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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Toddler/Next Step Formula?
childcarebytori 08:04 PM 08-13-2011
I have had one of my daycare children in care since the itty bitty age of 3 weeks. Smarty-pants is now an extremely smart 2-year-old who is the only child under 3 years old who I include in our Preschool lessons. She counts to ten in English and Spanish, she recites the entire alphabet almost perfectly (her L,M,N,O and P still sound like "elmo pea"), she speaks in clear sentences, she knows all of the other dcks' parents by name and will greet them in the morning, and she is a well-trained sign-language 'speaker'. I would most definitely say she is advanced for her age.
The week of her 1st birthday, her mother and I slowly started the transition from formula to cows milk. We added more and more milk to her bottles each day and by Thursday DCG is sent home for continual vomit and loose BM's. Doctor suggests DCG is lactose-intolerant and we make a plan to start soy milk the following Monday. Monday we start adding soy milk into her bottles and on Wednesday DCG is back to loose bm's and frequent vomiting. By now, she is refusing bottles and cups all together, even with water or juice. With no liquids going into DCG, it warrants another trip to the pediatrician and Mom is recommended to try Next Step Formula. The doctor told Mom she thinks the DCG's stomach is too sensitive for whole cow milk and that soy milk doesn't taste the same which is why DCG refuses bottles and cups.
Monday we take a bandaid approach. We took away the infant formula and gave her Next Step in her bottles instead. When Friday came and DCG hadn't thrown up or had a loose bm, we decided the Next Step formula was a success.
Fast-forward to present time. DCG is thriving and Mom makes jokes sometimes that she thinks the Next Step formula made her daughter a genius. DCG is still on Next Step toddler formula and she will have formula to drink when the rest are having cow milk, or very rarely coconut/almond milk if she likes it that day. Mom has plans to purchase the Next Step 3 formula that is a vanilla flavored formula since we once in a blue moon flavor our milk at daycare for a special treat for a birthday party, and she doesn't want DCG feeling left out now that she knows she has different milk than the rest.
Has anyone else had any experience with toddler formulas? Mom has said that the doctor may think she's a crazy parent if she suggests to them that the reason her daughter is advanced is because of the extra nutrients and vitamins DCG receives from the toddler formula. I think she could be onto something.
The week of her 1st birthday, her mother and I slowly started the transition from formula to cows milk. We added more and more milk to her bottles each day and by Thursday DCG is sent home for continual vomit and loose BM's. Doctor suggests DCG is lactose-intolerant and we make a plan to start soy milk the following Monday. Monday we start adding soy milk into her bottles and on Wednesday DCG is back to loose bm's and frequent vomiting. By now, she is refusing bottles and cups all together, even with water or juice. With no liquids going into DCG, it warrants another trip to the pediatrician and Mom is recommended to try Next Step Formula. The doctor told Mom she thinks the DCG's stomach is too sensitive for whole cow milk and that soy milk doesn't taste the same which is why DCG refuses bottles and cups.
Monday we take a bandaid approach. We took away the infant formula and gave her Next Step in her bottles instead. When Friday came and DCG hadn't thrown up or had a loose bm, we decided the Next Step formula was a success.
Fast-forward to present time. DCG is thriving and Mom makes jokes sometimes that she thinks the Next Step formula made her daughter a genius. DCG is still on Next Step toddler formula and she will have formula to drink when the rest are having cow milk, or very rarely coconut/almond milk if she likes it that day. Mom has plans to purchase the Next Step 3 formula that is a vanilla flavored formula since we once in a blue moon flavor our milk at daycare for a special treat for a birthday party, and she doesn't want DCG feeling left out now that she knows she has different milk than the rest.
Has anyone else had any experience with toddler formulas? Mom has said that the doctor may think she's a crazy parent if she suggests to them that the reason her daughter is advanced is because of the extra nutrients and vitamins DCG receives from the toddler formula. I think she could be onto something.
erinalexmom 05:21 AM 08-14-2011
first off this child has several advantages in life that lead to them reaching thier high potential. Sounds like she has wonderful mother and a wonderful child care provider 
but I will say there are studies that show that if a people get alot of omega 3 in thier diet it has a positive impact on thier brain. I would imagine that formula would have alot of omega 3 in it. So it might not be so "crazy"
but I will say there are studies that show that if a people get alot of omega 3 in thier diet it has a positive impact on thier brain. I would imagine that formula would have alot of omega 3 in it. So it might not be so "crazy"
SilverSabre25 06:15 AM 08-14-2011
Well, their diagnosis of lactose-intolerance was most likely right on the money...and I doubt it was not liking the soy milk, because it gave her the same reaction--the protein in soy is VERY similar to the dairy protein, and many people who are dairy allergic/intolerant, are also soy allergic/intolerant.
As for the smarts, it's hard to say--it certainly could be, but then again, it's impossible to know if she would have been this bright otherwise.
As for the smarts, it's hard to say--it certainly could be, but then again, it's impossible to know if she would have been this bright otherwise.
Abigail 10:00 PM 08-14-2011
So this child is three years old and drinks formula? Do you make it in a cup? How old does she have to be before she needs to stop drinking the formula? I know of a friend who uses step 2 formula but her baby is only 1 years old.
Kaddidle Care 04:44 AM 08-15-2011
We all know that proper nutrition plays a huge role in infant and toddler development, both mental and physical.
As far as the child being advanced, it's more likely that high intelligence runs in the family. Chances are the child is a one and only and is getting a lot of learning/training at home as well as in your place.
I've found that children that are bright like this are a huge joy to adults but tend to be socially awkward with their peers. As I've said before, you can't have it all.
As far as the child being advanced, it's more likely that high intelligence runs in the family. Chances are the child is a one and only and is getting a lot of learning/training at home as well as in your place.
I've found that children that are bright like this are a huge joy to adults but tend to be socially awkward with their peers. As I've said before, you can't have it all.
AnneCordelia 05:06 AM 08-15-2011
My eldest son was on step-2 formula until age 3 because of a dairy/soy intolerance. I was going to say the same thing as the PP that it was probably an intolerance to soy as well...dairy and soy intolerances often go hand in hand.
At age 3 we slowly integrated more and more dairy into his diet and he did well with it. Yogurt, cheese, sour cream and such first and finally he does get occasional milk but still has trouble just drinking a big glass of milk. He's fine with all the other dairy.
My DH wanted us to buy the flavoured formula but I won't for my own. There is 19 grams of sugar in every 6oz glass of flavoured formulas...that's like a can of soda. If we were going to have a treat of chocolate milk then I'd just put a small squirt into his cup of formula and control it that way.
At age 3 we slowly integrated more and more dairy into his diet and he did well with it. Yogurt, cheese, sour cream and such first and finally he does get occasional milk but still has trouble just drinking a big glass of milk. He's fine with all the other dairy.
My DH wanted us to buy the flavoured formula but I won't for my own. There is 19 grams of sugar in every 6oz glass of flavoured formulas...that's like a can of soda. If we were going to have a treat of chocolate milk then I'd just put a small squirt into his cup of formula and control it that way.