Ask the Expert – Whole Milk and Toddlers

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Family Physician and Registered Dietitian Dr. Shelley Meyer recommends you consider switching to 2% milk as long as your toddler is growing appropriately. Whole milk is recommended for children between 1-2 years old.

Shelley Meyer, DO, MS, RD Education: Residency: Family Medicine, St. Anthony’s Denver, Co; Medical school: University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nutrition: Masters, Georgia State University, Bachelors: University of Florida; Dietetic Internship: Grady Hospital Experience: Family Medicine Physician, Registered Dietitian Expertise: Preventive Medicine, Wellness, Integrative Medicine

Question: How much whole milk is necessary? Should my nearly-17-month-old be drinking whole milk all the time? I worry about her fat intake a lot because there is heart disease and hypertension in our family in a BIG way – I want to get her started correctly down a road that will help her to avoid those issues.

Answer:

This is a great question that comes up quite a bit with parents of infants that are making their transition into toddlerhood.  Previously, the AAP recommended that any child between one and two years old have only whole milk.  The premise behind this idea was that the additional fat in whole milk was needed for appropriate development of the brain, as 80% of brain development occurs in the first two years.  In addition fat has more than twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and proteins, and is thus a great way to ensure adequate energy intake for the early toddler years.

However, due to the rising rate of childhood obesity and the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the general population, in 2008 the AAP revised their recommendations.  So, in your case, where there is a strong family history of heart disease, you may opt to use 2% milk as long as your child is growing appropriately.  In the case of an obese child 2% may also be the best option.   Remember, though, that fat is needed for brain development so be sure your young toddler is getting 45-50 grams of fat per day.

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Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

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Tagged as: Brain Development, Childhood Obesity, Healthy Fats, heart disease, Toddler Growth, Whole milk