When Should We Transition

You do not need to transition to a different formula. You can start them on whole milk at about a year. They do not need to stay on formula.

You should not use 2nd stage formula. Pediatricians say that infant formula is best until one year and then go to milk.

I think it is more personal preference if you want to try this new formula, but I don't think it is necessary at all. We used the same formula for my son for the first year and then switched right to whole milk at 12 months. I would check with your doctor and see what he/she thinks.
HTH,
A.

Hi M.,
A lot of those formulas are strickly marketing ploys to get you to buy their formula. I would follow your Dr's recommendations.

I thought it was a good idea and we tried the next step formula. My kid refused to take it. He actually loves milk! So it worked out better for us. Good Luck!

We used the Next Step formula for several months with both of our kids. The reason for us is they were both very low on the weight percentile and we were still pushing calories. I think it is dependent on your kid. If your baby is a good weight and the pediatrician feels no need for it, I would follow their advice and switch to whole milk. Certainly much less expensive.
K.

It's just a gimmick that the formula companies have come up with so we keep buying formula. At about 11-12 mths start mixing whole milk into the formula, slowing reducing the formula every few days until you are giving her all whole milk. It should take less than a month to do this.

I've helped "raise" several infants and have only had one that I bought "next step formula" for and that was because he could not tolerate any type of milk. After a few months of the second stage formula we switched him to soy and he's doing great.

Renee

Avoid this stuff- not ony is it a marketing ploy, it bound my little guy up so badly! We only bought one container and I had to throw it out. I still remember how much I hated that stuff!

We used the "Next step" formula for about 1 month. I compared the ingredients/etc...to regular formula and could find nothing different about it but the packaging.

The pediatrician gave us the standard paperwork at our son's 1 year check up that said formula-fed children should be weaned to milk between 12-13 months.

I weaned our son off formula/bottles for other reasons at 11 months.

The "Next step" formula made no difference I could see. It's not got more calories, it doesn't appear to taste any different, and it certainly doesn't cost any less.

I think the mom who said "it's marketing" is right. It's just a ploy to get you to use formula for a longer time.

L.

We spoke with our ped. and he said go ahead if you want to...its a cheaper (~$5 a can) and it has enhanced nutrition for babies over 9 months...I compared the nutrition info to the original formula we were giving him and it was all the same %ages except some were actually higher in the next step formula. So we went ahead and switched...our 10 mo. old little boy never even knew the difference. We plan to transition from that to whole milk in a month or two. Good luck!

You shouldn't be unless you really want to. Most doctor still recommend switching to whole milk at age 1 and then to whatever kind of milk you want at 2. I was told by my daughter's doctor that that specialized formula is just a big waste of money.

You don't have to use the next step formulas, unless you child is underweight or something and your Ped. reccommends it. We transisitoned from formula to whole milk gradually around her 12th month.

This product is NOT necessary. It is a gimick by the formula company to get your money for another year. The difference from this and infant formula is the amount of calcium and possibly iron. If you want to use it go ahead but I think it is more expensive per ounce than formula. It doesn't prepare their bodies for milk any more than infant formula.

Your baby is fine staying on the regular formula you have been giving her until age 12 months. Usually your doctor will then recommend switching her to whole milk. There isn't any need for a "transition formula".

Never, unless your doc gives you a medical reason why your child needs to continue on it. Switch to whole milk at a year and she will be fine.
S.

If your little one will drink milk then you wont need it. But if she is like our youngest boy he HATES milk. His ped said to try whole, 2% and even 1%.. no luck so she suggest chocolate or other flavored milk... no luck. So she then suggested the next step to get some of the things he is missing from milk. She said its also good for little ones that are picky eaters and not getting all the vitamins and minerals they should be from food alone.

I asked my pediatrician the same question the last time we were in and she said that they should stay on regular formula to a year and then switch to whole milk. She doesn't recommend using the Next Step formula unless after switching to milk, the child isn't getting enough nutrients and/or needs to gain weight.

I got the same sample and gave it to the food pantry. If someone does need it, figured it may as well go to a good use.

My daughter started getting finicky about taking a bottle during the day some days, so at a little over 11 months, we tried whole milk in her sippy during supper and she drank it right down. She still continued with her morning and evening bottle of formula and usually one or two bottles during the day. Since she does get juice at daycare during snack time, I didn't really want to give her even more during supper and she refuses to drink formula out of the sippy. She just turned a year old, so as soon as the formula is gone, no more bottles for her! We'll see how that goes over. :)

I think your baby can stay on regular formula and transition to whole milk at one year. Good luck!

We didn't switch formula at all. At 12 months, we transitioned from formula to whole milk.

We never used the formula for transition. Never heard of it before. We started at around 10-11 months old and putting 1/4 cup of whole milk with their formula or breastmilk. We just gradually increased the amount of whole milk until by 11-12 months they were on 100% whole milk and they never experienced any problems.