How to Wean a Baby Off of Formula

KidsHealth advises switching from formula to cow's milk when your child is a year old. At 1 year old, your child should be eating enough solid food that he doesn't need to rely on formula to meet all his nutritional needs. Some children have no issue with transitioning instantly, while others need a more gradual approach to be comfortable with the change.

Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce a cup if you haven't already. According to KidsHealth, most doctors advise that parents start offering a cup to their child at the age of 6 months to allow a smoother transition from the bottle.

    • 2

      Give your baby milk or diluted juice in the cup to get him used to drinking from it. Don't worry if he ends up wearing most of what was in the cup or if it ends up all over the floor. He'll get the hang of it once he's had adequate time to get adjusted. Giving milk, instead of formula, in the cup allows you to transition off of formula and to a cup at the same time.

    • 3

      Mix the formula and milk together if your baby initially rejects the taste of milk. Begin by replacing one ounce of formula with an ounce of milk in your baby's bottle, so if you give her an eight-ounce bottle, seven ounces will be formula and one will be milk. Increase the amount by one ounce every day until she is completely switched from formula to milk.

    • 4

      Reduce the number of bottles that he drinks by one per day and replace that feeding with a cup. Start by offering a cup in the morning and reserving bottles for naps and bedtime, when babies tend to use them for comfort and are familiar with them as part of their routine. Eliminate the nighttime bottle last. It's important not to allow children to take a bottle to bed due an increased risk of tooth decay and ear infections, according to KidsHealth.

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