Does Your Toddler Drink 2%, 1% or Skim Milk?

I would stay with whole milk only. Over 4 and above average weight is the only time I would go to 2%.

Toddler's should have whole milk. They need the fat content to help with brain development. At 2 you can give her 2% but NOT less. I waited until the kids were 3 to switch them over.

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Still, organic whole milk.
Milk, is the only dairy my son will 'eat.'
He is, lean, no weight issues whatsoever.
My son is 4.
Ped says its fine.
The milk fats in milk, is an important nutrient for brain growth. Hence the recommendations for it, until 2 years old.

I could be wrong, but I think little kids need whole milk.
I have tried drinking the other stuff myself and I can't stomach it. It's like white water.
Unless your son has weight issues, I don't see why the need to switch.
Some fats are good for little kids and unless there is a medical reason for your son not to have it, I would stick with whole milk.
That's just my opinion.

I'd stay w/whole. Make sure w/your ped.
I don't think they want them to have skim or 1% (not enough nutrients or something).

Neither.

Whole milk to age 6 since the longer they research, the longer they've found that mylenating the nerves and brain development takes.

When my son was an infant (8 years ago) the research said until age 2. When he was nearing 2 peer review journals suggested the findings said at least until age 3-4. The neurologists I knew, suspected age 5-6. Sure enough... last year (when he was 7) the peer review journals suggested age 5.

There's also some ongoing research looking into restricting fats in infants/toddlers being the SOLE source of childhood obesity. Meaning that because the brain and nerves aren't getting the fats they need to develop properly it sets up cravings for fat rich food that *do not go away* even after the completion of building the brain and nerves.

At age 8 we go back and forth between whole and 2%.

My daughter never drank whole milk. She started with 2% when she was ready for cow's milk. She is now 10 years old, and she is very smart (straight A's) and of average weight. So I don't believe children need whole milk as some of these ladies are saying. If you're child will take 1%, I say give it to him.

check with your pediatrician. if you kid is on the under-weight side, the doc may suggest staying with a higher fat option; otherwise, i think that going down to 1% or 2% is just fine.

Whole milk. He doesn't "need" to watch his fat intake like that, and if he did, then the fat from milk isn't what I'd cut out, I'd change the food he's eating around to give better choices of food and what they're cooked in. Messing with milk, in my opinion, is barking up the wrong tree especially for little ones.

When I asked my Pediatrician if I needed to use whole milk at 12 months he said, "2% is fine." So we went with 2% and have just stuck with that. I was raised with skim and didn't really drink it except for cereal. When we switched to 2% I actually liked it, so 2% it is! My boys are almost 4 years old and 16 months.

Our pediatrician was very clear that our son should be drinking 2% or LESS, definitely not whole milk. I was already aware of this, so I didn't ask her why she felt so adamant about it. However, whole milk has a lot of fat in it, cows are built (2 stomachs as opposed to our one) to handle this amount of fat, we are not. As for the vitamins, there are the same amount of vitamins in 2% or less as whole milk. Humans just don't need to be drinking cow milk, the vitamins could be achieved in other more healthful ways, but if we must drink it, we should be drinking 2% or less.

They should be drinking whole milk for the fat and calorie content by switching to less fat you are taking away more vitamins and fat from him. I love lowfat but buy whole for my 20 month child.

we drink whole or 2%. because all my kids are too skinny. otherwise i would only by milk alternatives (me and hubby are intolerant)

2% is what her Pedi suggested..

Until your son is a bit older he should be getting whole milk. Little ones need the fat content in the milk. It is difficult to get a balanced diet into a toddler so they need all the help they can get. It would be much better than fries and etc.

My 2 y/o drinks whatever. At my inlaws house they only have 1% or skim, at our house it's 2% or non-fat (which is what I like to drink). When we stop at a coffee house she gets soy milk. She never notices a difference.
When we initially switched her to full fat milk (from formula) she had a bad reaction. She drank soy for about 6 months, and 2% after that. A lot of people told me that toddlers need full fat for development (her tummy just doesn't digest it well), but when I discussed it with my ped he said based on the other dairy products she consumes, and her weight she's healthy and not to worry.
Hope this helps.

My 2 year old is on skim and doesn't have weight issues. She was on whole milk up until 2, and my pediatrician said I can drop her to skim. I drink whole milk and my husband drinks skim. If I switched to 2% or 1% then I would of had 3 different milks in my fridge. However, if I'm out of skim, I don't hesitate to give her whole milk.

Because he's skinny, my 2.5yo is still on whole (per his pediatrician). Otherwise, I'd have switched him to what I drink, 2%.

Whole milk. Toddler need everything in whole milk. I would never consider
giving my toddler anything other than whole milk.

