How flexible is the no semi skimmed till 2 rule?

[puffling]

DD is 22months and about 80th centile height and 95th centile for weight. She eats very well but I don't give her lots of sugary snacks and she has berries or raisins for pudding. She has 12oz of full fat milk per day plus whatever dairy she eats.
I don't think she'd waste away if she moved to semi-skimmed, but I don't know enough about the difference in nutrients between full fat and semi-skimmed to make the change.
I'd be grateful for advice, partic. from someone who knows the facts.

[3andnomore]

hm, your lil one is already almost 2 anyway...and in this case, I really don't think there is much of a difference, especially as she is on the upper scale for weight anyway...
and anyway, appanrelty semi skimmed milk has more calcium then full fat...

[tiktok]

The main concern is the fat-soluble vitamins, A & D. When the fat is removed, the vits go, too. But in a kid who's eating well, this is no big deal.

There are more calories in full fat, too, but again, not an issue with a kid who's eating other foods and growing well.

[lljkk]

I thought there was something about needing the fats for brain development, too? Discussion.

[Brangelina]

There is actually more calcium in semi skimmed as it's not fat soluble therefore, the higher the non fat content the higher the calcium.

The fats needed for brain development are easily and better obtained from vegetable sources, such as olive or seed oils, nuts and seeds, avocado etc.

Vit D is OK as long you have adequate exposure to daylight and Vit A is easily obtained from other sources such as eggs, fish, carrots, pumpkin, mango, melon etc.

[tiktok]

lljkk, yes, toddlers do need proportionately more fat in their diet, but they don't have to have it all in the milk - semi-skimmed and even skimmed milk have fat in anyway, and toddlers on a typical western diet tend to drink more milk generally than adults.

[puffling]

Thanks everyone, the info on vitamins, calcium etc. is really useful.