My kids drink 1% milk. They're 2.5 and 4 and both a healthy weight. They will drink skim milk without any problem as well. Is there any reason why I can't just switch them over to skim milk completely? I know I should ask our pediatrician but thought I'd see what you ladies know about this. Thanks. I should also add that they're big milk drinkers in addition to eating very well.
*On the boys growth chart they are both in the 90-100% height and 50% weight
In my college nutrition classes we talked about milk. Kids need the fats they get from milk. That is why kids on WIC cannot have skim or milk less than 2% until they are much older. Right off formula they need to be on whole milk, then at 2 can start using 2%. Once they get to school age they are going to have whole milk at school so I don't think it will matter what you give them at home.
I do home based licensed child care. I use a USDA sponsored food program (similar to the school lunch program). Last year a Federal Mandate came down the pipe that we have to serve Low Fat milk to any child over the age of 2. This means ONLY Skim or 1%, unless they have some sort Special Diet Statement (which is a Doctor ordered thing, not a parent request).
I am actually not in favor of this, as I do not think that milk is the cause of the nations obesity problem with children (this is the reasoning behind Mrs. Obama's backing and pushing for this mandate).
But according to this , and the research that was put into it, etc, these low fat milk options are totally OK for kids over age 2. We were even told in our nutrition training about this over the years, that Whole milk is not required for children age 12-24 mos (this was the previous standard..then "guideline" for us for many years). We are still allowed to offer whole milk to toddlers (for us that is 12-24 mos) but that 2% is also fine for them now, but at the date of the 2nd birthday we MUST only serve skim or 1% if we are on a USDA Food Program.
This is not a state to state thing. It is the whole nation for such food program sponsors. Just FYI~
So no reason why you can not!
ETA~ no disrespect meant..but Gamma G's answer is wrong. These new rules that came down the pipe affect daycare's on USDA food programs as well as schools that are on lunch programs. ALL of them.
Whole and 2% are allowed to children 12-24 mos, but after age 2 and on up through all school age to high school, it is ONLY skim and 1% due to this new law/rule backed and pushed by Mrs. Obama. Here is a link to a press release about the school age lunch program part of it. It also affecting Wic.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/pressreleases/2012/0023.htm
Their brains need fats in order to develop. It's not a matter of how much they weigh. Their bodies can be healthy but their brain development lag behind because they lack fat.
No reason. Up until the age of 2yo, they need the fat for brain development (ala Marda's answer). After 2 years of age, though, that is no longer the case and lowfat or skim are both fine.
At 2, my daughter's pediatrician wanted her on 2% milk because she said that she needed the fat for brain development At 3, she was ok moving to fat-free milk.
Check out this article:
http://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler-nutrition/milk-for-to...
My kids (6, 4, and 1) are still on whole because they are on the very low end of the growth chart.
When my kids were able to drink milk, they all switched to skim starting around age 2. Our Dr. said it was perfect for them.
There's absolutely no problem making the switch. I switched my boys to skim milk on their 2nd birthday. They're pretty lean, and I might have gone from whole milk to 2% if they hardly ate anything or if they had a history of poor weight gain or growth. They're both big milk drinkers and get their share of treats, so they don't need the additional saturated fat.
My daughter turned 1 a few months ago, and my pediatrician said the AAP just changed the recommendation from whole milk to 2% once babies turn 1yr old.
Sounds like different peds might have different recommendations (no surprises there, as that happens on so many topics).
My husband and I drink skim, so naturally we were looking to let our boys drink skim as soon as was reasonable. It's nice not to have multiple jugs of milk in the fridge.
Our almost 6 year old is very small for his age. Our ped told us that if we decided to let him have whole milk or 2% past age 2, it would be fine. She said it was no longer as important for him to have the extra fat, but it certainly wouldn't hurt him.
Our 3 year old is in a much higher percentile, so our ped said whole milk once in awhile wouldn't hurt him but recommended we use skim for the most part. No problem doing that, as it sure made our lives easier.
I say go for it! Just buy skim. It will simplify your life.
Blah!! You guys sound like my daughter. I always tell her buy whole milk and water it down, taste the same! :p She is not amused.
To answer the question I think it is two years where there are no longer any milk suggestions.
Oh the daughter I speak of is 22. Fine buy me skim, I will drink beer. :p
We do 1% in my house, my son is 5 and has maybe 20 oz a week, we are just not milk people.
I would keep them on whole milk, they need the fat! Fat is important to make energy so as long as they're active, I'd stick with whole.
