Milk fat for tots: How much is proper?

Kids need milk for a healthy diet, and last week a national doctors group issued new guidelines on when parents should start their children on reduced-fat milk.

We talked about the new guidelines with Dr. Freshteh Farahan of Boys Town Pediatrics.

Whats new?

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics are aimed at improving the cardiovascular health of children to prevent adult heart problems. The idea is that if children start on reduced-fat milk sooner, it will be better for their hearts. The new guidelines say reduced-fat milk, such as 2 percent, is appropriate for 1-year-olds for whom overweight or obesity is a concern. The academy had long recommended children should stick with whole milk until age 2, because the fat helps with brain and vision development.

The doctors take

Farahan agrees with the new guidelines and thinks it even would be OK, in general, to start 1-year-olds with normal weight on 2 percent milk. That’s what she did with her kids. Even before the new guidelines came out, some doctors have advised parents to start children on reduced-fat milk at age 1. Doctors have seen the obesity trends, and some believe low-fat milk is a good habit to start as early as possible.

But skip the skim

Stay with 2 percent until the child is 4 or 5, advised Farahan. After that, start the skim.

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