CMs - Full Fat or Semi Skimmed Milk?

[looneytune]

Just a quicky.....I'm in the middle of some coursework for my Diploma and just have come across something I didn't know. It's about cows milk and says that from 12 months old children can have full fat cows milk (which I knew) but that it is recommended that this is switched to semi skimmed once a child turns 2.

I didn't know about switching to semi skimmed so young - what do you provide to your mindees? (my own nearly 3 year old is still on full fat!)

I use full fat milk for all my mindees and I've used it for my own three, once they turn a year old.

I've not heard anything about going to semi-skimmed when 2. I thought young children have to have their full calcium intake etc. from full fat milk/yoghurts etc.

I have heard about the recommendation that children over two can have semi-skimmed, but I'm not doing anything about it personally. I understand that it is based on concerns about the rising incidence of obesity, but as none of my kids are particularly plump, I think I'm happy that they have as much full fat milk as they like. If they start looking a bit heavy, I'll cut back on something, but probably not the milk!

scarfmaker - there is more calcium in skimmed than full-fat milk

I use semi-skimmed milk for my ds and mindees.

I am fairly certain that milk in nurseries is full fat and most children need the extra calories for running around

I thought it was 5?

Mine are all on full fat as DD2 paediatrician has recommended that she stays on it to help her bone development.

Full fat, but that's because DD is one and I buy the bulk of my milk for her, it's easier than running two bottles.

It used to be 5 but semi-skimmed is higher in calcium hence the recommended switch.

I get my milk through this company and this is what there advice states
www.coolmilk.com/cms/files/Fat.pdf

I have been on two conflicting courses recently. The healthy eating for under fives course said semi skimmed from age two, as it has more calcium. The birth to two course said full fat til age five, coz children need fat for brain development.

The recommendation to nurseries is that full fat is used until 2 then semi skimmed. I don't really agree with it but that's the recommendation.

I'm not sure if it's a recommendation as such - from 2 they can have semi-skimmed, but that's not the same as they should.

Thanks all, I'm even more confused now, especially since what HSMM has been told on the different courses!!

The world health organisation changed there guidelines to children 2+ having semi skimmed milk due to them trying to tackle childhood obesity. I think it is a recommendations rather than a requirement. Google WHO and it should come up with something.

Hi im currently working in surestart within the 2 year old programme we have always been told by professionals to use full fat milk

Mogs - why are you using semi-skimmed if there is more calcium in skimmed?

Full-fat is what I've used on all my mindees and my own children.

My now 18 year old was born 4 weeks early and I bottle fed/full fat milk fed from birth and he is now a strapping 6' 3" with not a days illness in his life and no allergies - same with his two sisters.

I use semi-skimmed because they still need the extra calories/fat that semi-skimmed provides over skimmed.

I thought it was full fat until aged 2, then semi skimmed until aged 5 when they can go onto skimmed. Not sure where I heard this though, just something I have picked up from somewhere!

I think that if it's the fat content that people worry about then full fat isn't that bad, it's less than 4% fat so for an over 2 they'd have to be drinking quite a lot of milk for it to be an issue.