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The short version
- For most toddlers, toddler formula isn't necessary — the AAP says it offers no nutritional advantage over cow's milk and a balanced diet.
- These products often contain added sugars and cost more than milk, and the U.S. has no uniform standard for what goes in them.
- At 12 months, most children can switch from infant formula to whole cow's milk — about 16 oz (2 cups) a day.
- Some children do need a specific formula for a medical reason. That's a prescription-style decision for your pediatrician, not a store-shelf one.
The short answer
For most children, toddler formula isn’t necessary. In its 2023 clinical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that these drinks offer no nutritional advantage over a well-balanced diet that includes breast milk or cow’s milk for most children older than 12 months.12 The AAP’s parent advice is blunter: toddler milks are unnecessary, more expensive, and contain added sugars.3
What most toddlers need instead is ordinary: about 16 oz (2 cups) of whole cow’s milk a day from 12 to 24 months, plus water and a varied diet.3 Two cups of milk, a yogurt at breakfast and some cheese at lunch covers what toddler formulas promise.
| Whole cow's milk | Toddler formula | |
|---|---|---|
| AAP view for most children 12+ months | Recommended, about 16 oz a day | Unnecessary |
| Added sugars | None (plain milk) | Often contains them |
| Before 12 months | Not as a main drink | Inferior to standard infant formula |
| Cost | Lower | Typically more expensive |
What exactly is toddler formula?
You’ll see these products sold as “toddler milk,” “growing-up milk,” “transition formula,” “follow-up formula,” “weaning formula” or “next stage.” The AAP groups them together as older infant–young child “formulas” — drinks marketed for children aged 6 to 36 months.12
The quotation marks are deliberate. Standard infant formula in the U.S. is reviewed by the FDA under the Infant Formula Act. Toddler formulas aren’t held to that standard: the AAP notes there’s no regulatory oversight ensuring they meet any uniform set of standards, and their names and recipes vary widely.12 The AAP calls the marketing of these drinks questionable, says they’re misleadingly promoted as a necessary part of a healthy diet, and recommends they not be placed alongside infant formula on store shelves.12
What’s actually in them?
The concern pediatricians raise isn’t that they’re harmful — the AAP says they can safely be part of a varied diet — but that they don’t add anything a toddler can’t get from milk and food.2
The bigger issue is sugar. The AAP notes that toddler milks contain added sugars, which can fill a small stomach and leave less room for healthier food.3 One of the 2023 report’s authors put it simply: some toddler drinks are high in sugar, and they typically cost more than cow’s milk.2 The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines advise avoiding added sugar entirely in early childhood.5
If you do buy one, check the “Includes Added Sugars” line on the Nutrition Facts label. Our guide to how much sugar a toddler should have explains how to read it.
The experts agree
This isn’t one group’s opinion. The 2019 Healthy Eating Research consensus — developed with the AAP, the American Heart Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — advises against toddler formulas in the first five years, along with flavored milks and sugary drinks.4
Toddler formula isn’t harmful. It’s just an expensive, often sweetened way to get what milk and food already provide.
Switching from infant formula to whole milk
The AAP and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines both say formula-fed babies can stop infant formula at 12 months and move to whole cow’s milk.25 There’s no need for a “stage 3” product in between. If your baby has been on vitamin D drops, ask at the 1-year checkup whether to continue — see vitamin D drops for babies. A few things make the switch smoother:
Making the switch at 12 months
- Go gradually if you like. Some families mix formula and whole milk for a week or two, shifting the ratio toward milk. Others switch in one go. Either is fine.
- Serve milk in a cup. The AAP suggests finishing the move from bottle to cup between 12 and 18 months, which also makes it easier not to overdo it.6
- Aim for about 2 cups a day. Around 16 oz of whole milk is enough from 12 to 24 months; more can crowd out food.3
- Let food do the rest. Iron-rich foods matter more now than any fortified drink. See how much iron a toddler needs.
If your child is breastfed, there’s no need to add toddler formula at all. The AAP supports breastfeeding alongside solid foods for as long as mother and child want, for 2 years or beyond.2
When a doctor may recommend a specific formula
There are real reasons a child might need a formula beyond 12 months — they’re just different from what’s marketed on the toddler shelf. The AAP distinguishes medical or therapeutic formulas, which may be prescribed for conditions such as chronic gastrointestinal disease, metabolic disorders or food allergy, from toddler formulas for healthy children.2
Your pediatrician may also look more closely at a child who’s a very picky eater, avoids dairy, or isn’t growing as expected. The AAP recommends a focused nutrition assessment in those cases, with changes to food or vitamin supplements as needed — not a toddler formula by default.2 If your child can’t have cow’s milk, the AAP considers fortified soy milk a nutritionally equivalent alternative.3 For more, see how much milk a toddler should drink.
When to talk to your pediatrician
Ask your child's doctor if
- Your child was on a special or prescribed formula as a baby and you're unsure whether to continue
- Your toddler refuses milk and eats few other dairy foods
- Your child has a milk allergy or you're planning a dairy-free or vegan diet
- You're concerned about your child's growth or weight gain
- Your toddler drinks more than 24 oz of milk a day and eats little food
Common questions
Do toddlers need toddler formula?
No, not most toddlers. The American Academy of Pediatrics says older infant–young child "formulas" offer no nutritional advantage for most children over a well-balanced diet that includes breast milk or cow's milk, and they are typically more expensive.
Is toddler formula better than whole milk?
For most children older than 12 months, no. The AAP says these drinks offer no benefit over much less expensive cow's milk, and its parent advice notes they often contain added sugars.
When should I switch from formula to whole milk?
At 12 months. The AAP and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines both say formula-fed babies can move to whole cow's milk at their first birthday, alongside a varied diet. About 16 oz (2 cups) a day is enough between 12 and 24 months.
Is transition or follow-up formula safe?
The AAP says these products can safely be part of a varied diet but don't provide a nutritional advantage for most children. Before 12 months, they are not a substitute for standard infant formula, which is the only formula reviewed by the FDA under the Infant Formula Act.
When might a doctor recommend a special formula for a toddler?
Children with conditions such as chronic gastrointestinal disease, metabolic disorders or certain food allergies may need a medical or therapeutic formula. These are different from the toddler formulas marketed for healthy children, and your pediatrician will advise which one to use.
Sources
- Fuchs GJ 3rd, Abrams SA, Amevor AA; Committee on Nutrition. Pediatrics. 2023;152(5):e2023064050. Older Infant-Young Child "Formulas".
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. AAP: Most Toddlers Don't Need Toddler Formula.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger.
- Healthy Eating Research consensus (2019), as endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Endorsements: Healthy Beverages.
- U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. From Bottle to Cup: Helping Your Child Make a Healthy Transition.
This article is for general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your child's doctor. Our editorial standards.
