What kind of milk?

I read in a parenting magazine the other day that the AAP now says kids over 2 should be given skim milk.....what kind of milk do you give your kids?

My pedi told us at 18 months to start using 1% or 2%, but I'm wondering if we can switch to skim now (that is what we use, and it would make life easier to only buy one kind of milk). Just for reference, my kids are 27.5 months, and 95th (DS1) and 75th percentile (DS2), and advanced in all their milestones. Gaining or maintaining weight is definitely not a worry for us.

 

In your case, I would do skim (but I'd also double check with the pediatrician too). My kids are on the light side (10% for one on the weight and 20% for the other...much better then age 1 when they were barely on the chart) so they still do 2%.

 

We still do 2% milk, but they really don't drink much milk. Maybe 8 oz a day total.

 

We still do whole milk or Henry would shrink. Our pedi wrote us a letter that they should have whole milk at daycare because daycare started following the skim milk rule.

 

2% but my kids don't drink much milk either.

I think there's only a 20 calories difference per cup between skim and 2%. If kids have a weight issue, I don't think the milk is to blame.

 

I've heard that the whole milk is for brain development so even though the babies are big, I would not necessarily change over to skim at this point. Perhaps go down to 2 or 1%?

 

The boys get whole milk and some 2%. They also get 2% at preschool three days a week. They drink a lot of milk. Neither has a weight issue.

I refuse to buy anything less than 2%. Skim milk is disgusting. But that is a personal choice. I think limiting junk food, fast food, soda and juice plus ensuring kids get plenty of fruits and veggies goes a lot further in fighting childhood weight issues.

 

We switched to skim at 3.

 

At 2 years old we went to 2% milk and then switched to skim milk at 3 years old (per our pediatrician's recommendation).

 

We switched to 2% at 2 years, when I asked the pediatrician. She has not recommended anything else since then. And I think our kids drink a lot of milk. We go through 3 gallons of milk per week.

 

We switched to skim milk at 2 (or 2.5?). I think they do recommend whole milk until 2 years for brain development, but I guess it's not as much as an issue after age 2. I absolutely refuse to buy low fat cheese or yogurt so I think they still get plenty of fat in their diet.

I mostly switched them to skim because that is what we drink and it's just easier than buying two different kinds of milk. I grew up on skim milk and can't stand the taste of any other kind of milk - 2% tastes like drinking cream to me! Yuck!

 

I've always read that kids under 2 need the extra fat. DS1 drank organic whole milk until he turned 2.5 when we switched him over to 2% (not organic and >$4 cheaper per gallon!!!).
We introduced whole milk to DS2 at the same time as DS1 (at 1 year adjusted) and he would have no part of it. We tried periodically as time went on and he never took it. DS2 got toddler formula from age 1-2.5. He just recently started drinking 2% (with a lot of encouragement). I know it is still not his favorite, but he drinks some which is a big step for him.
So, both boys drink 2% now. DS1 drinks around 10 ounces a day and DS2 maybe 5.
I wouldn't give them skim at this point. It's a personal choice, but I don't see why that would be necessary for toddlers.

 

I'm guessing that the reasoning is that they will end up developing a taste for whatever kind of milk they drink as young children. My mom started me on non-fat milk as a small child and I think that's probably why I dislike milk with any fat in it. (I definitely like fat in other foods!)

That said, I don't think that 2% milk is going to make a kid fat and I think I've seen studies that show that full-fat dairy products actually help maintain a healthy weight. So, my philosophy is to give the kids (once they are past age 2) whatever type of milk the parents like!

 

Never switched to skim milk as my DS was always less than 5% for weight so he is on organic Vitamin D milk, and my DD never liked milk so she is on organic whole yogurt. They probably have like 8-10oz each per day. Our pedi suggested that they can be switched but we agreed that it is necessary as my twins are on thinner size.

 

Mine are still on 2%. They didn't really seem interested in drinking the 1% full time. We'll try again at another time.

 

I think this is one of those topics that's up in the air currently, even with the experts. If your pediatrician is on board, I'd give them whatever kind of milk you like. Personally, my singleton daughter drinks whole milk with powdered skim milk added in to boost the calories because she had fallen completely off the growth chart. Barring something extreme like that or a history of weight/health issues in the family, I don't think there's a problem with offering any of the milk types that are available (whole, 1%, 2%, skim, organic, whatever). At least until the experts finally decide how they feel about it.

 

I hadn't heard that and our pedi never said anything about it.
We switched to 2% at age 2. It's what DH drinks; he won't touch skim. (I drink vanilla soy milk; I've always hated the taste of cow's milk.)
In your case, I'd be fine going ahead and switching to skim if that's what you drink anyway!

 

I switched my kids to 2% at 18 months and down to skim milk at age 2. None of mine had weight issues.

 

Thanks, everyone. I figured the answers would vary a lot, and they did. My kids aren't totally crazy about milk anyway. They get plenty of calcium and protein through yogurt, cheese, peanut butter, meat, etc., so I think switching them to skim is probably a logical step for us. I think they would be happy drinking no milk at all if I didn't offer it! But I think I might just wait until their 2.5 checkup in June and see what the doctor says.

 

My pedi has us switch them to skim milk at age 2. They are 5th percentile and 10th percentile, so I gave him a slightly doubtful look when he told me to do that, but he assured me it should spur them to eat more food (which it did).

 

That's interesting. My boys are on the smaller side so we give them whole milk. Giving them skim so they eat more solid food is an interesting idea. I might give it a try!

 

Mommas milk til 28 months then 1% . My twins refused any Cow milk until I weaned them. Even now, unless it is chocolate they won't drink milk.

 

I still buy 2% for my girls. They are light weights so I don't worry about the extra fat, they need it.

 

We drink whole milk around here, and both girls drink a lot of it! We actually just went to the doctor today and he said it was good that they were drinking whole milk.

 

whole milk till they were over 3 (10th and 25th percentile) and now I buy 2%...they don't drink much anymore (usually just a glass with a snack or dinner) but I hate skim in cereal - it looks blue!

 

My kids e around 40-50% and I bf until 13 months, then used camel milk until around 2.5yrs old. Then went to 2% milk and when they were around 4 yrs old we switched to skim. So we all drink the same milk now.