Toddler Milk Stage 3: Age, Ingredients, Preparation & How to Compare

Stage 3 is usually the first “toddler milk” stage in a formula brand’s product family.

Many Stage 3 products are labelled from around 12 months, and some specify an upper age such as 36 months. Unlike Stage 1 and Stage 2 infant/follow-on formulas, toddler milks sit in a different feeding context: a one-year-old should already be eating a broad range of complementary or family foods, and milk is only one part of the diet.

That makes Stage 3 a different decision from choosing infant formula.

This guide explains:

Breastfeeding and family-food note

WHO and UNICEF recommend continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond while nutritionally adequate, safe complementary foods are introduced from six months.

WHO also notes that by around 12 months, most children can eat the same types of foods as the rest of the family, provided foods are nutrient-dense, safe and appropriate in texture.

Toddler milk should therefore be discussed as an optional age-labelled product within a wider diet—not as a replacement for breastfeeding or family foods.

What does Stage 3 mean?

Stage 3 generally refers to a toddler milk or toddler drink intended from around 12 months.

Labels may say:

Examples currently visible in the Australian Goods catalogue include:

Bubs Australia

Bellamy’s Organic

The physical pack should always be the final age reference.

Is Stage 3 still infant formula?

Not in the same regulatory sense.

FSANZ’s infant-formula framework covers infant formula for use from birth and follow-on formula for older infants. Toddler milks are products for children over 12 months and are not the same regulated infant-formula category.

This matters because Stage 3 should not be presented as a “stronger infant formula”.

It is a product for a different life stage.

What should a child be eating by 12 months?

WHO guidance says that by around 12 months, most children can eat the same types of foods as the family, adjusted for:

A healthy toddler diet should progressively include a variety of:

Milk should not crowd out the foods a toddler needs to learn to eat.

Is toddler milk necessary for every child?

No universal rule says every healthy child must use Stage 3 toddler milk. In its May 2026 P1066 review proposal, FSANZ proposed clearer language stating that young child formula should not be recommended routinely for healthy young children, is not suitable for infants under 12 months, and should not be represented as a routine continuation of infant or follow-on formula. That proposal is still under regulatory review, so final wording may change.

Some families use it because:

Other children may meet their nutritional needs through:

If there are concerns about growth, selective eating, iron intake, allergy or feeding development, professional advice is more useful than assuming a premium toddler milk will solve the issue.

How Stage 3 differs from Stage 2

Stage 2

Usually:

Stage 3

Usually:

Do not use Stage 3 for a child younger than the age printed on the pack.

Product-style differences at Stage 3

Standard cow’s milk toddler drink

Uses cow’s milk ingredients as the base.

Organic cow’s milk toddler drink

Uses certified organic milk ingredients and organic production standards.

Goat milk toddler drink

Uses goat milk ingredients.

A2-protein toddler drink

Uses milk positioned around A2 beta-casein protein.

Those are product differences—not guarantees of:

Current Bubs Stage 3 examples

Bubs’ current Australian range includes:

Bubs Easy-digest Goat Milk Toddler Drink Stage 3

Current formula information includes dairy and soy allergens and a toddler-stage vitamin/mineral profile.

Bubs Organic Grass Fed Toddler Milk Stage 3

Current Australian information lists organic milk ingredients and a formula that includes DHA, ARA, GOS and a probiotic.

Bubs Essential Cows Milk Toddler Drink Stage 3

A cow’s-milk-based Stage 3 option in the Essential range.

Bubs Supreme Toddler Drink Stage 3

Bubs Australia currently describes this as formulated for 12–36 months and using A2 beta-casein cow’s milk protein.

Different Bubs ranges therefore should not be treated as one identical formula.

Current Bellamy’s Stage 3 examples

Bellamy’s Organic Bangladesh currently lists Step 3 products including:

Bellamy’s Step 3 pages commonly describe the toddler stage from around 12 months.

Again, compare the exact pack rather than assuming every Step 3 tin has the same protein system or ingredients.

How to compare Stage 3 toddler milks

Check the age range first

Some say:

Do not infer age from “Stage 3” alone.

Check the serving size

Serving sizes vary by brand and range.

Check:

Check the nutrient panel

Do not judge quality by the longest vitamin list.

Look at the whole diet first.

Check protein/milk source

Examples:

Check allergens

Most products in this category contain milk. Some contain soy or other allergen-related ingredients.

“DHA”, “probiotic” and “prebiotic” claims

Some Stage 3 products include:

These features can help distinguish formulas.

They should not be turned into unsupported promises such as:

Compare the label specification without overstating the outcome.

Formula-style preparation still matters

Toddler drinks are for older children, but careless preparation is still a food-safety problem.

Use:

Do not assume the Stage 2 scoop ratio carries over into Stage 3.

Bottle or cup?

By the toddler stage, feeding skills are developing.

Families may transition to age-appropriate cups rather than relying on bottles.

The exact serving method should follow:

Can Stage 3 replace meals?

No.

A toddler milk should not displace:

A child who fills up on milk may eat less food.

If a toddler has a very restricted diet or growth concern, ask a pediatrician or dietitian for individual assessment.

What about picky eaters?

Picky eating is common in toddlers.

A fortified milk drink can look like an easy solution, but persistent extreme food restriction should not be managed only by adding more milk.

Check:

Is goat Stage 3 better for allergy?

Do not use goat milk toddler drink as a self-treatment for cow’s milk protein allergy.

Milk-protein allergy needs professional assessment.

Is organic Stage 3 more nutritious?

Organic certification concerns production methods.

It does not automatically mean:

A2 Stage 3

A2 beta-casein positioning is a milk-protein characteristic.

It should be described accurately as a product-formula difference, not as a universal digestive solution.

Price comparison in Bangladesh

When comparing price, use:

Do not compare a premium A2/organic range with a standard range only by pack price without acknowledging the range differences.

Authenticity checklist

Check:

Frequently asked questions

What age is Stage 3 milk for?

Usually from around 12 months. Some products specify 12–36 months or 1–3 years. Check the exact pack.

Can a 9-month-old drink Stage 3?

No. Stage 3 is an older-child/toddler product. Use a product labelled for the child’s age.

Is Stage 3 necessary after Stage 2?

Not for every healthy child. It is one feeding option within a varied diet.

Can Stage 3 replace food?

No. Toddlers need a varied family-food diet.

Is toddler milk the same as infant formula?

No. It is intended for an older life stage and is not the same infant-formula category.

Which is better: Bubs or Bellamy’s Stage 3?

There is no universal “better” brand. Compare age, milk/protein source, ingredients, allergens, serving, preparation and the child’s overall diet.

Bottom line

Stage 3 is a toddler nutrition category, not an upgraded infant formula.

Use it, if appropriate, as one part of a varied diet.

The most useful comparison points are:

For growth, allergy, feeding or nutrition concerns, individualized professional advice matters more than brand ranking.

Related product label information

These links provide product and label information for comparison, not an individual recommendation. Check the current pack and the safety guidance above.

Related guides

Age-stage guides explain label differences; they are not a recommendation to change feeding products.