Key takeaways

  • Healthy term babies on a varied diet can switch from formula to whole (full-cream) cow milk at 12 months — the position of the AAP, WHO, and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).
  • Aim for about 400–600 ml of cow milk a day. More than 700–800 ml crowds out iron-rich food and is a leading cause of toddler iron-deficiency anaemia.
  • Use whole-fat milk from 12 to 24 months — the fat matters for brain growth. Skimmed or low-fat milk is not recommended before age two unless your pediatrician advises it.
  • Stage 3 "toddler" or "growing-up" formulas are not nutritionally essential for a well-fed toddler; cow milk plus a varied diet plus vitamin D (and iron if prescribed) costs far less and works just as well.
  • Move from bottle to cup by 12–15 months and stop bedtime bottles — milk pooling in the mouth overnight is a major cause of early childhood tooth decay.
  • Real exceptions exist: prematurity, poor weight gain, cow's milk protein allergy, and certain metabolic conditions can mean continuing formula on your pediatrician's advice.

Why One Year Is the Standard Cut-Off for Formula

The 12-month rule isn't arbitrary. It rests on how a baby's kidneys, gut, and diet change over the first year, and it has stayed consistent across major pediatric guidelines for decades. Before one year, cow milk is genuinely unsuitable for two physiological reasons — and by the first birthday both have resolved.

Kidney maturity. Under 12 months, a baby's kidneys are still building their ability to concentrate urine. Cow milk carries a high "renal solute load" (the waste the kidneys must clear per feed) because of its protein and mineral content. Formula is adjusted to a lower load, close to breast milk. By 12 months the kidneys can safely handle cow milk's higher load.

Iron status. Cow milk before one year can cause tiny, invisible amounts of intestinal blood loss and is itself very low in iron — a recognised cause of iron-deficiency anaemia in young infants. Standard infant formula is iron-fortified (about 12 mg of iron per litre). After 12 months the gut-bleeding issue settles and the toddler gets iron from food.

By the first birthday, the weaning diet you began at six months has expanded to grains, dals, vegetables, fruit, dairy in foods, ghee or oil, and eggs, fish or meat if your family eats them. Milk becomes a supplement rather than the main meal — the natural progression the WHO infant and young child feeding (IYCF) framework describes. Developmentally, a one-year-old usually has 6–8 teeth, sits and pulls to stand or walks, and can drink from a cup, so the bottle as the main feeding method is no longer needed.

There are genuine exceptions — preterm babies, certain allergies and medical conditions, and slow weight gain — which we cover in detail below. And there is real cultural variation in India: some families switch to cow milk almost ceremonially on the first birthday, others continue formula to 18 or 24 months. Both are acceptable. The medical position is simply that a healthy term toddler on a varied diet can move to cow milk at 12 months; continuing formula longer is a choice, not a harm.

How to Switch From Formula to Cow Milk: Steps and Timeline

The switch usually takes one to four weeks. Some toddlers accept cow milk overnight; others need time, because the taste really is different — cow milk is sweeter and creamier, with a different protein profile.

The gradual-mixing method (easiest). Blend cow milk into the familiar formula and shift the ratio each week:

  • Week 1: 25% cow milk, 75% formula
  • Week 2: 50% / 50%
  • Week 3: 75% cow milk, 25% formula
  • Week 4: 100% cow milk

Speed it up if your toddler doesn't mind, slow it down if they push back.

The straight switch. Many families simply offer cow milk in place of formula from the first birthday. This works well if your toddler already takes cow milk in foods — curd, paneer, milk in porridge — and knows the taste. If it's refused, fall back to gradual mixing.

Still breastfeeding? Stopping formula has nothing to do with breastfeeding. The WHO and IAP both recommend continuing breastfeeding to two years and beyond. Cow milk simply replaces the formula portion; nurse as often as you and your baby like. If you are weaning night feeds at the same time, our guide to gentle toddler night weaning walks through it. If you happen to be pregnant again, breastfeeding while pregnant is usually safe.

Which milk to choose. Whole-fat (full-cream) pasteurised cow milk is the standard for 12–24 months — the fat supports brain development. Any standard Indian brand is fine: Amul, Mother Dairy, Nandini, Heritage, or a regional dairy cooperative. Boil loose milk from a local vendor before use, as Indian households traditionally do. UHT tetra-pack milk is safe and convenient but costs a little more.

