How much milk should child drink

NUTRITION ED: How Much Milk Should My Child Drink? What Kind of Milk?

The recommended amount of milk for children to drink daily is based on the child’s age. It is also important to remember that whatever beverages that are offered a child in their first 5 years of life will impact his or her lifelong taste preferences.¹ So, what are the best options early in a child’s life? Water – for proper hydration, and milk – essential for growth.¹

Milk is important in our diets because it provides calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and protein. It is especially important for children as these nutrients are all necessary for proper growth and bone development. The fat content in milk is necessary for brain growth and neurological development, therefore children up to 2 years of age should drink whole milk.² Children over the age of 2, can drink 2% or low-fat (1%) milk.¹

However, if a child is allergic to cow’s milk and/or a plant-based milk is preferred, then a fortified soy milk is the best option as it is the most similar in nutritional value to cow’s milk. ² Note that it is important to check the Nutrition Facts Label on different brands of soy milk and choose those with added calcium and Vitamin D, with no added sugars.³ It is a good idea for parents to consult with an allergist and/or a Registered Dietitian if an allergy is suspected to help them make the best choice for their child.

Not recommended are other plant-based milks, such as almond, coconut, hemp, rice, etc., due to the low protein and fat content. Flavored milks are also not recommended due to the added sugars and should be avoided in children under 2 years old.¹ Milks labeled as ‘Toddler milk’ are also deemed unnecessary as they tend to contain added sugars as well.¹ Added sugars have been known to hamper the child’s appetite and make him or her less likely to drink regular, plain milk.

General guidelines for how much milk a child each should drink are: 2 – 3 cups per day for children 12-24 months; and 2 – 2½ cups per day for children 2–5 years old. ¹ For children over 5 years old, the daily recommendations are 2½ cups to age 8, and then 3 cups for ages 9-18. For a MyPlate plan that includes dairy/milk recommendations specific to your child, please visit https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan and complete the “Get Your MyPlate Plan”.
From the MyPlate.gov website, here are General Recommendations from the Daily Dairy Table:4 Note that this table is not exclusively for milk, but includes all dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.

With the various dairy options available and by following these guidelines and recommendations, it is likely that your child is getting the calcium, protein, and vitamins that he or she needs! Just remember that under age 2, providing your child with full-fat or whole milk or fortified soy milk is very important for their brain growth. Beyond that, skim, low-fat, or plant-based milks are fine.

By Diana Groux, SHSU Dietetic Intern

References

1. Muth N. Recommended Drinks for Young Children Ages 0-5. American Academy of Pediatrics.
2. Riley L, Rupert J, Boucher O. Nutrition in Toddlers. American Family Physician. 2018;98(4):227-232.
3. Johnson A, Ansel K. Dairy Alternatives for Kids Who Won’t – or Can’t – Drink Milk. eat right Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
4. MyPlate.gov. What foods are included in the Dairy Group?

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How Many Glasses of Milk Should a Kid Drink? | Healthy Eating

By Erin Coleman, R.D., L.D. Updated December 06, 2018

Milk and other dairy products are good sources of protein and calcium, nutrients important for normal growth and development in children. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, adolescent girls ages 9 to 18 often don’t consume enough calcium. The amount of milk a child should consume each day depends on his age. A serving size of milk is equivalent to 1 cup, or 8 fluid ounces.

Ages 0 to 12 months

Infants ages 0 to 12 months of age should not consume cow’s milk, and should drink breast milk or infant formula instead. According to MedlinePlus, newborns should consume 16 to 24 ounces of breast milk or infant formula each day, infants ages 4 to 6 months old should consume 28 to 45 ounces of breast milk or formula every day, babies ages 6 to 8 months should drink breast milk or formula three to five times per day and babies ages 8 to 12 months old should drink breast milk or infant formula three to four times each day.

Ages 1 to 2

You can offer your child whole cow’s milk after 1 year of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children between the ages of 1 and 2 require a higher-fat diet for proper brain development, which is why whole milk is recommended. At this age, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting cow’s milk to 32 ounces, or 4 cups, per day. KidsHealth encourages children ages 1 to 2 to consume 16 to 24 ounces, or 2 to 3 cups, of whole milk each day.

