Whole milk....the absolute earliest...

My2Beauties wrote: Ok I didn't start weaning Hanna off of formula until she was about 2 weeks shy of 1 year old. I was reading a thread in the breastfeeding forum that some of you started whole milk at 11 months. So, in your opinions, what is the absolute earliest you can wean off formula into whole milk. We spend $30 + a week on formula, so that is $120 a month I'm going to save when she goes on whole milk, well not quite $120 because I'll be buying more milk, but $3.50 per gallon versus $30 per can of formula is a great savings. She is 8 1/2 months old now. I know right now obviously is too early but would you guys think that if I start her at 10 1/2 months so she's done with formula at 11 months, that would be too early?

My3LilMonkeys replied: I know our ped mentioned that we could switch Madison at 11 months because she was eating a lot of real food already and I remember doing research and we did switch her, but I don't remember what it said about any earlier than 11 months. We didn't really have to wean her though - she loved milk from day 1 and just immediately switched.

momofone replied: I know the powdered formula is cheaper if you wanted to try that. Or maybe the wholesale clubs sell it cheaper.

My2Beauties replied: Ooh I've been researching...never mind, I'll wait to wean her in her 11th month. It says weaning them to early can cause ulcers and intestinal bleeding, anemia, etc....not worth saving $30 a week in the least, so I won't be trying it any earlier...yipes!

My2Beauties replied:
I already use powdered formula.

Brias3 replied: I don't see a problem with weaning a bit early, if your ped think its ok. I don't really know for sure though what the dangers could be. I just stuck with around the first birthday, because that's what was recommended by the doc. All three of mine transitioned to whole milk right around after turning a year, when they also transitioned off of bottles, but Aliyah was a bit behind because she had a reflux issues return once we started to make the switch.

Boo&BugsMom replied: We use Parent's Choice here, only $11 a can. WAY cheaper than that expensive name brand stuff, AND it was even recommended by Aiden's ped. He said there is no difference between teh generic and namebrand, you are only paying for the name.

Our ped's office also randomly gives us samples of free formula.

As far as the milk, I think Tanner was drinking half and half (formula and milk) by the time he was 10 months and was off formula all together by 11 months. Aiden has some disgestion issues (still spits up a bit) so we will probably wait until closer to 1 year with him. Both Aiden now, and Tanner then were eating mostly table food so they were/are getting enough nutrition from other sources as well so I wasn't worried/am not worried about weaning them a little earlier. I think that would also be a deciding factor. As long as she's getting her nutrition enough from other sources you could wean a but earlier.

luvmykids replied:
Thats what we used too, it's Walmarts brand and my pedi is actually the one who recommended it.

lisar replied: My best friend done it when her son was about 10months old. Thats the earliest I have ever seen it done.

michealmyers replied: my son was weened at just a little over 9 months. Went to the pediatrician and he gave us the ok to switch over, everything checked out ok.

Calimama replied: We didn't do it until a year, that's the earliest I've ever heard of it doing it.

CantWait replied: I started Robbie at 10 months, he was fine with it.

kimberley replied: none of my kids had any til after 13 mos and even then i wonder if that was too soon. whole milk is really hard to digest.. especially for James because he was sensitive to everything. he's almost 10yo and still rarely drinks milk. i'd stick with the formula as long as you can. the can stuff really is just as good and way cheaper.

My2Beauties replied:
See I've always been so leary of using the generic brands of formula, because well I'm just cuckoo I currently use the GoodStart with DHA/ARA and the Immune System Support (it's a hormone produced in breast milk that helps develop their immune system), can't think of the name of that hormone now darn it. Anyways, I haven't found a generic of that anywhere, anyone know of a store that sells a generic of that. See Goodstart has a way different texture from the other brands I tried with her. Enfamil she just could not handle at all, she had such a hard time and Goodstart has those comfort proteins in it and she digests it so easily, I'd hate to switch her on something that will cause her discomfort just to save a few bucks. I'd only be willing to do it if I knew it had the same comfort proteins, do you know?

My2Beauties replied:
Oh and BTW, I pay $30 can because we get those gigantic huge cans (the double sized ones) to last longer, they are $27.87 to be exact and the smaller ones are like $14 something. Jennie, do you pay $11 for the big huge cans? That would be awesome. I could get 2 at a time

Boo&BugsMom replied:
It is a large can for $11 (not the bulk-size can, but the larger can). Parent's Choice and the Target brand (same price) has a variety of different types to chose from. The PC that I use is the milk base with lipids and with the DHA/ARA. The one without the DHA and ARA is $10, but I like the DHA and ARA supplements so I pay the extra buck for the extra nutrients. The small can that you get is half the size of the cans of PC. They also have soy, lactose free, and other types. They also have one with broken down proteins (the GS comfort proteins you were talking about, but the PC brand doesn't call it "comfort protiens") I would check it out. They really have a variety of them, so does the Target brand. On the PC container it also compares itself to Similac or Enfamil, and it shows that it is no different than the namebrands. Take a look at it. I wish I would have known about it sooner, I would have had Tanner on it as well.

Oh, and I've also noticed that with Good Start, even though the can is cheaper than Similac or Enfamil, the can is smaller and the scoop is bigger...using more formula per scoop which really doesn't save any money. I would be willing to bet you could find a generic alternative to what you are using.

My2Beauties replied:
Thanks, I usually shop at Meijer's (which I don't know how many states has a Meijer's chain) so I'll take a look there. There is a Super Wal-Mart not far from my house as well so if I can't find any good comparisons at Meijer's I'll look there.

Does anyone know what I'm saying about the texture? The Enfamil is almost like grainy, like sugar looking almost. The Goodstart is literally powdered like a powdered sugar would be or flour or something. It's like the little grains of formula are more refined and grated to be even smaller so they mix in easier with the water or something, the texture has to do with the comfort proteins...I know I'm such a nerd about this type of crap.

Well I'm going to go look, that'll at least save me some mula until I wean around 11 months. I decided I'm going to start weaning her then, I'm going to do 1/4 milk and 3/4 formula for one week, then half and half, then 3/4 to 1/4 then full on milk baby! Whoo hoo!

Hanna took to whole milk extremely well. We had no digestion issues and her stomach was 10x worse than Aubrey's. I'm hoping Aubrey doesn't have any allergy issues or anything to milk and we can sail right on through.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I started mixing it in when the kids were probably 4 or 5 months old.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
YES, totally know what you mean about the texture. Aiden does not take well to the Enfamil stuff either. In fact, a cousin of mine who works for our ped. got us a bunch of free samples of the Enfamil recently. Since they were milk based I thought nothing of it, but...it doesn't agree with him so now we are stuck with these containers so I think I will donate them to the local shelter or something. The PC is also powder-like. Nothing like the Enfamil. I have noticed that with all the Enfamil types, and totally differen texture.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
same here