Well mine turns two in a month and I have a whole milk for her now. I will keep using whole yogurt for awhile. Soon I will move her to 1%. I think my peditrician prefers 2% for another year. But i am done with the tow milks in the fridge.
She also gets almond milk and loves it

Hey there,
I am from Germany and kids always drink whole milk here. Milk itself won't make your kid fat, if he eats well usually.

The 'resident four year old' will drink anything but normally he drinks 2%.

Wow! There are a lot of different opinions here! My boys started getting skim milk after the age of two. My pedi says that as long as the diet is balanced and they are getting healthy fats other places, they don't need it from milk as well. Both of my boys have perfect body mass. They get the same amount of calcium from skim as they would from whole.

My pediatrician recommended whole milk until at least 2 years of age then as long as the kids were not underweight, he said 1% or skim is fine. My daughter (almost 4) drinks whatever we have. I drink skim and hubby will drink 2% or whole so I'll always buy two kinds.

We did whole milk for one year the switched to skim at two years. Our pediatrician had no issue with it, and it makes it easier since that's what we drink.

my 3 and 6 y/o both drink whole. they are slightly below normal weight so my ped said they are still fine.

They need the fat calories in whole milk.

My son has been on 2% since he went off formula...whole milk caused him tummy problems. I checked with my ped first, and he said it was fine as long as his weight was good :)

She drinks 2% or soy. We were encouraged to serve primarily lowfat milk until she's three, which happened last month. Their little bodies need more of the fat and proteins from lowfat (as opposed to soy, which had been our original question).

2% now that DS is over 2 per our ped's recommendation. Makes things easier as hubby and nanny drink that too. DD drinks rice milk as she has milk allergy and I drink skim.

None, he can't have milk :) If we did, I would probably just have him drink what my husband does. 2%.

My son drinks 2% because that's what I keep in the house. I've bought 1% and given it to him and he didn't notice the difference, but I did, so 2% it is for us.

Our pediatrician said that the little ones still need some milk fat so at 2 years, she suggested we go to 2%, at 3 years 1%, and then on to fat free after that. For my younger one, she said we could switch to fat free at age 3 since that was what the rest of us were drinking. Since my older daughter hated the taste of fat free (she said it was just like water), I switched her to 1% and my younger still drinks 2% since she is very underweight. It's funny because when my older daughter gets 2%, she says it is so much better!!! : )

According to pediatricians you should switch to lowfat milk once they turn 1. My kids and I drink 2 percent. If your kid likes 1 percent, that's great. No need for anything more.

Our ped and I tallk about it at each visit every year and he said whole milk until pre-puberty, according to my son's growth chart. He is a healthy, tall, thin very active 8 yr old guy. I really think it depends on the child.

Our pediatrician told us that at 18 months-2 years the children can go off of whole milk because they no longer need the extra fat in their diet (assuming they're at a healthy weight). At that point she said there is no need to buy 2 kinds of milk for the household so since we use skim that's what our kids use at the 2 year mark. It sounds like it may vary from pediatrician to pediatrician so I'd ask or do a little research on your own.

I believe that whole milk, until the age of 5, is important. It has fats that I was told are essential in brain development. My children are in the 15% for weight and 90th% for height, so I don't think it has been bad for them. My oldest is 6 1/2 and she only likes 2% now, but until she was 5 she got the whole milk.

My DD never liked whole milk. In fact, to get her to drink any milk we flavor it. She drinks 2% like the rest of us. I was also not worried because she gets other forms of dairy.

Depends on other dairy consumption. If he eats a lot of yoghurt and cheese then he does not need the fat.

My guy turned 2 in April and at his check-up the day after his birthday his pediatrician said I could switch him to 2% as it has all the nutrients of whole milk, just a little less fat. He's at a perfect weight, and there hasn't been any problem in switching him over.

My daughter only drinks skim, but that is her choice. She doesn't like fattier milk! Wouldn't drink it when offered!
Good luck!
R.

MY pediatrician wants my daughter to drink whole milk or at LEAST 2%... he said if we wanted to we could let her drink cream! (jokingly)

But, she is skinny and active and wouldn't be hurt by some extra fat and calories. She is also supposed to be allowed to eat any healthy fats that she likes. Your body, especially as a child, needs fat and cholesterol for healthy brain function... milk isn't the only good source for it, but it IS one of the sources that most kids enjoy and eat often.

My same pediatrician has told other parents to switch to 1% or 2% rather than whole milk... it depends on the child, their diet, age activity level etc. Ask what your child should be drinking when you go to you 2 year checkup. follow his/her recommendation and if you want to know his/her reasoning, just ask!

Good Luck!
-M.

Ages 0 to 1+/- = BFed babies
>1YO to 2 yr = whole milk. I was told they need the fat at this stage.
2+ yrs = 1% milk which is what the "rest" of the family drinks. I was told after two years it is a calcium issue, not a fat issue any more.

Ask your peditrician.
~C.