22, What Kind of Milk Should Toddlers to Drink  

12/4/2020

A friend of mine recently asked me what kind of milk is better for her son who just turned one year old? It reminds me that one of the top questions for parents is whether their children should drink milk after one and what kind of milk they need.

Whether to provide milk to the child mainly depends on parents. It may also be based on children's needs or preferences. Furthermore, every child is different and we need to follow their pace. As an educator, according to my acknowledge and research, I will analyze several milk varieties today for parents' reference, hope today’s video will help you choose the right milk.

Pediatrics suggest that babies should stop drinking formula or breast milk by 12 months of age because when they turns one year old, they typically eat three meals a day plus snacks. Their majority of nutrition transitions from formula or breast milk to food. Continuing to use formula or breast milk can reduce a child’s appetite for food and can potentially cause challenges with learning to like a range of foods and textures.

However, there are many types of milk to choose from. Here I am going to give you the three most common milk.

First, Cow’s milk, the current Dietary Guideline for Americans recommends a child should drink whole milk until age 2 and low (1%) or skim after that. Pro: cow’s milk packed with brain-boosting protein. Babies need the fat in whole milk for normal growth and brain development. Intake of cow’s milk and dairy products is associated with reduced risk of childhood obesity as well as associated with a neutral or reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Furthermore, cow’s milk and dairy intake on bone mineral density but no association with the risk of bone fracture. Con: Cow’s milk is not designed for human consumption. Cow’s milk contains on average about 3 times the amount of protein than human milk does, which creates metabolic disturbances in humans that have detrimental bone health consequence. Cow’s milk and dairy products are pro-inflammatory and mucus-producing. Cow’s milk increases the risks of respiratory conditions and allergies. Because cow’s milk contains high calcium, excess calcium needs to excreted and the kidneys bear the load, which has a calcium composition.

Second, Soy milk: pros: millions of children suffer from some level of allergies related to cow’s milk. Soy milk can be an ideal substitute as it doesn’t contain lactose protein. Soy milk helps children experience fewer cases of diarrhea and balance bowel movements, potentially because of soy milk’s fiber content. Soy milk contains vitamin d, a vitamin that enhances calcium absorption. Cons：Soy milk contains estrogen receptors that may mimic the effects of estrogen and may affect cancer risks related to breast and prostate cancer. Harvard Medical School notes that there’s yet to be sufficient evidence to avoid soy milk, and that cow’s milk also contains hormones that may potentially be harmful.

Last, Goat milk: pros: goat’s milk is easier for children to digest. Goat’s milk contains higher levels of minerals, vitamin A and Vitamin c than cow’s milk. Goat’s milk has a better protein makeup than cow’s milk, making it easier for children to digest. Cons: Goat’s milk has a very unusual taste and strong odor, which often makes it difficult to ingest. Goat milk has more calories than other similar beverages. Compare with other types of dairy beverages, goat’s milk is more difficult to find and more expensive than other products.

I believe that even with these three options, many parents will still struggle with product brands. I won't tell you what brand is the right one because brands and tastes vary from child to child. Plus, even if you have the right milk, your baby does not like the taste and he or she won’t be able to drink it. As I mentioned before, each child is different and we need to follow their pace

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