Are There Any Benefits of Continuing Formula After 1 Year?

The importance of formula was so significant in those weeks before you gave birth. With so many brands on the market, you did extensive research to find the perfect one for your bub. Now you have a nearly 1 year old and are asking yourself the question Are there any benefits of continuing formula after 1 year? 

Are There Any Benefits of Continuing Formula After 1 Year – The Weaning process

The truth is that if your baby is healthy and is well on their way through their weaning journey then continuing formula after 1 year serves no real benefit to them. This is because they should now be getting all the vitamins and nutrients that they need from a varied diet that is also being topped up by cow’s milk or a suitable milk alternative. Read further to find out if there are any benefits to continuing feeding formula.

Should You Continue Formula After 12 Months?

The answer to the question Can I continue formula after 1 year, will be dependent on your baby and your situation. Formula is the liquid gold that helps your baby develop for the first year of their little lives. Now you have jumped on to the weaning process and your baby has started eating more solid foods. Their taste buds have unearthed new sensations!!

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that by 12 months of age your baby should begin the transition to whole fat cow’s milk but why? 

What is The Importance of Cow’s Milk?

Full fat cow’s milk is a great source of healthy fats and is perfect for growing strong teeth and bones. According to the American Family Physician babies younger than 12 months shouldn’t be offered cow’s milk but beyond this age, they can drink it in between meals to help with healthy brain development.

Now I am not saying that a switch is flipped overnight and bam your baby is OK to leave formula for good but generally, at 12 months your baby’s kidneys have matured enough to cope with the makeup of cow’s milk.

Is it Bad to Give Baby Formula After 12 Months?

Feeding formula after 12 months isn’t considered to have an opposing effect on your child as they grow. However, by now you are offering foods and introducing meal times regularly for your little one so if you were to continue to offer formula as well your baby will be taking too many calories! 

Formula has a high calorie and fat content to aid development in your little one in the first year of their lives. 

Dr. Rallie McAllister states that “Continuing to feed your daughter formula could provide her with too many calories, making her less likely to eat a variety of wholesome, nutritious solid foods. It could also increase her chances of gaining excess weight”

I know what you are thinking, the pressures of ensuring your baby has a well-balanced diet vs getting them to tolerate solid foods can be a stressful situation. But it doesn’t have to be! You don’t need to jump straight in on the eve of their first birthday. 

Signs Your Baby is Ready to Wean off Formula

As we have identified this should only be completed after your baby turns one. Until then formula should still be offered as it is fortified with the essential vitamins their bodies need to stay healthy.

Eating food is a completely new sensation to the little people in our lives. Many take to eating new foods like a duck to water. 

If you notice that your baby has started eating more and drinking less formula then now would be the time to start offering cow’s milk. 

Offering cow’s milk should be completed as a stand-alone experience to rule out any potential allergic reactions the same goes for any new foods.

Drinking cow’s milk alongside a healthy diet will ensure that your baby is having essential nutrients as well as the major vitamin D.

Signs They Are Not Ready to Wean off Formula

Sometimes it would be more important to understand if your baby is not ready to wean off formula, rather than looking for the benefits of continuing formula after 1 year. There are times when your weaning journey from formula isn’t as imminent as you’d think. This should always be completed when advised by a medical professional.

‣ Premature Birth

If your baby was born prematurely then their system needs time to mature before being able to handle cow’s milk. As previously mentioned your baby’s kidneys will need to be able to cope when breaking down the goodness in full-fat milk so delaying this transition may be advised.

‣ Weight Gain

Gaining weight at a steady pace is a sign of a healthy baby/toddler. Issues surrounding weight gain can alter how soon you transition. Ensure that your baby is following their weight progress before swapping. A little weight loss is to be expected as your now busy one-year-old is beginning to move and travel.

‣ Diet

Moving from formula should only be considered if your baby has a good diet. If they are not well established on eating solids then you may need to keep going with formula for a little longer just until they increase their appetite for solid foods.

‣ Allergies or Other Medical Conditions

Not all babies are born able to tolerate cow’s milk. The lactose found in formula and cow’s milk can sometimes be too rich for their sensitive systems. This is no cause for concern, there are other alternatives that you could use based on advice from your child’s dietician.

My eldest daughter was in fact allergic to lactose and soy growing up but with support from her dietician, we began introducing milk-based products into her meal times. It was a slow yet steady process and by the time she turned two, she was tolerating cow’s milk perfectly. 