How much. About 400–600 ml a day, across two to four feeds — a typical pattern is a morning cup and an evening cup with small amounts in between. Don't push much past 700–800 ml: too much milk crowds out iron-rich food and causes "milk anaemia" (more on this below).

Presentation tips if they resist. Offer milk slightly warm (stand the cup in warm water for 30–45 seconds; skip the microwave, which makes hot spots). Try a different brand, a different cup, or mild flavouring like a little cardamom or unsweetened cocoa. Build milk into foods — porridge, kheer in moderation, a banana smoothie — and lean on curd and paneer. Some children are simply not milk-drinkers, and that's fine if calcium comes from other sources; talk to your pediatrician if refusal is persistent.

The Stage 3 Toddler Formula Question: Marketing vs Need

Stage 3 formulas — "growing-up" or "follow-on" milks for 12 to 36 months — are heavily advertised in India: Lactogen 3, NAN Pro 3, Aptamil 3, Similac 3, Enfamil A+ 3, Dexolac 3, typically Rs 500–1,200 per 400 g tin. They're sold as a natural next step after stage 2.

The honest assessment. Major pediatric nutrition bodies — the AAP, WHO, IAP, and ESPGHAN (the European pediatric gastroenterology society) — agree that stage 3 toddler formulas are not nutritionally essential for a healthy toddler eating a varied diet. Whole cow milk plus three meals a day with iron-rich foods, dals, vegetables, fruit and varied protein delivers everything stage 3 provides, at a fraction of the cost.

What they do add: iron, vitamin D, DHA and ARA (omega fatty acids), and sometimes prebiotics or probiotics. These are real additions — the question is whether a well-fed toddler needs them in a tin rather than from food and a simple vitamin D supplement.

When stage 3 can genuinely help:

  • Selective eaters who refuse most solids and benefit from a nutrient-dense drink
  • Toddlers with poor weight gain who need extra calories
  • A gradual, extended transition where the child accepts stage 3 more readily than cow milk
  • Recovery from illness, or settings where diet quality is uncertain

When it isn't needed: a healthy, well-growing toddler accepting cow milk and meals — especially when the spend would displace other nutritious food in a tight budget.

A note on marketing. India's IMS Act restricts advertising of infant formula for under-twos, but stage 3 products for one- to two-year-olds sit in a grey zone, sometimes promoted with brain, immunity and growth claims that outrun the evidence. Skipping stage 3 puts a well-fed toddler at no nutritional disadvantage. If your pediatrician recommends it for a specific reason, follow that advice; if it's offered as a routine upsell, it's fair to ask whether cow milk plus a varied diet would do the same job.

Cow Milk vs Buffalo, Goat, and Plant-Based Milks

India offers more milk choices than cow milk alone. Here's how the common ones stack up for a toddler over one year.

Buffalo milk. Widely used and higher in fat (6–8% vs 3–4% in cow milk), protein and calories. Acceptable from 12 months and useful for toddlers needing more energy. Diluting slightly with water, as many Indian families do, is reasonable; the richness can loosen stools in some children.

Goat milk. Nutritionally similar to cow milk. Its protein is not reliably safe for cow's milk protein allergy — the proteins are alike, and many allergic children react to it too. Goat milk is also low in folate, so folate supplementation matters if it becomes the main milk. There's no nutritional reason to prefer it over cow milk; it's a matter of availability or preference.

Soy milk. Calcium- and vitamin D-fortified soy milk is the only plant milk considered an adequate primary milk substitute for toddlers — its protein rivals cow milk. Unfortified soy milk doesn't supply enough calcium. As soy is a common allergen, try a small amount first. For vegan families, or where cow milk is off the table, fortified soy milk (Sofit and similar, roughly Rs 90–200 per litre) is the standard recommendation.

Almond, oat, rice, coconut milks. Not equivalent to cow or fortified soy milk — typically low in protein (almond milk has about 1 g per cup vs ~8 g in cow milk) and the wrong fat and micronutrient profile. Fine as an occasional addition; not a primary toddler milk under age two.

