how much milk does a 1 year old really need?

they dairy post of fran made me think.....

my kids are on lower weight size, esp my boy, they get about 16oz of milk a day, half of it they manage to drink in sippies by now, the rest is a bottle before big nap and night bottle.

here their stats fyi:
Kaden born 37wks 4lbs14oz....he gained 2lbs over last 3 months and is now 18lbs12oz (well 3 weeks ago) (5th%ile)
height 29 3/4 (45th%ile)
head 44 1/2 (25th%ile)

Liana born 37wks 5lbs15oz...she gained 1lbs over last 3 months and is now 18lbs10oz (her bro finally caught up with her!) (15%ile)
height 29 1/2 (50%ile)
head 43 (25%ile)

my pedi told me not to give more than 16oz so they eat more real food, since they switched to cows milk they eat way more food so it seems to work.

mine love cream cheese on toast bred (whipped one is easier to spread) and they love melted cheese (we use any bags of shredded cheese that we buy for ourselves) on anything, we do it on their veggies, eggs, etc.

they also eat about 4-5oz of yogourt each day (per kid).....I also give them still cereal with milk but they barely take it anymore....

if I try only sippies and their milk intake would go down, is that okay?

I am just not sure how much milk does a 1 year old really need? and is it for calcium? also for growth?

they also drink lots of water in between meals out of sippies and straw sippies.....

thanks for any infos and input!
alexa

 

Our pedi said between 16-24oz a day, but being on the lower side is fine as long as they have other sources of calcium and fat. Oh and we weren't off bottles until after their 15 month appointment so don't stress out about it. Once we were off all bottles, they did start to finish their morning and bedtime sippies of milk (and they still rarely finish their lunch milk).

 

Mine could be off bottles, they just drink much less from cups... They would drink 10oz tops I think, so I'm not in a rush...

 

Our pediatrician told us 24 oz but that is because ours are on the low weight side.

 

i think this chart is really helpful: nutrition needs of babies and toddlers. it's from babyzone.com.

best of luck! sounds like you are doing all that you can.

 

Mine still drink 4 six ounce bottle of formula a day for this exact reason, I worry constantly that they are not getting enough nutrition from just solids/milk. I am in NO hurry to get rid of the bottles and am just slowly offering the milk in the sippy cup at the end of every meal until I feel ready to move to sippy cups with milk only which won't be until I am certain they are eating well at each meal.

 

QUOTE(alexafaeh @ Apr 2 2009, 01:03 PM) [snapback]1256487[/snapback]
I am just not sure how much milk does a 1 year old really need? and is it for calcium? also for growth?

Need, NONE.

They need the calcium. My kids don't drink milk except in their cereal.

If they get plenty of cheese, yogurt and other calcium sources that's all they need. My doc says is your concerned about them getting enough calcium, give them a tums. My kids like them as treats. (weird, I know)

 

I agree, they NEED the vitamins and nutrients in the solids and their formula but I'd say the formula is more important than the milk.

 

I agree with Allison, they don't NEED any, but they generally like it and it has some benefits. For those with kids who don't like milk here are some other ways to get calcium

QUOTE
Healthful calcium sources are “beans and greens.” Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, and others are loaded with highly absorbable calcium and a host of other important nutrients. While these foods have a smaller amount of calcium per serving compared with dairy products, they have more calcium per calorie, and the calcium they contain is absorbed nearly twice as well as the calcium in cow's milk.9

One cup of cooked kale, for example, has the same amount of absorbable calcium (100 milligrams) as one cup of cow's milk with less than half the calories. Beans are a good source of calcium, too. Choose from baked beans, chickpeas, tofu, or other bean products, and you will find a taste to please every palate. Just a few ounces of tofu, a bowl of vegetable chili, or creamy Broccoli Potato Soup will provide your child with another healthful helping of absorbable calcium.


From Nutrian MD's Building healthy bones article

 

QUOTE(Meximeli @ Apr 3 2009, 09:40 AM) [snapback]1257723[/snapback]
I agree with Allison, they don't NEED any, but they generally like it and it has some benefits. For those with kids who don't like milk here are some other ways to get calcium
From Nutrian MD's Building healthy bones article

That's great info Melissa. My kids have never been milk drinkers but always have been great at eating their green veggies!!

 

I mentioned that in the other thread, but I always thought whole milk was important for milk fat too... or they'd all be on reduced fat milk right away.

 

thank you all.

I do understand the concept of giving kids calcium in other foods, which I think mine have plenty of intake...for that reason.

my boy now drinks about 16oz per day in sippy, he's really good at it...he even holds his toss sippy between his teeths while crawling and walking, without holding it! I am glad he drinks that much because there is not much water intake...

I am always worried about not getting enough fluids in them...

my daughter would only drink about 1-2 oz with each meal, if milk comes in sippy....so I still give her rest in bottle before sleep to make up to 16oz...they are both in low %ile....

if I'd try with her only giving sippies in the day and no bottles at all, she would not drink until late afternoon and then only a couple oz so I can still give her night bottle....I just don't know how many days in a row I can let her go with that little fluid intake, especially milk.

I don't care so much about the bottles, they are still little, but Kaden is doing so well with sippy that I'd like to get her there too.

do you give sippies in eating chair? on floor? mine would barely drink in chair, my boy loves to drink on floor and would finish the whole cup without being distracted by others or toys....Liana takes 2 sips, that's it !! aarghh....

I could just wait, eventually she'll pick up what her brother does....she always does !

thanks for input!
alexa

 

Mine only really drink from sippies without valves so I have to give it in their chair to prevent messes. Usually they don't drink much, sometimes they'll finish it... it really depends. But lately it's been the same with bottles anyway. They still get a bottle before bed, until they start drinking more reliably at meals and stop just throwing the cup after a couple ounces... but honestly, unless they're on straw cups, I really don't think there is any difference between a bottle and a sippy... they have to suck the same way.

 

QUOTE(Fran27 @ Apr 8 2009, 02:11 PM) [snapback]1264764[/snapback]
Mine only really drink from sippies without valves so I have to give it in their chair to prevent messes. Usually they don't drink much, sometimes they'll finish it... it really depends. But lately it's been the same with bottles anyway. They still get a bottle before bed, until they start drinking more reliably at meals and stop just throwing the cup after a couple ounces... but honestly, unless they're on straw cups, I really don't think there is any difference between a bottle and a sippy... they have to suck the same way.


you're right Fran.....luckily, mine started to practice with the playtex straw sippy and they like it, again, not much water drinking out of it, but I fill it in am and check in evening how much each drink, usually between 6 and 7oz of water, so not bad...

 

i think this chart is very helpful: nutrition needs of babies and toddlers. it's from babyzone.com.

gl!