How to Wean off Baby Formula

Weaning off formula should never be a straight swap and you should always take the process in steps.

If your baby is taking a 6oz bottle then begin by substituting one-two ounce with cow’s milk. Continue increasing the amount of cow’s milk whilst decreasing the amount of formula.

See the table below for guidance:

This guidance is from the Cleveland Clinic. It is an example of how to transition to cow’s milk effectively. If you find your baby isn’t enjoying the taste of cow’s milk then take these steps as slowly as you need to. 

The Weaning Process

At around four to six months of age you may find that your baby is more interested in mealtimes. Next time you eat, watch your baby and notice their reaction. 

When my children were around 6 months or so they would watch every mouthful of anyone’s meal. They would try to take food from you if you were eating in front of them.As funny as this was it signaled to me that they were more than ready to start their weaning journey.

‣ Stage One

This stage is not too concerning as formula is still the main source of nutrition. Merely offering foods other than milk at this point is purely experimental and getting your baby used to different tastes and textures.

As they grow you may find that your baby is consuming more foods and drinking less formula. This is typical of the stage you are at. The more solid food they eat the less hungry they feel for their bottle. It’s important however that they still take some formula as it will be boosting the nutrients they still need for up to 12 months.

‣ Phase Two: Getting Away From Formula

Phase two begins after their first birthday. The transition to no formula! Now, this may seem scary but it doesn’t have to be! No matter where you are on your weaning journey every mom will have the same concern. Are they eating enough?

For the past 12 months you have fed them formulas created with all the important minerals and vitamins needed for growth and development. The content of your baby’s diet has been formula. Now you are thrown a curveball, you are responsible for everything your baby eats. Their diet is in your hands. Feel the pressure?

Well, there’s no need to stress! If you are concerned about this stage of the weaning process then ask your pediatrician for help and guidance. But offering healthy small meals including various fruits and vegetables will soon get you into the swing of things! We will discuss meal ideas further in the article but for now let us look at why we should be offering cow’s milk rather than formula.

As you are now the leader in making healthy choices for your baby the temptation of continuing formula can arise which is perfectly normal. I mean with a bottle at least you know they are getting everything they need right?

This is not entirely true.

As previously mentioned, your baby’s organs are now old enough to break down the components of cow’s milk. The transition from formula to cow’s milk can be straightforward but it is important that you take it at your pace. You aren’t going to harm your baby if they are on formula at 13 months. 

If you are concerned about calorie intake then ensure you offer filling meals packed with fruit, veg, proteins, and dairy. 

Meals that are balanced and high in nutrition will be interesting to your baby, and more interesting than formula so you may find they transition themselves. Filling up on the meals you offer will leave less space in their little tummies for formula.

What Should a 1 Year Old Meal Time Look Like?

At the age of one you are now starting to look at a toddler. As your baby transitions, their palette will grow too. As we have been talking about if there are any benefits of continuing formula after 1 year, let’s talk a bit about the ideal meal of a 1 year old. By the age of one, your baby should be eating small meals and snacks. Many moms find that this is when fussiness towards food begins.

My daughter used to stress me out! One week she would love bananas, she would eat them for a snack every day. The next week she would look at them as if they were poison. This is totally typical behavior and my only advice would be to continue to offer the food but mix it up offering plenty of options to encourage healthy choices and introduce different flavors. 

Thankfully we are in an era where there has been lots of research into making healthy meals for our kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that by the age of one children need around 1000 calories, along with sufficient vitamins, iron, and calcium. They also stress that your baby should be eating two snacks and three meals a day but this is merely a guideline. 

Some days you may find your baby will eat nonstop and other days it may seem as if they have lived off fresh air. Typical behavior like this is nothing to worry about. Your baby is simply learning their own hunger cues and experimenting with taste.

Check out this example menu from healthychildren

Most of this may end up on the floor but don’t worry the fact you are supplying healthy choices and meals is brilliant. Playing with food is part of meal time learning.

Wrapping Up on Benefits of Continuing Formula after 1 Year

I think we have successfully answered the question “Are there any benefits of continuing formula after 1 year?” 

The answer would be no! There are no real benefits from continuing formula after your baby turns one. The only time this should be considered is if your baby has any of the health concerns mentioned above.

The weaning process should be gradual and fun for your little one.

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