When to switch from whole milk to something else

We just had our 18 month check up, and I forgot to ask the doctor, so I'm asking what you all did. My twins love stealing their big sisters milk, and so are already drinking 2% milk - but when do are we supposed to switch, or when did you switch from whole milk? My girls are balanced height and weight, but one is in the 85% and one if in the 60%, so they are doing ok that way, and I'm considering making the switch unless there is some reason not to do so.

Thanks!

 

We were told to switch at 2yrs to 2% milk.

 

Usually it is 2 years old. We just had Emilie and Trevor's appt. and they told us we could switch to 2% with them, but I am keeping them on whole milk for a bit longer.

 

2 years as everyone said

 

I wanted to add that the reason for 2yr being the time to switch is that babies need all that fat for brain development until the age of 2.

 

I'm switching to organic 2% at 2 y/o.

 

I switched my girls sometime before 2 yrs I think maybe around 20/22 mths but am not sure I know we switched them early. I have already switched my son over and he's 18mths old. He just had his check up and he is tall for his age and is average for his weight. He gets plenty of fat in the food he eats (which he never stops eating) so I am not worried about the fat of the whole milk. But that is my opinion and my view on giving them whole milk.

 

QUOTE(Becky02 @ Feb 28 2008, 11:24 PM) [snapback]645549[/snapback]
I switched my girls sometime before 2 yrs I think maybe around 20/22 mths but am not sure I know we switched them early. I have already switched my son over and he's 18mths old. He just had his check up and he is tall for his age and is average for his weight. He gets plenty of fat in the food he eats (which he never stops eating) so I am not worried about the fat of the whole milk. But that is my opinion and my view on giving them whole milk.



Mine are still drinking whole and they're 3 1/2. I have picky eaters and they only weigh 30 lbs. so I feel better about giving them the extra healthy calories.

 

We switched at 2 year old.

 

At 2, the ped said we could give anything but skim. We didn't actually switch until they were 3.

 

QUOTE(FirstTimeMom814 @ Feb 28 2008, 03:12 PM) [snapback]645146[/snapback]
We were told to switch at 2yrs to 2% milk.

QUOTE(FirstTimeMom814 @ Feb 28 2008, 04:45 PM) [snapback]645358[/snapback]
I wanted to add that the reason for 2yr being the time to switch is that babies need all that fat for brain development until the age of 2.

I was told the same by our pedi.

 

We were told 2 years but we switched to 2% milk about a month ago. My girls are in the 95th percentile in weight and are really good eaters so we weren't worried about making the switch a couple of months early. As for brain development, my girls are pretty darn smart ( ) so I don't think a couple of months will make a difference regarding that.

 

QUOTE(double-or-nothing @ Feb 29 2008, 07:16 AM) [snapback]646147[/snapback]
We were told 2 years but we switched to 2% milk about a month ago. My girls are in the 95th percentile in weight and are really good eaters so we weren't worried about making the switch a couple of months early. As for brain development, my girls are pretty darn smart ( ) so I don't think a couple of months will make a difference regarding that.


Okay, I'm reluctant to post this because I don't want to sound snooty or anything....BUT I just thought I'd let you know that I was taken off of formula at a few months and then taken off of whole milk within my first year because I was gaining too much weight, yet I qualify for Mensa (ETA: yes, I was always the smart fat kid!). So, I think you are totally right that it's very possible to have pretty darn smart kids and still switch from whole milk early. I don't dispute that it's good for brain development, but I just want to reassure anyone who wants/needs to switch early for another reason that your kids won't be stupid because of it!!

 

QUOTE(BridgePort @ Feb 29 2008, 11:06 AM) [snapback]646533[/snapback]
Okay, I'm reluctant to post this because I don't want to sound snooty or anything....BUT I just thought I'd let you know that I was taken off of formula at a few months and then taken off of whole milk within my first year because I was gaining too much weight, yet I qualify for Mensa (ETA: yes, I was always the smart fat kid!). So, I think you are totally right that it's very possible to have pretty darn smart kids and still switch from whole milk early. I don't dispute that it's good for brain development, but I just want to reassure anyone who wants/needs to switch early for another reason that your kids won't be stupid because of it!!


Yikes. I hope I didn't offend or worry anyone. I didn't mean anything by that. I Just didn't want people who may argue that they NEED the milk for brain development to jump on me about it. That's why I threw that in there. I think you are agreeing with what I said BridgePort? I read your post a couple of times but my brain can't seem to wrap around whether or not you agree or disagree with what I am saying. Perhaps I should go back to drinking whole milk? :lol:

 

I think at 2 years old. Our Costco just stopped carrying whole milk so I am definitely asking the pedi about this at their 2 year well visit.

 

QUOTE(double-or-nothing @ Feb 29 2008, 11:55 AM) [snapback]646663[/snapback]
Yikes. I hope I didn't offend or worry anyone. I didn't mean anything by that. I Just didn't want people who may argue that they NEED the milk for brain development to jump on me about it. That's why I threw that in there. I think you are agreeing with what I said BridgePort? I read your post a couple of times but my brain can't seem to wrap around whether or not you agree or disagree with what I am saying. Perhaps I should go back to drinking whole milk? :lol:


I was agreeing with you completely!!

Just like you, with all the talk about needing whole milk for brain development.....I just wanted to reassure people who switched early that their kids will still be smart!

 

QUOTE(FirstTimeMom814 @ Feb 28 2008, 03:12 PM) [snapback]645146[/snapback]
We were told to switch at 2yrs to 2% milk.


and

QUOTE(FirstTimeMom814 @ Feb 28 2008, 04:45 PM) [snapback]645358[/snapback]
I wanted to add that the reason for 2yr being the time to switch is that babies need all that fat for brain development until the age of 2.


I know it won't make them smarter... but it makes me feel better. :blush: Also, it's what our ped. suggested.