Transitioning to Whole Milk & Cup: How and How Much?

I don't think there's any need for formula if she's eating all solid foods. She's getting her nutrition from a balanced meal. I would start transitioning from all drinks at bed time. Only give her water at night. This will help prevent tooth decay and desiring the midnight snack.

Maybe after a month or 2, take away the sippy at night altogether. My 2 and 3 year old started sleeping with the sippy, and they didn't even drink from it. They just liked knowing it was there... like a safety blanket. My 2 year old still tries to sleep with a sippy. I put about 2 oz of water in it, and then he just sleeps with it. After he's sleeping, I take the cup back to the kitchen. It's good to work away from drinks at night so potty training is easier and you don't have midnight leaks.

I give my 2 and 3 year olds about 6 oz of whole milk with a meal. I give them juice at snack times, and water any other time.

Hi i wanted to give some advice about the milk transition. I have a 14 month old who I weaned from breastfeeding to a sippy cup of whole milk. THankfully she took to the whole milk like a charm- my other children didn't like it so much and still don't. Here is what I did. At about 1 year I started giving her a sippy cup of whole milk- she had already had water and or VERY diluted apple juice for a few months ( maybe every few days) just to get her used to something but the breast. Each time I took away a breastfeeding, I'd replace it with a sippy cup of whole milk. So by like 13 months she was having lunch and dinner sippy cups of milk and I am still nursing her before bed. Soon I will make sure she has all of her dinner milk so she's filled up to sleep well. I have tried giving her a cup and a snuggle before naps, but she'd much rather nurse- since I'm trying to wean her of the breast, I don't try anymore to give her milk before she sleeps with her it just doesn't work. I've learned all the kids are very different. YOu can try and snuggle at night with a cup of milk if you think it will help her sleep best with something before bed. Be careful though because my oldest son had a milk allergy and had to wean from the breast to soy milk only. I think my dr. said 16-24 ( no more than 24 oz) of milk a day. Good luck- I"ve found with all 3 of my kids that I' dworry so much about what to do, but in the end- they kind of tell you what works and what doesn't, by the way they take to the changes or not. Best of luck

Don't switch right to whole milk without a phone call to the dr. It's too rich for some children. I remember my ped. started my kids on 2% then went to whole. More than a sip of liquid before b ed makes them piddle during the night making pottie training more difficult...that's probably why so many children these days are not pottie trained until 3 and 4 years old.

Jeanne Elk Grove Village, Il

When my boys went to milk in a sipper cup I would give them and 8oz. cup. They hardly ever drank the whole thing at once so when they were done drinking I would put it in the fridge. until they wanted more. I stopped the bedtime milk when my boys went on sipper cups because I discovered that even though they say spill proof not all of them are. Also, if they fall asleep with it in their mouth they can choke and it can cause cavities and such. In my case yes,the finger foods took place of the formula and I used milk in place in the sipper cup. Good luck and everything will work out just fine!

Your child should receive 4 servings of dairy a day- cup is better than bottle but that can take time to wean. I wouldnt recommend milk in bottle- perhaps just water and get him use to milk in the cuo- you know your child is getting to much milk when poops are soft and yellow etc.. when my son was getting to nearing that last can of formula I would just do half and half until formula was gone and then switched to milk at meals and before bed.

Hi K.,

Everyone has their own approach to this. I am in the opinion that it is easier to just quit something cold turkey instead of dragging it out. At one year, I would just get rid of the bottles and only offer cups with milk. She may protest at first, but will drink when she is thirsty. Wait her out. By one year she should also getting her nutrients from food, not milk. My ped said that anything up to 24oz of whole milk a day is fine. I would offer milk after she has eaten, so she doesn't get in the habit of filling up on it.

Hi K.,

My son will be turning one on Feb. 15th, too! We ended up switching to whole milk about 2 weeks ago. He just wouldn't drink much formula anymore - he was only drinking about 6-8 ounces a day, which I knew wasn't enough. So, I bought some whole milk and before his afternoon nap that day, I tried it in his bottle. He sucked it right down and loved it! Now he's drinking about 20-24 ounces a day again. Anyway, this also worked with my now 4 year old. I just switched cold turkey - no mixing it with formula & gradually transitioning - and it was the same way...she didn't notice & if anything, liked it more. As for getting rid of the bottle entirely, my duaghter was just ready at 14 months and it was very easy. My son seems more attached to the bottle right now, so he may be a bit more difficult. But I'm not worried - I think at 12 months, it's still just fine to be on a bottle for a while. We do offer sippy cups of water and diluted juice all throughout the day as well, so he is used to drinking from a cup. He also eats 3 meals a day of mostly whatever we are eating (he has a bottle when he wakes up & before naps & bedtime). Good luck & have fun celebrating your daughter's birthday next week!

Hi K.,
Giving the bottle up is a decision the mom has to make. When your ready, be patient with Emily. She may not be ready. Through out the day, let her drink the milk from the cup at meal times. She doesn't have to have a full 7-8 oz. cup. She won't drink it all. Because she will also be eating. So her little belly will be filling up with food also. Kids today are so rushed to grow up. Let her enjoy the comfort of the bottle at night with you. If you still do that. You will know when it is time. And when you do it, start easing into skipping the bottle. It is a process. Most babies, they don't understand that. They put the bottle at night as a comfort issue. Time for cuddling with their mom. Good luck.
T.