Milk Choices for Toddlers and Young Children

Pouring Milk
Pouring Milk

By E, University of Wisconsin

Experts generally recommend that babies be given whole milk when they stop drinking breast milk or formula after their first birthday, and then switch to fat-free or low-fat milk after their second birthday. But a new study from the Archives of Diseases of Childhood shows that toddlers who drank low-fat (1%) or non-fat (skim) milk tended to gain more weight over a two-year period than toddlers who drank whole (full-fat) milk.

"This new study is important because it includes data from a large group of children for two years," says Susan Nitzke, Professor Emerita and Extension specialist in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, she points out that the researchers did not measure other important factors affecting weight gain such as exercise levels or total calorie intakes.

"A critical question left unanswered by this study is ‘do low-fat milk drinkers gain more weight than whole milk drinkers–or do parents of children who tend to gain weight rapidly switch them to low-fat milk earlier than parents of children who gain weight less rapidly?’" says Nitzke.

In some cases, the switch to lower-fat milk may be recommended before age two, according to Frank Greer, pediatrics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recent publications from the American Academy of Pediatrics are moving towards recommending low-fat milk for children between 12 and 24 months of age if they are at risk for overweight or obesity.

Nitzke says young children need about two cups of milk per day because it is a major source of important nutrients including protein, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. She also points out that whole milk has more calories and saturated fat than lower-fat milk.

Nitzke and Greer recommend discussing your child’s nutritional needs with a doctor, dietitian or other medical professional. "Whether you choose nonfat, low-fat, reduced fat, or whole milk, it is important to include milk in your child’s daily diet and minimize intakes of soda and other sweetened beverages," says Nitzke.

She adds that parents who do not want to continue giving cows’ milk to toddlers or older children should be careful label readers and choose nutritious substitutes such as low-fat yogurt and cheese or fortified soy beverage (often called soymilk), that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

For more information on making nutritious choices of milk and dairy foods, see the "Got Your Dairy Today?" fact sheet on the ChooseMyPlate.gov website: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet5GotYourDairyToday-BlkAndWht.pdf

 

Latest News

Success is All in the Details at Kansas Dairy Development
Success is All in the Details at Kansas Dairy Development

Kansas Dairy Development provides temporary housing for up to 80,000 head of cattle — from a few days old to springers nearly ready to calve. Their formula for success is all in the details.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

Built Out of Love: How Two Sisters Created a Super-Fast-Growing Yogurt Company
Built Out of Love: How Two Sisters Created a Super-Fast-Growing Yogurt Company

Travel to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and you’ll meet Hayley and Stephanie Painter who not only made the Forbes 30 under 30 list, but have also created one of the fastest growing yogurt company in the U.S.

"Boring" Technology Will Reshape Dairy Over the Next 10 Years
"Boring" Technology Will Reshape Dairy Over the Next 10 Years

Once a technology becomes a boring experience it means it has become proven, well-adopted, and easy to utilize. There are three "boring" technologies silently shaping the industry.

Influential Dairy Leaders Awarded World Dairy Expo Recognition Awards
Influential Dairy Leaders Awarded World Dairy Expo Recognition Awards

World Dairy Expo is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Expo Recognition Awards. These individuals have made remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities.

Meat Institute: Properly Prepared Beef is Safe to Eat; HPAI is not a Food Safety Threat
Meat Institute: Properly Prepared Beef is Safe to Eat; HPAI is not a Food Safety Threat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USDA food safety experts, properly prepared beef is safe to eat and is not a food safety risk to humans.