Whole Milk vs 2% Mild

When is it ok to take your child off of whole milk & let him drink 2% Mild?  I have a 2yr old and want to make sure he's getting all the calcium & stuff he needs so we buy him whole milk but the rest of us drink 2%.  Therefore we buy both and was just wondering if it is to soon to start him on 2%.

[amberd5191]

I think it varies on the doctor you ask and the child. They use to say leave a child on whole milk until 2. Now I heard this month from my ped. that they did a study that children may not need whole milk for that long. I would talk it over with your doctor; just to see what they have to say about it.

My own personal opinion: I've never given my children whole milk they always got 2%.

Good Luck!

[tiredbuthappy]

i'm not positive, but i think it's around 2 when you can make the switch, as long as your child has a healthy, balanced diet. The calcium content is the same- it's the fat in whole milk that young children need for brain development and growth. I would ask your pediatrician, and if s/he is ok with it, then you can make the switch. I'm surprised your ped didn't mention it at your 2 yr check up.

[GRose]

Noah's doctor said to take him off whole milk when he turned 2 and switch to 1% or skim. I was surprised that she didn't want him on 2% since he is so skinny but she said he doesn't need the extra fat.

[amy0013]

I agree with the others.  As long as he has a balanced diet, you should be fine to make the switch.  It is the fat in the whole milk that they need for brain development.  By two years old you can switch.  :)  I switched my daughter just shy of two years because she didn't need the fat/calories (she was 95% weight!) and was eating a balanced diet.  

[AnnieBrooke]

My son's pediatrician recently told me that the American Academy of Pediatrics has been considering changing their recommendation to use only whole milk because so many kids have obesity problems.  They are apparently considering changing it to a recommendation that even younger kids than two years old get less fat in the milk.  She wasn't specific, but it leads me to believe that 2% would be fine.  

[CYW]

well i think the weight plays a big role into this..DS is only about 22lbs and a half and is almost 17 months old I think I will be leaving DS on whole milk until 3 years of age or more depending...He eats alot but doesn't really gain...but i know 2 is usually around the time you can switch over just make sure you speak with your child's dr...My son has been on 2% when he is really sick and will not drink...as per dr's orders!

[mum2beagain]

I think it depends on the child, both my kids (2 and 4 1/2) are still on whole milk (DH and I only drink 1%). My oldest is super skinny so I am not worried about him being overweight and the youngest is bang on the 50th percentile. Both kids only drink one or two cups a day anyway..but they eat plenty cheese and youghurt (full fat too). I would ask your son's doctor about this one. In the UK they recomend giving full fat milk and milk products until 5 years of age; two reasons...extra fat needed for growth and brain development and also because reduced fat milks contain less vitamin A; a vitamin that it is quite common for kids under 5 to be defficient in.

[GRose]

See, Noah is in the 8th percentile for weight and 50th for height, I wonder why his ped recommended 1% or skim,  you would think she would want him to have the fat. ,

[AndiJ78]

The fat is important for neurological development, myelin sheath development specifically. The weight gain should come from a balanced diet. I am not a fan of low-fat diets for kids, however I do not think kids should be eating a bunch of junk. There is a balance to be found there.

One thing to be mentioned is the use of caution with calcium-rich foods as the calcium will inhibit the absorption of iron, also a much needed mineral. When offering iron-rich foods, skip the milk and offer Vitamin C rich foods.

Some kids will just be smaller in size. As long as they are getting a well-balanced diet and have lots of energy, the rest is a matter of preferences. Kids that age should only have a glass or two of milk a day at most. Mine have about 1/2 cup of milk with their cereal and they may have some with supper. Usually, they prefer yogurt or cheese instead of glasses of milk. They are water drinkers instead.