Whole Milk

[maelb05]

I have a 12 month old in care who just went in for his 12 month checkup. DCM said pediatrician told her the child should be getting no more than 16 ounces of whole milk/day. I am required (by the food program) to offer him a 1/2 cup (4 ounces) with each meal. Breakfast, lunch, and two snacks = 16 ounces just on my time. He also has a bottle after waking in the morning, bottle at dinner and one before bed. So that is 7 bottle a day. That averages out to only offering a little over 2 ounces at a time! Mom said child is in the 14 percentile for weight. He is tall and skinny.
Mom wants to follow what the doctor said, so she told me she has started watering down his milk so he is still getting more fluid, just not as much milk. I told her I can't do that. Do I check with the food program to see if I should/can offer less than a half cup of milk/meal?

[Rockgirl]

Hmm....I’m not required to serve milk at snack. I just have to serve two of the components. I’d double-check with the food program. Otherwise, I’d just do what you’re required to do, and let dcm do what she needs to do.

[Cat Herder]

I agree. Double check.

Milk with breakfast and lunch.
Water or juice with snacks.

That is pretty standard.

Too much milk prevents absorption of iron and displaces other much-needed nutrients with fat and extra calories.

[Cat Herder]

Too much cows milk may be why he is in the 14th percentile.

https://www.babycenter.com/0_cows-milk-when-and-how-to-introduce-it_1334703.bc

[maelb05]

Okay, just checked! I have never chosen to serve juice to my daycare kids as I know they get plenty of sugars elsewhere. I didn't realize though, that we are able to serve water with snacks. I just thought water was an extra to have available to the kids between meals and snacks. I will serve him water with snacks.

[maelb05]

[QUOTE=Cat Herder;695917]Too much cows milk may be why he is in the 14th percentile.

https://www.babycenter.com/0_cows-mi...-it_1334703.bc[/QUOTE

He was on formula up until he turned one a couple of weeks ago.....

[Cat Herder]

That is what I do. Only water with snacks and make up the dairy component with yogurt and cheeses.

Also, I continue offering formula twice per day (9 and 2, with snacks at 10 and 3) until 24 months. Too many kids are overfed and undernourished.

[Cat Herder]

[QUOTE=maelb05;695919]

Too much cows milk may be why he is in the 14th percentile.

https://www.babycenter.com/0_cows-mi...-it_1334703.bc[/QUOTE

He was on formula up until he turned one a couple of weeks ago.....

Awesome. I can't tell you how many kids I have had on cows milk at 6 months when they start solids. Some don't understand there is a huge difference, they are concerned about price and assume jar and table foods meet their needs.

[Ariana]

Dairy has been taken out as a food group here in Canada, hopefully other countries follow suit. It is now part of the alternative proteins/meats. Formula or BM and water really should be the drink of choice until 2.

[Cat Herder]

Dairy has been taken out as a food group here in Canada, hopefully other countries follow suit. It is now part of the alternative proteins/meats. Formula or BM and water really should be the drink of choice until 2.

Nice! I did not know that. I hope we in the US follow suit soon.

[jenboo]

Dairy has been taken out as a food group here in Canada, hopefully other countries follow suit. It is now part of the alternative proteins/meats. Formula or BM and water really should be the drink of choice until 2.

Nice! I did not know that. I hope we in the US follow suit soon.

I hope so too! I hate the dairy industry. When I reopen as a preschool, I'm not joining the food program again just because of the requirement to serve milk. If I could serve just water I would be happy.

[lovemykidstoo]

Hmm....I’m not required to serve milk at snack. I just have to serve two of the components. I’d double-check with the food program. Otherwise, I’d just do what you’re required to do, and let dcm do what she needs to do.

Right, we just have to do 2 components as well. Also, I don't know if food program is different state to state, but we can only claim 2 meals and 1 snack. So if you're claiming breakfast and lunch, then you could only do 1 snack here. The other snack you could feed the kids all cookies if you wanted, but yes, you only need milk at breakfast and lunch.

[Rockgirl]

Right, we just have to do 2 components as well. Also, I don't know if food program is different state to state, but we can only claim 2 meals and 1 snack. So if you're claiming breakfast and lunch, then you could only do 1 snack here. The other snack you could feed the kids all cookies if you wanted, but yes, you only need milk at breakfast and lunch.

Right—I didn’t even think of that! It’s the same here. I don’t serve a second snack—just breakfast, lunch, and pm snack.

[springv]

Our food program here in Alabama has changed that we will have to start serving fluid milk at all meals & snacks for it to be creditable and that we can't serve juice and count it as a fruit.

[Leigh]

I hope so too! I hate the dairy industry. When I reopen as a preschool, I'm not joining the food program again just because of the requirement to serve milk. If I could serve just water I would be happy.

Soy milk is a nutritionally equivalent dairy substitute, if the fluid milk requirement is the only thing holding you back from the food program.