Dr. Greene’s Answer:
For breastfed babies, the nutrition in the breast milk changes throughout the nursing experience. Breastmilk is quite different when the baby is 6 days old, 6 months old, and 18 months old. These changes happen gradually over time. Formulas come in a few different stages to try to address children’s changing nutritional needs as they grow.
Toddler formulas have many of the same vitamins and minerals found in infant formulas. The main difference between toddler and infant formulas is that toddler formulas contain a greater amount of calcium and phosphorus. They are designed to match the higher calcium and phosphorus levels children need as they grow, similar to the levels found in whole milk.
One benefit of formulas over whole milk is that many of them contain DHA, an important omega-3 fatty acid (that you would find in breastmilk). One way or another, getting DHA in the diet seems especially important in the first two years. If you think your child needs formula after the first year, switching to a toddler formula at that time is one way to accomplish this while providing her with the extra calcium and phosphorus she needs..
Toddlers don’t necessarily need formula, even if they don’t nurse. Children who are eating a balanced variety of healthy solids after the first birthday should be able to get the extra vitamins and minerals found in formula from their diets, perhaps with the added safety net of a multivitamin. If there is concern that your child is not eating an adequate amount of solids, formula will provide most of her nutritional needs while she is experimenting with solid food.
It is important not to force your child into eating more solids. For most kids, it’s okay for them to eat as much or as little as they want, chosen from healthy options. It will vary day by day. To encourage solids, offer them at least three times a day, preferably before a bottle.
For most kids, it’s best not to coax them to eat with moving the spoon like an airplane or with music or sound effects. They have an internal mechanism that tells them how much to eat that you want to keep intact. If you suspect it is not intact or there are serious food allergies complicating the picture, then it is usually best to work with a feeding specialist to learn how to encourage feeding while still keeping the child’s motivation strong.
She may be fine with 16 ounces of formula a day now. Or she may want 24 ounces. If she consistently takes more or less than that, run it by your pediatrician to be sure she is getting a good amount for her specific situation. At the one-year physical, you’ll get to see on the charts just how she is growing. And one way or the other, your darling baby is on the doorstep of toddling into a whole new stage of life. Bon appétit!
Photo credit: Akkaradet
Rodemir
HI,
My baby boy is 5 months old now, we are giving him S26 Gold (0 to 6months) milk.
Normally me and my wife go to work and bring our baby to babysitter.
The babysitter is also carrying two toddlers with 3yrs of age aside my baby.
One day, we caught that the our baby was fed with toddlers milk S26 # 3 (which is for 2 to 3yrs old).
We are worrying so much because we are suspecting that same milk was fed 3 times that whole day.
Can somebody please explain to us if there will be a negative effect for the development of our baby?
He had fart and pu… but not sure if diarrhea after he had the milk.
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Kevn
I accidentally bought 12-24 month old baby milk for my one month old baby and i was wondering the same if anything will happen to him if he drinks it?
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Nomeshia Addison
I bought the same thing and really need to know if this is ok and if so how do I feed like how much
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Margret
Hy I have twins they are about to turn 12months on the 13april I’ve just changed him from infant formula to Nan(optipro)-milk powder for young children so I was wondering was this a wise decision.
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Jessica Yong
Is it ok to give my 7 days old baby infant formula? I have trouble with breastfeeding him. This is really bothering me.
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SARAH
my son is almost 11 months. Should stay on the regular infant formula I have been giving him since birth until he is 1 year?
When is it a good time to switch to toddler formula?
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Pam
My 24 month old grandson has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. We are looking for some nutritional support. Should we try him on a toddler formula with DHA? Or is he too old?
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Lashawn Boswell
My baby is 3 months old can she have earthbest organic toddler formula
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DONAY COOK
My daughter was put on soy formula and now that she’s one I’ve been researching the transition of formula to milk. Through my research I’ve been reading article after article of the negative effects of soy so I switched her to cow milk immediately and she’s great with it. Was that the right thing to do and are there really negative effects from soy formula (for the first year?) If so is there anything I can do now to avoid any problems?
