Daytime bottles.

[bright sparks]

So I have a nearly 17mth old who is still given a daytime bottle. Mum is paranoid about reducing his milk even though he has a full 9 oz bottle in the morning and again before he goes to bed. He "apparently" has a sensitivity to cows milk although he has never been tested. We eliminated it from his diet and he was a much happier boy. That being said I'm not 100% convinced as his formula has ingredients that clearly state that they are derived from cows milk. Anyhow, he is still having an afternoon bottle when he gets up from nap not that he EVER asks for it. Following his hunger cues, he absolutely doesn't want it or even expect it. It is a formula milk that is for sensitivities and that is stage 1 so I cant imagine it does him any good, quite the contrary considering the number two ingredient is sugar! Well I have spoken to mum over the last few months about whether or not to take him off it as he isn't an infant anymore, and if he didn't have the intolerance to cows milk, he would be on that here and I would offer it in a cup at snack times. I have also addressed the fact that the bottle should be reduced as it is not good for his teeth. She said she has tried a cup and a sippy cup and he wont drink any of it and that "the dr told her" to keep him on formula till he is 2!! WTF!?!. I said that its highly likely he loves his bottle more than the milk and it is an attachment issue. He eats absolutely everything I make him and due to the lack of dairy in his diet I make sure there is kale and collards pretty much in everything I make whether its chopped up or pureed. I told mum that I would be putting the milk in a sippy for him during the day which she was fine with but since the beginning of January he hasn't had more than a few sips. Mum is all worried and I just tell her this isn't usually an issue because most parents tend to just take that bottle out rather than switch to taking the milk from a sippy. What the heck do I do? His diapers are so lose all the time and I think there is a good chance that its because he drinks to much milk....not even remotely good milk at that. He is also a very bonnie kid so there really is no cause for concern in his body weight department. Milk is not a beverage it is sustenance and when a child is eating a full and varied solid diet, the food then becomes the primary source of nutrients and the bottle is used to supplement it but this kid just doesn't need it. Thoughts Ladies?

[Lou]

My first 2 babies were formula fed and I had them weaned off the bottle by 13 months (my third is breastfed , but his daytime feeds are cut out now just morning and evening), so this isn't something I would personally encourage....but at the same time, if this is the parent's dietary request, and his dr's, then I would just continue and stop worrying about it. The recommendation is for babies to be breastfed for their first two years of life now, so I don't see the harm in the continuation of formula either. If the concern is based mostly around the suspicion of a milk protein intolerance, then I would leave that to the parent and doctor. You've already expressed your concerns to deaf ears, so I would just carry on.

[Crayola kiddies]

Do you put his hands on the cup and raise it to his mouth? I have done that with 12 month olds that were exclusively bf if didn't take long for them to figure it out however he is old and if he knows that eventually he will get a bottle he could be just stubborn .... I wouldn't give in .... I don't do bottles here unless there is a medical reason .... But I don't consider "moms paranoia" a medical reason. Once a child is eating all four food groups there is no need for formula .... The longer she waits to take that bottle away the harder it will get .... Most drs will say no bottles after 12 months .

[5 Little Monkeys]

I would continue to put the milk in a sippy cup and if he drinks it fine, if not at least you tried. You could send home the sippy cup with mom so she can see how much he is drinking or use it for the evening so it's not wasted?

There are always going to be things parents do that we wouldn't but I think some things are not up to us and in this case, I think this is one of them. As long as he drinking water and eating meals I wouldn't stress about the formula. If mom is worried she can take him to the dr and the dr will be able to see that everything else in his diet is fine and there shouldn't be reason to worry.

[mickyc]

There is no reason a child can't be off the bottle by 12 months old. They don't need all that milk! I had a girl start my daycare in sept. she was only 11 months at the time so was still on bottles (formula) and wasn't eating much at all. I kept giving her a bottle for the months of Sept/Oct/Nov. In December I mentioned to mom that in the new year I would like to get rid of the bottle all together. I know mom wasn't really on board with it but she did agree that it was my house and I could go ahead. I started in December by giving her the milk in her sippy cup. Sure she didn't like it but it wasn't long until she started eating more food. In the new year I told mom I had her off bottles here and that she didn't need to bring them anymore. I am pretty sure they still give her multiple bottles at home although she doesn't need them and would likely eat more if she didn't get so much milk. I also had a 15 month old start with me in October. I also had him weaned off by December. He ended up being sick for a week and mom wasn't giving him a bottle at home while sick so she decided to just keep him off it.

