10 Best And Healthy Milk Alternatives For Toddlers

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Cow’s milk is the most commonly recommended beverage to give when babies wean from breast milk. Healthy babies older than one year can have whole cow’s milk as their primary beverage (1). But, if you are a vegan or your toddler has lactose intolerance or a milk allergy, then cow’s milk isn’t the suitable choice.

In such cases, contemplating other milk alternatives for toddlers becomes preeminent. However, choosing safe and healthy milk alternatives is complex. After all, not all milk types are nutritionally the same. So, how should you decide which milk or milk alternative is suitable for your toddler?

Read on to get insight into several milk alternatives for toddlers and tips to feed these milk alternatives to your toddler safely.

Milk Alternatives For Babies And Toddlers

Milk Alternatives For Babies

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies up to six months of age. Then, a well-balanced, healthy weaning diet with continued breastfeeding for up to two years is advised (2). If breastfeeding isn’t possible, the baby can have fortified infant formula (3). For babies with lactose intolerance or milk allergy, using a hypoallergenicⁱRelated to substances less likely to cause an allergic reaction formula is usually advisable (4).

Babies under 12 months should avoid cow’s milk as their digestive systems are too immature to digest it (5). Cow milk has high amounts of protein and minerals that can burden an infant’s kidneys. Casein, the main protein in cow’s milk, can irritate the lining of the intestines, increasing the risk of blood loss and the development of iron deficiency anemia (IDA)ⁱAnemia caused by insufficient iron in the body that helps in the formation of red blood cells in babies (6).

Did you know?

If the baby is diagnosed with cow milk allergy, the pediatrician may ask the mother to avoid cow milk while nursing (8).

Milk Alternatives For Toddlers

Breast milk and a well-balanced weaning diet can meet the nutritional needs of babies older than 12 months. However, when breastfeeding isn’t possible, or a baby can’t take breast milk, experts recommend fortified whole cow’s milk as the primary beverage alternative for up to two years of age (7). Knowing the safety and nutritional differences in different types of milk can help you choose the best option for your toddler. Here are some milk alternatives for toddlers:

1. Whole cow’s milk: One cup of fortified whole cow’s milk offers more energy, protein, fat, and vitamin D than other animal and plant-based milk alternatives (8). Besides, it provides considerable amounts of calcium and vitamin A that support the toddler’s growth and development. Toddlers between 12 and 24 months should consume two to three cups (16 to 24oz.) of whole milk every day (9). Toddlers with lactose intolerance or a milk allergy can’t have cow’s milk and will need to drink an alternate milk.

Did you know?

Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are not the same. While toddlers with lactose intolerance can consume lactose-free milk, those with milk allergy should strictly avoid milk (20).

2. Goat’s milk: Goat’s milk has a similar nutritional profile to cow’s milk, except that it contains less lactose than cow’s milk (10). Besides, goat’s milk is easily digestible, less allergenic, and has higher protein, healthy fat, vitamin A, calcium, and potassium content (11). However, it has less vitamin B12 and folateⁱNaturally occurring form of Vitamin B9, responsible for protein metabolism and the production of red blood cells (12). Toddlers with less severe lactose intolerance can consume fortified goat’s milk after a doctor’s consultation.

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3. Toddler formula: Toddler formula, also known as transitional milk, is a milk-based formulation for babies up to 24 months of age (13). It is fortified with iron, vitamin D, C, E, DHA, calcium, and zinc. Although these formulas contain several nutrients and are often marketed as the ultimate choice to supplement your toddler’s diet, experts discourage their use (14). They recommend parents consult their pediatrician if they are considering this product for their toddler.

4. Soy milk: Soy milk is plant-based milk extracted from soybeans. It is suitable for lactose-intolerant and vegan toddlers for its similar nutritional composition to cow’s milk. However, soy milk offers fewer calories than cow’s milk and contains less fat and vitamin D (8).Thus, experts recommend vitamin D and calcium-fortified full-fat soy milk for babies who are older than 12 months and aren’t allergic to soy and its products (7).

Point to consider

Half of the babies with cow milk allergy are also sensitive to soy protein. Seek your doctor’s approval before feeding soy milk to your baby (8).

5. Rice milk: Rice milk is made by grinding rice with water and then filtering the paste. Compared to cow’s milk, it has less protein, fat, and vitamin D, which is why it is considered a poor substitute for whole cow’s milk (8). However, fortified rice milk can be a choice for lactose-intolerant toddlers who also have a soy or nut allergy, provided they get sufficient protein through other foods. Since rice milk has fewer nutrients than cow’s milk, it requires fortification.

6. Almond milk: Almond milk is a nut milk offering less energy, protein, fat, and vitamin D than cow’s milk (8). However, it does have higher calcium, iron, vitamin E, manganese, and antioxidants. Experts discourage using almond milk for babies as the main beverage. Instead, they suggest using it to prepare snacks, such as smoothies or shakes for children (11).

Cathy, a mother, shares how almond milk was useful in recipes for her toddler-son who was diagnosed with FPIES. She says, “We (she and her son) have been drinking almond milk for about a year. It’s been really helpful as a milk substitute in recipes, I have used it in everything from cupcakes to mashed potatoes (i).”

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7. Oat milk: Oat is a fiber-rich, whole-grain that gives oat milk. Its nutritional profile is superior to rice and almond milk. Besides, it has higher levels of calcium and iron than cow’s milk. However, it has less fat, especially proteins, than cow’s milk. It also contains phytic acid, so its fortification is necessary (8) (11).

8. Coconut milk: Coconut milk is made from processing mature coconut flesh. One cup of coconut milk offers less energy and protein than a cup of cow’s milk. However, it is high in saturated fat, calcium, and iron. Since coconut milk is low in vitamin D, it needs fortification. Regardless, coconut milk for babies isn’t advisable as a primary beverage.