Lactose-free cow milk. Nutritionally identical to regular cow milk minus the lactose — useful for genuine lactose intolerance, which is uncommon in young children but can appear transiently after a gut infection. If you're unsure whether your child has a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, they are very different things; see milk allergy versus lactose intolerance in babies.

A2 milk. A cow-milk variety with only A2 beta-casein, marketed for easier digestion. The evidence is limited and no major pediatric body recommends it over standard cow milk. It costs far more; for most toddlers the premium isn't justified.

Flavoured milks (chocolate, strawberry). Essentially milk plus sugar — limit or avoid them; the added sugar feeds tooth decay and builds a sweet-drink habit.

Bottom line: plain pasteurised whole cow milk from a standard brand is the simplest, cheapest choice for most Indian toddlers. Buffalo milk is fine where it's the norm, fortified soy milk is the right dairy-free option, and other plant milks shouldn't be the main drink. Loop in your pediatrician for any toddler not on standard cow milk.

How Much Milk a Toddler Actually Needs

A deep cultural belief in many Indian homes is that toddlers need lots of milk for strong bones. The medical guidance is more measured — and more milk is not better.

The target: about 400–600 ml of cow milk a day, across two to four feeds. That supplies roughly 250–400 mg of calcium — most of the day's need (the IAP puts calcium at about 500 mg/day for ages 1–3). The rest comes easily from curd, paneer, milk in foods, ragi, sesame and leafy greens. For the wider picture of calcium beyond dairy, see our calcium-rich Indian foods guide.

Why not more? Above 700–800 ml a day, milk starts to displace iron-rich solids, blunt appetite, and drive iron-deficiency anaemia — the classic "milk anaemia of toddlers." It's one of the most common and most missed forms of toddler anaemia in India, precisely because families assume more milk means better nutrition. Cow milk is naturally low in iron, so leaning on milk while skimping on iron foods is the single biggest cause of toddler iron deficiency. If milk-feeding crowded out solids in your baby's earlier months, our first-foods and weaning guide helps rebalance the plate.

Drinking very little milk? That's variation, not necessarily a problem, if calcium and dairy nutrients come from elsewhere. About 200 ml of curd gives roughly the calcium of 200 ml of milk; 50 g of paneer adds about 150 mg. A varied diet can cover the need without a single glass of plain milk for a child who genuinely won't drink it.

Vitamin D is separate. Cow milk in India is usually not vitamin D-fortified, and Indian toddlers have high deficiency rates. The IAP recommends 400–800 IU of vitamin D a day regardless of milk intake — see our dedicated vitamin D for babies guide. Common drops (Calcimax, Sunkid and similar) cost roughly Rs 100–400 a month.

Iron too. Offer iron-rich food at most meals — ragi, eggs, well-cooked dals, mashed greens, and meat for non-vegetarian families — right through the toddler years, given India's high background anaemia.

Bottle to Cup, Bedtime Milk, and Toddler Teeth

The 12-month milk switch is also the moment to retire the bottle. The AAP, IAP and the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD) agree: move to a cup by 12–15 months, stop the bottle by 15–18 months, and never let a child fall asleep with a bottle in the cot.

Why the bedtime bottle is the real risk. When a child sips milk while drifting off, the milk sugars pool around the teeth overnight — saliva flow drops during sleep, oral bacteria turn those sugars to acid, and enamel breaks down. This "baby-bottle tooth decay" can be severe, sometimes needing treatment under anaesthesia. Bedtime bottles are very common in India, which makes this a genuine public-health issue, not a minor worry. (Cow milk taken from a cup at meals does not carry this risk — its casein and calcium are even mildly protective.)

The cup transition. Introduce a cup of water at meals from 6–9 months, offer some milk in a cup from 10–12 months, and aim for cup-only by 15–18 months. Sippy cups, weighted-straw cups and small open cups all work; a small steel glass or lota from the Indian kitchen is unbreakable, easy to clean and familiar.

Easing off the bedtime bottle. The bedtime feed itself can stay — just give it in a cup, finish it before brushing, and keep it out of the cot. If your toddler is very attached, swap the bottle for a cup of milk for a few nights, then move that milk to before teeth-brushing, then offer water at bedtime if it's comfort rather than thirst they want. Expect two to four weeks.