Just tell mom that at your house he will get his milk in a cup. If he has a cow's milk sensitivity would you be willing to buy different milk for him? I imagine if you asked mom to supply him milk she would just bring him formula. There is no need for formula and if she wants to feed him it at home then so be it but at your house he doesn't need it.

[bright sparks]

So what would your come back be if she says well he drinks it out of a bottle so let's go back to bottles. ???

[bright sparks]

I would continue to put the milk in a sippy cup and if he drinks it fine, if not at least you tried. You could send home the sippy cup with mom so she can see how much he is drinking or use it for the evening so it's not wasted?

There are always going to be things parents do that we wouldn't but I think some things are not up to us and in this case, I think this is one of them. As long as he drinking water and eating meals I wouldn't stress about the formula. If mom is worried she can take him to the dr and the dr will be able to see that everything else in his diet is fine and there shouldn't be reason to worry.

Just to clarify, I am not stressed about the formula, I don't want to give it to him. Also as a caregiver, I have the best interests of the child as my number one priority. This isn't a case of difference of opinions on parenting but that this quantity of milk is both unhealthy and the bottle is promoting dental issues. Also when I am the one who has to deal with this then it becomes my problem so I will speak up. This child has major separation issues which he is constantly back and forth with and he won't even hold his bottle for himself at home so his afternoon bottle is for sure a comfort thing versus an actual nutritional need. At age 12 mths formula is no longer necessary if a well balance diet is given, which it sure is here and they should only have 16-24 fl oz of milk per 24 hr period. This isn't my opinion this is Public Health Ontario guidelines. At 17 mths he is having 27 oz a day. Now I appreciate the angst surrounding adequate calcium and I get that most people think that milk is the best source but I have a child who doesn't even want his milk in the afternoon and after one day at home he returns to me clearly topped up with milk because he has had 3 loose bowel movements already!

[AmandaKDT]

Sounds like a milk protein intolerance to me, I had to deal with it with my youngest. She never had formula as I breast fed her, but she was constantly pooping (minimum of 5 times a day) and had eczema so I went totally dairy free and it fixed the problem. It takes at least 2 weeks to know if it is the problem after going off dairy totally, as the milk protein has to get fully out of their system. There is no test to do other than an elimination diet. So taking formula with dairy in it will not solve anything. It is something they can grow out of, usually by 18 months old - though my daughter can only tolerate yogurt and cheese, not cow's milk now at 21 months old.

There can also be a problem with soy as it has a similar protein to the milk protein. My daughter drinks soy milk now okay, but I avoided it before. So if the mom wants to continue formula but is concerned about a milk intolerance she going to have to get some very expensive formula that is dairy and soy free.

I personally wouldn't just go by "what the doctor" says, as I got no advice or support from my pediatrician about the intolerance, I had to figure everything out myself and do lots of research.

I know he isn't your child, but I think it is good to know about the milk intolerence stuff. I can imagine it being very frustrating, especially dealing with all the pooping. Been there, done that!!!

I would do as other have said and just put it in a cup when he is with you, if he doesn't drink it all you could just tell mom he wasn't interested.

[bright sparks]

He is on a formula specifically designed for children with difficulties in processing the intact protein found in dairy and soy. It does however contain casein which is derived from milk. I know all about this intolerance because it is one I have myself. I suggested back in late September to eliminate and as predicted he improved. However the last few weeks pooping has increase for sure. I am just going to suggest to mum that she doesn't send milk anymore as he doesn't want it and that he is getting plenty of food here and all I am doing is throwing the milk away. Hopefully she won't ask me to revert back to bottles because that would just be a move in the wrong direction.

[AmandaKDT]

He is on a formula specifically designed for children with difficulties in processing the intact protein found in dairy and soy. It does however contain casein which is derived from milk. I know all about this intolerance because it is one I have myself. I suggested back in late September to eliminate and as predicted he improved. However the last few weeks pooping has increase for sure. I am just going to suggest to mum that she doesn't send milk anymore as he doesn't want it and that he is getting plenty of food here and all I am doing is throwing the milk away. Hopefully she won't ask me to revert back to bottles because that would just be a move in the wrong direction.

So it must not be a formula meant for babies that cannot tolerate dairy protein then, if it has casein.

Good luck with the talk with mom, hopefully it works out.