dairy requirements at 1 - uk??

[*Becky*]

I seem to be told so many different things - what is the required amount of dairy for a 1 year old? I am about to drop a bottle for DD and just want to check we are getting enough.
thanks

[Mashi]

There actually isn't any dairy requirement afaik. There is a calcium need, and it is most easily obtained from dairy.  For children aged 1-3 the need is about 500mg of calcium per day. One cup of milk (250mls) has appx 300 mg of calcium. So two cups is enough in a day (500mls, or about 16 ounces).  However, there are other sources of calcium as well (aside from obvious cheese and yogurt), sardines and  homemade chicken stock are also very high in calcium and  oatmeal, beans, some fruits and veggies, etc that really help to top-up if she is not taking in enough from dairy.

HTH.

[Buntybear]

Our dietician told us just after Olly turned 1 that the requirement is 350mg.

[*Becky*]

thanks - she is def getting enough then

[Seona1973]

I agree that the UK requirement is 350mg and that around 300/350mls of milk should provide it (approx 12oz).  You can also get some of the requirements from cheese, yoghurt, etc too.  From nhs website:

Children between the ages of one and three need to have around 350mg of calcium a day. About 300ml of milk (just over half a pint) would provide this.

[Mashi]

Wow, 350 mg seems so low to me!  The recommendation is 500mg in Canada and America, 600mg in Germany.  But the UK requirements for school age (8-11yo) children is also very low compared to other countries (1000 to 1100mg in Canada, Germany and USA, versus only 800mg in UK).  I wonder why it is so much lower.

[Buntybear]

Well I think it is 500 up to the age of 1, then 350g 1-3 years. Can't remeber what it is after that...

Just found this as I was doubting it myself then!

http://www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/PL%20-%20391.2%20-%20Calcium%20Zone.pdf