As your toddler graduates from breast milk or infant formula, it can be daunting to know what to feed them to ensure they get all the nutrients they need to grow into a healthy 亚洲自慰视频鈥 especially if they are picky eaters.
Grocery store shelves are stocked with toddler formulas promising things like 鈥渂rain development鈥 and 鈥渨hole nutrition.鈥 However, this language can be misleading to parents, and the announced that toddler formula offers no nutritional advantage and parents should introduce cow鈥檚 milk instead.
What Is Toddler Formula?
Toddler formula is a powdered drink made primarily of powdered milk, vegetable oil, and sweeteners. It is marketed toward 亚洲自慰视频ren who are no longer drinking breast milk or infant formula鈥攖ypically around ages one to three years old.
If you have been giving your 亚洲自慰视频 toddler formula, don鈥檛 feel guilty. It鈥檚 not harmful for your 亚洲自慰视频, but cow鈥檚 milk is a cheaper option that, when paired with age-appropriate food, meets all their nutritional needs.
鈥淭oddler formula is expensive, and you鈥檙e not really getting any additional benefit that makes it worth the cost,鈥 says Rachel Tanz, MD, a pediatrician at 亚洲自慰视频 of Utah 亚洲自慰视频. 鈥淎fter age one, most nutritional needs will be met by food and then supplementing that with cow鈥檚 milk or an alternative like soy or almond milk.鈥
While infant formula and toddler formula may seem similar, infant formula is required by the to meet nutritional requirements for 亚洲自慰视频ren younger than 12 months. This means the ingredients in infant formula are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, these requirements do not apply to formulas marketed toward older 亚洲自慰视频ren, meaning the ingredients do not have to adhere to the same standards the FDA has for infant formula. Additionally, the marketing of toddler formula can mislead parents into thinking it鈥檚 a necessary next step after weaning from breast milk or infant formula.
鈥淚nfant formula has to meet very specific criteria in terms of nutrition and ingredients and quality control,鈥 Tanz says. 鈥淭oddler formula has none of those regulations, so they can kind of market anything as toddler formula.鈥
Why Choose Cow鈥檚 Milk?
The AAP and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both recommend feeding your baby breast milk or infant formula until their After that, you can start offering cow鈥檚 milk with their meals.
Pasteurized, whole cow鈥檚 milk is packed with to help your little one grow into a healthy, strong kid, including:
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Protein
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
- Phosphorus
- 亚洲自慰视频y fat
Once your baby has turned one, start gradually introducing cow鈥檚 milk by substituting one breast milk or infant formula feeding per day with cow鈥檚 milk. Over time, you can replace more feedings with cow鈥檚 milk until it has replaced breast milk or infant formula all together. This is also a good time to allow your baby to adjust to drinking from a cup instead of a bottle.
If your 亚洲自慰视频 is picky about ditching the formula, Tanz says you can introduce it gradually by offering bottles that have infant formula and cow鈥檚 milk mixed together.
Be sure you鈥檙e not giving too much cow鈥檚 milk though. Drinking too much milk can cause constipation or can make a 亚洲自慰视频 too full to eat other foods during mealtimes. Tanz recommends a maximum of 16 to 20 ounces of milk per day.
Are There Alternatives to Cow鈥檚 Milk?
If your 亚洲自慰视频 has a dairy allergy or intolerance, there are milk alternatives made from plants you can choose, such as soy, oat, rice, coconut, and various nut milks.
Like cow鈥檚 milk, alternatives should not be introduced until your 亚洲自慰视频 has turned one.
Other important information to know about milk alternatives:
- Choose one that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D, since those are two of the main benefits in cow鈥檚 milk.
- Read labels carefully to ensure you are buying a kind that is unflavored and unsweetened. Flavored milk alternatives can contain added sugar.
- Talk with your pediatrician about which milk alternative is best for your 亚洲自慰视频. Take into consideration other allergies they may have, and which would be the best for their specific nutritional needs.
Rest assured knowing that your little one is eating a balanced diet with cow鈥檚 milk or a milk alternative, without spending a ton of money on toddler formula.
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