Does anyone give their toddler baby formula just because it can't hurt?

My four year old is a picky eater so I "fortify" his milk with it. I give it to my two year old too - just because. Is there anything wrong with this? I also give him Carnation Instant Breakfast and a multi-vitamin.

Does anyone give their toddler baby formula just because it can't hurt?
I'm continuing to give my son formula even though he is past 12 months. The extra nutrients found in formula are still good for the baby since they most likely do not get every nutrient needed from their meals.
Reply:I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but I do think you're wasting your money. Why feed them formula and a vitamin? I give my 18 month old twins Carnation Instant Breakfast in their milk in the morning too! My little boy is really small for his age. He eats like crazy, but he's little, so I just wanted to make sure he's getting everything he should. But I think formula, instant breakfast, and a vitamin is going a bit overboard. I would also check the iron content of everything you're giving them. If this vitamin, and the formula, and the instant breakfast ALL have iron in them, you could be doing more harm than good. Iron poisoning is number one in fatal overdoses in children under the age of six. (I read that off the back of a Flintstones vitamin bottle, that I took while I was pregnant.) I really think one of the three would be sufficient.
Reply:Wasting your money.
Reply:give them vitamins its much cheaper and just as good and make them eat things they dont like they will get less picky as soon a sthey realize your not going to give in to them having what they want all the time
Reply:I'd only be careful of how much sugar he's getting, but it shouldn't be an issue. If it were, they wouldn't be selling PediaSure.



You may be overdosing him on vitamin supplements, however. A single multi-vitamin with C and Iron does the trick, even with picky eaters -- the reason we have vitamins is because people don't eat a balanced diet. If one eats a balanced diet, one doesn't even need multivitamins.



Your pediatrician needs to know so s/he can give you the best recommendation and put your mind at ease.
Reply:My son is 19 months and we still use soy formula because he's lactose intolerant. There are even special formulas for children 12-24 months.



Good luck!
Reply:Some doctors are now recommending formula until at least 18 months and gradual weaning ONLY IF they pass anemia and other blood screenings. So no there is nothing wrong with giving formula, also most breastfed babies continue to nurse until 2-4 years, particularly in other parts of the world.



"Research comparing cow's milk and formula-fed infants during the first year of life has shown that cow's milk is irritating to the intestines of a tiny infant, causing infants to lose a tiny bit of blood in their stools, contributing to iron deficiency anemia. There is very little iron in cow's milk anyway, and the iron that is there is poorly absorbed. Concern about iron-deficiency anemia has led the American Academy of Pediatrics, backed by solid research, to discourage the use of cow's milk in children under one year of age. One of America's top pediatric hematologists (blood specialist), the late Dr. Frank Oski , Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkin University (and co-author of a book entitled: Don't Drink Your Milk) advised parents to be cautious and not rush into the use of cow's milk, even during the second year of life. At present it would seem prudent to continue giving your baby iron-fortified formula during the second year of life and very gradually wean him to dairy products, beginning with yogurt. If your toddler generally has a balanced diet and routine hemoglobin tests show that he is not even close to being anemic, then switch from formula to whole milk sometime during the second year, but don't be in a hurry. "

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