Making the Milk Switch for 1-Year-Olds
Having a 1-year-old means it’s time to introduce your child to cow’s milk! Today, I’ll share when to make the switch to cow’s milk and how much to offer your child each day, as well as what to do if your child doesn’t like cow’s milk and alternatives if your child has a cow’s milk allergy or intolerance.
What to offer and how much?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend serving your 1-2 year old 16 oz or 2 cups of whole milk per day. Some pediatricians may recommend a lower fat milk if your child has a family history of obesity or cardiovascular disease, but the extra fat in whole milk is important for their developing brains.
Your child may not need the full 16 oz or 2 cups of milk each day if they are eating other calcium-rich sources of dairy, such as yogurt or cheese. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese provide your child with calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein. Serving sizes of dairy products for your child are:
1 cup (8 oz) milk
1 cup (8 oz) yogurt
1 1/2 oz cheese
For example, you could offer your child 4 oz milk at breakfast, 3/4 oz cheese as a snack, 4 oz yogurt at dinner, and 4 oz of milk before bed. This would provide your child with the full 2 cups of dairy needed for the day.
Cow’s milk can be offered along with breastmilk if desired, but formula is generally no longer needed once your child turns 1 and starts drinking cow’s milk. Avoid serving your child flavored milk, soda, juice, or other sugary beverages as these provide very little, if any, nutrition to your child and fill them up so they don’t have room for more nutritious foods and beverages.
Is there such a thing as too much milk?
Yes! Milk is important for your child’s developing bones, but too much can lead to nutrient deficiencies, such as anemia. Anemia is low iron, which occurs when calcium in milk and other dairy products prevents iron from being absorbed in the body. To prevent this, limit your child to 16 oz or 2 cups of milk and other calcium-containing dairy products per day.
What if my child doesn’t like cow’s milk?
Don’t worry if your child isn’t a fan of cow’s milk right away. It may take them time to adjust to the flavor because it is different than breastmilk or formula. You could try mixing cow’s milk with formula or breastmilk and gradually increase the amount of cow’s milk so your child has time to get used to it.
Also, remember that cheese and yogurt can offer your child the same nutritional benefits as milk. Some ways to incorporate dairy foods into your child’s diet are:
Mix plain yogurt with fruit
Add plain yogurt and/or milk to smoothies
Sprinkle shredded cheese on scrambled eggs
Add milk or yogurt to pancake batter
Make creamy soups with milk instead of water or broth
Make oatmeal with milk instead of water
Stir shredded cheese into pasta or make mac and cheese
Non-dairy alternatives
If your child has an intolerance or allergy to cow’s milk, soy milk is generally the best alternative. Soy milk is nutritionally the most similar to cow’s milk, meaning it has around the same amount of fat, protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Be sure to check the nutrition label to ensure the soy milk you choose is fortified with calcium and vitamin D, as some brands are not. Also, choose unsweetened soy milk as many varieties contain added sugar.
Other alternatives such as oat, coconut, or almond milk are lacking in many of these nutrients. If your child has a cow’s milk and soy allergy, it’s best to talk with their pediatrician about the best non-dairy alternative to try.
Once your child turns 1, be sure to offer them 16 oz or 2 cups of whole milk, or a mix of whole milk, yogurt, and cheese throughout the day. Avoid offering them too much dairy so that they don’t develop nutrient deficiencies, like anemia. Be sure to give your child time to adjust to the flavor of cow’s milk as it does taste different than breastmilk or formula and offer soy milk as an alternative if your child has an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk.
