Milk provides nutrients that are important for children’s growth and development. Too much milk, however, can be harmful. Keep reading to learn more.
When kids drink large amounts of milk, they often do so at the expense of other foods and drinks. In other words, they “fill-up” on milk, refuse other healthy options and miss out on the benefits of a well-balanced diet. The longer this goes on, the greater the risk to their overall health.
One potential result of too much milk is “milk anemia”, also known as iron-deficiency anemia. If a child develops anemia, an iron supplement may be prescribed. It’s important not to give your child supplements without talking to the doctor first. This problem can be prevented by limiting milk and providing your child with a variety of iron-rich foods. Lean beef, pork and poultry; leafy dark-green vegetables; legumes; and iron-fortified cereals are great choices.
Constipation can also result from too much milk. Bowel movements become irregular and/or painful. This can be prevented by limiting milk and providing your child with a variety of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals. It’s also important to offer kids plain water to drink throughout the day.
So how much milk is too much? To answer this question, keep in mind that milk is part of the dairy group. This food group also includes yogurt, cheese and soy milk. To discover which other foods are also included in the diary food group, visit MyPlate.
The amount of dairy foods children need each day depends on their age. MyPlate recommends:
- 1¾ - 2 cups for toddlers ages 1- 2 years old
- 2 - 2½ cups for children ages 2 - 8 years old
- 3 cups for children ages 9 - 18 years old
To help your child meet, but not greatly exceed, the recommended amount of dairy per day, offer them a variety of low-fat, unsweetened dairy choices, and gradually reduce the amount of milk served as necessary.
As a reminder, infants less than one year old should not be given cow’s milk, and whole milk is recommended for toddlers ages 1 - 2 years.
You can find more information about healthy eating at every stage of life from MyPlate. Your child’s pediatrician is another great resource.
This article was written and reviewed by Rethink Your Drink Nevada’s team of dietetic professionals. If you have a suggestion for a topic for the Insider, write to RethinkYourDrinkNevada@unr.edu, and receive a free, healthy drink recipe book.
Justine Habibian, Ph.D., R.D.N., is a research assistant professor with Rethink Your Drink, a program offered by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources' Department of Nutrition in collaboration with Extension.
The program is funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact 800-992-0900.
