Welcome to toddlerhood! Once your baby turns 1 their babbles will start to turn into distinct words (“car!”), their independence will grow, and so too will the likelihood of tantrums. It’s okay, you’ve got this!
One question you might have as your little one starts to eat more food (and probably throw it on the ground more too) is whether you should wean them off formula, or move to a toddler formula.The choice is entirely yours, but to help you make the decision we’ve pulled in paediatric nutritionist Melanie McGrice to ensure we give you the best toddler formula transitioning advice.
(Psst – Melanie has a great Instagram page packed full of useful nutrition advice for fertility, pregnancy and kids! Check it out.)
Is toddler formula necessary?
Do toddlers need formula? Not necessarily.
Health experts recommend that babies up to the age of 12 months drink breastmilk or formula as their primary beverage, and after this it’s safe to switch to water or milk for a 1 year old.
Melanie says, “Toddler nutritional drinks, designed for children 12–36 months, supplement the family diet by filling nutrient gaps, but are not meant to be the sole source of nutrition.”
So unlike goat’s milk formula for newborns and infants, Oli6 Stage 3 Toddler Milk Drink won’t be a vital part of your little one’s diet. By 12 months they should be eating a good variety of solid foods to get a bulk of their nutrient needs.
Is toddler milk good for my child?
“This topic is often debated by academics and health care professionals,” Melanie says. “While toddlers can obtain all the nutrients they need from whole foods, toddler formulas can help fill the gaps of your little one’s diet – especially if you have a fussy eater!”
So while we don’t want to replace nutritional food with formula, good quality toddler milks can be a complementary source of nutrition.
Benefits of toddler formula
- They’re packed with essential vitamins and minerals to support your little one’s growth and development.
- They’re a useful nutrient top-up tool for kids with nutritionally incomplete diets, which may be caused by fussy eating or food allergies.
- Toddler formula can be a source of comfort and help settle your child.
- While water is the preferred beverage for a toddler, formula can also provide extra hydration.
- They’re preferable for toddlers needing additional nutrition over multivitamin tablets or gummies, which Melanie notes “tend to have little capacity for nutrients at clinical levels and suggest a health benefit for consuming lollies.”
Benefits of goat’s milk toddler formula
If you’re giving goat’s milk toddler formula to your little one, they’ll also get the added benefit of goat’s milk! A typical goat milk toddler drink (which will likely say goat milk formula stage 3 or stage 4 on the tin) will contain additional benefits like:
- Natural prebiotics (oligosaccharides) to help promote immune development and a healthy gut.
- More of the A2 beta casein protein than A1, which is predominant in cow’s milk and can cause digestive discomfort.
- Easier digestion, particularly for kids with sensitive tummies that may not be able to tolerate cow’s milk.
- A very yummy flavour!
Is toddler formula bad for my child?
Okay, real talk time: Toddler formula does get a bad rap. There are two main reasons for this:
- Some toddler formulas (note: not Oli6) are packed with added sugar, which has lasting effects on children and may contribute to sugar addiction and health effects later in life.
- Formula companies have been accused of ‘tricking’ parents into thinking they ‘need’ toddler formula, which is not always the case.
As long as you select a toddler formula that doesn’t have added sugar (check the tin!), it won’t be doing harm to your little one. They can really only benefit from the nutrients and comfort of a toddler milk drink, so long as it isn’t replacing a healthy and varied diet of solid foods with formula feeds.
Melanie advises seeing a paediatric nutritionist if you’re concerned about your toddler’s nutritional intake to get personalised advice on whether toddler milk formula is the right choice for them or not.
When is the best time to transition to toddler milk?
“Babies’ nutrient needs change as they grow and develop,” says Melanie. “It’s always important to choose the correct stage formula for your child’s age.”
With that in mind, these are the recommended age brackets for different stages of formula:
- Stage 1 newborn formula (e.g. Oli6 Goat Milk Infant Formula) is developed for babies aged 0-6 months.
- Stage 2 formula (e.g. Oli6 Goat Milk Follow-on Formula) is developed for babies aged 6-12 months.
- Stage 3 formula (e.g. Oli6 Goat Milk Toddler Drink) is ideal for kids aged 1–3 years.
- Stage 4 formula (e.g. Oli6 Goat Milk Junior Drink) is best for kids over the age of 3.
You can safely wean your baby off formula after their first birthday, or you may decide to continue with goat milk formula Stage 3 at that time.
Should I be transitioning from infant formula to cow’s milk or toddler formula?
Most paediatric health experts recommend transitioning from formula to full-fat cow’s milk after your child is 12 months old. However, this doesn’t suit all children – particularly those with sensitivities or conditions like cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI).
The toddler formula vs. cow’s milk debate will come down to your child’s unique health concerns and circumstances. It’s important to note that toddler formula milk can be more expensive than cow’s milk, but it may also provide extra nutrients for toddlers who don’t get enough via their food. Additionally, you could look into plant-based milks or straight goat’s milk if your child has digestive issues.
Ultimately you should talk to your paediatrician to get personalised support in choosing a milk for your 1-year-old, and for tips on how to transition from formula to cow’s milk, toddler formula, or whatever type of milk you opt for.
How to choose the best toddler milk for your child
Once again, this will come down to your child’s unique needs and circumstances!
Melanie advises, “Think about the gaps in your little one’s dietary intake. Maybe your child isn’t consuming adequate omega 3 for brain development, or would benefit from additional probiotics to boost their immune system. If you’re unsure, a personalised consultation with a paediatric dietitian can help you land on the best toddler milk for your family.”
If your little one has been on Oli6 Goat Milk Formula up until now, it’s likely that they’ll enjoy progressing onto Oli6 Stage 3 toddler formula. It will be a familiar taste for them, and will continue to provide comfort and digestive ease as they move into toddlerhood and beyond.
While it’s not necessary to continue with formula after your baby turns 1, Melanie believes that Oli6 Goat Milk Toddler Drink benefits some children that may have inadequate dietary nutrient intake.
“As well as natural prebiotics, Oli6 (including stages 3 and 4) contains the probiotic BB536 to help support immunity, and DHA omega 3 to help support brain development and eye health,” she says. “Additionally, all Oli6 products are Australian made and owned!”
By the way, it’s not just babies and kids who can enjoy the delicious and nutritious goodness of Oli6 goat’s milk. We also offer a Natural Goat Milk Powder product that can be used in recipes or as a tasty milk for 1-year-olds and adults alike. Shop Oli6 products on our website, or find them in your local Coles, Woolworths or Chemist Warehouse.
