princess cj haven

If you’re ready to ditch the breast pump or pricey formula, you’re right on schedule. Twelve months is the legal drinking age — for cow’s milk, that is. So now that your child has turned one (hooray!), he’s ready for the big switch. But the question is, which kind of milk for toddlers should you choose?

The gospel used to be that one-year-olds should get whole milk because the fat it contains was considered essential for proper brain and nervous-system development. Two-year-olds — whose bodies are more developed and no longer need the extra fat — were supposed to move on to two percent or one percent milk. But times, they are a changin’. These days, there’s so much concern about childhood weight and rising cholesterol levels (yes, even in toddlers) that experts have a new message regarding milk for toddlers.

The updated thinking is that because kids get plenty of saturated fat from other sources, milk fat isn’t as important as we once believed. In fact, research shows that toddlers who drink lower-fat milk develop just fine. So, with that in mind, here’s the new master plan on milk for toddlers.

Start your one-year-old on whole milk if:

• He’s at a healthy weight — meaning he’s below the 85th percentile on the body mass index (BMI) charts.
• You have no family history of obesity, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

Start your one-year-old on reduced-fat milk if:

• His body mass index is above the 95th percentile.
• Heart disease and high cholesterol run dangerously through the branches of your family tree.

What to do at two? Ask your pediatrician whether your two-year-old should keep chugging reduced-fat milk or switch to one percent.

What if your toddler doesn’t like milk?
If your child doesn’t have a taste for milk, you may have to resort to some sneaky tactics to help him get used to it. Here are some tricks to try:

• Try mixing milk with breast milk or formula. Then gradually increase the milk into the mix, until all you’ve got is milk, straight up.
• Experiment with different temperatures — your little rebel may take to milk better if it’s warm as opposed to cold.
• Toss some milk in a blender with your child’s favorite fruit to change the flavor, color, and texture. Giving your toddler a “princess pink drink” or a “true blue brew” could make all the difference. Another bonus to this plan is that you’ll kick up the fiber and vitamin content.

Of course, if your independent-minded tot is determined to reject milk, don’t fret. And don’t force. Assuming he’s getting healthy fats from other sources, you’ll just need to make sure he also gets vitamin D from a multivitamin and calcium from other foods, like dairy or calcium-fortified breads, orange juice, and cereals. And one day soon, he’ll realize the fun of slurping up some milk with that cereal!