Fresh milk for toddlers is one of the best foods you can find in nature—it is a good source of calcium, protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin A and phosphorous, all of which are essential for a child’s growth and development. After the age of 1, fresh milk can be introduced together with a balanced diet of solids to fulfil your child’s growing nutritional needs.

Start them young

Medical research has proved that it is safe to give cow’s milk to children after they have turned one year old. It is also recommended that children who are 1 to 2 years old should only drink whole milk. “He needs the fat for nerve and brain development,” says Frank Greer, M.D., chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’s Committee on Nutrition.^[1] Toddlers also have very high energy requirements for growth, so whole milk with its full fat content provides more calories for the same amount of low fat or skim milk consumed.

After 2 years old, children can drink low-fat milk or even skim milk if there are any weight-related issues.

Nature’s Most Wholesome Food: Fresh Milk For Toddlers

What is it that makes fresh milk such a crucial food for children?

Fresh milk has all the vital elements that your little one needs. For example, a full glass of milk contains vitamins A and B, carbohydrates, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, and proteins. It’s also a great source of Calcium—that leads to development of healthy bones, healthy teeth and healthy heart, among other benefits.^[2]

Here are the main reasons why fresh milk is your child’s best friend.

Great source of Calcium
Milk and dairy products are the best source of calcium for our bodies. One cup or 250ml of full cream cow’s milk provides 300 mg of Calcium^[3], which is 60% of what a one to three years old needs (500mg/day)^[4]. Calcium is essential for the development of bones and teeth in the child’s body.

Since children are playful in nature, they need strong bones for support and similarly, teeth are so crucial for children—not just for the purpose of consuming food but also for facial structure. If you encourage your children to drink milk, it will help them grow a healthy set of teeth.

As your child enters toddlerhood, he or she will start tasting all kinds of food and drinks. If they have older siblings and they drink soft drinks, your little one will want to try it too. Fresh milk is what you should give them, thus reducing the risk of decaying teeth and weak gums and childhood obesity.

Important Source of Vitamins and Minerals
As mentioned earlier, a glass of milk contains vitamins B12 that helps in increasing red blood cell count; it contains carbohydrates that provides vital energy; it has potassium that helps regulate proper nerve function; it has magnesium that helps in muscular function, and phosphorous for energy release. Fresh milk also contains proteins for toddler’s body repair and growth.^[5]

Rehydration
The human body needs regular hydration and that’s why fluids are an integral part of our body (Water makes up about 78% of babies’ body mass. For adults, it’s between 55-60%). Majority of fluid in the body comes through water intake. Since children don’t drink water as mindfully as adults do, milk is a good way to get them hydrated as well.

How much milk should your child drink?
The Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore, recommends the following daily amounts of milk for children and teens:^[6]
6-12 months: 750 ml
1-2 years: 750 ml
3-6 years: 500 ml
7-12 years: 250 to 500 ml
13-18 years: 250 ml

Tips by Dietitian Derrick Ong, Principal Dietitian, Eat Right Nutrition Consultancy

“Good nutrition is absolutely essential for a child’s growth and development especially in the first 1000 days of a child’s life,” said Derrick Ong, Principal Dietitian, Eat Right Nutrition Consultancy.

5 Benefits of Fresh Milk:

Calcium and Vitamin D found in fortified fresh milk are essential to build strong bones and teeth, and to prevent osteoporosis later in life.
Milk is a good source of protein to build muscle.
It is also an excellent source of Vitamin B12 which is needed to form red blood cells that carry oxygen to the muscle, brain and other vital organs
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and Phosphorous play a role for energy metabolism and many essential biological functions that keep one alert and active all day
Milk is a low glycemic index (GI) food which provides a steady stream of carbohydrates to fuel the child’s mental and physical activities.
Vitamin A is good not just for eyesight, but also to support the growth of healthy skin, tissues, bone and teeth, as well as to build a strong immune system to fight off infections.

Mums, as you can see, Magnolia fresh milk for toddlers is the wholesome choice that you should make for the healthy physical and mental growth of your children.

Go for Magnolia fresh milk today. It’s the most nutritious gift you can give to your child. Find out more from https://www.magnolia.com.sg/

References:
[1]https://www.parenting.com/article/got-milkhttps://www.parenting.com/article/got-milk
[2]https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium-full-story/https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium-full-story/
[3]https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/518/Calcium%20https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/518/Calcium%20 %20For%20Greater%20Bone%20Strength
[4]https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/192/recommended_dietary_allowanceshttps://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/192/recommended_dietary_allowances
[5]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/milkhttps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/milk
[6]https://www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Food%20N%20Nutrition/birth-18%20(English)_FINALA4.pdfhttps://www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Food%20N%20Nutrition/birth-18%20(English)_FINALA4.pdf

This article is first published on theAsianparent.