Ages 2 to 8

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends children ages 2 to 3 consume at least 2 cups from the dairy group each day, and children ages 4 to 8 consume at least 2.5 cups from the dairy group on a daily basis. This may include cow’s milk, soy milk, yogurt, cottage cheese or regular cheese. Your pediatrician may recommend switching to 2-percent milk at some point after age 2.

Ages 9 and Older

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends children ages 9 and older and adults consume at least 3 cups from the dairy group each day. Active teenagers with high calorie requirements of 3,000 calories or more may require 4 cups from the dairy group each day.

Substitutions for Milk

If your child doesn’t like to drink milk, other protein- and calcium-rich dairy products can replace cow’s milk in a healthy diet. These may include yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and soy milk. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 cup from the dairy group is equivalent to 1 cup of cow’s milk, 1 cup of soy milk, 1 cup of yogurt, 2 cups of cottage cheese, 2 ounces of processed cheese or 1.5 ounces of hard cheese such as cheddar.

• Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Why Formula Instead of Cow’s Milk
• Kids Health: Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old

Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in dietetics and has extensive experience working as a health writer and health educator. Her articles are published on various health, nutrition and fitness websites.

how much milk a child needs for 1 feeding, the rate of formula and breast milk

The birth of a baby is a very joyful event. However, along with the joy of parents, many more questions arise. After all, it is so important that the baby grows up healthy and actively develops. One of the first such questions is usually: "How much does a newborn eat per feeding?" It would seem that feeding is such a natural process that it should not cause difficulties. However, most mothers are concerned that the baby does not have enough milk or, on the contrary, he overeats. How to strike a balance? Let's talk about it in this article. nine0003

Content: Hide

1. Features of breastfeeding
2. On colostrum
3. Consumption norms
4. How to calculate the volume of feeding
5. What is important to take into account artificial feeding

Prevention. As a rule, the most difficult in the matter of feeding is the first week after childbirth. At this time, mother and child are only learning to understand each other. But there is no doubt that breast milk is the best food for a baby. This product is perfect by nature and has everything you need at every stage. nine0003

Breastfeeding is good for both the baby and the mother:

• it helps the baby to get the substances necessary for growth, development and immunity and just satisfy hunger;
• promotes active contraction of the woman's uterus (under the influence of sucking movements) and a faster recovery process after childbirth.

About colostrum

Newborns eat little, their sucking reflex is just developing and is beginning to be put into practice. In addition, a woman's milk is not produced immediately. In the mammary glands at the end of pregnancy and in the first hours after childbirth, colostrum is formed. This is not exactly milk, it even outwardly differs from mature milk, and in its chemical composition it is similar to blood. This is a very valuable product. It is high in fat and contains immunoglobulins and antitoxins, which strengthen the immune system and protect the baby's body from infections. After a few days, colostrum is replaced by transitional milk. It is lighter, but also quite oily. nine0003

Read also: Complementary foods for artificial feeding

Consumption rates

This is important!

A mother should not worry that her baby was hungry, even if she applied it 10 times to the breast, but it seems that he did not eat almost a drop. The size of the stomach of a newborn is very small, so only about 10 ml is eaten per feeding. Thus, for the whole day the baby can drink up to 100 ml.

On average, milk arrives 3-4 days after birth and its quantity gradually increases. The stomach of the baby also grows. This means that the amount of milk consumed also increases. So, for the first day, a newborn can drink 10 ml per feeding, for the second day - 20 ml, and for the third - 30 ml. But remember that each organism is individual and there are no strict limits here. However, if by the 4-5th day of life the child's body weight does not increase, but only decreases (by more than 8%), then this requires the attention of a specialist. nine0003

There is a folk way to determine the rate of consumption of breast milk. You need to multiply the number of days that have passed since the day of birth by 10. But this method is inaccurate and has no scientific confirmation.

So how much should a newborn eat per feeding? The table shows the daily and one-time volume of milk by months for children under 1 year old.

