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Semi Skimmed Milk - age for children to start drinking?

7 replies

PigeonPie · 07/08/2008 20:29

A friend has recommended to another friend that her daughter who is 2.10 should start drinking semi skimmed milk rather than full fat because she is a bit 'chubby' and she needs to 'reduce the calories'.

I have doubts about this advice but wasn't sure what the recommended age was for children to stop drinking full fat milk.

Any ideas?

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ilovemydog · 07/08/2008 20:31

Wow - that's outrageous! A child, unless really obese, should not even think about their weight, but absolutely not at 2!

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PigeonPie · 07/08/2008 20:32

Do you know what is even more outrageous? This 'friend' is a dietitian

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RhinestoneCowgirl · 07/08/2008 20:33

According to my Birth to 5 book (given by the HV) they can start having semi-skimmed at 2 and skimmed at 5.

We started DS on semi a few weeks before his 2nd birthday as he is pretty hale and hearty and it was a pain remembering to get full fat in as we don't drink it ourselves.

I wouldn't worry about 'chubby' toddlers (prob because I have one ) as long as their diet is mainly good and they spend a lot of time running around like loons...

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onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2008 20:34

The information I have read is that if the child is eating a reasonable varied diet then semi skimmed milk is fine from the age of 2. Skimmed is unsuitable before the age of 5. However even if the child is having semi skimmed milk, iirc they should still have full fat yoghurts and cheese etc (if they have dairy foods that is).

Imo a friend shouldn't be recommending to another friend. A health professional should be asked if the mother has any queries.

Children need more fat than adults; a low fat diet is unsuitable for small children.

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LIZS · 07/08/2008 20:35

You can use non full fat from 2 iirc but no limit.

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onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2008 20:35

She may be a dietician, but she is not the child's dietician and therefore is unlikely to have all the facts. Rhinestone put more clearly what I was trying to say.

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PigeonPie · 07/08/2008 20:38

The mother is a gp!

What shocks me is that this 'friend' is judging the other friend's daughter. She is a well-built little girl, but nothing more than that and I'm sure she will slim down as she gets older.

She certainly doesn't need to be told she's chubby - that sounds like a recipe for anorexia in the future.