Which milk is best for kids?

Any one is fine. By 4 years old the child no longer needs the extra fat in the whole milk, and if he's eating well otherwise, he'd probably benefit from the lower fat milk. OTOH, if he's a string-bean, the extra fat and calories will do no harm.

Best Milk For Kids

There really is no one best milk. It depends a lot on your family and your child. If your entire family drinks whole milk than whole milk is fine. The one thing to be aware of is the fat content. If your child eats very healthy with not many other fats in his/her diet than whole milk can be just fine. However, if your entire family drinks 2 % than go with that. At 4 years old, your child does not need a different milk than the rest of the family. In most cases, unless there are some health issues, giving children whole milk is recommended only in the age range between 12-24 months. After 24 months the additional fat content of whole milk isn't necessary for most toddlers. From a nutritional stand point, all cow's milk, regardless of fat content. contains about the same amount of Vitamin D and calcium. Looking at the long-range effect, I think getting the whole family on 1% or skim milk is healthiest. Most of us, children over 2 included, don't need the additional fat since we get so much other fat in a typical diet. The one thing that is theorized about whole milk for children who are 1-2 is that the fat content aids in optimal development, especially in the brain. After 2, the particular brain development in question is complete and the extra fat is no longer needed. Personally, I am with you on the whole family drinking 1% or skim, however my husband is a hold out and insists on 2% for himself. The kids don't actually care and now that they are older, they usually choose the skim over the 2%.

Whole milk is only needed until the child is 2 years old. After that age you can give them whatever you normally have at home. You may also consider your childs size (if small give whole, if large give 2% or 1%).

I say use 1 percent or skim. The babies need that whole milk when they are younger. But at four years old, 1 percent or skim would be fie.

Whole milk for children under 2, the fat promotes brain growth. 2% for children any older, whole milk will cause them to gain weight. But if you don't see any difference then continue with whole.

whole milk is best until kids are 2 because they need the fat for proper brain development, after that 2% is fine, the fat is still good for them, we worry about cholesterol in our diets as adults, but it is necessary for young children to develop properly. Human milk is actually much higher in cholesterol then cows milk, and that is the perfect milk for kids. I wouldn't switch to 1% or skim unless your doctor says your child is over weight.

My doctor says either 1% or 2% after age 2 it is our preference as to which one. My kids like the 2% better so we stuck with that one and make sure they get plenty of other healthy drinks and foods.

Whole milk when they are just starting out! Then you could switch it to 2% Dont worry about calories for your child thats crazy! They need whole milk because of all the vitamins and minerals!!

We have always beed told 2% by age 2.. they do not need the extra fat in whole milk