Whole Milk - Fort Worth,TX

Kids have been drinking milk for hundreds of years and they're healthy right? I give my daughter whole milk with a scoop of enfamil next step formula for added nutrients. She loves it, she's healthy, and I'm happy. I b/f her for 11 1/2 months, so I know that she got the best start, and she's non-stop cuteness!

WHOLE Milk is a great source of calcium, protein, and fat needed for brain development until age 12. The same amount of Calcium is in whole, 2% and skim for adults. For adults milk is needed for calcium unless it is ur vitamin. The fat in whole is a big necessity in kids brain growth and deveopment. I don't recall the amount of protein in the three choices of milk. Unless there is a weight issue, never to reduce from whole. Not just a Mom talking. This was advice to me when my babies came off formula. Also, sound advice from my friend who has a MBA in Nutrition.

What does your peditricain say??? There are times when it is great to ask questions on a fourm, and get advice, but sometime you dont know everyones back ground who is giving you info. Some people who say try alternative Milks...maybe they are vegan, or have religious reasons or personal convictions or sometime people really feed on all the negative and conspicary theories, like the 2nd posting said, kids have been drinking milk for 100+ years. Give her WHOLE MILK when she is ready for it but for about 12 months, then to 2%. My son is 6 today, I did not breast feed him..I used formula, I did give him milk at 11 1/2 months when I took him off the bottle, and he is VERY healthy...he was 2 1/2 before he got his first ear infection! Keep in mind all kids are different, as our beliefs!

You need to make the decision that is best for you, but do it with the consult of your peditrician! When you go for her 9 month check up, talk to the Dr then, maybe she/he will have some info for you to look over if you really want an alternative to whole milk. But your doctors office is the best place to start asking questons!

There are much better sources of both calcium and protien than milk, such as green veggies. If you train you children when they are young, they will accept the bland and sometimes bitter flavors of fruits and vegetables. My son is 6 and LOVES spinach and asparagus. It's only when they are introduced to the processed stuff that they start to really reject it. With hormones and antibiotics being in milk, girls getting periods at 9 and boys developing breasts, the best thing you could do is to move to an enriched rice or almond milk. It has the same amount of calcium, the almond milk has the same calcium and more protien than milk. Cheese and yogurt are ok in moderation, but I think America has their vegetable and dairy ratios messed up. I mean, cheese and yogurt enriched to make you poop instead of just eating an apple. Seems like people don't think things through sometimes and companies just want to make a buck. I once read that we are the only animals that drink milk in adulthood, the milk of another animal not even our own. Kinda gross when you think about it.

A few comments to the posts below...
The milk children were drinking centuries ago was mostly raw. Pasturizing and adding antibiotics and hormones is a relaltively new thing.

24-30 oz. milk is way too much. My nutirtionist said that 1/2 the weight in oz. is what you need in water per day. So a 20 lb child needs 10 oz. water (after 1 yr old). Other than that she said 4 oz. juice and 4 oz. milk or other calcium fortified drink. When my son was 4, they said 8 oz. was the max he needed on milk and juice and that 4 oz. was better. She also said nutrition should come from food, not liquid.

After reading the responces that came in after mine, I'd like to add that pediatricians are trained to think milk is a miracle drink. Your best bet is to follow your gut. You are concerned for a reason. Do the research and feel free to ride the fence. Being on the fence is an OK place to be, especially when your children's health is concerned. My kids eat very healthy with little dairy and as a result they are more in line with the growth charts that measured our grandparents. They are leaner and never sick, ever. Neither of my children have ever had an ear infection and they are 3 and 6. Just take your time and do the research and don't allow yourself to be bullied by anyone on either side of the debate. Pray about it and come to the conclusion that works for you. It'll be the right choice if it's an open minded and educated one.

E.,

Here is what I have heard about milk. I heard that it is hard for a baby under 18 months to digest. I put my first and second children on whole milk when they turned one. I have a third child who is 9 months. This time, I am going to wait to put on whole milk until he is 18 months. From one year old to 18 months, I will give him the older infant formula. I do not think milk is a worthless source of nutrition. Babies and toddlers need the calcium and especially the fat that whole milk provides. Hope this helps.

Goats milk is the closest milk to breast and can even be given when the child has congestion unlike milk. It tastes great and u can even find it in walmart these days. my friends babies had severe ear infections they tried tubes twice and the next step was a very serious operation. They changed to goats milk and her little guy has never had another ear infection no surgery needed

My son is 20mths old now, and we started giving him regular whole cow's milk at age 1. He's fine and dandy and growing, growing, growing and has never had an ear infection or any other problems due to it. I'm not quite sure why you have concerns and would love for you to elaborate on this. However, my brother's children have been brought up on goat's milk b'c they had problems with acid reflux, and this turned out to be easier on their little systems after turning age 1. So, I guess it will depend on your child's overall health and what you think is best.