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Kristyn
I have a 17 month old toddler, we have been having a hard time feeding him solid food. I was thinking of trying him on a toddler formula, then I got thinking he gets gassy and diarrhea a lot so would a sensitive formula be better?
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Samantha Hunt
Try enfagrow for fussy ,gassy babies it’s in a purple can. For 9-18 month old. Try gas drops at night and don’t feed big meal for dinner
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rebecca
Most formulas have corn syrup solids in them….. Under the disguise of other names. From dealing with reflux and an inability to breastfeed, I have found that switching to organic formulas without corn syrup solids makes all the difference. THe corn syrup has an ingredient in it that has shown to cause reflux flares in adults. It also causes gas and loose stools. My little one always had runny stools until I made the switch at 6 months of age. Sooooo worth it!!!
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laura fiscus
When my baby turns one and you can start giving them whole milk is there an alternative then cows milk that people use
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Mrs Raymond
Now my baby about to turn 4 month, which formula should I give him. He used to take the newborn 0-3 month.
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Sam
Hy
My son is 17 months now and on formula milk. Could you please tell me if i switch to cow milk is that ok or i have to give him formula milk .
He not eat too much solid. And how i shedule his diet. He is getting weak dy by day.
Thanks
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Cheryl Greene
Sam,
I am not a doctor, but as a mother I’m concerned when I hear that your 17 month old is “getting weak by the day”. Can you take your son to see a doctor?
Best,
@MsGreene
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Samantha Hunt
Hi, I’ve just started to switch to enfagrow 9-18 months for my 11month old or you can find 12-24 months for toddler. it has more nutrients in it for picky eaters or babies not ready for solids. I wouldn’t give the baby 0-12 month formula for 17month old baby not enough
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Hello, Good day
I would like to know if I can give my NEWBORN ENFAMIL a ENFAGRO 0-12 formula please, & thank you very much
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rebecca
Emfamil triggers reflux flares and gas and diarrhea….. a lot of babies do fine and adjust to it. But if your baby is a spitter or colicky or gassy or has loose stools, save yourself the headache and go with Earths Best Cows milk formula. Make sure you get the one that is in the red can. It has no Corn syrup solids in it and it had all the same nutrients as enfamil and it is organic. There is an ingredient in cornsyrup that actually triggers reflux flares. Studies have been done in adults. Save yourself some sleepless nights and try it. A 6 months, the difference was immediate in my little one. And she liked it!
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Robyn
Why are people being hoodwinked into buying expensive formulas, not only do formula companies want to eradicate breastfeeding , they want to secure the toddler feeding market. Marketing geniuses!!!
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Shayda
Hi, Robyn. Maybe it would help you to consider the fact that there is a percentage of women who ff against their preference of breastfeeding for millions of reasons you’ve clearly never been faced with. For these said women, it is a small comfort to have ‘expensive formulas’ by way of organic companies in an effort to still provide the best for their babes.
Breastfeeding until 15 months was a breeze with my first & I was young enough to believe it would always be that easy-for myself & any other mother who wished to do so- until my second came along & we struggled to make it to 11 months before having to supplement. As agonizing as it was for me to purchase my first container of formula, I was thankful to even have that option.
Your perspective is never the only one.
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Billie
Thank you Shayda! Sometimes we just need the peace of mind that our children are going to be OK if we are unable to successfully BF. I’m what one would call ‘semi-crunch’ but that has not stopped me from using formula. My second one has had so many dang food intolerances/allergies, I am beyond thankful for formula AND will extend her formula past 12 months until I can accurately narrow down all of her food allergies (you know, since infant allergy panels are less than accurate!) to prevent the likeliness off anaphylaxis. Robyn, I’m not sure if you have ever looked at a formula container but if you choose to do so you will notice the first line on the back of the container in a bold printed sentence stating that breastfeeding is the best option (in the US, at least); therefore, your statement is far from the overall purpose of formula companies. There is one purpose: To ensuring children are adequately nourished. Of course they will make money off of it, so what’s the price you would be willing to pay to ensure your child is healthy?
