Dropping milk feeds

As your baby or toddler grows and develops, their appetite for solid foods increases and they gradually start to become less interested in milk. They will probably still love their milk feeds but because they’re now eating more, their appetite is satisfied by other yummy things first.

Milk should still be an essential part of your little one’s balanced diet because it provides essential nutrients for their growth and development.

Here are some tips to help you include the right amount of milk for your little one at every stage.
 

• Until your baby turns one, most of their nutrients should come from breastmilk or formula milk.
• Once your baby is eating three solid meals a day, you might decide to drop one or two milk feeds, or they may stop showing as much interest and not want as many feeds. Either way, they should still be having between 500 and 600ml of breastmilk or formula milk every day (that’s around a pint)
  
• After your baby turns one, most of their nutrients should come from food. Even though they don’t rely on milk as much, it’s still important for filling in any gaps and providing the well-rounded balance of nutrition they need. From 12 months, the recommended amount of milk or dairy is 360ml (around three portions) each day.
  
• Toddler milk is a great way to keep them topped up with all those hard-to-get nutrients. Just 2 x 150ml beakers of Cow & Gate Growing Up Milk a day provides at least 100% of their daily vitamin D, and iron, when used as part of a healthy, balanced diet1. Alternatively, you can also help top up your little one's vitamin D using vitamin D drops. To find out more about vitamin D, take a look at our baby club article.

The mums and experts on our Careline team have a huge amount of knowledge to share about every aspect of feeding. So if you ever have a question about breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, weaning, nutrition, toddler diets, fussy eaters or anything else we’d love to hear from you.

1. The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) for vitamin D is 7mcg/day. 2 beakers = 2x150ml. In 2 beakers, Growing Up Milk 1-2 years powder provides 132% (9.3mcg/day) RNI. Growing Up Milk 2-3 years powder provides 124% (8.7 mcg/day) RNI. Use as part of a balanced diet.