9. Hemp milk: It is made by blending hemp seeds and water. This non-dairy beverage has considerable calcium, iron, and vitamin D, but it is low in fat and protein compared to cow’s milk. You can add unsweetened, fortified hemp milk to your toddler’s diet plan, provided they also eat a well-balanced diet.

Cathy adds, “We’ve recently added hemp milk to our repertoire. I think it’s creamier than almond milk but also has a stronger flavor. Even the unsweetened original flavor has added vanilla. Vanilla is one of E’s (her son) favorite flavors, making hemp milk an automatic winner in his book. It was recommended by E’s dietician, so I expected it to compare well to the other milks. And it does. My favorite thing about hemp milk is that it’s safe for E, and he loves it.”

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10. Lactose-free milk: Lactose-free milk is cow’s milk with lactaseⁱProduced by the walls of the small intestine, it helps in the digestion of lactose, primarily found in dairy products , a natural enzyme. Lactase is added to the milk to break down lactose (milk sugar), making milk easily digestible to lactose-intolerant toddlers (15).

Cashew milk, sheep milk, pea milk, macadamia milk, and flax milk are some other milk options you can try. The suitability of milk will depend on the toddler’s age, food sensitivities or allergies, dietary habits, current health, and medical status. Your healthcare provider may evaluate these factors before suggesting a suitable milk alternative for your toddler.

Concerns With Milk Alternatives

Selecting a milk alternative may become inevitable in certain circumstances. However, milk alternatives for toddlers could raise the following concerns.

• Lack of essential nutrients: When compared to cow’s milk, most plant and animal-based alternatives contain fewer nutrients. Thus, it is necessary to opt for fortified and pasteurized milk options. Additionally, the toddler must eat a well-balanced diet as several cow’s milk alternatives offer fewer calories and less protein.

• Presence of additives: Several milk alternatives may contain added sugar, preservatives, and flavors that may not be healthy for babies and toddlers. Read the ingredient list carefully while selecting a milk alternative. Choose options that are unflavored, unsweetened, and have minimum additives.

• Dilution of milk: Some brands may dilute the milk and add thickening agents and stabilizers to the final product. Since these products may affect a toddler’s long-term health, you should carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition label before making a purchase.

Tips To Make A Toddler Drink Alternative Milk

Babies tend to have preferred tastes and flavors by the time they are 12 months old. It may be the reason why several babies refuse to shift from breast milk or formula to a milk alternative. Here are some tips that can help you make the transition easier

1. Keep the transition gradual and give your toddler ample time to adjust. A toddler may reject the milk alternative the first time they taste it. But, repeated exposure to the milk could help them adjust to the taste. The key is persistence and patience.

2. Introduce milk by adding it to different foods. It will help the baby or toddler develop a taste for the milk before serving the milk alternative as the primary beverage. A few dishes you may consider are milkshakes, smoothies, porridges, and milk-based soups. Avocado milk, banana milk, quinoa milk, and pistachio milk are some other options you can experiment with to make delicious smoothies.

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3. Don’t introduce more than one alternative at a time. Instead, consult your doctor to feed the best suitable milk alternative to your toddler—the idea is to ensure proper nutrition and avoid potential allergens. If you are feeding soy milk, stick to it until your toddler adjusts to its taste and digestibility. Meanwhile, you can use other milk alternatives as ingredients—for example you may use coconut milk for preparing dishes for the toddler.

4. Give milk in a cup and not the bottle. Experts recommend transitioning babies from bottles to cups between 12 and 24 months (16). To make the transition gradual and smooth, train your toddler to use a sippy cup or a regular cup from six months of age.

5. Feed milk in the quantities recommended. For instance, babies between 12 and 24 months need to consume only 24 ounces of whole cow milk a day. Drinking too much milk will fill your little one’s tummy and reduce solid food intake. Drinking more than 24 oz of cow’s milk per day also increases the risk of iron deficiency anemia, especially if the weaning diet lacks iron-rich foods (17).

6. Adjust the milk’s temperature per your toddler’s preference. For instance, some toddlers like warm milk rather than cold. If the toddler doesn’t like it that way, try serving cold milk. But while you do so, remember to use pasteurized milk only.

7. Mix milk with formula or breast milk. It is a convenient approach to help babies and toddlers transition to milk alternatives with less hassle. You can add an ounce of formula or breast milk to an ounce or two of the milk alternative. Once your baby or toddler is comfortable drinking the new milk alternative, gradually abate mixing.

Infographic: How To Select The Best Non-Dairy Milk Substitute For Toddlers

Given the wide variety of choices available, selecting suitable plant-based milk for your toddler can be tricky. Our infographic brings you simple tips for choosing the best non-dairy alternative for your child. Since the options at the store can be overwhelming, keep this infographic handy to avoid confusion.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Best And Healthy Milk Alternatives For Toddlers

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Learn about the pros and cons of milk alternatives for babies, such as soy, almond, and coconut milk. Get the facts to make an informed decision for your little one.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Jessica MaddenMD, FAAP, IBCLC

Jessica Madden is a pediatrician, neonatologist, lactation consultant, and mother of four, who has been taking care of newborns for more than 19 years now. She works as a neonatologist in the NICU at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and founded Primrose Newborn Care, a newborn medicine and “4th trimester” home-visiting and telemedicine practice, in 2018.

Read full bio of Dr. Jessica Madden

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Rohit GarooBSc, MBA

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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Ghazia ShahMSc, MA, BEd

Ghazia is a scientist-turned-writer with three years of research experience in Cancer Biology. She did her masters degree in Biotechnology at the University of Kashmir and bachelors in Education at the same university. Ghazia then delved deeper into the science of language with a masters in English.

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