Change Your Baby From Formula to Cow's Milk - Wait until your baby is at least one year old before changing from formula to cow's milk. The pediatrician should discuss the change with you at your baby's 12-month appointment and will address any special considerations you may need to take with your baby.
Combine a small quantity of cow's milk with your baby's usual formula in a bottle or cup. A good ratio to start with is 3/4 formula and 1/4 cow's milk.
Change Your Baby From Formula to Cow's Milk
Watch your baby for any negative reactions to the cow's milk over the first few days. Babies who drink a soy-based formula may have a difficult time digesting the new proteins in cow's milk, and some may even have allergies to cow's milk or lactose intolerance.
Contact your pediatrician if you notice any potential allergic reactions. According to pediatrician Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, symptoms of a milk intolerance or allergy may include "abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash or breathing problems."
Increase the amount of cow's milk in relation to formula in subsequent days if your child is drinking the milk well. For example, try making a bottle or cup that contains half formula and half cow's milk. If your baby seems to be liking milk, you can go quickly, making the full transition in just one week. For some babies, you may have to stretch out the process over a month or more.
Babies get most of their calories during their first year of life from breastmilk or formula, but after they are one year old, they can transition to drinking cow's milk instead. Some children make this change easily, while others object to the new taste of cow's milk or may have trouble with digestion. Changing your baby slowly from formula to cow's milk can help ease the transition to a new source of nutrition. - by eHow
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