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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask which milk your children drink?

178 replies

early30smum · 20/07/2017 20:57

So much conflicting advice, and I realize it's hardly a huge deal, but just wondered what kind of milk you all give your kids (full fat, semi skimmed, skimmed cows milk or other milks) and why? Also how old they are?

OP posts:
LexieLulu · 21/07/2017 12:57

We all drink full fat, myself, DH, 3YO and 1YO.
We don't drink tea or coffee so it's mainly on cereal (and odd glasses when we're having cookies).

My 1YO has 2 or 3 bottles or cups a day (when she's too tired we give her it in a bottle).
My son has a cup before bed.

Cailleach666 · 21/07/2017 13:14

I wouldn't drink soya milk- or any soya protein, beans vegetarian mince etc in that state.
It is not good for the health.

Again as I lived in SE Asia for a while ( where people eat lots of soya) it is never eaten in its raw state. Always fermented or sprouted which cuts down the harmful substances.

Fortybingowings · 21/07/2017 13:15

All of us have skimmed. Including the kids

Stormyumbrella · 21/07/2017 13:19

Semi as none of us like full fat. DD had full fat up until about five and I'll probably start buying it again when DD2 turns 1.

DontBeBlueBeARainbow · 21/07/2017 13:20

We have no added sugar soy milk for cereal and tea, sometimes another plant milk for variety. DS is still breastfed at 2 so hope he's getting some nutrition from that. Hubby is Chinese so he's not into any dairy.

I'm not a fan of dairy as I've read it may be linked to a range of diseases of affluence we suffer in the west, plus as a mother the taking away calves from their mothers makes me guilty (emotional pregnant woman!), plus I've read animal calcium is not as great as we're led to believe. But I know the jury is out, just a choice I've made to not make dairy a big part of our diet.

Rumtopf · 21/07/2017 13:24

I have a bit of a tummy issue with cows milk so I mainly drink plant milk or chocolate almond milk.

I buy organic full fat milk for dd14 but even she is veering towards plant milk now and only has it in tea and the odd bowl of cereal.

Angelicinnocent · 21/07/2017 13:26

My DC still drink full fat milk. DS 18 and DD 15.

They prefer it and since they are both active, fit and slim, I don't worry about it.

PoppyPopcorn · 21/07/2017 13:28

Semi ever since they were about 2. That's what we drink and I think that in a child with no dietary issues or health problems that buying a different type of milk is totally unnecessary.

Lucysky2017 · 21/07/2017 13:35

None. We drink tap water only.

MissDuke · 21/07/2017 13:38

They now all drink semi skimmed as it is easier to all have the same, they are now 13, 9 and 5

Brittbugs80 · 21/07/2017 13:40

Semi skimmed as he doesn't like "blue" milk. He's 9 and has about a pint a day, as well as fruit smoothie for breakfast, orange juice or apple juice with lunch and water.

I get organic milk.

I'm aware he has a high fruit based diet but following Dentists advice, he has cheese following fruit to neutralise the acid.

Witsender · 21/07/2017 13:43

Full fat organic. We don't drink much milk though to be fair.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/07/2017 14:00

Mine cannot tolerate full fat cows milk, especially when we have first put them on it. Ds age 5 has semi skimmed and Ds 22 m has bloody cow and gate stage 3 formula as when we put him onto cows milk he has the worst stomach ache until we switched back.

It's never been a foodstuff I've been too fussed about really. They can drink it if they want to but we don't insist on it, and Dh and I only really use milk in tea/coffee.

TheNaze73 · 21/07/2017 14:04

All have had skimmed since they were about 5. Persevered with full fat until then but, they weren't really keen on it.

TheNightmanCometh · 21/07/2017 14:18

By all means refrain from cows milk because you ethically object, but the attempted obesity link is asinine. There are places in the world where they don't have much dairy and their obesity rates are lower than ours. There are also places where they do, and their obesity rates are lower than ours.

We have full fat in our house for the kids. They're under 5, no allergies, we're not vegan, no reason not to follow NHS guidance on the matter. I don't really like the stuff myself, never been a big fan of the taste of milk. We have some semi skimmed in for people having brews.

tickyandtackyandjackythebacky · 21/07/2017 16:56

thenewwave my ds was like that too. We switched to goats milk and he's been grand with that if that's an option? It would be much cheaper anyway.

MsHarry · 21/07/2017 17:25

Skimmed as that's what the whole family drink, not because of health but because of the taste(not fans of milky taste). I think I followed the guidelines of full fat at 1 then moved on later.

MsHarry · 21/07/2017 17:25

Oh they are 13 and 16 now!

MeltorPeltor · 21/07/2017 17:31

4 pints of semi skimmed a week with two adults and a two year old. I'd prefer full fat but DH prefers semi and it's easier just to get one type delivered. No weight issues or calcium deficiency in this house. Yet.

Allthewaves · 21/07/2017 17:43

Ds 8 - ff cows milk as he's super skinny
Ds 6 - semi skimmed goats milk (allergy)
Ds 4 - unsweetened soya milk as he won't take goats milk and has allergy

thismeansnothing · 21/07/2017 17:54

Dd is 5.4yrs and is on 1% or semi skimmed. Whatever we have in. She has it on cereal with glass of milk along side. Me and DH don't like blue top and I'm not having 2 bottles opened for hers to more than likely go off. But she gets plenty of dairy on Greek/natural yoghurt and cheese etc. So I'm not worried about her lacking in anything tbh

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/07/2017 18:32

Ticky it's very interesting because both of my Ds have done this exactly the same- phased in cows milk, all going well, then after a few days on just cows milk, we get the most horrific week of no sleep, waking all hours, griping pains and explosive nappies. Two days back on formula, he's right as rain. But he eats yoghurts, cheese, milk on cereal etc and is fine. They were both milk guzzlers to be fair so were having a fair amount but even so. And everyone I ask says it can't possibly be the milk; I searched for it on here a few weeks ago and all I found was my own thread from 4 years ago!!

Sorry to hijack op but why would goats milk be different? I'm keen to try because I think the formula is too calorie dense and sweet to be drinking so much of it.

BlurryFace · 21/07/2017 18:39

Semi skimmed (3.5 and 2.5 yo). DS2 refused full fat when we tried to switch him to it from formula at 1 so he's always had semi skimmed instead and we decided we might as well switch DS1 over as well as semi skimmed is what DH and I drink.

They're both strapping young lads, DS1 just had his 3.5 year check and is 91st centile for height and weight.

MunchyMunchkin · 21/07/2017 19:06

Thenewaveragebear - have a look at the milk ladder. Kids with mild allergies can often tolerate lower amounts of milk protein but not milk.
LO may be fine with UHT milk rather than formula as it's a step below normal milk on the ladder.

tickyandtackyandjackythebacky · 21/07/2017 19:12

newave* apparently it's easier to digest. We had the same problem with ds when we went to France and tried their cows milk . He was the same with cows milk at home. Awful stomach pains and screaming etc. Someone suggested goats milk because they said it was good for eczema . Stomach pains and eczema disappeared. Of course it could have been coincidence but we've stuck to it ever since.