How long is too long to stay on formula?

My daughter is only seventeen pounds at 12 months. The doctor keeps telling me she is under weight and needs to be put on Carnation Instant Breakfast or Pediasure. She's a very active child and eats all the time. However, she is a very picky eater. All she wants to eat is finger foods. She hates babyfood and any food with a lot of texture. I want to know if it would be safe to leave her on formula longer than one year and also what foods are best to help her gain a healthy amount of weight.

How long is too long to stay on formula?
I would seriously analyze the nutritional content of the substitutes your doctor recommends. i know that instant breakfast is full of sugar and artificial crap. Plus there are certain vitamins that can be dangerous or even lethal in adult doses; such as iron, zinc and Viatmin A.



if your baby likes formula, give it to her in a cup at specific times and otherwise up the fat content of her finger foods. Most babies like avocado, and also beans (mine liked canned garbonzos?-), let her dip veggies in salad dressing if she likes, sunflower and pumpkin seed butter are good, allergy safe alternatives to peanut butter and have lots of good fats, organic cheeses can also be a good source of fat if she eats dairy. We don't do dairy, so i put coconut milk into my son's cup for the healthy fats it contains and he looooves the flavor.
Reply:why don't you take your doctors advice and put her on pediasure? also if she is still on a bottle it will fill her with liquid, and she will feel full, and that will cause her to eat less
Reply:I believe they say 12 months they may switch to 2% milk then move up to whole milk! double check with your doctor though k!
Reply:12 months then do whole cow's milk.
Reply:similac has a formula for 12-24 months i would try that i think nestle has one too

i think similacs was called similac advanced 2 and nestles is good start supreme 2

best of luck

let us know how it goes
Reply:My daughter just recently turned one I give her whole milk during the day (in sippy cup) and the only bottle of the day is her nite nite bottle I put a scoop of formula in the bottle, however, once this can of formula is gone then thats it, no more formula.

I would give the Carnation drink a try, she actually might like it.
Reply:Its is recommended to leave them on the follow up formula if they are not eating a well balanced diet. The follow up formula is for up to 24 months. If my child were not eating a well balanced diet I would most definitely leave them on formula, or use follow up formula

Foods-I would just give her a variety of foods from all the food groups. Cut back on the finger foods/snacks so she will be hungrier at mealtimes