2% milk or Whole Milk?

I babysit and now that the babies are on milk, they are given whole milk because this is the doctors recommendation. I think if you don't give them milk to excess, the whole milk is fine. If you continue to give it to them as they get older then the obesity can come in. I'd stick with the whole milk for at least 6 months or until the doctor ok's 2%.

My kids were on whole milk until they were two. My kids Dr always says that children that are a little overweight when they are young usually turn out to be the healthiest kids when the grow up.

My son went straight to 2% milk, but my daughter is on whole milk. She gets WIC and on WIC you have to buy whole milk for kids under 2. I don't like milk at all, so the kind does not matter to me.

Let me tell you this You should start out your baby on whole milk till about age 4-5 after that, 2% wont matter The thing is, you want your baby to have a good foundation, and then you can let her go on a diet :)

This question takes me back a little! LOL My sons are 24 and 18 now. Both of mine went from formula to 2% milk. I always drank 2% so I just started them on it. The pediatrician was aware of it and never made mention of whole milk being better but then again the whole obesity issue wasn't quite as bad as it is now. Neither of mine are overweight and Lord knows I don't know why! LOL They eat like bottomless pits! As far as their brain goes well they don't have one!

My daughter is only drinking the milk formula. the powdered one since I dont think we have whole milk back home. Now that we're in US, she loves to drink whole milk.

Fat free milk or 1%... all taste the same to me... I can tell you that my daughter was on whole milk once she got off formula. She gained weight & was a chunky little thing. I really never understood what I was doing wrong, but turns out whole milk was the problem. We now have her on 1% milk, she has thinned out a lot, but she is growing to, so I can't tell. As for my son, now who is only 2, he was on 2% milk & the doctor got on to us about it saying my son was toooo slinky.... LOL! Anyway, now my son is on rice milk... it's healthier anyway... my daughter would be on rice milk as well, but she hates it, but my son is a rice milk boy & both my kids are healthy as can be.. So if I was you.... use what you think is best.... I do believe to much whole milk can pack on the weight, but thats if your drinking the whole gallon in one day... Try 1% or 2%...... whatever you use, limit it to like 2-3 cups a day. Kids will gain weight by drinking to much milk... As for the brain... I honestly think rice milk is healthier.

This discussion is too difficult for me. I am just glad that I can tolerate whole milk and so do my sons. Cheers!!

I myself drink 2% milk and thats what my two children drink. My sister also give there children it. Thats what my mother in law drinks and gave her son when he was a baby. And thats what my parents and grandparents drink. So I think 2% milk is just fine. My childrens pediatrician has never had a problem with my girls drinking it. Happy Mylotting!!!!

My daughter is two years old and has been on whole milk since being about one year old. Her choice as she refused point blank to have anything else she loves it and she will drink at least a pint a day. I am not worried about her being obese she eats healthy and has exercise, plus she is getting plenty of calcium and is growing at a fast rate of knots so my opinion is that it is not doing her any harm. I think for me whole milk is the best thing for my daughter and as long as she does not eat junk food too much or to many sweets she will continue to be the right weight.

When my 8 year old was just beginning to drink regular milk, I started him on whole milk, but, just as I can not tolerate very much whole, I soon found out that he couldn't either. When I spoke to the doctor about it, I was told to just give him the 2%. When my daughter , who is younger, began to drink milk, I just continued with the 2%. I don't think it really makes a whole lot of differene as long as the child has a well balanced diet and regularly gets all nutrients that are needes.

I did half and half. I would put half whole milk and half 2%. That way their where getting both and my kids are smart healthy and not fat. You car try that also rice and 2% was what they liked.

My son will be nine month on 15th of this month. He is on going the milk formula powder. I never worry about whether he need regular or 2% milk. He really likes exercise except sleep. So I do worry whether the energy is enough for him. I think the regular milk can give the biks more energy and nutrition here.

The AAP has advised parents of toddlers who are overweight or obese, or have a family history of obesity, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease to drink low-fat milk between the ages of 1 and 2. If you child has any of these risk factors, the use of low-fat milk would be o.k. My son's pediatrition recommended the use of whole milk until he turns 2. It's said that the fat contained in whole milk is essential to the proper development of a baby's brain.