can anyone please tell me why...

[LadyJogsAlot]

we give young kids full fat cows milk.
mil disagrees with it and she's a paediatrician so i need some facts please.

thanks

[NotQuiteCockney]

They need the fat. Young kids shouldn't be on a low-fat diet.

[LadyJogsAlot]

yes and i agree but why?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Because small children need a lot of fat in their diet. This is because they're growing. A lot of fat is needed for, e.g. myelination of their nerve fibres - baby nerve fibres aren't coated, which is why their reflexes etc are slower. Brain development needs fat.

(And obesity is generally more related to sugar consumption and inactive lifestyles, imo, than fat consumption.)

[Flllight]

Something to do with energy concentrations. When I was a vegan into wholefoods etc there was a lot of literature about easing up on the wholemeal stuff for toddlers, and small children, as their little systems couldn't cope with enough of the bulk involved to eat enough for their energy requirements.

Something like that. Sorry not to be more specific or up to date.

MILs are a pig aren't they...

[NotQuiteCockney]

Lots of articles agree.

[expatinscotland]

DD1 is still on full fat cow's milk.

She turned 5 last month, she's a shade over 4ft. and weighs just 2.7st.

Gets a hella lot of exercise, however, even with her dyspraxia.

[LadyJogsAlot]

she sent me this email:

Reduced-Fat Milk Recommended for High-Risk Toddlers Reduced-fat (2%) milk is appropriate for children as young as 1 year whoare at increased risk for becoming overweight or obese or who have afamily history of dyslipidemia or cardiovascular disease, according to anAmerican Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on cardiovascular healthpublished earlier this month in Pediatrics. The new guidance on milk is reflected in a table on daily estimatedcalories and recommended servings within the report. The AAP previously advised that full-fat milk be given to children untilage 2 years -- a recommendation developed "when there wasn't the kind ofconcern that we have now about childhood obesity," Dr. Stephen R. Daniels,a member of the AAP's Committee on Nutrition, told Reuters. Dr. Daniels said there's now evidence that a diet lower in saturated fat,even when begun as early as age 6 or 7 months, does not have a detrimentaleffect on growth and development, Reuters reports.

this blatantly isn't my ds.
dh and i are both bmi normal and ds is and has always been on the 50th centile for weight, 75th for length.

[LadyJogsAlot]

NQC, have just emailed her links to those articles.

i actually cannot believe the things she comes out with sometimes

[NotQuiteCockney]

Is she a bit bonkers re: childhood obesity? Maybe she sees a lot of obese kids in her practice and hence fears it?

How old is your DS?

My two are nearly-7 and nearly-4, and both are on full-fat milk. They're both skinny so any pressure I get is the other way ... either way, it sucks, though.

I really think HFCS and sitting still watching TV all day are a clearer cause of childhood obesity (and adult obesity, for that matter). There may be some circumstances in which 2% milk is advised for toddlers, but if your child doesn't even meet those criteria ...

[expatinscotland]

DH and I are both naturally thin. He's skinny, in fact. His whole family are. Mine are thin, too, except my sister who just flat out eats way, way too much.

I don't think it's a concern if your children are normal weight or under and/or get plenty of exercise.

[nailpolish]

i love full fat milk
its so tasty and good for you

skimmed milk is like watered down milk

[expatinscotland]

i used to use this stuff called 'half and half' in my coffee in the US. damn, it was good. i think the closest you can get here is pouring cream.

nothing like a little, erm, , Nestle chocolate powder stirred into a glass of full fat milk as a nightcap (well, seeing as that brandy's off the list for me just now).

[LadyJogsAlot]

ds is 1 yo and still in 6-9 month trousers.
he is long and slim.

[LadyJogsAlot]

expat, yes i agree re exercise.
ds and i have spent today toddling round the park.

[expatinscotland]

DD1 and her dad are just getting back from a walk into the village.

She also has swimming lessons twice a week.

We do as much as possible outdoors.

Sport and being fit is vital to good brain development and concentration, even to getting good sleep.

[LadyJogsAlot]

yes. in fact, better to have a non low fat diet and exercise than to have a low fat diet and do nothing.

it's really hard to argue with an mil who is a paed.

[nailpolish]

dont argue with her

smile and nod like you agree then do what you want to anyway

[expatinscotland]

Well, DD1 is under paed care for her dyspraxia and she had no problems with DD1's diet - she eats for Scotland. She's just a slender person who enjoys playing outside and swimming.

[LadyJogsAlot]

i just hate it.
we're living with her at the moment and i hate being question about my parenting.

she said to me recently that ds is starting to look more like me with exception of his gappy teeth and red marks (he has a birth mark on his face).

this should be in relationships shouldn't it?

[nailpolish]

the best thing you can do is leave the room when she starts

[nailpolish]

just get up and walk out

[expatinscotland]

You poor soul!

[LadyJogsAlot]

i think she just thinks she funny.
i really don't know what to say.
dh just finds it all too much and so i try not to mention it to him.
she's equally as nasty to him.

[expatinscotland]

In that case I'd take naily's suggestion and leave the room when she pipes up.

[lljkk]

If your MIL is that fussed about full vs. skim fat milk then she is trying to micro-manage what you do -- she had her go as a parent, it's your turn. Your call.

2 of my children are skinny runts frankly, yours sounds the same and mine can drink full fat for rest of their lives as far as I am concerned.