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Original poster

when to switch to semi skimmed milk?

29 replies

nowwearefour · 30/06/2009 18:37

just wondered what the consensus on this was. i had thought i would keep my dds on whole milk til they were 5 (they are both quite slight) but I read something recently indicating they should switch to semi skimmed at the age of 2. as my youngest has just turned 2 that would mean us all drinking the same milk. anyone else do that? we drink organic so i'm not prepared to buy that in between stuff which doesnt appear to be organic....

OP posts:
IkeaHighchair · 30/06/2009 18:40

You should not switch before they are 2...you can switch any time after IMO.

If your children are overweight (which they are not) you would probably want to do it sooner rather than later - which is what you will have read.

I switched at about 4 for DTDs as there were clinically underweight. DD3 switched between 2 and 3 - but is more in the normal "BMI" range.

Original poster
nowwearefour · 30/06/2009 19:06

i guess i should work out their bmis then! i can tell it wont be high as they arent short and they are so slim that i cant get skirts or trousers to stay up!
thanks

OP posts:
IkeaHighchair · 30/06/2009 20:49

I didn't actually mean you should work out their BMI - as it is incredablly inaccurate for children.

Which is I only said "BMI" because it was easier than saying "short and light or average weight and average height".

With a toddler/child you know if they are "normal weight" IYSWIM.

FAQinglovely · 30/06/2009 20:52

ooooo - 2yrs old - just realised DS3 is 2 now - that means I can switch can't I! We can go back to green top milk - woohoo

my 3rd child and I'd totally forgotten that that was another "milestone" that we'd reached - I really do't like using full fat milk as I drink soooooo much coffee and it's bad enough having all that caffeine with the added fat. I also can't be doing with 2 different bottles in the fridge otherwise DS1 and 2 would no doubt end up using the wrong ones for their breakfast.

brimfull · 30/06/2009 20:54

i switched dd at 10 mo ,but that was 17 yrs ago..but she has survived and is a picture of health.

ds I switched at a yr-also fine

FAQinglovely · 30/06/2009 20:55

gggirl - I think the thread is talking about full fat milk to semi-skimmed milk as opposed to the breast/formula to cows

LadyPinkofPinkerton · 30/06/2009 20:56

I switched DS1 at 5 because he is very slight.

DS2 is 21 months. I'm probably going to switch him at 2 since he is more chunky

hocuspontas · 30/06/2009 20:57

I was reading the labels on milk the other day (saddo) and the fat in blue top is 5% and in green top it is 3%. I was expecting something like 50% and 10%. You live and learn...

blametheparents · 30/06/2009 20:58

We switched when DD was 3.
Really easy now as we all drink semi skimmed milk and oppose to having to buy full fat and semi skimmed.

brimfull · 30/06/2009 20:59

faq- yes dd went from breast/formula to semiskimmed doorstep milk at 10 mos

I remember becasue I was taking her to canada and didn't bother taking formula with me

meltedmarsbars · 01/07/2009 13:41

Yuk to all adulterated milk. Never buy the semi/skimmed stuff.

Give me full fat any day - esp straight from the cow!

FAQinglovely · 01/07/2009 20:28

today we switched back to green top my coffees still taste fab but I can feel better knowing that there's that tiny little bit less fat in the them

alittleteapot · 01/07/2009 22:05

Thanks for this thread, I just came on to the food topic to ask exactly the same thing as DD is just 2 and I got my babycenter update saying it was time to go onto semi skimmed. For some reason I feel a bit sad about it. She's growing up so fast! Also she's tall and slim and while she eats a diverse diet she's not an enormous eater. For that reason the 3% rather than 5% feels reassuring.

pointydog · 01/07/2009 22:19

I don';t k now why people get het up about the milk they drink. Full fat milk is about 4% and semi-skimmed is 2%. It really doesn't make that much difference to child or adult. At all.

6inchnipples · 02/07/2009 08:11

i gave semi straight from breast for first 2, its only now there are 3 of them i buy full fat and only now because i know they'll use it up.

personally i don't think its a concern.

cows milk isn't that good for you and my kids only have it in cereal or a small amount at bed time.They eat plenty cheese and yogs so its not a worry for me.

fruitstick · 02/07/2009 08:29

We still buy full fat for DS1 mot of the time but he has semi skimmed if we don't have any.

I'm not sure it matters but for some reason I feel happier with him having full fat (and dripping sandwiches, ovaltine etc)

Tinkjon · 02/07/2009 12:06

I think there is a confusion between 'should switch' and 'can switch'. You can switch to semi-skimmed from 2 and then to skimmed from 5 - but you don't have to do either, it's only if you want to.

fruitstick · 02/07/2009 13:04

There was definitely a news item a month or so ago which said that children over 2 SHOULD switch to semi-skimmed to prevent childhood obesity.

I commented to DH at the time (whilst donning judgey pants) that it was unlikely that milk was the underlying cause.

Just another ill conceived, overpriced Government initiative to treat us like morons.

Harrumph

LilRedWG · 02/07/2009 13:07

DD has high cholesterol and we switched her at two.

Dietician said that any time before that and they don't get enough fat, which outweighed the need to limit her cholesterol intake, so pretty important to stay on until two I'd say.

LilRedWG · 02/07/2009 13:08

I will probably switch DD to 1% at five.

Original poster
nowwearefour · 02/07/2009 20:07

gosh it is a minefield. as it happened the supermarket didnt have any full fat in today. so i bought semi skimmed and dd1 said she thought there was something wrong with it ie it tastes different! i might be dashing out to buy some blue top at some point. mine dont drink very much but i o like them to have a little bit each day.

OP posts:
PeppermintPatty · 02/07/2009 20:35

My DD is 2 and now has semi-skimmed.

She only has milk on her cereal so it probably won't make much difference to her overall diet anyway.

And it's so much more convenient only having to get one type of milk for everyone.

pointydog · 02/07/2009 20:57

It's not really a minefield because it makes little difference either way

bumpybecky · 02/07/2009 21:05

mine all still have blue milk, they're 11,9,4 and 18m

they're all fairly skinny though, especially the older two

meltedmarsbars · 03/07/2009 14:09

Far better to cut out the crisps and chips than the full fat milk. I can't believe how people get het up about this topic - full fat milk is still a low fat food and full of calcium and protein - build their bones up before they start on the coke-and-chips diet as teenagers!

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