Low Fat Milk

My pediatrician switched my son to SKIM milk at 1 yo; he was in the upper % for weight and didn't need the extra calories in whole or 2% (he's now a very healthy 27 yo, was a college rower, and getting married in a month). Yes, kids do need a certain amount of fat in their diet, but it doesn't need to come from whole milk. Find something else to worry about!!! :)

My doctor told me that non-fat milk was fine and the only difference was the fat content (not calcium and vitamin D)- so as long as the toddler is not under weight, then any milk is fine.

My daughter is only 4 months old, but my Pedi was telling me all the things I'm supposed to be doing up until she's like 2. I was also told that it's Whole milk once they hit 1 yr old.

I switched to 2% when my DD was a little over a year. Here is why: She wouldnt drink the whole milk! We tried everything, even putting ovaltine in it! She just wouldn't drink it! One night at dinner, she reached for my DH's cup of milk so we let her have a sip (he drinks fat free), she drank the whole thing! I was more concerned with her getting the calcium/some fat than none at all!

She is now 7, about to start 3rd grade (should only be in 2nd!), and at the top of her class. She is rarely sick and her weight/height are normal.

Your SIL might have reasons why she doesn't give whole milk. Maybe try asking her why she chose 2% instead of telling her she NEEDS to do something?

Between the months of 12-24, a toddler needs the FAT in whole milk for proper brain development. They can get the calcium in other sources, but the fat is the critical component.

Here's what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about it. I battled my sister, too, who was more worried about having a chubby baby than a healthy, well-developed one. Sad.

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/f...

Our pediatrician has always told me it doesn't matter which kind of milk we give our children. The whole milk just has extra calories and fat in it that they don't need. Both my my children drink skim milk and they are both very healthy. If you have concerns talk to your own pediatrician, each doctor has a different opinion just like us mamas.

She doesn't sound like she wants to be told what to do. She probably should give whole milk but you have to figure out how to convince her. The fat in whole milk is actually really good for her little one's brain development and for needed calories. As our former nanny would tell me when I would get upset about something someone else was doing like this- the child will survive!

Milk is NOT what is used to be.

I am a family wellness coach and here are two of the sources that I trust:

http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/dont-drink-milk.asp

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=milk&k=milk

Do your due diligence. My children are 14 and 11 and there is no milk, cows, goats NOTHING in this house, hasn't been for years.

If you want a healthy option: This is my kids breakfast. www.bestbreakfastever.com

And as for the "breakfast cereal", you know those little circle ones you want her to eat...check the ingredients. You will see TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE. Google it. Or better yet, head to your nearest hardware store and pick up wall paper remover and see what their number one ingredient is...you guessed it TSP trisodium phosphate.

PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF. Things are not as they seem.

B.
Family wellness coach

Whole milk is recommended but reduced fat(2%) is just as good. My son is on 2% and doing phenomenal at age 14 months. We have incorporated whole fat yogurt and lots of olive oil into our children's diet, so they are not lacking for calcium and healthy fats.

Stop being judgmental and let your SIL make the right decision for her child.

I say you do a little more research, it sounds like your SIL has. My kids' pediatrician actually does not recommend whole milk for kids. We are not a big dairy family at all. Too many allergies caused by dairy, that too many people do not realize. . Too many people keep treating allergies, instead of eliminating the cause of their allergies.

Anyway- for the fats, plenty of natural foods out there that do not come out of another animal, but, straight from Earth that you can feed your baby. Avocados being a great one. For the calcium, again, many other ways to get it. Same for the Vitamin D, not to mention a healthy dose of sunlight will give that to you also. I also give my children a daily vitamin with added calcium just to make sure they are getting enough.

I really feel like you and your MIL are too much in your SIL's business, and, really rely on the milk industry to tell you what you should be doing, instead of the most current research available to you by simply talking to a handful of nutritionists and pediatricians. In fact, one of the main reasons so many suggest whole milk is because they know that too many parents are lazy feeders, so, at least they will get what they need when they are eating happy meals and junk food in between the milk.

Good Luck! :)

http://diaryofanutritionist.com/2010/02/09/milk-alternati...

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/15529680622527315969

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/8717990854775668737

my pediatrian told me at my son's 12 month check up to give him whole milk only. At his 1.5 year checkup, he told me that I can go down to 2% or 1%. At that time my son was around 60% in growth. I think your SIL is fine, your MIL needs to not interfere. No poor child here, especially if her child is getting plenty of daily and calcium from other food sources.

