Should Kids Drink Milk?

Yes, kids should drink milk as part of a healthy diet. Leading pediatric organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and American Heart Association (AHA) have provided recommendations on beverages served in the first five years of life.

The easiest way to summarize the guidelines is to say for children 1 year and older, cow’s milk and water are the only recommended beverages. Here’s the breakdown:

• Under 6 months: Only breastmilk and/or formula is recommended
• 6-12 months: Starting solids but continue some breastmilk and formula. Introduce 1 cup of water in a cup during meals
• 12-24 months: 2 to 3 cups of whole cow’s milk per day. Give water for thirst
• 2-3 years: 2 cups of low-fat or skim cow’s milk per day. Water for thirst
• 4-5 years: 2.5 cups of low-fat or skim cow’s milk per day. Water for thirst.

Why Are So Few Beverages Recommended for Young Children?

The consensus recommendation focuses on beverages necessary during this important time period of growth and development. It does not include other beverages to avoid competing with solid foods in order to help solidify healthy eating behaviors and ensure a growing child’s tiny tummy gets the nutrition it needs.

These beverage guidelines align with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and AAP recommendations.

Should Children Drink Plant-Based Beverages?

Most young children should not drink plant-based beverages as a primary drink, with the exception of fortified soy milk, as they may lack essential nutrients for growth and development that are found in dairy milk. According to the beverage recommendations in the consensus statement, plant-based beverages are never recommended under 1 year of age. For children over age 1 with medical needs or specific dietary preferences, parents should consult with a pediatrician or dietitian to ensure the nutrients typically found in cow's milk are obtained elsewhere. 

Can I Give My Kids Flavored Milk If They Don't Like White Milk?

This guideline focuses on learning taste preferences.  Children are born with a preference for sweet and salty, but through repeated exposures to other flavors they can learn to enjoy many foods and drinks. Only serving flavored milk reinforces the preference for sweets, making new flavors more difficult to accept, so it is not recommended in early childhood. 

Is it Okay for Kids to Drink Juice?

Juice is not a necessary part of a child’s diet. While 100% juice can be a part of a healthy diet, it's lower in fiber and may contribute extra calories, so whole fruit is preferred. The recommendations suggest limiting 100% juice to no more than a half-cup per day for 1- to 3-year-olds and no more that 3/4 cup per day for 4-5-year-olds.

Can I Give My Kids Chocolate Milk?

Chocolate milk should be limited to special occasions for young children because they're still developing healthy taste preferences. This is why only plain milk and water are recommended during these early years. 

What Other Beverages Should Be Avoided Under Age 5?

The guidelines also emphasize that the following beverages are never recommended under 5 years:

• Caffeinated beverages
• Sugar-sweetened beverages
• Beverages with low-calorie sweeteners
• Raw milk
• Toddler formulas

Why Does Learning Matter When it Comes to What My Kids Drink?

We know that food preferences and eating behaviors are shaped depending on what foods are offered and how food is presented in the first few years of life. That means that what and how kids eat now can affect them for the rest of their lives. This paper goes into more detail.

Why is Early Nutrition so Important?

A child’s brain doubles in size the first year of life, and by three years, the brain has reached 80% of its adult volume. Early nutrition, particularly during the first 1000 days, plays a critical role in fueling brain development and setting kids up to reach their full potential for lifelong health and wellbeing. 

Who Should I Trust for Nutrition Advice?

Everyone can have an opinion about what you should feed kids, even when there is no medical indication to adopt a special diet. This consensus statement was written in collaboration with the AND, AAPD, AAP and AHA, ensuring a trusted, unified message gor feeding young children. For your family's individual needs, we recommend you talk with your pediatrician or dietitian.