Brushing. From the first tooth (around 6–7 months), brush twice daily with a soft toddler brush. For under-threes, use a rice-grain smear of 1,000 ppm fluoride toothpaste (Colgate Kids, Pepsodent Kids and similar); the IAP and ISPPD now support fluoride from tooth eruption because the small, safe dose protects against decay. Move to a pea-sized amount from ages 3–6. A first dental visit is recommended by 12 months or within six months of the first tooth.

Skip the sweetened bedtime drinks. Sweetened milks, milk with sugar or honey, and the tradition of kheer or sweetened milk in the bottle at bedtime all raise decay risk — and honey should be avoided entirely under 12 months (botulism risk). Plain cow milk is the right choice. If your child uses a pacifier or sucks a thumb, plan to wean it gradually before the permanent teeth come in.

Preterm Babies and Medical Exceptions to the One-Year Rule

For a minority of children, formula should continue past 12 months — always on a pediatrician's advice. Knowing the exceptions explains why your doctor's plan may differ from the standard timeline.

  • Preterm babies (before 34 weeks). These babies often continue specialised preterm or stage 1 formula past the chronological one-year mark, with milestones tracked by corrected age (chronological age minus weeks of prematurity). A baby born at 30 weeks is developmentally closer to a nine-month-old at 12 months chronological, and may stay on formula a few months longer.
  • Low birth weight or slow growth. Continued formula gives reliable calories and nutrients during catch-up growth; the cow-milk switch waits until growth is consolidated.
  • Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Babies on extensively hydrolysed (NAN HA, Similac Alimentum, Nutramigen) or amino-acid (Neocate, Elecare) formula continue under specialist care. Whether and when to introduce cow milk depends on a supervised re-evaluation, often around 12–24 months. CMPA is easy to confuse with reflux or colic — see baby colic vs reflux vs cow milk protein allergy and our overview of common baby allergies in India.
  • Metabolic conditions (such as PKU, galactosemia). These need specialty formulas, sometimes for life, managed by metabolic specialists; cow milk may be contraindicated.
  • Multiple food allergies or significant feeding aversion. Formula can be a reliable nutrient source while a dietitian or feeding therapist addresses the underlying issue.
  • Poor weight gain or very selective eating. Continued formula or stage 3 may be advised as a nutrient-dense supplement; your pediatrician sets the duration.
  • A practical (not medical) reason. Some working families find measurable, transportable formula simpler for caregivers than cow milk. That's a valid choice when affordable — and formula can run alongside cow milk so both are available.

Whatever the reason, continued breastfeeding fits with all of the above. Many Indian families combination-feed through the second year — breast in the morning and evening, cow milk or formula at daycare, and family food at meals.

Cost in India: Formula vs Cow Milk vs Stage 3

For most Indian families the money difference is real and worth seeing clearly.

  • Stage 2 formula (6–12 months): ~2–3 tins/month at Rs 500–1,300 each → roughly Rs 1,500–4,000/month.
  • Stage 3 toddler formula (12–24 months): ~2–3 tins/month at Rs 500–1,200 → roughly Rs 1,500–3,600/month.
  • Whole cow milk: 500–600 ml/day at Rs 50–70/litre → about Rs 750–1,300/month.
  • Cow milk + supplements: add vitamin D (Rs 100–400) and iron if prescribed (Rs 100–250) → about Rs 950–1,950/month, still well below formula.

Choosing cow milk plus supplements over stage 3 formula typically saves Rs 500–2,500 a month — Rs 6,000–30,000 a year. Crucially, that saving comes at no nutritional cost for a healthy toddler on a varied diet, so the freed-up budget can go toward more vegetables, eggs, fruit or other family needs.

If you do continue formula by choice, you can trim cost: buy in bulk during sale events (FirstCry, Amazon, Flipkart) for 20–40% off, use subscribe-and-save, and consider mid-range brands (Dexolac, Lactogen) over premium ones with broadly similar profiles. For brand-by-brand details, see our guide to baby formula brands in India. Fresh loose milk from a reputable local dairy (Rs 40–60/litre) is fine once boiled.

Government support exists. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Anganwadi network provide supplementary nutrition for under-sixes, including Take-Home Ration and hot cooked meals. Your local ASHA worker can guide eligible families to these schemes.