I don't believe that two percent milk is actually helping you SIL's little ones' bones' to mature. I know here in Canada it is only homogenized milk. Something about the two percent causing kidney issues' at a later date.
I would think that she should ask her pediatrician what to give he/she. Maybe that has already been spoken of but your SIL figures' that whats' the difference. Somewhat little more money but I'd rather the money than have frail bones' at a later age. Perhaps when you see your own Pediatrician ask him/her when is the time to go on two percent versus homogenized. I know my own grandaughter at 10mos. of age was put on homogenized but she was eating everything at the time. She was no longer on baby foods, my daughter gave her everything that had nutricous value and she is doing fine. I might add that she also has her on baby vitamins as well. I believe Trivisol.
Hopefully you will get the right answers via your Pediatrician. Good Luck!!

I always give whole milk to my 19 month old and did up until age 2 with her older brother (now he drinks 1 or 2%). Babies and toddlers need the extra fat for growth and especially brain development. I think whole milk is about 3% milk fat so with 2% your niece is getting a fair amount of fat.

Also, please note that the calcium content will be about the same regardless of the fat percentage for the various types of milk.

You are wrong and you probably need to stop worrying about how other people are parenting and worry about your own kid! The new recommendation is that for kids who are in the higher percentiles in weight keeping them on whole milk until they were two was too long and was contributing to obesity. I was specifically told by my doc at my son's 18 month appt to switch him to 2% milk and now that he is 2.5 he's on skim. My neighbor's little girl did not like whole milk and she got the ok from her doc at age 1 to go straight to 2%. So, really stop stressing about that "poor kid" sounds to me like he has an educated mom who is listening to her pediatrician and doing the right thing for HER child.

Our pediatrician told us that IF we're going to give our son milk, it should be no more than 2% not whole milk (and trust me, our son could use a little meat on his bones). Your SIL is correct that 2% is sufficient, there is the same amount of calcium in 2% as that of whole milk (sometimes even more). The percentage is listing fat content not calcium content. There are much better forms of calcium consumption though IMO.

Our pediatrician told us that there is most calcium & vitamin D in nonfat milk. Fat is replaced w/better vitamins & minerals! Crazy, huh?

Hi Krys, I started both my kids off on the breast, which is always good. But by 3 mos both kids seemed like they were starving. So I tried Formula with my Daughter & she would projectile vomit every kind we would try. I put her straight to 1/2 cows milk 1/2 water. And yes your MIL is right its supposed to be whole milk. I had my Daughter on 2% and my Pediatrician told me at that time if i'm going to do milk make sure its whole because the kids need the fat. So with my Son I didn't waste time or money of Formula. Not saying Formula is bad, just have you tasted it? YUCK!!

Two percent has the same amount of calcium as whole just has less fat. If the kid is eating and is of healthy weight I don't see the probem. By two yrs you really don't need to give whole milk, anymore, unless the kid is underweight and even then it might stifle their appetite.

My Ped told me to change from Whole Milk to non-fat or 1% when my son turned 2...I thought that was strange, but he said that the fat content in whole milk is not necessary once they turn 2...hope this helps...FYI calcium levels same in whole, 2%, 1% and nonfat...just the fat content that changes.

You are right, btwn 1-2 yrs it is whole milk. But, I think kids need the fat for brain developement. I could be wrong.

Most pediatricians will recommend whole milk until the age of two due to the fat content. Two percent milk has less FAT. Nothing has happened to the calcium, so you can rest assured that the child is getting an adequate amount even though he/she is drinking two percent. If you need to put your mind at ease, just google "does low fat milk have less calcium" and I'm sure you'll get your answers.

Hi. 2% is fine. Our ped told me when I started giving my son (at 1) milk that most people think regular whole milk is much higher in fat, but it is actually only a little over 3%. They will still get everything they need with 2%.

My son is 20 months and his doctor said either 2% or whole is fine. If the child is growing properly there is no reason to only drink whole milk. On a side note, do not be so judgmental with your SIL. You wouldn't like it if she was doing that to you, right?

Short advice - Don't talk to your SiL about it ever again - what she feeds her child is none of your business. If that's what she wants to do then let her. My kids can't even drink regular milk and my 2 year old has never had it - NO problems with calcium deficiencies in my house. FAT and calcium aren't the same and 2% has the same calcium/Vit D as whole - just less fat. however - toddlers do need the essential fatty acids - but they don't need to get them from whole milk.

