Transitioning From Formula to Milk at 12 Months: When, How and How Much

A first birthday brings new questions to every feed. When do you put the formula away, which milk goes in the cup, and does your toddler need a toddler formula in between?

The short answer: for most healthy children eating a varied diet, start the switch from formula to milk at 12 months, not before. That is the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Offer plain, pasteurized whole cow's milk in a cup with meals and replace formula feeds gradually.

AAP lists about 16 ounces (2 cups) of milk a day for children 12 to 24 months. Toddler formula is optional: AAP says it offers no nutritional advantage for most children over a balanced diet that includes cow's milk.

This guide covers when and how to move from formula to milk, how much milk a 1-year-old needs and which milk to choose. It also covers the bottle-to-cup step and where toddler formula fits. Guidance and prices were checked on November 8, 2026.

Formuland sells the toddler milks named in this guide; it does not rank them, and none of them is needed for the switch. If your child was born early, has a medical condition or has growth concerns, talk to your pediatrician before you start.

When to Switch From Formula to Milk

At 12 months. CDC says you can introduce whole cow's milk at 12 months old, but not before. AAP recommends whole, vitamin D-fortified milk for most children after their first birthday, provided they are eating a balanced diet of solid foods such as cereals, vegetables, fruits and meats. If your child is not yet eating a broad range of solids, AAP says to talk to your pediatrician about the best nutrition for them.

The 12-month checkup is a natural time to plan the move from formula to milk. Your pediatrician can tell you whether your child is ready for whole milk and how much to offer. Ask about iron screening too: AAP says babies who mostly drink infant formula should be screened for iron deficiency starting at about 15 to 18 months, and earlier for other babies.

Can You Keep Giving Formula After 12 Months?

The switch does not have to happen on the birthday itself. You can move from formula to milk one feed at a time: AAP describes reducing bottle feeds slowly, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) describes a gradual mix. Beyond that, AAP's guidance for children over 12 months is a varied diet with whole milk, not infant formula, which is made for babies in their first year. If your child still relies on formula for much of what they eat, or has special nutritional needs, your pediatrician can give you a plan.

Why Cow's Milk Waits Until 12 Months

Before the first birthday, cow's milk cannot do the job infant formula does. CDC lists three reasons whole cow's milk is not given before 12 months:

• It may put babies at risk of intestinal bleeding.
• It has too many proteins and minerals for a baby's kidneys.
• It does not have the right amount of the nutrients a baby needs.

AAP adds that cow's milk lacks the proper amounts of iron and vitamin C. Before 12 months, do not give plain cow's, goat's or plant milk as a drink or in place of infant formula. Dairy foods such as yogurt are a separate question for your pediatrician. If you can't find or afford your baby's formula, call your pediatrician rather than switching to milk early.

How to Transition From Formula to Milk, Step by Step

These steps follow CDC, AAP and CHOP guidance. Your pediatrician's advice for your child comes first.

1. Check in at the 12-month visit. Ask whether your child is ready for whole milk and how much to offer.
2. Choose the milk. Plain, pasteurized whole cow's milk fortified with vitamin D, unflavored and unsweetened (CDC). Never raw milk.
3. Use a cup at meals. Serve milk in a cup with meals, not as a meal replacement; CDC notes that milk is not a substitute for food.
4. Replace formula one feed at a time. Swap one formula feed for whole milk, then the next, until the move from formula to milk is complete. You do not need to match formula ounce for ounce: CHOP notes that total milk naturally goes down as solid food goes up.
5. Offer water between meals. AAP suggests milk with meals and plain water between them.
6. Keep an eye on the total. If your child is drinking much more than the daily amount below, or losing interest in food, cut back and talk to your pediatrician. Don't force milk either: CDC says to follow your child's hunger and fullness cues.

Straight Switch or Gradual Mix?

You can switch straight to whole milk: CHOP pediatricians note that after age 1, whole milk can become a child's main drink along with water. If your child does not like the taste, CHOP suggests mixing equal parts whole milk and formula prepared with water as the label directs. Then lower the share of formula gradually. Never mix formula powder into milk instead of water: the label's water ratio still applies.

How Much Milk Does a 1-Year-Old Need?

Once the move from formula to milk is under way, aim for about 16 ounces (2 cups) a day. That is the figure in AAP's drinks chart for children 12 to 24 months.

A 2019 consensus statement, "Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood," gives a range of 2 to 3 cups (16 to 24 ounces) of whole milk a day until age 2. It came from Healthy Eating Research with AAP, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Heart Association. Individual needs depend on how much solid food a child eats.

Too much milk can crowd out food. AAP lists signs of a milk-dependency habit: drinking a quart (32 ounces) or more a day, not being hungry at mealtimes and preferring a bottle to a cup. Cow's milk and goat's milk are both low in iron, so AAP says children need iron from other foods such as red meat, lentils, tofu and dark, leafy greens like spinach. CDC adds that children aged 12 through 23 months need about 2 servings of dairy daily, which can include full-fat yogurt and cheese as well as milk.

