DO TODDLERS REALLY NEED MILK? (Real Talk from a Pediatric Dietitian)

Do you ever wonder whether toddlers need milk?
With so many different milks available - cow’s milk, pea protein milk, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk - it can leave you wondering how important it is for toddlers.
Do toddlers even need milk?
In this video, I’m reviewing milk for toddlers. I’ll cover the potential nutritional benefits of milk, the pitfalls of milk, which toddlers might not even need milk, and some tips if you plan to start your toddler on real milk.
Because whether or not toddlers need milk depends on a few things you should know.
Let’s get started!
For more information about helping toddlers eat well, check out my website, The Nourished Child!
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// What to Watch Next:
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What is the BEST Milk for Toddlers? • What MILK IS BEST for ...
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• EXACTLY HOW MUCH PROTE...
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This channel provides general advice. It does not offer individualized nutrition interventions, instructions or counseling. Please consult with your primary healthcare provider with health concerns or for medical advice.
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[@JillCastle]

Milk is the standard recommendation when babies turn into toddlers. But does your toddler really need milk? If you're wondering, what worries you about using it or not?

[@uwpride]

This is great advice. But on the contrary-my one year-old (14 months) will ONLY consume whole milk. On a daily basis we provide age appropriate meals for him of all different variations and he has interest to try the foods but he spits a lot of it out. At what point does it become a concern that about 95% of his intake is just milk? And should I continue supplementing vitamin D drops considering he should be getting an adequate intake through milk alone? He’s drinking about 8 ounces of milk every two hours. 😅 Thank you for any advice offered. Of course, it is my intention to speak with his pediatrician at our next apt and potentially a nutritionist as well.

[@JillCastle]

That's probably too much milk - so yes, talk with your toddler. The biggest concern is for a possible iron deficiency with that much milk. Generally, the recommendation is 16-24 ounces MAX per day for 12-24 months.

[@fourleaf8055]

So I stopped pushing milk after my kids turned 2. They didn’t like it and wanted water instead. They ate broccoli often and cheese but I’m wondering if it was enough. My 14 year old is 5’6” and the dr said he may be done growing and I’m afraid he’s not taller because he didn’t drink milk when he was little. He was always a bit shorter than average. He is now taking a calcium citrate supplement.

[@JillCastle]

How tall a child will be is mostly genetic (80% heritable) - while there are some studies that link cow's milk to height, they are observational, not causal. Probably more important that your child gets enough protein and a variety of foods from all the food categories.

[@fourleaf8055]

@@JillCastle thank you

[@JannethHosajose]

Ive seen regular milk, dry milk and shelf stable milk.. what are the pros and cons to each? Do they all provide the same nutrients?

[@JillCastle]

Good question! Yes, I believe the nutrients are similar. It's more about convenience - for example, some folks in the city don't have a lot of refrigerator space, so they buy shelf-stable milk.

[@Olivia-le4oc]

Thank you for the video, my child is now 14 months and growing slowly, she is not eating well, she is weighing 9kg we are worried about her eating, when she started eating around 6mnths she was eating well and now not soo much even if she is hungry if she doesnt like the food or fruits doesnt it, and if she eat she just filling up in mouth and not swallowing. If you have any tips i will be happy to practice them. She only drink milk /bottle in a morning after wake up, the rest of the day she dont want to drink milk, we are still using baby formula number 2 which is from 1+ We think the amount she is taking per day is very litttle so we fill up with yoghurt and now want to eat mainly yoghurt and not other food. Please help.

[@JillCastle]

I would check in with your pediatrician. Some of what you describe sounds like maybe something sensory going on or perhaps mechanical. Your pediatrician will help you with next steps. You can also check her growth too.