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Parenting Tips

How to Wean Your Baby Off Formula (and When to Start)

Baby with blue eyes drinking from a green and white sippy cup.

Most babies can wean off infant formula at around 12 months old, once they are eating a good variety of solid foods and growing well. This guidance is general and does not replace advice from your child’s pediatrician. Transition gradually to whole cow's milk, or an appropriate fortified, unsweetened dairy alternative recommended by your pediatrician, by mixing a little milk into the formula and increasing the amount over one to two weeks. It is always worth checking with your pediatrician before you start, especially if your baby was born prematurely or has any health concerns.

Reaching the point where your baby no longer needs formula is a real milestone, and like most milestones it comes with a few questions: Is my baby ready? What milk do I switch to, and how much? What if they refuse it? The good news is that weaning off formula is usually a smooth process, and this guide walks you through when to make the change, how to transition off infant formula step by step, what to offer instead, and the signs that mean it is worth waiting a little longer.

When can a baby stop drinking formula?

Most babies are ready to stop drinking formula at around 12 months old. Before their first birthday, infant formula (or breastmilk) is an essential source of nutrition, so it should not be dropped early. Once your baby turns one and is eating well, there are two reasons why they generally no longer need formula:

  • Solid foods can take over as the main source of nutrition with a varied diet 
  • Whole cow's milk can provide the fat, protein, and calcium that formula used to, which makes it a suitable everyday drink at this age.

Age is a helpful indicator, but it is not the only thing that matters. What counts just as much is whether your baby is genuinely ready, which comes down to how they are eating and growing. We will get to those readiness signs next.

There is no need to panic if your baby is a little past their first birthday and still on formula. At this age your baby should be learning to get most of their nutrition from a balanced diet of solid foods. If you find that your toddler is filling up on formula instead of meals, it is a good time to start weaning. Check in with your pediatrician if you are unsure or have questions about how to start.

Signs your baby is ready to wean off formula

Your baby will usually give you clear signs when they are ready to wean off formula. The main ones to look for are:

  • They are eating a good variety of solid foods. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins have become a real part of their day, not just occasional tastes, and solids are becoming their main source of nutrition.
  • They are gaining weight and meeting their milestones. Steady growth and development are signs your baby is getting what they need and can handle the change.
  • They are interested in drinking from a cup. Starting to manage a cup on their own points towards readiness for the next stage.
  • They are naturally taking less formula. As solids fill more of their daily intake, many babies start finishing fewer bottles or dropping a daytime feed on their own.

If most of these are true and your baby is around a year old, it is likely a good time to begin. Because every baby is a little different, it is worth confirming your weaning plan with your pediatrician.

How to transition from formula to milk, step by step

The easiest way to wean off formula is to do it gradually, over about one to two weeks, so your baby adjusts to both the new taste and the change in digestion. A slow, steady transition is the default approach and tends to go more smoothly than an abrupt switch. There are two common approaches, and you can use whichever suits your baby.

The first is to gradually mix whole milk into the formula, increasing the proportion of milk every few days:

Stage

Mix

About how long

Start

75% formula, 25% whole milk

A few days (e.g., Days 1-3)

Next

50% formula, 50% whole milk

A few days (e.g., Days 4-6)

Then

25% formula, 75% whole milk

A few days (e.g., Days 7-9)

Finally

100% whole milk

Ongoing (e.g., Day 10 & onward)

If you are mixing powdered formula, prepare it with water first as usual, then combine it with the milk. Move to the next stage only when your baby is comfortable with the current one, and if you notice tummy upset, simply slow down and give them longer at each step.

The second approach is to replace one formula feed at a time with a cup of plain whole milk, swapping another feed every few days until milk has replaced formula completely. Many parents leave the bottle at bedtime until the end, since it tends to be the most comforting.

If you have not already done so, this is also a great opportunity to switch from a bottle to a cup, which is a milestone of its own. If you want tips on making that change, our guide to moving from the bottle to a cup walks through it in detail.

What kind of milk, and how much?

At 12 months old, whole cow's milk is the standard choice to replace formula. Its balance of fat, protein, and calcium suits a toddler's needs, and dietary fat supports healthy growth and development in young children. If your child cannot have cow's milk, a fortified unsweetened soy milk may be an appropriate nutritionally comparable alternative when recommended by your pediatrician. If soy is not an option, ask your pediatrician whether another fortified, unsweetened dairy alternative, such as pea milk, is appropriate for your child. Other plant-based milks (almond, oat, coconut, rice) are typically not recommended as the primary milk source for toddlers given their low protein and low fat content. If your toddler is not drinking whole cow’s milk or an appropriate fortified alternative, please talk to your pediatrician because nutritional monitoring and supplementation may be indicated.

How much milk matters as well. Most toddlers do well on roughly 16 to 24 ounces of milk a day, about two to three cups. Many pediatricians suggest staying closer to 16 ounces for children between one and two years old, and stress the importance of not exceeding 24 ounces. Too much milk can fill a toddler up and may interfere with iron intake and absorption, which can contribute to iron-deficiency anemia. Milk is meant to be one part of a varied diet at this age, not the centerpiece the way formula was.

One point that surprises many parents: healthy toddlers generally do not need a toddler formula or toddler milk unless recommended by a healthcare professional. These products are often marketed as the natural next step after infant formula, but health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, advise that healthy children over 12 months do not need them. Plain whole cow's milk, or an appropriate fortified unsweetened alternative, along with a varied diet of solid foods, usually gives your toddler what they need.