Handling Family and Cultural Pressure

Feeding decisions in Indian homes often involve several opinions at once. Grandparents may insist on continuing formula to 18–24 months — or, just as firmly, on switching to cow or buffalo milk immediately at one year. Neighbours may swear by stage 3 formula. All of it is well-meant; not all of it matches current guidance.

The reference to stand on: a healthy term toddler on a varied diet can move from formula to whole cow milk at 12 months, taking about 400–600 ml a day alongside three meals and snacks. Stage 3 formula is optional, not essential. Continued breastfeeding to two years and beyond is the WHO and IAP recommendation throughout.

Let the pediatrician be the messenger. “The doctor recommended cow milk at 12 months since she's eating and growing well” carries more weight in most families than “we decided to stop formula.” If you haven't had the conversation yet, book the 12-month visit and have it there.

Address real concerns, don't dismiss them. “Will he get enough calcium?” — yes, from cow milk plus dairy in foods. “What if he refuses cow milk?” — a gradual transition usually solves it. Brushing concerns aside (“the doctor said so, end of discussion”) tends to breed conflict rather than agreement.

Frame it as tradition, not rejection. The Indian emphasis on milk has real nutritional roots. Moving to cow milk isn't abandoning milk — it's the child joining the family's milk routine, a small milestone.

Align caregivers in advance. If grandparents or a daycare feed your toddler, share a simple written plan: which milk, how much, what supplements, which foods, what to avoid. Without it, the child may get different brands, sweetened preparations, or too much milk that spoils mealtime appetite. When disagreement can't be resolved, the parents' pediatrician-guided decision takes priority — a clear position taken once usually costs less, long term, than ongoing friction over feeds.

When to Consult Your Pediatrician

The 12-month visit is the natural time to plan the formula-to-milk switch. Beyond that routine check, see your pediatrician promptly if any of the following apply:

  • Poor weight gain or a falling growth curve at 12 months — the transition may need to be delayed or modified, and the cause assessed.
  • Reaction to cow milk — rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood or mucus in the stool, or an eczema flare after introducing cow milk. Stop the milk and seek advice; this can signal CMPA that needs hydrolysed/amino-acid formula or fortified soy milk.
  • Persistent loose stools after a stomach bug when milk is reintroduced — likely transient lactose intolerance; lactose-free milk for 2–4 weeks usually fixes it.
  • Ongoing refusal of cow milk despite consistent offering — fine if calcium and vitamin D are covered, but check whether supplementation is needed.
  • Signs of anaemia or a haemoglobin below 11 g/dL — iron supplementation may be needed and milk intake reduced.
  • Vitamin D not yet started — the 12-month visit is a good time to begin, given widespread deficiency in Indian children.
  • A strong family history of food allergy, especially milk allergy — introduce more cautiously, possibly with an allergist.
  • Significant feeding difficulty — refusing most solids, gagging, or texture aversion warrants assessment, often with a dietitian or feeding therapist.
  • Bottle still in heavy use past 15–18 months — escalating dental risk; a dental check and weaning strategies help.

Cost rarely needs to block a visit: private pediatric consultations run about Rs 500–2,000, government hospitals and primary health centres are free or minimal, and tele-consults (Practo, Apollo 24/7, Tata 1mg) handle non-urgent questions. The 12-month visit also coincides with routine immunisation — use it for the feeding conversation.

Stop-Formula Myths in Indian Families, Corrected

Myth: Formula is essential and should continue until age two or three

  • Fact: Healthy term babies on a varied diet can move from formula to whole cow milk at 12 months, per AAP, IAP and WHO guidance.
  • Fact: After 12 months, a varied diet provides most of the nutrition, with milk supplementing calcium, protein and some vitamins and minerals.
  • Fact: Stage 3 toddler formula is not nutritionally essential for a healthy toddler — it's a fortified convenience product.
  • Fact: Continuing formula past 12 months is a valid choice when affordable, but it is not medically required for most toddlers.
  • Fact: Continuing formula costs around Rs 1,500–3,600 a month; switching to cow milk plus supplements saves meaningfully for most Indian families.
  • Fact: The 12-month visit is the place to confirm whether your specific toddler is ready for the switch.

