Go and Grow Formula by Similac

Hi L.! My best friends mom is a dietician and she told both of us that it really is a waste of money. I stuck with my Kirkland brand formula with DHA until we made the transition to milk.

There's really no need to change what you're doing. A few different companies have formulas for older babies and in my opinion, it's just a way to keep us buying formula long after our kids don't need it anymore. As long as you're son has a varied diet and is getting around 24 ounces of formula (then milk after 12 months), he's fine.

L.,

Do what you feel is the right thing for your son. I think there is too much advertising trying to get us to buy things that we don't really need. I think I used the Target brand next stage formula when my daughter weaned herself at 8 months. It was about $5 (at least) cheaper than the brand name.

Until they are two years old babies need the extra fats in the formula and whole milk. That extra fat helps with their brain growth and development.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Do what works for you!!! My son never transitioned with some special transition formula, rather I started him on other foods and then, when he was about 1 yr, started giving him regular milk. He did just fine and now is a very healthy and happy 3 yr old!

No worries! Just because they make it, doesn't mean you have to buy and use it!

-C.

The rest of the world seems to be able to get by without Go and Grow so I think you'll be fine!

Seriously, I've never heard of it, but it seems like one more way to keep people buying more. Switching to Organic Whole Milk is the way to go.

I have heard from dieticians at Children's Hospital that these are just a gimmick and not worth spending your money on.

No, if he likes what you are giving him then don't switch. I had no problems using the same formula with each of my kids (Similac - but the Kirkland Signature brand, it's the same)until they turned one and then gradually switching to cold milk in a sippy. Good luck!

Hi, L.!

With my first son, I kept him on the same formula and when he reached 11 months I started introducing milk. For one week, I would make a 6 oz bottle of formula just like normal and then add 2 oz of WHOLE milk. At week two, I made a 4 oz bottle and added 4 oz of whole milk. Week three, 2 oz bottle of formula and 6 oz whole milk. By week 4, he was at 8 oz whole milk and NO formula!
I plan to do this with my (25 lb) 10 month old also! :)

So, don't switch formulas . . . it's not necessary! and introduce milk slowly and at one year old he'll be on whole milk only!!!

-A.

I think all that stuff is a gimick to keep you buying formula longer than needed. If you son was underweight and not a good eater, your sons DR would probably reccommend using it but doesn't sound like he is. My niece was and therefore they put her on the next step kind of formula. Ask your son's DR about what he/she thinks. My guess is they will say just got straight to milk at 12months.

The Go & Grow has slightly less fat and calories than regular Similac infant formulas. The composition is the same. The reason? A baby grows so tremendously during the first year or so, that if they stayed on regular formula until age 2, they'd get tremendously fat. Plus it would interfere with eating solid food. I A. lucky to have a neighbor who works for Similac and who gives me answers to all the the many questions I had about it, especially since I was crazy to nurse and then couldn't and was devastated. My suggestion would be that you switch now, because your son is so big. Or, you could decrease the amount he drinks now, then when he's ready to go to cow's milk and make the transition then. I believe the one-year mark is the cow's milk introduction time. The Go & Grow is good for skinny babies or babies with intolerances, which neither sound like a problem for your big guy.

I have three kids. The first one, a boy, I gave formula after I was done breast feeding and then switched to the Go and Grow type formula and then to milk. The second, a boy, wouldn't take any type of formula when I stopped breast feeding at six months. He went straight to milk. The third, a girl (who just turned on Mother's Day), was breast fed and then got regular formula. About 2 months ago, I started giving her milk if we left her formula at home or ran out while we were doing errands.
I guess my point is that each of them had something different and they all are very healthy and happy children. I think that unless you're child has a problem adjusting to milk, there is nothing wrong with putting them directly on milk. Especially if they are eating regular, nutritious meals.

We kept our second son on the go and grow until he was about fifteen months old. He had been using soy formula but soy milk was miking him sick. So we had to do some process of elimination and so it was the only thing we could use. I think if you want to use it from nine months to a year it is ok but it got expensive to use it once he turned over a year he had a bigger appetite and we went through a can every two days at twenty bucks thats alot. He eats regular food but this was on top of that....So i would say while he is younger you could but dont much after his year.

The Go and Grow formula isn't necessary for children with a well-balanced diet. Just another money-making tool for formula manufacturers. That being said, it is a wonderful supplement for anyone with a picky eater who may not be getting an assortment of nutrients from their regular diet. But it sounds like your son is a good eater.

I used regular formula, then at about 12 months started adding cows milk to the formula, and then at about 13 months, just cows milk. I never used special formula.