Any Toddlers Still On Formula?

[Anonymous]

I’m sitting here thinking and re-thinking about Andy’s digestive system and sleep issues and wondering if I should just put him back on Alimentum and forgo the milk until he’s closer to 2 years old. What do you think……..does anyone else have a 15/16/17 month old still on Alimentum???? Or is this just a huge step backwards?? And my peditrician really wanted him off both bottles and Alimentum by 15 months……which he is, but he’s miserable. (Or maybe it’s just teething?????) My head hurts from overthinking this so much.

Thanks.

Andrea

Matthew 4 years old – no reflux

Andrew 10/18/04 – silent reflux

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! Hailey is still on Alimentum at nearly 18 months and I have no plans to switch until she’s closer to 2. We are having huge issues with teething right now too and I just don’t feel it’s worth it to try and introduce something else new. She still has 2 bottles a day too. My goal is to have her off at 2 but we’ll see how it goes.

I do not understand why Peds say that they want babies of the bottle at X age. I think as long as you are not putting them to bed with a bottle and not giving them bottles in place of regular food – what’s the harm?

Good luck and I hope the teething passes quickly!

[Anonymous]

My ds is 13 months and still on Alimentum. Ped. suggested Silk soy milk at his 12 month visit but said to wait and run it by the GI which we see next week. She did say some children are on formula until they are two.

I’m surprised if he was on Alimentum they had you go straight to regular milk. If you really think the milk is causing problems, I would call the nurse to see if you can try something else. Have you tried the Lactaid milk? Maybe it would be easier on his tummy?

We were told to try to wean from the bottle by 18 months.

[Anonymous]

My 20 month old has a food aversion so has been on formula EXCLUSIVELY his whole life. He has 6 to 12 bottles a day thickened with Gaviscon.

I would prefer that he eat solid foods but he won’t so there’s not much I can do. I know that he’ll give up the bottle/formula when he’s ready and I’ve given up forcing the issue. If I try switching him to a cup he just stops feeding alltogether and gets dehydrated, so it’s bottle and formula till he’s confident to make the change.

Just so you know there are toddlers out there thriving on just formula or breastmilk!

Take care,

[Anonymous]

I think you just do what works. If alimentum is the answer to you having a happy and thriving child, then so be it. Dylan was on the bottle until just a couple of months ago (he will be 3 on the 28th) and I do think that is a long time to be on the bottle, but it was when he was ready, so that is what worked for us. We did wean from Neocate to Rice milk at around 13 or 14 months (it’s all a blur now) but if he had done better on the Neocate, I would have had no hesitation to keep him on it especially if he needed the calories to continue to grow well.

Our babies were in pain and had a hard time with a lot of things in the beginning. I was not willing to trade a finally happy child to fit some “requirement” from someone who barely knew Dylan.

You are doing a great job and do what you feel is right for Andrew.

Ann Marie

[Anonymous]

Andrea – I agree with all of the ladies. .. if your still thinking about it then somethings not sitting right and you need to do what works for you guys. My dd was on formula until approx. 19/20 months I think and the bottle until about then too. I think most pedi’s have this urgency to get on a cup by a year or so and honestly, if your not putting your kids to bed with a bottle in hand whats the big deal?

We just made sure Sophia did all of her water in a sippy cup and her formula in the bottle only when absolutely necessary (like before her bedtime routine started) . .. even though it stressed me out it was a peice of cake to switch her over to full time sippy cups when we did. At the very least I would go back to formula and if it makes you feel better – lie to the doctor . . .they don’t have to live with a uncomfortable irritable toddler right?

Good luck

~Liz

[hellbennt]

I’m with everyone!

I really don’t understand the push to get rid of the bottle!!

Is andy getting calcium from other sources? if so, maybe go to potato milk or rice milk? if not, keep the alimentum! That’s my vote.

[Anonymous]

riley was on formula until two months ago and he’ll be two in march. he finally would take just soy milk, and had he not, i would’ve continued to buy formula. he still takes a bottle a day and i could care less! with all that we dealt with, the bottle was/is no big deal to me. he’ll be off of it before he attends pre-school….maybe?

i’m with everyone–i LOVE our ped, but had she asked if riley was off the bottle, i would’ve said yes.

[Anonymous]

Ladies…….thank you so very much! I went with my gut feeling on this and changed him back to Alimentum. Within two days of being back on Alimentum last week, he slept better (two hour naps) and only ONE night waking….and is eating everything in sight…..along with pooping normal, too. Before, he was irritable and consitpated and wasn’t eating a thing.

Of course, there is my MIL (and even my mom who is usually supportive) who “doubt” this MSPI and think that he “shouldn’t” still be on formula. But, I’ve decided that I must stick to my own intuition on this one and do what’s best for him and his tummy.

I’m just so happy that he isn’t in pain and miserable anymore. It just wasn’t fair to him.

Thank you all for your knowledge and unconditional support! You have really helped me feel more confident with my decision.

Andrea

Matthew 4 years old – no reflux

Andrew 10/18/04 – silent reflux, MSPI?

Andy’s Mom2006-2-7 21:25:39

[Anonymous]

Whahoo Andrea! Mommy’s intuition will never steer you wrong I promise!

By a the time when my dd was almost a year old when I was going through the same decision you are now my mom and my MIL thought I was either crazy or just making things up when I refused milk intros. Long story short – I finally after great pains had to tell my mom and MIL to shove off and to let ME be the mother. Looking back I guess I was showing some self doubt and both my MIL and mom picked up on it. Its hard not to feel nutso but the proof is in the pudding I say .. .err or dairy free pudding that is :-).

Wishing you continued success and I’m so glad your all feeling better.

~Lix

[Author]

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