Ask Dr. Sears: Whole or Two Percent? | Parenting

Ask Dr. Sears: Whole or Two Percent? | Parenting

Q:  Our pediatrician wanted me to introduce our one-year-old to two percent milk instead of whole milk. The doctor says that she doesn't need all of the harmful fat in the whole milk and that they have equal amounts of vitamins. Is this correct, and is this okay for her, developmentally speaking? A: Your pediatrician is correct. As babies grow into toddler years, most do not need the extra fat of whole milk and do just fine with two percent milk. Yet the question of when to switch from whole to low-fat milk depends upon your toddler's overall nutrition. In my pediatric practice, I usually wait until two years of age to switch a toddler from whole milk to two percent milk. The reason why has more to do with toddlers' temperament rather than developmental needs: Most toddlers are picky eaters and need the extra fat for extra calories. If your toddler has an overall balanced diet, then switching to two percent milk is fine . As your pediatrician mentioned,

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