2% milk at 2 years?

[Erin M]

I always thought the guideline was to switch toddlers from whole milk products to 2% at a year, but my ped said to keep Katie on whole milk for now.  Is that standard or is it just because she only gained a pound between her 18 month checkup and her 2 year checkup?  Just seemed odd to me...

[RachelC]

I think it all depends on the ped     We were told skim at 2 years (2% at 18 months) for dd1.  Perhaps it is due to the small weight gain

[Mom to M&M]

My Ped is pretty strict about switching to 2% (or less) at 2 years of age - he says after 2 years they don't need the full fat anymore (which they previously needed for brain development) and it's a cardiac issue - easier to switch them when they are young to help avoid heart problems later. His only exception is for low weight kids, etc. It's pretty standard for kids not to gain much, if any weight, from 18-24 months so as long as Katie is a good eater and good weight, IMO she'd be better off switching.

[tylersmommy]

I think it depends on the ped...ours told us to keep him on whole milk at the 2 yr checkup because Tyler's a skinny kid. I switched him to 2% right before he turned 3 because it was really filling him up.

[Fife_Mum]

This is interesting. Fraser is still on whole milk at 3 years old. I thought you could switch to semi-skimmed (2%) at 2, but only needed to if you were worried about too much weight gain. I guess I have not really seen a Health Visitor for the last year to ask them  . He has recently cut back on how much milk he drinks (having squash with meals mostly and milk with snacks & breakfast). I suppose I could switch when Arwen is 2
since I don't think there is room in my fridge for another kind of milk (DH drinks skimmed (1%)), but then if I am putting DS at risk of obesity for something so simple...

Thanks for bringing it up 

[katriona]

our ped wants the 2% switch to be at 2 yo too.

[Lana]

We didnt switch until E was over 2.5 years old but he is a skinny kid too.  When we asked our ped he said we could keep him on it until he was three if we wanted to cause he had no weight issues

[*Natasha*]

Apprently in Aust they are encouraging the switch at 2yrs due to the big obesity problems in childen now days.

[Erin M]

Well she's been in the 40-something percentile for weight at both her 18 month and 2 year checkups (but more towards the 80s for height), so I know they're not worried about obesity.  Good to think about it filling her up though, I'll keep an eye on it -- we'll be there for a few weeks for Allie's 6 month checkup, so I'll ask again then just to be sure.  Thanks everyone

[rinajack]

My lo doesn't drink much milk.  Still has 200ml of formula, eats full fat cheese and yoghurt.  Eats avacado, salmon, etc etc.

The only milk she really has is on her cereal, and some in cooking.....does it need to be full fat since she has so little?  She won't drink milk from a bottle or sippy so I am happier staying with formula for her bottle.

[*Natasha*]

Rina they say full fat milk until 2 is best for growth. Have you tried mixing half and half formula and milk and then slowly decrease the amount of fomula until it is all milk?

[rinajack]

Honestly, no I haven't tried that.  I kind of like that she has formula before bed, in case we had a bad eating day....as in, she hardly ate!  I do put full fat in her cereral etc.  Right now, we can only get her to drink heavily diluted apple juice (no other flavour) and water from a sippy.  Oh, and of course, chocolate milkshake! The kind from a cafe, with icecream in

[*Natasha*]

If you don't mind her having the formula then let it be for now she only just turned 1. Have you got her on the toddler formula?

[rinajack]

Not yet, but thanks for reminding me, we are going grocery shopping on Monday!