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Toddler Formulas; Are they needed in your toddler's diet?

annaritan
Jan 216 min read

Updated: Jan 23

Author: Anna Ritan, APD, BND Clinical Paediatric Dietitian


Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of toddler formulas available in Australia and globally, with toddler formulas marketed to parents for consumption by children aged 12-36 months. Determining whether your child needs a toddler formula can feel overwhelming, particularly when marketing strategies often play on parental concerns about growth and development. This can lead many parents to believe that toddler formula drinks are essential for their child’s health, but do toddlers need them? And are they as nutritious as they claim?


Toddler Formula Marketing

In Australia infant formula advertising can be regulated under the MAIF 'Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement' which is a voluntary and self-regulated code for manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement is how Australia implements the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (WHO Code). The agreement aims to encourage breastfeeding as a first option and that those participating companies must not advertise or promote infant formula. Australia is a signatory to that agreement, but only chose to implement the standards for infant formulas up to 12 months or one year, meaning there is no regulation for advertising and marketing of toddler formulas.


A recent study on the nutrition packaging characteristics of toddler milks in Australia found that nutrition claims are present on all toddler milks ranging from 2 to 26 nutritional claims per toddler milk item. Unregulated health claims like 'no artificial colours or flavours' ' added probiotics' and 'partially hydrolysed whey protein' were found on all toddler formulas. Regulated nutrition claims were found on 91% of all toddler formulas, and general-level health claims such as 'iron for energy' and 'zinc for immunity' were identified on 75% of toddler formulas.


Toddler formulas are heavily marketed by formula companies in Australia through various strategies, including celebrity endorsements and Instagram content. These tactics aim to promote their brand and build awareness, which indirectly supports the promotion of their infant formula range. Notably, toddler milk tins are designed to closely resemble infant formula tins, with seamless branding across stages—from stage 1 to toddler milk steps 3-4. These products are also often displayed together in supermarket and pharmacy aisles, further reinforcing the connection between them.



Nutritional Composition



Infant formula products are regulated under Standard 2.9.1 – Infant Formula Products in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code), which is currently under review. All commercially produced infant formula products available in Australia and New Zealand must comply with the composition and safety requirements outlined in the Code. Standard 2.9.1 specifies the mandatory nutrient content for infant formula (0-6 months) and follow-on formula (6-12 months) to ensure that the nutrition requirements of infants aged up to 12 months are met, however, toddler formula is not regulated under this code.

If we compare the nutrition content of toddler formula to full cream cow's milk

Per 100ml, full cream cow's milk contains more protein and more fat than the average content in toddler formulas, protein and fat are essential to support growth in toddlers.

Added sugars such as lactose, glucose syrup and maltodextrin are found in 90% of toddler formula milk, with the average sugar content in toddler formulas being up to 1.5 to 2 times more than that found in full cream cow's milk. Toddler formula can contain as much added sugar per 100ml as regular lemonade or some soft drinks. A 2020 VicHealth and Deakin University study found that toddlers would consume around 240g more sugar, about 60 extra teaspoons of sugar, over a month if they drank toddler milk daily compared with regular cow's milk.


Toddler milk does contain some added iron and amounts of other vitamins and minerals like zinc, vitamin A, B vitamins, minerals and more, however, whether these provide any additional benefit to a varied and nutritious diet is questionable. The WHO and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia both state that toddler formula milk and special and/or supplementary foods for toddlers are unnecessary to support nutrition, growth and development for healthy children. Healthy growing toddlers can meet their requirements for growth, and for vitamins and minerals through food, and for some, with the inclusion of breastmilk or cow's milk as a continued source of nutrition, until they have weaned.

The other consideration for toddler formula is the cost, with tins of toddler formula on average being 4 times more expensive than full cream cow's milk.


What about cow's milk allergy?

  • If your child has been prescribed a dairy-free/allergy infant formula and they still require this after 12 months then sometimes continuing with a specialised allergy and dairy-free toddler formula or soy milk (if appropriate) is recommended.

  • If your child is excluding dairy, advice, individual support, and assessment from a paediatric dietitian are recommended to ensure adequate nutrition intake.


What about breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is still hugely beneficial to both mother and child beyond 12 months of age and there is no age at which breastfeeding is considered nutritionally insignificant. But perhaps you’re wondering whether to keep on going, you may have been advised to swap to cow's milk or toddler formula once your baby is 12 months old, and you may be doubting whether your child still needs your breastmilk.


The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (i.e. no other fluids or solids) for six months and then continued breastfeeding combined with solid foods for 2 years or longer. So if you and your child are still enjoying your breastfeeding journey after 12 months there is no need to stop.

  • Breastmilk contains many nutritional benefits and will change over time to meet your toddler's changing needs.

  • Breastmilk will continue to support immunity and emotional needs.

  • Breastfeeding beyond 12 months reduces the risk of some chronic diseases and illnesses in both the mother and child.

  • There is no nutritional need or nutritional benefit to transitioning to cow's milk or toddler formula at 12 months of age if you are breastfeeding.

  • You can continue to responsively breastfeed your toddler until they are ready to wean.


What if my toddler is still drinking lots of formula bottles per day

Toddlers from 12 months of age have different nutritional needs compared to infants, as solid food becomes the primary nutrition source to support growth and development. That being said, many young toddlers still need supplemental nutrition from bottle feeds while they continue to build the skills for eating a varied and nutritious diet until they are ready to wean. It is okay to still give your toddler bottles until your child is ready to wean.

  • You may wish to continue with your child's regular infant formula until you can wean down bottles to a total of 400 - 500 ml/day for your toddler > 12 months of age. Then you can transition to cow's milk.

  • Keep in mind that toddlers have different nutritional needs than infants. Lots of formula intake or cow's milk intake > 500ml/day can make it difficult for TODDLERS to meet their requirements from food and affect their appetite at meal times.

  • More than a maximum of 500 ml of cow's milk/per day can impact the absorption of Iron and increase the risk for iron deficiency anemia, so if you do transition to cow's milk keep it to a total of 400-500 ml/day (including overnight feeds)


My child is a fussy eater or still struggles with solids?

Often supplementing with toddler formula can have the opposite effect of supporting intake of adequate nutrients, especially if it is displacing nutrients from food and children are filling up on milk. To date, there are no evidence-based studies to show that toddler formula helps with fussy eating.


If your child is struggling with intake, has growth concerns or you are worried, individual advice from a paediatric dietitian would be recommended. In this case, there are usually other issues that have resulted in a child's general diet becoming nutritionally inadequate. Specialized peadiatric supplements or formulas might be necessary, but this kind of dietary intervention needs to be done under supervision.


If you do choose to transition to a toddler formula, find one with the least amount of sugar per 100ml.


X Anna



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