Which Milk to Choose: Whole, Reduced-Fat or Plant-Based

Whole milk is the usual choice when you move from formula to milk, for most children until age 2. AAP says children this age still need a higher fat content, so it recommends whole, vitamin D-fortified milk for most 1-year-olds. CDC notes that most cow's milk sold in the U.S. is fortified with vitamin D. CDC says children 12 to 24 months need 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day; ask your pediatrician whether your child needs a supplement.

If you choose a dairy alternative, CDC says to pick one that is unflavored, unsweetened and fortified with vitamin D and calcium. Check labels, because nutrient content varies between brands. Talk with your child's doctor too, because the vitamins and minerals differ from cow's milk. Skip rice drinks: the NHS says children under 5 should not have them, because of arsenic levels.

Moving From Bottle to Cup

Finish with bottles between 12 and 18 months. AAP suggests offering a cup when solid foods start, around 6 months, then reducing bottle feeds slowly. AAP links bottle use well into the second year with skipped meals, extra calories and cavities, because teeth are bathed in milk. CHOP calls the switch from formula to milk a good time to try leaving bottles behind altogether.

1. Offer a cup at meals from about 6 months, starting with what your baby already drinks.
2. Keep any remaining bottles to mealtimes and drop the others first, especially at naps and bedtime.
3. Never put your child to bed with a bottle; build a bedtime routine of cuddles, a story or a song instead.
4. Offer plain water between meals, in a cup.
5. Use a spouted cup without a valve, or an open or straw cup; AAP suggests an open cup by about age 2.

Where Toddler Formula Fits

Toddler formula, also sold as toddler milk or growing-up milk, is a drink for young children; names and recipes vary by brand, and it is not infant formula. It is labeled for children from 12 months or from 24 months, and it is optional. In a 2023 clinical report, AAP called these drinks generally unnecessary. They "offer no benefit over much less expensive cow's milk in most children older than age 12 months," AAP said, and some are high in sugar.

AAP adds that the U.S. has no regulatory oversight to ensure they meet a uniform set of standards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says these drinks do not undergo premarket review by FDA and are generally not necessary to meet the nutritional needs of children over 12 months.

The 2019 consensus statement does not recommend toddler milk for children 1 to 5 years. The UK's NHS says children aged 1 to 5 do not need formula milks, including growing-up and toddler milks. For most children, the move from formula to milk means whole cow's milk and a varied diet.

Toddler milk is not for babies. U.S. federal food regulations (Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 105.3(e)) define infants as children up to 12 months old. AAP calls toddler drinks inferior to standard infant formula for babies under 12 months. FDA says babies younger than 12 months should not be fed these products, because they are not designed to meet their nutritional needs.

If Your Family Chooses a Toddler Milk

• Follow the age range on the label. Stage numbers differ by brand: Holle Stage 4 is labeled from 12 months, while HiPP Dutch Stage 4 and Kendamil Premium Stage 4 are labeled from 24 months.
• Read the ingredient list for added sugars, which AAP and CDC say young children do not need.
• Prepare it exactly as that product's own label directs, with its own scoop. For infant formula during the transition, see our guide to preparing and storing baby formula.
• Ask your pediatrician how much to offer and how it fits alongside milk, water and meals; the cow's milk amounts above are not a dose for toddler drinks.

Toddler Milks at Formuland

If you and your pediatrician decide a toddler milk suits your family, these are the ones Formuland carries, each labeled from 12 or 24 months. Formuland ships them with duties and taxes included, free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more, and Subscribe & Save at 7% off eligible items. See the full range of toddler formula and toddler milk.

Note: Prices are one-time prices for one can or box, checked November 8, 2026, before multi-pack or subscription savings. Price per ounce is the price of the powder, not the cost per serving, because mixing ratios differ. UK and EU products carry the label of the country they were made for; the Holle Goat Milk Toddler Drink carries a U.S. label. Ages are from each product's label.

Browse by brand: Kendamil, HiPP and Holle. For the first year, see how much formula a baby needs and our baby feeding chart.

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician First

Some children need a plan made for them before the switch from formula to milk. Talk to your pediatrician first in these cases.

• Your child was born prematurely or has a medical condition.
• Your child has growth or weight concerns, or a family history that may affect the choice of milk.
• Your child uses a special or therapeutic formula your pediatrician prescribed; AAP notes that prescribed formulas are different from toddler drinks.
• Your child has a suspected or diagnosed milk allergy or intolerance. The NHS notes that goat's milk formulas are not suitable for cow's milk allergy.
• Your child is not yet eating a range of solid foods, or drinks far more milk than the daily amount and eats little.

Disclosure: This guide summarizes public guidance from CDC, AAP, FDA, CHOP, the NHS and the 2019 Healthy Eating Research consensus statement for general information. It is not medical advice. Formuland sells the toddler milks listed above; this guide does not rank them, and most children do not need a toddler milk to move from formula to milk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving From Formula to Milk