Infants younger than 1 year old need the nutrients in breast milk or formula. Breastfed babies over 1 year may continue to nurse if desired, but this is the time when you can switch to whole milk. Why not low-fat or skim milk? Because most babies need the fat in whole milk to support normal growth and brain development during the busy early toddler period.
You can transition your baby from breast milk or formula to whole milk by beginning to replace bottles of formula with bottles – or preferably- sippy cups — of whole milk. By age 1, your baby should be eating a variety of other foods as well as drinking about 16-24 ounces of whole milk a day.
Missy Nicholson, CPNP
