Switching to Cow's Milk

Starting Toddlers on Full Fat Milk

Nov 29, 2009
Jenni Potter

Toddlers Aged Over One Can Drink Cows Milk - marijnvb from stock.xchange

Cow's milk can be offered to children aged one and over. But what are the benefits of switching to cow's milk? And how can parents make a smooth transition?

When toddlers reach 12 months old parents may want to consider introducing cow's milk to their daily diet.

While infants up to the age of one should not be offered cow's milk as a drink and thrive on breast milk or formula, for parents who wish to stop offering these options once their child turns one, the UK's NHS Healthy Start programme recommends substituting full fat cow's milk.

Why Give a Toddler Cow's Milk?

While many mothers will wish to continue breastfeeding beyond the age of one, some will find that the first birthday is the point at which they wish to begin to wean their baby from the breast. In this situation cow's milk can provide a healthy natural substitute for breast milk.

For families who have previously relied on infant formulas for their child’s milk feeds, switching to this natural alternative after their child's first birthday removes the the need for time consuming feed mixing and can also result in a saving at the supermarket.

Health Benefits of Cow's Milk

Cow's milk, like all dairy products, is rich in calcium, which helps build strong bones. According to the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, a child aged between one and three needs around 500mg of calcium a day, 70 per cent of which usually comes from milk feeds.

Cow's milk is also a great source of protein, which is an essential element in building and maintaining a healthy body. Full fat milk is rich in vitamin A (which boosts immunity, aids cell development and promotes healthy skin and good eyesight) and vitamin B (which supports the production of antibodies and red blood cells) as well.

Cow's milk contains no added sugars, unlike some manufactured toddler milk mixes, and so is better for a toddler's developing teeth.

How to Introduce Cow's Milk to Toddlers

Every child is different, and some will take to the new taste of cow's milk more quickly than others. For the sake of simplicity cow's milk should first be offered unadulterated at room temperature from the child's usual drinking cup or bottle (although milk must be stored in the fridge). If a child refuses to accept her milk in this way, parents can try a couple of tricks to ease their toddler into the change, including:

Mixing cow's milk with the child's usual formula or expressed breast milk, then slowly changing the ratio of cow's milk to familiar tasting milk until the child is used to the taste. Start with one measure of cow's milk to 4 of the usual milk, then two measures of cow's milk to three measures of the usual milk and so on until the cow's milk is the predominant taste and can be offered alone.
Warming cow's milk to comforting temperature and offering it in this way.
Making healthy smoothies by adding a small amount of pureed fruit to the cow's milk, then reducing the amount of fruit added until the toddler adjusts to the taste and will accept the milk unadulterated.

Alternatives to Cow's Milk for Toddlers

Some toddlers simply do not take to drinking cow's milk, but parents need not worry. There are alternatives if this is the case. Calcium can come from a number of dietary sources – dairy foods such as cheese and yogurts will count towards a child's calcium intake as will other foods rich in calcium such as sardines and sesame seeds. Parents can continue to offer their child's regular breast milk or formula if they so desire or may choose to move their child to a specially formulated follow-on milk aimed at toddlers.

Giving a Toddler Cow's Milk

Starting a toddler on cow's milk offers health benefits as well as being less expensive and time consuming than formula feeding. While some toddlers take time to adjust to the new taste, there are ways to make the transition less daunting for all in the family. For toddlers who refuse to drink cow's milk, alternatives are available to ensure their nutrition does not suffer.

Information in this article is intended for information only. Any parent with questions or concerns about their child's health or nutrition should contact their healthcare provider.

Jenni Potter - Jenni Potter is a qualified senior journalist and newsroom veteran with 10 years experience on titles across the UK. Jenni is also a ...