So parents, we have an important job to do: Get calcium into our kids now, and milk is an easy way to do that.<\/p>\n
Calcium is found in dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) and in fortified tofu, nuts, and dark green leafy veggies, including broccoli.\u00a0Juice\u00a0<\/a>can be fortified with calcium and vitamin D but is so high in sugar that it\u2019s a poor choice for many families.<\/p>\n While there are many\u00a0sources of calcium<\/a>, it seems easiest to serve cow\u2019s milk. But you can breastfeed until your baby is at least age 1, then when weaning, start introducing cow\u2019s milk. If you formula feed, switch to cow\u2019s milk at age 1. We recommend full fat, vitamin D-fortified cow\u2019s milk from age 1 to 2. Then after age 2, serve your family low-fat milk. Most kids will thrive on a diet that includes 2 glasses a day. More than that puts a child at risk for anemia.<\/p>\n Some kids aren\u2019t able to digest the sugar in milk because they\u2019re\u00a0lactose intolerant<\/a>. Others are sensitive to cow\u2019s milk proteins. Some families follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. If you\u2019re shopping for alternatives, it\u2019s important to know what to look for. Choose a milk product that has:<\/p>\n Many substitutes like rice and coconut milk don\u2019t have enough protein to be a great choice. Often children allergic to cow\u2019s milk are allergic to soy as well. Talk with your pediatrician before offering it.<\/p>\n A few final words:<\/p>\n If you choose to serve milk, it\u2019s a great source of nutrition for most kids! If you avoid it, be sure to serve foods that provide your family enough calcium and vitamin D.<\/p>\n And remember, there\u2019s only one thing a child\u00a0needs to drink \u2013 water (certainly not juice or soda)!<\/p>\n\n
![\"Comparison](\"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/milk_alternative_chart.png\")
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