“When a toddler comes to my office with constipation and decreased energy, I always ask about how much milk they are drinking. Excessive milk intake can displace fiber-rich and iron-rich foods from the diet, which can result in constipation and iron-deficiency, respectively.” - Alexis Berkovits, MD

For a fuller picture of how milk and water intake change as your baby grows, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers these general guidelines:

Daily water and milk intake

6 to 12 months

12 to 24 months

2 to 5 years

Water

4 to 8 oz/day (0.5 to 1 cup/day)

8 to 32 oz/day (1 to 4 cups/day)

8 to 40 oz/day (1 to 5 cups/day)

Cow's milk*

None

16 oz/day (2 cups/day)

16 to 24 oz/day (2 to 3 cups/day)

*Children ages 12 to 24 months are advised to drink whole milk, and children 2 and older nonfat (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk. The water range widens as your baby grows because water gradually replaces the fluid that milk and formula used to provide; within the 12 to 24 month milk range, aiming closer to 16 ounces (2 cups) helps protect your toddler's appetite for iron-rich foods.

 Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger.

What if your baby won't drink milk?

Plenty of babies turn their noses up at milk at first, so if yours does, it is common and usually nothing to worry about. Milk tastes and feels different from formula, and it can take a few tries before your toddler accepts it. These approaches tend to help:

  • Go slowly with the mix. Increasing the proportion of milk gradually, as in the schedule above, lets the taste shift little by little rather than all at once.
  • Try it slightly warmed at first. If your baby is used to a warm bottle, milk straight from the fridge can be a shock. Warming it to lukewarm, and always testing the temperature first, can make it feel more familiar.
  • Offer it in a cup. A cup signals that this is a new, "big kid" drink rather than a replacement for the bottle, which can actually help acceptance.
  • Offer milk with meals. Pairing it with food your toddler already likes makes it part of a routine they are comfortable with.
  • Be patient and keep offering. It often takes several tries before a new food or drink is accepted, so a first refusal is not a final answer.

It also helps to remember that milk itself is not essential, the nutrients in it are. If your toddler simply will not drink milk, they can get the same calcium, vitamin D, protein, and fat from other foods like yogurt, cheese, and a varied diet. If you are worried your child is not getting enough of these, your pediatrician can help you build a plan that works without daily cups of milk.

When to wait, or keep your baby on formula longer

For some babies, 12 months is not quite the right time to stop formula, and that is completely fine. It is worth waiting, or staying on formula longer, if any of the following apply:

  • Your baby was born prematurely. Their nutritional timeline may be adjusted, so your pediatrician may recommend continuing the formula for longer.
  • Your baby is not gaining weight well. Steady growth matters before dropping a reliable source of calories and nutrients.
  • Your baby is not yet eating a good variety of solids. If solids are not yet doing much of the nutritional work, formula still has a job to do.
  • Your baby has a food allergy or a problem absorbing nutrients. These can affect what your baby needs and how the transition should be handled.
  • Your baby has certain medical conditions, such as some metabolic, kidney, or liver conditions, where the type and timing of nutrition need medical oversight.
  • Your pediatrician has advised it. If your doctor has recommended staying on formula or following a special diet, follow their guidance.

In any of these situations, the timing of weaning is a decision to make with your pediatrician rather than on your own. Continuing formula while your baby catches up or while a health issue is being managed may be necessary, even if it wasn’t the timeline you were expecting.

Making the switch with confidence

Weaning off formula is one of those milestones that feels bigger beforehand than it usually turns out to be. When your baby is around a year old and eating a good range of solids, you can transition them to whole cow's milk or a fortified unsweetened alternative. Remember to transition gradually, over a week or two, letting them adjust at their own pace. Aim for around two cups of milk a day as one part of a varied diet. Do not worry if the first few tries are met with a suspicious face.

Above all, let your baby's readiness and your pediatrician's guidance lead the way rather than the calendar alone. Some toddlers take to milk in a matter of days, others need a few patient weeks, and both are completely normal. Before long, this will be just another thing your little one does without a second thought.

Frequently asked questions

Can you switch from formula to milk cold turkey, or does it have to be gradual?

A gradual switch is usually gentler, both for your baby's taste buds and their digestion, and it is what most pediatricians suggest. That said, some babies handle a quicker change without any trouble. If you want or need to move faster, it is worth checking with your pediatrician first, and watching for any tummy upset along the way.

Should you drop the daytime or the nighttime formula feed first?

Most parents find it easiest to replace daytime feeds first and leave the bedtime feed for last, since it is often the most comforting and the most ingrained part of the routine. Once your toddler is happily drinking milk and eating well during the day, you can work on dropping the last feed and transitioning to a new bedtime routine. Your pediatrician can offer tips if night weaning proves tricky.

What if my toddler cannot tolerate cow's milk?

If cow's milk does not agree with your toddler, a fortified unsweetened soy milk is the main recommended alternative. If soy is not an option, you can try a fortified unsweetened pea milk. The key in selecting a dairy alternative is choosing one fortified with calcium and vitamin D, and making sure the rest of their diet covers their daily calories from fat that whole cow’s milk typically provides. Your pediatrician can help you choose an appropriate alternative and confirm your toddler is getting everything they need.

Is it bad to keep my baby on formula a little past 12 months?

No, continuing formula for a short time past the first birthday is not harmful. The main thing to watch out for is that formula does not fill your toddler up so much that they eat fewer solid foods, since a varied diet should be taking over as their main nutrition source by now. If you are unsure, your pediatrician can help you decide when to start the switch.

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The right time and way to wean your baby off formula depend on your individual child, so always consult your pediatrician before making changes to your baby's diet, especially if your baby was born prematurely, is not gaining weight well, has a food allergy or trouble absorbing nutrients, or has any underlying health condition. Whole cow's milk or a fortified unsweetened alternative should be introduced according to your pediatrician's guidance.

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