk fat).

Feeding Your Baby and Toddler (Birth to Age Two): Your Child: University of Michigan Health System

More than 24 ounces, yes, that'd be too much. I had one that would drink 30+ ounces a day and was not eating because of that so had to cut him back on milk, but 10 ounces is absurd.

As for the enfagrow, while I have no problems with cow's milk we will probably try it for Natalie since she seems to have some issues with milk protein sensitivity. I tried switching her to the toddler formula a month or so back and she got a really bad diaper rash and seemed to bug her tummy so switched her back. When she turns a year I'll probably start half and halfing things with the enfagrow and to transition her to that. I will probably also offer her a little cow's milk here and there as well, but not full bottles until I'm sure her tummy can handle it.

[jrsygurl4life]

Thanks for posting, I was thinking the same thing.