Myth: More milk means stronger bones and better growth

  • Fact: The recommended cow milk intake at 1–2 years is about 400–600 ml a day; significantly more is counterproductive.
  • Fact: Above 700–800 ml a day, milk displaces iron-rich food and drives iron-deficiency anaemia (“milk anaemia”).
  • Fact: Calcium needs are met by 400–600 ml of milk plus dairy in foods (curd, paneer) and other sources like leafy greens.
  • Fact: Cow milk is low in iron; relying on milk while skimping on iron foods is the top cause of toddler iron deficiency.
  • Fact: A varied diet with moderate milk beats lots of milk with a limited diet.
  • Fact: Some children simply aren't milk-drinkers — acceptable if calcium comes from curd, paneer, greens or fortified foods.

Myth: You must use stage 3 toddler formula for proper nutrition

  • Fact: Stage 3 formulas are heavily marketed but not nutritionally essential for healthy toddlers, per AAP, IAP, WHO and ESPGHAN.
  • Fact: Whole cow milk plus three varied meals provides the same nutrition at substantially lower cost.
  • Fact: Stage 3 can help selective eaters or toddlers with poor weight gain, but it's a choice, not a necessity.
  • Fact: Switching to cow milk plus vitamin D (and iron if prescribed) typically saves Rs 500–2,500 a month over stage 3.
  • Fact: Iron and vitamin D, where needed, are cheaper given separately than the stage 3 premium.
  • Fact: Follow a pediatrician's stage 3 recommendation when it addresses a specific concern; generic continuation isn't required.

Myth: Almond, oat and other plant milks are good cow milk alternatives for toddlers

  • Fact: Almond, oat, rice and coconut milks are not equivalent to cow milk or fortified soy milk for toddlers under two.
  • Fact: They're typically low in protein (almond milk has ~1 g/cup vs ~8 g for cow milk), and low in the right fats and micronutrients.
  • Fact: Fortified soy milk is the only plant-based option considered an adequate primary milk substitute for toddlers.
  • Fact: For vegan families or those avoiding dairy by necessity, fortified soy milk is the standard recommendation.
  • Fact: Other plant milks can feature occasionally in a varied diet but shouldn't be the main toddler milk.
  • Fact: Buffalo and goat milk are both acceptable cow milk alternatives in the Indian context.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can my baby stop formula?

For most healthy, full-term babies, 12 months. By the first birthday a varied diet plus whole cow milk can replace formula, and the kidney and iron reasons that made cow milk unsuitable in infancy no longer apply. Preterm babies, those with poor weight gain, cow's milk protein allergy, or certain medical conditions may continue formula longer on a pediatrician's advice.

Do I have to switch to cow milk, or can I keep using toddler (stage 3) formula?

You don't have to use stage 3 formula. Major pediatric bodies agree it isn't nutritionally essential for a well-fed toddler — whole cow milk plus a varied diet and a vitamin D supplement does the same job for much less money. Stage 3 can help selective eaters or toddlers with poor weight gain, so follow your pediatrician's advice if they recommend it for a specific reason.

How much cow milk should a one-year-old drink?

About 400–600 ml a day, across two to four feeds. Avoid going much past 700–800 ml, because too much milk crowds out iron-rich foods and is a common cause of toddler iron-deficiency anaemia. Use whole-fat (full-cream) pasteurised milk from 12 to 24 months.

My toddler refuses cow milk. What can I do?

Try gradual mixing (start with a little cow milk in the formula and increase weekly), a different brand or cup, slightly warm milk, or mild flavouring like cardamom. Build milk into foods — porridge, smoothies, kheer in moderation — and use curd and paneer for calcium. Some children just aren't milk-drinkers; that's fine if calcium and vitamin D are covered. See your pediatrician if refusal persists.

Is buffalo milk okay for my toddler instead of cow milk?

Yes, from 12 months. Buffalo milk is higher in fat, protein and calories than cow milk and is useful for toddlers needing extra energy. Some families dilute it slightly with water, which is reasonable; the richness can loosen stools in a few children. Almond, oat, rice and coconut milks, by contrast, are not suitable as a main toddler milk.

When should I stop the bottle?

Move to a cup by 12–15 months and stop the bottle by 15–18 months. Most importantly, never let your child fall asleep with a bottle — milk pooling in the mouth overnight is a leading cause of early childhood tooth decay. The bedtime feed can continue from a cup, finished before brushing teeth.

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