The Dairy Dilemma: Alternative Milk Options for Toddlers

At one year of age, we start to talk about the transition from breast milk or formula to whole milk, as a child’s diet starts to become more based on calories from foods as opposed to liquid calories. In fact, children don’t require nearly as much milk as you might think after a year (only 12-16 oz per day!). It’s much more important that they eat a well balanced diet to get the vitamins and minerals that they need. (Quick caveat: if you’re still breastfeeding, breast milk continues to be a great option, but after a year, your child will need a wide variety of supplemental foods to provide optimum nutrition).  

Inevitably during the same conversation, I get questions regarding alternative types of milk available – Are they safe? Can they replace cow’s milk? How much should my child drink? There are many reasons for choosing an alternative type of milk, most commonly milk/food allergies or dietary preference, but I encourage you to be informed when making the choice about the kind of alternative milk you offer your child. With that in mind, here’s a helpful guide to navigating the milk aisle at the grocery store….

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