Heinz - Tinytums

Which milk for my toddler?

How much milk, and which milk should I be giving my toddler?

Milk is important for your toddler and you should aim to give 350 mls (2/3 pint) of milk each day in addition to the foods you are giving.

Cow’s Milk
Cow’s milk is not suitable as the main milk drink until 12 months. Cow’s milk is not a good source of iron and vitamin D and if there are any concerns about the variety of the foods your baby is having it may be worth continuing  with an iron-enriched baby milk (for example Farley’s Follow-On Milk) after this time, and up until 24 months of age.

Semi-skimmed milk is not recommended as the main drink for children under two years of age and skimmed milk is not recommended for children under five. This is because milk provides a significant proportion of a child’s energy intake, and if skimmed or semi-skimmed milk is used as the main drink it may be difficult to ensure that total energy intake (calories) is enough. This advice does not apply to the small amounts of milk used in recipes - it is the milk which is used as the main drink which is  important.    

Breast-feeding?
If you are breast-feeding you can simply reduce the frequency of feeds as you continue to give more food. Once your baby is beyond  6 months of age  it may be helpful to use a follow-on milk such as Farley’s Follow-On Milk to make up cereals, in cooking and to help get your baby used to drinking milk from a beaker. From the age of 6 months, babies receiving breast milk as their main drink should be given supplements of vitamins A, C and D.

Bottle-feeding?
If your baby is bottle-fed, you can carry on with this milk in addition to the foods you are giving. Beyond  6 months, you have a choice of suitable milks. You can carry on with the baby milk you have been using or you can switch to a follow-on milk such as Farley’s Follow-On Milk, which is nutritionally tailored to the needs of babies of 6 months and older.