Confused about when to start feeding cow's milk to your
child? Not sure about the type of milk that would be most suitable - full cream
milk, toned milk, double toned milk or any other type? Well, if you are looking
for answers to such questions, then below are some facts that will help you
take the right decisions regarding the nutritional needs of your child.
According to Frank Greer, M.D., chairman of the American Academy
of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, it would be better to feed full cream
milk during your child's second year since the child will need it for proper
nerve and brain development. However, if you notice that your child is
experiencing excess weight gain, then you may have to switch to toned milk. You
may have to consult your pediatrician on this. In case there are no abnormal
weight gain issues, you can continue feeding full cream milk to your child
since kids need fat all throughout their development years for a variety of
bodily growth functions.
Full cream milk for
baby's bone health
According to Dr. Greer, there are three key factors that
determine bone health - calcium, genetics and physical activity. Milk may help
your child grow strong bones since it is a rich source of calcium. Furthermore,
milk has Vitamin D, which improves calcium absorption. Given these facts, milk
seems to be a good choice for ensuring strong bones of your child. Full cream
milk also contains several other vital nutrients such as Vitamin A, B Group
Vitamins, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Proteins etc.
How much milk to feed
your kids?
AS per U.S. dietary guidelines, kids under 4 will need 2
servings of milk or milk products whereas kids from 4 to 8 years of age will
need 3 servings of milk or milk products. You may have to consult your local
pediatrician to know the recommended servings of full cream milk for babies, as
relevant to the Indian context.
