My 9 months old baby is refusing all brands/types of formula. He will drink juice. He is healthy. Can I offer whole milk to him?

Would I, yes, but different baby doctors have their own opinions for it. So it is more of a choice of the parents and/or the doctor

This is a question you need to field to your pediatrician.

My 9 months old baby is refusing all brands/types of formula. He will drink juice. He is healthy. Can I offer whole milk to him?

Hi maspas1... several questions for you:

How long has he been refusing the formula? Has he been breastfed up until now? If so, it is possible to continue pumping and offering breastmilk? Have you tried transitioning between breastmilk and formula by mixing the two? Is he eating other foods? Have you tried the formula in a sippy cup? Have you tried offering the formula in a bottle that has been warmed a bit? What is his average intake of fluids and foods through a 24 hour period?

Doctors will differ in their opinions regarding whole milk just yet. Baby's digestive system is still maturing into the later half of the first year and many feel that he won't be able to breakdown some of the components in the milk yet. Others will feel that he is close enough to the one year mark which came about because most baby's will be able to process whole milk by that age.

From a nutritional standpoint, he obviously won't get what he needs from juice alone. Have you tried just stopping the juice altogether and offering only formula? He may fuss at first, but he would adjust to it. Then don't offer anymore juice. There really isn't a need for it, and it will take from what he could be getting from other sources.

The whole milk would not be a good option at this point if he does not have a varied diet as he won't be getting what he needs nutritionally from the milk.

Try mixing the breastmilk with the formula. Breastmilk is sweeter than formula and since he is used to the juice, he may take the formula this way. If necessary, add a small amount of 100% juice in a bottle of formula just to add a bit of flavor. That would be preferred over the whole milk at this age.