Feeding FAQ: 12-18 months – Other

Hannah has been at nursery for four weeks now and predictably has been ill most of that time with a persistent cold and now a cough and sore throat. She is just over one but I haven’t yet made the switch from formula to cows’ milk, although she does have it in cooking and on cereal. Is it best to delay introducing cows’ milk to drink until she is better? Is it a problem that she continues with formula for a bit longer?

It is recommended that babies make the change from formula to cows’ milk at about the age of one. This is not because of any particular nutrient they need from milk at this age; rather it’s because by the time they are a year old, babies are generally eating well enough and getting enough nutrients from food, so that they no longer require the extra vitamins, minerals and other nutrients supplied by the formula. Thus, if Hannah is feeling unwell and you would prefer to delay making the change from formula to cows’ milk for another few weeks, you don’t need to be concerned.

As I’ve discussed above, many youngsters eat poorly when they’re not well. If this is the case with Hannah, she may benefit from having the extra nutrients from the formula until her appetite gets back to normal, particularly if it’s a follow-on formula, as this is higher in iron. Or you might like to try a gradual transition to cows’ milk, maybe one drink per day to start with, as Hannah may be very happy to accept it.