Betsy Carmine, RDN, registered dietitian, Parkview Health, discusses cow's milk alternatives for children.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends iron-fortified formula or breast milk for the first 12 months of an infant’s life, many parents will introduce milk to their child after that timeframe. For children under the age of two, we suggest they consume unflavored, unsweetened cow's milk.
Benefits of cow’s milk
Whole cow's milk has a higher fat content and provides adequate nutrition for appropriate growth and brain development.
Milk alternatives
When considering alternatives for cow's milk for children under the age of two, we do not recommend almond milk.
Almond milk contains:
- 40 calories
- 1 gram of protein
- 4 grams of fat
This is not comparable to the whole cow's milk, which contains:
- 150 calories
- 8 grams of protein
- 8 grams of fat
Soy milk would be a good alternative for meeting a child's nutritional needs. When choosing soy milk, look for one that is unsweetened, unflavored, and fortified with calcium and vitamin D.
Another great option would be a pea plant-based protein. Soy and pea protein milks contain:
- 100 calories
- 7 grams of protein
- 4 grams of fat
The dietary guidelines recommend that children under the age of 2 get 2 cups or 16 ounces of dairy or a dairy alternative a day. For any questions in regard to your child's nutritional needs, please reach out to a registered dietitian or your pediatrician.
For more cooking and nutritional information, browse our Nutrition & Recipes section on our blog, the Parkview Dashboard.
