Preschooler on formula

[MommaL]

This situation could very well just be misguided nervous parents. Formula companies make a toddler line of formula for these specific parents. They advertise their formula for these specific families. And with all the talks and concerns about getting a well balanced diet and all the vitamins and minerals etc a parent to a picky (at home) child truly can feel that they are doing best by their child by providing formula.

I think this is exactly what is happening with these parents. They are likely worried that their little guy isn't getting enough vitamins or nutrients. Or perhaps he doesn't like cow's milk, so they want him to have the calcium that comes in toddler formula. They probably just need some reassurance that he's doing ok or given other options for incorporating vitamins into his diet. In this case, I would use my own experience when talking to the parents. I may something like "I was worried that DD wasn't getting enough nutrients when she was younger too, especially since she never liked cow's milk. I found that talking to a nutritionist really helped". This way I'm putting the idea in their head without making them feel like I'm questioning their decisions. But in the end, I would respect whatever they decided. While giving formula may not be something that I would give to my own 2-3 year old, the fact that there is formula specially for this age group tells me that there are a lot parents who obviously do.