1/6 of body weight

do not forget that children with children located breastfeeding, complementary foods are introduced at about 6 months. This means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced, giving way to more adult food. nine0003

How to calculate the amount eaten

In terms of measuring the amount eaten, formula feeding seems to be just perfect. Here is a bottle with a scale, here is water, here is a measuring spoon. However, in terms of its benefits, formula milk will never be compared with breast milk. And besides, making measurements is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Babies just need to be weighed before and after feeding on a baby scale. To ensure the accuracy of the result, you need to weigh several times a day. If nothing threatens the health of the baby, he does not look thin and pale, develops according to age, and the mother has enough milk, then monthly weighing in the clinic is usually enough. nine0003

Feeding schedule

For breastfed babies, there is a rule - to put the baby to the breast on demand. Previously, it was believed that it was necessary to maintain an interval of 3 hours, but now pediatricians agree that the breaks between feedings can be 1. 5–2 hours. This does not mean at all that the baby will overeat.

Video: Does a baby get enough food in the first months of life?
Author: pediatrician, Ph.D. Komarovsky E.O. nine0003

The duration of one feeding is usually 15-30 minutes. Although there are deviations from the norm. For example, a woman has a lot of milk, and the child is full in 5-10 minutes. Or, on the contrary, there is not enough milk, and the baby can suck out the remains for a long time. Some babies just enjoy suckling and use their mother's breast as a pacifier.

What is important to consider

At first, mother and baby are just getting used to the ongoing changes, so the feeding regimen may not be ideal. However, you should adhere to the following rules. nine0003

• In the first couple of weeks, a woman needs a lot of dedication, because the interests of the child in the matter of satisfying hunger come to the fore. You can’t refuse food to a baby, even if it costs a sleepless night.
• If there is any doubt that the baby is undernourished or overeating, it is best to start monitoring the frequency of feedings. So, you need to mark the time at which the baby was really hungry, mark the intervals between feedings. This information may also be useful at the appointment with the pediatrician. nine0010
• It is impossible to establish a clear feeding regime, as with artificial feeding, especially in the first weeks after birth. Maintaining intervals of more than 2–3 hours during the day and 3–4 hours at night is highly discouraged.
• Do not try to force feed your baby. He is still too young to realize the need for food, and is guided solely by his feeling of hunger. If the baby persistently refuses the breast, you need to try to offer him to eat a little later. If the interval is too large, it is better to contact a specialist for advice. nine0010
• It is important that your baby latch on correctly. His mouth should capture not only the nipple, but also the areola. Thus, the milk will properly enter the mouth, and the woman will reduce the risk of cracked nipples.
• Soothers and bottles are not recommended for breastfed babies. Such products can reduce the intensity of sucking movements.
• It is best to give your baby only one breast at a time. In the mammary gland, fore milk is formed, with which the baby quenches his thirst, and hind milk, with which he "eats up", since it is more nutritious in composition. nine0010
• Hold the baby upright for about 10 minutes after each feed. This helps to free the tummy from air and excess milk.

As a rule, with a normal feeding regimen and a sufficient amount of milk from the mother, by the month the weight of the child increases by 500–600 g. Now consider the situation when the mother does not have the opportunity to breastfeed the baby. In this case, it is necessary to choose a quality milk formula that will cover the nutritional needs. The pediatrician should help in this matter. The doctor will always take into account the peculiarities of the child's health and will be able to advise a regular or medicinal product. Do not forget that when breastfeeding, the baby makes more effort. He drinks milk gradually and feels full. When feeding with a formula, a strict dosage is needed, since usually saturation does not come immediately, and the baby may require a supplement that he does not really need (the feeling of hunger should disappear after a few minutes). nine0003

Consumption rates

Almost all known mixtures require 8 or 7 meals a day with an interval of 3 hours. Night feedings are also included. When the baby grows up a little, it will be possible to skip them and sleep 5-6 hours until morning. With regard to formula milk, the principle of feeding on demand is not suitable. Therefore, it is necessary to observe both the dosage indicated by the manufacturer and the regimen.

It will not be difficult to calculate how much the baby eats for feeding.

For example, a baby is 2 months old and weighs 4800 grams. According to the table, we divide 4800 by 6 and get the daily rate - 800 ml of milk formula per day. To calculate the volume of one feeding, divide 800 by 6 (number of feedings per day). Thus, the child eats about 130 ml of formula at a time.

Not everyone can find the right mixture right away, but do not despair. Even with allergies, digestive problems, cow's milk protein intolerance, you can find a suitable product, but only under the strict supervision of a doctor. nine0064