When to introduce growing up milk?

If your baby is under a year old, don't feed her growing-up milk.

You may have seen growing-up milk in super markets, chemists and specialised baby care stores. However, growing-up milk is marketed as being suitable for toddlers aged between one and three.

Growing-up milk has vitamins, minerals and prebiotics added to it. It also has higher levels of iron than other formula milks. Once your baby is six months old, she can get all the iron she needs from a combination of solid food and breastmilk or formula milk.

Even when your baby reaches toddlerhood, she's not likely to need growing- up milk. There's no evidence that growing-up milk is any better for your child than cow's milk.

When your baby is a year old, she can have cow's milk as a main drink. By then, your baby will be gaining a large part of her nourishment from solid foods. And of course, if you and your baby are happy to continue breastfeeding, that's fine too. As long as she's having a variety of food, she should be getting all the minerals and vitamins she needs.

If you are concerned that your child isn't eating well or that she may have a nutrient deficiency, discuss it with your doctor. He may suggest vitamin drops or offer tips to enrich your baby's solids diet.

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