I don't know who told you that milk was worthless. That is so not true for CHILDREN. It's not necessary for adults. the nutrition in milk is necessary for brain function and development. Just don't go overboard with it. There is a range of ounces they should be drinking a day. I think it's between 24-30 oz at that age but you might want to check with her pedi. I can't remember for sure.

E.~

My son is turning 1 next week and I have the same concerns as you do. I have heard many different things as well. I did some research on this site under FOOD/EATING and then under the diet/nutrition and there are a couple of others posts about the same topis and there are some great tips and great advice about what to do! Some of them say that Milk is not needed really because they are eating and drinking so much more once they turn 1. I have also heard that there is a formula out there that is an in between from formul and milk. I am not sure what it's called (sorry I'm still researching that) but that could also be an option. Hope some of this helps, good luck!

We have a relative who did not give her children any dairy products. The oldest broke her leg at age 2 1/2. The youngest broke her leg and both arms before she turned two. Just an observation. I'd rather my child have ear infections than weak bones because I didn't give them enough calcium. Besides, the ear infections really only occur if you put them to bed drinking it on their back and the milk gets into the middle ear space. Ear infections are usually caused by a virus that's beyond your control anyway. Good luck, I know it's hard when there's so many different views.

Holly M said most of what I would have said too. I researched the milk options as well (a good site is milksucks.com which has a link to other research sites and professional journals as well). There are pros/cons on both sides of this. I have a lot of friends who only do raw milk, but you need to be very careful imo if you go this route and really research the farm you get it from. Plus it's SUPER expensive (here it's about $6/half gallon or so). I researched a lot on this topic and did finally decide to do organic whole milk and rice milk. He will get about a glass (6-8 oz) of milk a day of each - he's 2.5 now. If your child is eating PLENTY of veggies like Holly suggested, the milk is not a necessity and, like you will find in many articles if you research, there are a LOT of negatives of giving milk at all, especially the hormones like Holly mentioned. Like any issue (i.e. vaccines) it's something you should research and learn as much as you can about and then make an educated decision that you feel comfortable with doing.

PS...Another option is goat's milk which is supposedly most like human milk as far as it's nutritional value. Again, it's fairly pricy (not too bad though) but most stores will carry it.

Hi E., we give our two year old son Goat's milk with added infant vitamins, black strap molasses(for Iron), liquid calcium and magnesium, concentrated minerals, Flax oil, vit C liquid and children's acidophillus. So we make our own "formula". Our doctor said goat's milk is missing Folic Acid, but with our "formula" we've covered all the bases possible including folic acid. There is lots of anti-cows milk info. Some examples- If it's not organic it will have antibiotics, pus and bovine growth hormones in it, cows milk causes ashma, excess mucous, food allergies, early onset of puberty and on and on. The organic (better) cows milk gave our son hives and he threw it up, so we had no choice but to find an alternative. I think what we do is better for him.

My son went from formula, oat cereal (so much healthier than rice cereal if your kids don't have allergies), and "baby foods" to Enfamil's Next Step as he was transitioning to all "real" foods. Milk is very good for kids. Not necessary with adults, but lots of things aren't "necessary". It tastes good, it's a great source of calcium, protein, and it's better than sugary juices or whatever. Don't over do it, obviously, on anything...there are guidelines online or at the pediatrician's about ounces for each age of meat, dairy, produce, etc. Don't overthink things, either....if your child doesn't have a health problem, milk is great.

for a few years, whole milk is a good source of nutrition. the kids need the good cholestrol that comes from it. beyond a few years, it is not something needed to continue.

I agree with several of the responses here. I would encourage you to do your own research. I BF both my girls till they were 15 and 22 months and we still had ear infections and tubes. I had my oldest on enriched soy milk to avoid dairy and she did great. She now does regular, HORMONE and antibiotic free milk (organic or a brand that doesn't add those)when she drinks milk, which is not often, and my other daughter never would drink milk (cow's, soy, rice, almond, flavored or regular). She does eat a lot of fruits and vegetables though, so I don't personally worry about her not drinking milk. We will give them drinkable yogurts as an alternative and we never really have pushed for them to have to drink milk as I don't think it is as necessary as some people feel it might be.