How to Wean Babies From Formula to Milk

Weaning a baby from formula to cow's milk is a difficult thing to do. Young children become attached to what they are accustomed to, so giving up formula is tough for many young children. Switching from formula to whole milk when your child turns one is crucial so that your child develops appropriate feeding skills and maintains adequate nutrition. You can make the process of weaning babies from formula to milk easier by following a few simple steps.

Step 1

Choose the time wisely to wean your baby off formula. The University of California at San Francisco Children's Hospital recommends not weaning when the child is going through a stressful time, such as starting a new day care, welcoming a new sibling or moving to a new house. Wait until things are stable for the baby to switch from formula to whole milk.

Step 2

Offer whole milk when you switch from formula to milk. The staff at UCSF Children's Hospital states that children under two should not drink low-fat milk because fat is good for brain development. Your child may also be more inclined to switch to whole milk from formula rather than switching from formula to low-fat milk because whole milk has a richer, thicker taste.

Step 3

Replace one bottle of formula the first week with a few ounces of whole milk. During the second week, replace two bottles of formula with two small servings of whole milk. In the third week, give formula only once or twice per day and offer around 2 oz. of milk three times a day. In this manner, gradually transition your baby from formula to whole milk.

Step 4

Focus on foods more. The BBC states that while decreasing the amount of formula your baby drinks, you should offer a wider variety of foods to your baby. A baby should not drink whole milk all day, but instead she should eat foods every few hours and drink whole milk a few times each day. Try new types and textures of food to distract the baby from the memory of formula.

Step 5

Offer comforts other than formula to the baby. The staff at UCSF Children's Hospital recommends that if your child misses the comfort of formula, you should offer him a blanket or a stuffed animal instead. Be prepared to spend some extra time with your child during the weaning process.