My daughter's being self-weaned from breast so she won't drink cow milk usually. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me to buy separate whole milk after having to throw out most of it so I just let her drink my skim. I think I gave up on the whole milk thing when she turned 2, and she is now 2 and a half. She is totally healthy and meets most milestones. We do eat a lot of tofu, broccoli, yogurt and cheese, though.

Our state's WIC program has actually stopped granting whole milk to children under over 18 mo. It's all low-fat milk from 18 mo +. This is in hopes of helping with childhood obesity. Personally, I kept all my girls on whole milk til they were 2, but when that's all the state gives you and buying out of their own pockets is impossible, some people are forced to take what they're given. So, technically, you're both right.

it used to be that once your child is one you can feed them whole milk, but w/ all the overweight children they have acutally said that if that runs in your family you can give a lower fat milk. I only give my DD whole milk, even though most of my family on my side is larger. I am hoping that bc we are active and dont really watch tv that being overweight wont be too big of an issue.

From what I have read you are supposed to only give them whole milk until the age of 2 unless the DR says otherwise.

Butt out...you're sister-in-law is raising HER child, not yours...and there are plenty of doctors (based on study) that are saying you can forego the whole milk now in favor of 1 or 2%.

-M

First of all kids (older than 1 yr) don't need milk, they need calcium. Milk is an easy fix for that. But a lot of healthy kids are raised without milk, but other forms of calcium... broccoli, etc. Second, calcium is not related to the fat-content in milk. Kids do not need whole milk or extra animal fat after 18 months. 2% is good, or even 1%. They need healthy fat, like olive oil and avocado, etc., to build a healthy brain, not just any fat. Excessive animal fat just clogs their arteries - most of the arterial damage is done by age 10! Milk and dairy are easier to give than dark greens but if you start early enough, kids LOVE dark greens. But the extra fat in whole milk doesn't help them at all (unless you have adopted a super-thin child who is not thriving and missed out on early nutrition - in which case, consider organic whole milk!), but what it does is add fat cells -- since all the fat cells are made in the first 3 years of life. Later on, the fat cells can be shrunk and plumped up based on diet/exercise but the actual fat cell number never goes down. Ever. This is one reason that babies should be breastfed when possible and not given too much extra fat that is unhealthy (watch the ice cream, etc, but if you must, try organic - skip the hormones and chemicals for kids!).

Try to feed kids lots of healthy fats -- avocados, nuts and nut butters (after 1 year after asking your doctor), sesame butter with honey (after 1 yr), olive oil (no or little butter). Otherwise, children have a life-long struggle against weight -- which isn't fair to them.
But mostly teach kids to love what they put in their body, teach them where whole foods come from, bring them to the open-air markets, take time as a family to sit down and enjoy meal time together. Celebrate good food!
Good luck and good question!
ZP

P.S. Marly... Homogenized vs. Non-homogenized does not compare with fat content, it is completely unrelated.

Toddlers need calcium for bone growth and fat for brain development. They don't have to get these with milk.

Whole milk is 5% fat which is more than twice as much fat as 2% IF one is using milk as a source of fat.

They are supposed to have whole milk til they are 2.

its their brains that will suffer not their bones. the fat content in whole milk is needed because their brains are still growing

My daughters ped told me at her 12 month appointment to do whole milk or 2% milk. Like you I had always heard only whole milk, but her doc told me 2% was basically the same. I have always been a fat free (skim) milk drinker and whole milk is sooo thick it really grosses me out. We have had her on 2% for the last 6 months and she is growing just fine, strong bones, beautiful white teeth and all.

My daughter wouldn't touch whole milk to save her life. She has native american in her background with her dad, and everything but the skim milk hurt her tummy, made her gassy and generally miserable. My dr said that whatever she will drink, milk wise, is fine, so we buy skim. She is in the 95 percentile growth wise, so low fat didn't hurt her at all...
Plus, there are articles out there linking whole milk to childhood obesity.
Good luck!
R.

The calcium is still there. The difference is on the amount of fat. Your SIL is not doing anything wrong.

We never did whole milk and that was supported by our pediatrician.

I agree with the others that what your SIL does is her business, especially on an issue as minor as this.

The reason that there is conflicting advice on this is that the AAP changed the guidelines in the last couple of years and now recommends 2% milk for 12-24 children from families that have history of obesity, high cholesterol, etc. While dietary fat is important to brain development, recent studies have shown that children who drank reduced fat milk developed normally.

So, which milk to use is really not critical and should be considered in the context of each family/child.

http://children.webmd.com/news/20080711/baby-milk-recomme...

