She is healthy baby, 31 inches tall, 30 lbs. He mentioned once that she was "too fat." Would this be a reason why when she turned 1, I was told to give her 2%? Vicki, Burtonsville, Maryland
A. You might ask for a copy of those guidelines he is talking about...
The general advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics is that you don't limit a toddler's fat intake until they are two years old and that you should not switch to low fat milk until that time.
The American Dietetic Society also warns that 'efforts to limit fat intake for infants and toddlers are unwise. Infants and toddlers under two years need fat and calories to fuel their rapid growth.'
Her weight is off the growth charts, while her height is just average, so that may be why your Pediatrician is concerned.
Is giving her low fat milk right now going to hurt her? Probably not if she is a good eater otherwise. One study, from Finland, found no differences in children given low fat milk vs. a diet that was not restricted in fats. The study suggested that infants on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet might have less heart disease when they grow up. Many experts are still against restricting fat intake for children under age two years though. And one research report doesn't constitute a guideline...
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your child likely doesn't get all of her fat intake from just milk. If she is a good eater, she is probably getting plenty of fat calories from all of the other things she eats. And if she is overeating or already drinking too much milk, then changing to low fat milk might not really be creating a low fat diet at all. Instead, you might now be at a healthy level of fat calories.
On the other hand, if your child is a very picky eater, then changing to low fat milk might really restrict her intake of fat, which the AAP says is important for 'growth and brain development.' Or if your child is getting too many calories from juice or eating a lot of foods high in protein or carbohydrates, then switching to low fat milk might also really decrease her fat intake to an unhealthy level.
One easy thing to do, is to keep track of all of the things she eats and drinks for a few days and try to calculate the amount of calories and fat she is getting right now. And then compare that to the average needs of a child this age, which is 1300 calories and about 72g of fat. Keep in mind that the AAP recommends that 'babies should get half of all of their calories from fat' and that after age two years, a child's diet 'should be gradually modified until they are getting about one third of their daily calories from fat.'
If you are still unsure about what to do or whether your child is eating a healthy diet, you might also want to consult with a registered dietician that has experience with the nutritional needs of toddlers.
