Did your baby turn 1, this year? Then he may be ready for the switch. Changing from breast milk to cow’s milk can be quite a thing for your toddler, so you have to be extra caring about it. The gospel is that a 1-year kid must get whole milk considering the fat it contains. It is essential for proper brain and nervous system development. And a 2-year old who is more developed and doesn’t need extra fat anymore is supposed to settle with 2% or 1% milk. However, the times are changing and these days, people are quite concerned about weight. This is why it is very important to choose the right kind of milk for your toddler.
If your 1-year little one has a healthy weight, meaning he is below the 85th percentile on the BMI charts, then you can consider whole milk. However, prior to that, you must make sure that your family has no history of obesity, heart disease or high cholesterol. If you have, then it is better to opt for reduced-fat milk for your toddler. Also, you can consider reduced-fat milk if your 1-year has a body mass index that is more than the 95th percentile.
Now, the question is what if your toddler hates milk? Well, if that’s the case, you can try some tricks to help him to get used to it. Some of them are mentioned below;
- The best is to mix breast milk with the cow’s milk. With day’s development increase the quantity of cow’s milk into the mix.
- You can even do experiment with different temperatures. Your toddler may drink the warm milk instead of consuming it cold.
- Also, you can toss milk in the blender with your little one’s favorite fruit. This way it will change the flavor, texture, and color. Your toddler will surely appreciate a colorful drink that tastes great and has added nutrients.
But even then if your kid rejects milk, you mustn’t force. Of course, milk protein is important. For that, you can try out milk products like cheese, yogurt and ice creams. This is a good way to ensure that your junior is getting sufficient protein.