Whole milk 'til age 2 -- toddlers need the higher amts. of fat for brain growth. At 2 you can switch to 2%.

http://mamasoncall

I was told that from 1-2 years whole milk, then skim or low fat after 2 years. Skim and low fat milk has all of the same nutrients as whole milk, it is only the fat content it is higher in. I think, and I am not a doctor, but I think they say whole milk from 1-2 years because your child is just transitioning into a regular, wholesome diet from breastmilk/formula/baby food and may not be getting the required fat content, especially if you have a picky eater.

My daughter will also not drink whole milk. Its a bit too rich for her tummy, so she drinks 2% instead and loves it. I stopped trying whole milk at a year and a half because it was always wasted. 2% isn't a HUGE difference anyway.

unless there is an overweight issue, you normally drink whole milk until 2.

at 2, you switch to fat free milk(not 1 or 2 percent) and hopefully that can start the child on a road with less fats.

at 1 1/2, and unless the child is underweight, its not a big deal to be having 1 1/2%. if a child is on the upper side of the charts, they may recommend going down percents sooner. i started giving my oldest 1% around 18- 20 months, she drank so much milk, i know she got more milk fat than most kids. my younger daughter never drank milk at all. the doctor wasnt concerned at all because of other calcium in her diet. what i think you are confusing is calcium. a child needs calcium and gets it from any kind of milk, and if they dont drink milk, can get the right amount from yogurt and cheese. the % of milk is just referring to fat, not calcium.

i agree with the other poster, i would prefer organic milk as more important than the fat as long as the child was a normal size.

Maybe one and a half is slightly young but at 2, my son's pediatrician said to switch to 1%.

It's usually formula or breast milk until age 1 and whole milk until age 2. As long as her baby is getting enough fat, calcium, etc.. from other sources, it should be fine, though. -www.weelicious.com

The highest amount of calcium is in skim milk, NOT whole milk! The higher the fat content, the lower the calcium. You need vitamin D in conjunction with calcium to ensure adequate absorbtion. (Dr Oz article: http://tinyurl.com/2dbhroc - for suppliments in adults, but gives info about the calcium-vitamin D-magnesium connection)

Whole milk until 18 months or two years is usually recommended because of the fats needed for brain development. You can get good fats (Omega-3) in food sources including: cold-water fish (salmon, sardines), flaxseed oil, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and almonds.

Another good fat is Omega-6. "Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains and vegetable oils (corn, safflower, soybean, cottonseed, sesame, sunflower). Most diets provide adequate amounts of omega-6. Unless you eat a diet that is extremely low in fat, it is very easy to get more than enough omega-6. Supplementation of omega-6 is usually not necessary." (http://tinyurl.com/4m6ynp)

I gave my son my milk until 18 months, then introduced cow's milk. He had some whole and some skim milk. WIC gave us whole milk until he turned 2yo. I prefer skim, so we had both kinds for six months until his second birthday when WIC switched to 'skim to 2% milk,' when we went to skim all the time. We also drink soy milk and almond milk.

Formula companies see a need, so they now make a formula for toddlers from 10 to 36 months for growth, brain, and immune system. (Enfamil makes Enfragrow.)

Depends on the pediatrician. Mine advocates extended nursing and no cows milk whatsoever. I would worry more about whether or not the milk is organic than whether it is whole or 2%. Non-organic milk contains hormones and antibiotics.

I don't think it really matters. My almost 2 year old doesn't drink milk at all (only in cereal), he gets dairy from yogurt, cheese, etc, and eats a balanced meal. I also still breastfeed, so he gets those extra vitamins. I think milk has the same calcium no matter what, it just has more or less fat. Does the baby need extra fat in it's diet? Maybe, but it is really up to the mother. My family has pestered me about certain decisions I have made (which I will say have all turned out to be the right decisions, and they now acknowledge that), and it has only caused rifts between us. Let your SIL be, she's doing what she believes is best for her child, and she is most likely right.

Hi! I have three children, two boys and a baby girl. My oldest will be 15 in Sept. and a 11 yr. old, with a two yr. old girl. My same pediatrician had me put all three on 2% milk at one year. I nursed my girl till almost 2, and boys only 3 months each. My boys were huge at 23 lbs, and my girl barely 17 lbs at their one yr check up. Both boys are amazingly healthy, and not over/under weight at all, get straight A's in school and play sports . My girl is now about 20 lbs at 2 1/2 and quite healthy as well...but tiny. All three kids eat well, and I limit junk foods... I'm sure her baby will be just fine! =)