Food for Children
The role that milk and dairy products play during our lifetime changes greatly over the years. Please see some notes below on what is generally appropriate for babies, infants, toddlers and adolescents with respect to milk. Pauls also advises that decisions on children ’s diets be conducted in conjunction with a health professional, such as a family doctor or dietitian.
Babies and Infants
• Breast Milk is the ideal or ‘gold standard ’for babies.
• If mothers elect not to breastfeed, infant formula is recommended, with a humanised formulae being preferable.
• Solids should not be introduced until 6 months.
• Cow ’s milk may be given to children from 6-9 months of age mixed with solids in the form of desserts, on cereals or in cooking. Dairy foods such as cheese or yoghurt can be introduced from six months of age.
• Breast milk or formula should remain the primary milk for children until 12 months of age. Hence, cow ’s milk should not be introduced as the main milk drink until this age.
• If there is a history of milk protein allergy in the family, introduction of cow ’s milk products should be delayed until twelve months.
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Toddlers
• Low and reduced fat milks are not suitable for children under five years of age due to the inadequate energy, fat and Vitamin A levels of these milks.
• From two years of age, reduced fat milks may be consumed in the form of family desserts etc, however full cream milk should still remain the main milk drink, except under medical/dietetic advice.
Children
• Dairy foods are a valuable source of calcium for growing bones. The entire skeleton of a young child is replaced every two years so the demand for calcium is high.
• The level of calcium consumption throughout the early stages of life plays an important role in determining ‘peak bone mass ’, which is the maximum bone strength we can attain.
• Refer to the calcium page for more information about Calcium RDIs.
• Some children are prevented from eating dairy products for fear of allergies. The reasoning behind such dairy exclusions can, in fact, be incorrect. Be very careful with this process of diet refinement, because ensuring children get enough calcium is a major priority.
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Adolescents
• Adolescents have increased calcium requirements to cope with sudden growth spurts during puberty.
• Refer to the calcium page of this brochure for more information about Calcium RDIs.
• Concerns with weight, particularly with teenage girls, can lead to dairy foods being avoided. This avoidance can result in an inadequate calcium intake, which puts good bone health at risk. There are many low and reduced fat milks which could be substituted for full cream milk.
Food Facts
