What kind of milk are you giving your DC's if they're under 5?

[Sycamoretree]

Mine are still on ye olde full fat organic, and they are 3.9 and 20 months.

I was thinking it might be time to move them to semi-skimmed, which they will both happily drink.

Not sure why I felt the need to go full fat. I guess it was whilst milk was still a big part of their diet. They now just have milk with cereal at breakfast and a cup before bed at night.

Any health experts out there care to give me an informed opinion? Do they really need the extra calories that full fat provides any more? They eat pretty well on the whole.

[drivinmecrazy]

My 2 had full fat organic til quite recently (3 & 8), but as the volumes they drink went down it was easier to just buy a large semi-skimmed organic. But I did hear some where that organic full fat milk is significantly higher in iron and other goodies than both non-organic full fat and organic semi-skimmed. If weight is not an issue I would carry on until little one is a bit older.

[alicecrail]

I believe (but don't take it as gospel) that small children need the fat for brain development and that you should have them on full fat until they are 2yrs at least.

[FrazzledFairyFay]

My DD is 3.7 and skinny so I've kept her on organic full-fat. She has milk on cereal, a cup in the morning and whatever I use in cooking.

My DS is nearly 2 and I'll be keeping him on it as well as he has refused to drink any milk since he was just over 1, so just has it in his porridge and cooking.

I intend to keep them both on full-fat organic for the forseeable future

[Babieseverywhere]

2.9 year old DD and 9 month old DS have breastmilk as their main milk and soy milk on cereal for the toddler.

[Bramshott]

My DD2 (2.2) is still on full fat, but is starting to get funny about it when the cream comes out in lumps so I have been wondering about changing to semi-skimmed. Would be great to only buy one type of milk!! But then there is more nutrition in full fat I think, and I like to be relaxed if she doesn't eat much and think "oh well it's fine, she's having milk".

[Nemoandthefishes]

mine are 5.6yrs,3.5yrs and 2.4yrs and are now on semi skimmed but they have a lot of other dairy.

[Sycamoretree]

Thanks ladies - that's really interesting. I think I'll stick with the full fat organic for a while longer. DS still so young, and I didn't realise just how much more goodies were in full fat vs semi.

DH and I have skimmed milk and yes, I was sort of hoping to get us all onto one type of milk as it would be easier but in the grand scheme of life, buying two types of milk can hardly be classed as a hardship now can it

[ramonaquimby]

all mine have 2% (semi skimmed) they are 7 4 and 2

[AMumInScotland]

Back when DS was little, the advice was to stick to fullfat till age 2, then you could switch to semi-skimmed if they were eating well, but shouldn't switch to skimmed until they reached 5. We actually stuck with fullfat till he was about 5, as he was always a skinny little thing and we figured the extra would be better for him.

[paranoidmother]

I was told when DD 4 was born that ff till 5. So we do full fat when we can or semi skimmed if we run out.

[terramum]

DS is 4.10 & we all have full fat organic from the milkman. I have no plans to change that. We all like the taste of full fat and afaiaa it's better for you because it contains more vitamins (ie the fat soluble ones).

[Seona1973]

we have been on semi-skimmed since ds turned 2 (dd is 5). You can switch to semi at 2 but not skimmed till the age of 5

[frasersmummy]

I bought full fat up till a few weeks ago when dh said do we really need this now .. ds is 4...

So we bought semi skimmed .. ds threw a fit and said he would only drink blue.

So we blindfolded him and made him try both and he couldnt tell the difference

he is now on semi skimmed

[WorzselMummage]

dd's 4+5 and stil has full fat. It had not even entered my head to buy semi skimmed as we drink skimmed.

Is it recommended to change ?

[Sycamoretree]

I'm not sure worzel, which is why I posted. I was just thinking about what age you want to encourage more "healthy" choice over the desire for calories and nutrients that full fat delivers.

I just remember as a kid having full fat until I was about 13 and then suddenly wanting to make a healthier choice, but find the taste of even semi-skimmed really not at all as appealing.

My thinking was to get them onto semi earlier so it becomes the norm. But I think I'll wait given the results of this thread so far.

[FabulousBakerGirl]

All mine are on full fat organic or full fat cravendale.

They are 3, 5 and 8.

[Monkeyandbooba]

Full fat milk is still technically a low fat product (4% fat v 2%)

[Stinkyfeet]

Mine are 3 and 6 and both still have full fat. They probably drink about half a pint each a day. They are both skinny so I'm happy to continue giving it to them. Bear in mind that full fat is still less 4% fat, so not exactly high fat!

[Stinkyfeet]

Snap, Monkey!

[AMumInScotland]

I don't think there's any specific guidance saying you ought to change them from fullfat at any age, just that you can if you want, bearing in mind their overall diet. So from 2 they could have semi-skimmed, and from 5 they could have skimmed. But if they aren't getting much saturated fat from the rest of their diet, what they get from milk isn't going to be a problem, any more than it is for adults.

[HumphreyCobbler]

We all drink full fat milk in our house, none of us are overweight.

[tinkerbarney]

hi, im new! my dd's are 9,4 and 20 months. They are all on full fat. Because my dh and i drink skimmed its just easier to give them all full fat.I intend to carry on unless weight becomes an issue.

[candyfluff]

isnt the government guidelines now that all over two's should be on semi skimmed?

[Sycamoretree]

Hi Tinkerbarney - welcome to MN!

Candy - got any links handy? Would be interested to read..

[Hther]

yes it is 2 now, used to be 5, but i think they ae a bit obsessed with childhood obesity