Please don’t be so hasty to pass judgement.
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r
I agree… I couldn’t breast feed. 2 of mine got breastmilk jaundice. And not the kind from not getting adequate intake. Their labs actually showed increase in bilirubin levels weeks following delivery. And, one I was also formula supplementing with a syringe for sugar levels. With a third child of mine, I went dry at one month. She was hungry and I had to add forumla to her feeding. Another child I just fed formula to. My oldest is 23 and my youngest is one…. I see no difference in their health between the breastfed and the formula fed. In fact, the one that was strictly formula fed did easiest in school and was in superb health throughout his whole childhood. As a mom… just try your best. If you change your mind and want to try something else…. it’s okay! Every child is different. But, they will come out just fine. A child does much better to have a mommy that doesn’t worry so much. Really they do. :) When momma’s happy, the whole family will be happy. :)
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jacqueline galvan
Hi, I have a 9 month old going on 10 months. I want to know if it’s okay to transition her from regular formula to stage 3 formula. Please let me know. I bought some but I’mm not sure if I should go along and feed it to her.
Thank you
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cat
My 10 month old has been on stage 3 for over a month he demands thicker food and it’s been fine on him I don’t give it to him before bed in case he gets sick I don’t want him t
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Tiffany
Can I introduced my 17 month old son to toddler formula he likes whole milk but I feel like he’s not getting enough of nutrition from his food is it too late to start the formula by I waited too late to Introduced.
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jan
can i give a toddler formula to my 3 month old?
thanks,
jan
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Cheryl Greene
That would not be wise. The needs of the two are very different and so are the formulas.
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Alexis
Can my 7 month old daughter drink toddler formula?
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Tian
Could you please suggest any good formula for 2+ years. Thanks.
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Tonia handy
Hi I’m a mother of four kids. I have 13 month baby. I noticed with this one that she was kind of fussy. She didn’t like whole milk. I try adding milk to her formula gradually, but she noticed a difference and just spit it out. After two weeks I decided to introduce her to Toddler formula, She loved it but my husband thinks I should give her at least a month of trying whole milk. Do you think whole milk is better than toddler formula? What are the pros and cons of toddler formula? Thank you for your time. Sincerely,Tonia mother of four.
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Anneka
I tried whole milk with my one year old and he didnt. seem satisfied with it. He started over eating and drinking and squirming/whining through the night. There’s obviously something in the formula that his body is really needing. DHA is also present in some formulas where it is not in Whole milk. I have recently switched back to formula and my little guy is happy and satisfied again.
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Kannan
Could you please suggest any good formula for 4+ years.
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Cheri
4 years? There is no formula. Milk and food should be the only thing in their diet.
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Kcass
Also could try PediaSure for supplements they’re like supplement shakes for kids. Some kids need the extra nutrients
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Nessa
Hi kannan
You may try similac gain iq stage 4 by Abbott which is catered for 3-9yrs old. Supports overall well being. Dha too. Google it. :)
Nessa
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Genevieve
Dear Dr. Greene- is it ok to give a 4 month old infant a formula labeled as toddler? I am searching for a organic formula to supplement breastfeeding and the only organic formula that I have found to taste, smell and that appears to be of greater quality is a formula that is labeled for toddlers. I see on the nutritional info the calcium is much high than that of infant formulas. Is this a bad thing for a infant this age? Thank you.
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Jessica
Earth’s Best Organic makes infant formula . Similac also makes an organic infant formula.
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Erica
I used Baby’s only toddler formula since my son’s birth. Some say that it’s labeled as a toddler formula to encourage early breastfeeding. Others say the reason that it’s labeled toddler formula is because it has a higher casein ratio than that of infant formula. Basically, it has all of the nutrition that a newborn needs, but it can cause constipation. I had this issue until I paired it with an infant probiotic. After adding the probiotic, it was smooth sailing. Formula smells great and is the cleanest organic formula in the U.S. (They derive their DHA and ARA from eggs and not hexane). My son is now a year old… He has never been sick and is growing right on schedule. Could be genetics, or could be his awesome formula! ;)
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