The big Milk debate long life vs fresh

[Joeyest84]

My ds is 11.5 months and we want to start giving him normal milk instead of formula for his brekie and night feeds. The issue we have is what type to use. We only have long life at home as we just don't drink enough to buy fresh (it's usually off before we've used half), which my mother hates to the point she brings her own milk for brews when she comes round. I do prefer the taste of fresh but it's such a waste to buy when we barely use it.
Is there any difference nutritionally? My mother seems to think so and has voiced her opinion on the matter. Any one else?? Thanks

[NaiceNickname]

There is no different nutritionally, the only difference is how it is processed. Long life milk is heated to a higher temperature for a fraction of the time fresh milk is, giving it a longer shelf life.

But once opened, it has the same shelf life as fresh milk does so I've never seen the sense in only buying long life milk, except for maybe the cost of it.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

There's not much difference nutritionally. If you lived in continental Europe you'd have a hell of a job to find anything other than UHT milk. To misquote Crocodile Dundee... 'tastes awful but you can live on it'.

[RedButtonhole]

Surely you'll be using more of it if feeding to your DS anyway? I've never bought long life milk, I hardly ever use milk myself but when DS has it for breakfast and one or two meals a day I buy it by the pint and never have any waste.

[RedButtonhole]

One or two drinks a day that should read, not meals.

[Flywheel]

If he'll be having milk at least twice a day, then going off is no longer an issue. Get him fresh milk. The other stuff is disgusting

[bouncinbean]

We use long life semi skimmed - don't think I've seen long life full fat (in Aldi) so we get fresh now we have a little one for her. To be fair she drinks so much of it and in porridge and cereals that it doesn't get the chance to go off. Can't get used to it in my tea so we still have the long life semi skimmed for our infrequent cups of tea

[MehsMum]

I'd get fresh. When my DC were small they got through the better part of a pint a day each.

[ilovepowerhoop]

what about the filtered fresh milk? it's supposed to last longer once opened

[Joeyest84]

Thanks all.
one of the main reasons we get long life is because when we don't get through the milk and it goes off we can just grab another from the cupboard. No scramble to the shop just so I can have a brew (unless I forget to stock up that is)
Although I hadn't really considered the amount ds would be consuming.
But I was curious if there was any nutritional difference as I didn't have a clue so thanks for the responses

[kentishgirl]

From wiki - seem that you lose some of the nutritional value, esp. folate

Nutrition[edit]
Calories
UHT milk contains the same number of calories as pasteurized milk.
Calcium
UHT and pasteurized milk contains the same amount of calcium.
Folate
UHT milk contains 1 ?g of folate per 100 g, while pasteurized milk contains 9 ?g.[4]
Vitamin B12, vitamin C and thiamin
Some nutritional loss can occur in UHT milk.[5]

[SooticaTheWitchesCat]

Personally I think long life milk taste disgusting and I hate the thought of it as well. When my DD was a baby we lived in Turkey so most of the milk was long life and she hated it too so I would have to trek to the big supermarket every day to buy her fresh milk.

[Joeyest84]

Thanks Kentishgirl
That pretty much spells it out.