At my daughter's 2 year well check appt I asked if we could switch off of whole milk and the doctor said yes (as I expected). He said I could give her whatever I'm drinking, which is skim. I've been doing this for a couple weeks and she's fine with it, but the thought is lingering that I've heard you step kids down (2% at age 2, 1% at age 3, then skim at age 4). Any thoughts? (both her weight and height are at the 45 percentile)
The fat in milk is good for helping children absorb vitamins and promotes brain development...they need some fat in the diet. I'd vote for whole or at the very least 2%.
All my psych & neurology professors say to stay with WHOLE milk until at *least* age 5, and preferably until adulthood. My nutrition prof also recommends whole milk for those who are trying to lose weight... for some reason milk lowers belly fat.
For kids, the fats are important for the mylenization of nerves, which they're still trying to figure out when exactly it ends -10 years ago it was age 1, 5 years ago it was 2-3, now they're finding it goes even longer... age 5-6. (as are the nutrients that get taken out during the skimming process).
For milk and dairy products... if you look at the lowfat and nonfat versions... you can see they replace it with carbs. Huh. Quick worthless sugar.
Personally... I feel like sure one CAN switch. Just like one CAN choose juice, mcdonalds, candy... but why? Why not just get rid of calories somewhere where they aren't getting nutrition & healthy fats from? Somewhere empty?
My kids never drank Whole milk. They went to 2% at age 2. I can only remember what I did with my youngest after that...lol - She is 2 1/2 and we have her on 1%. When she was on 2% I was giving it to my other two kids (5 & 11 at the time) only because she didn't go through a gallon herself that fast. She is about 75% for weight and 95% for height. If we happen to run out of 1% than she drinks Skim, just as we do. I figure it doesn't cost anymore for 1% than Skim, so it doesn't bother me to buy a gallon for her...
My kids also get cottage cheese, string cheese, sliced cheese and yogurt in addition to just milk...
I would suggest at least 1% for her since her height and weight are so low, but that's totally up to you....
I think it's fine when. My oldest turned 1 and was weaned off of formula she couldn't tolerate whole milk it made her constipated. So after trial and error skim milk was the only thing that she could tolerate. As long as she's getting the calicum that she needs it shouldn't be a problem.
if she drinks the skim, give her skim! I had my girls on 1%, but then my in-laws, who drink whole milk, gave her some of theirs and then my 5 year old thought the 1% milk was gross. We compromised with 2%.
whatever you decide is fine though!
My daughter is still drinking whole milk and she's 3.5 yo. I would only switch if there is a weight problem.
I too think either is fine. I was planning on switching my daughter to skim when she hits 3. We did whole, then 2, and eventually skim and I like it that way, but honestly my kid would drink skim if I gave it to her so it's probably fine. I think it's more important that they get the fatty milk between 1 and 2.
its cuz of the obesity level in america.
we were told skip 4% entirely!
We still drink whole, my youngest just turned 6. None of my children are overweight. I actually have one very underweight so this is good for us. I always thought you stopped whole at 5. Did they change that because of the whole obesity in kids thing?
My kids are on the thin side and our pediatrician recommended staying on 2%. My kids are 5 and 3, and are at 10th and 12th percentile respectively.
