The 4 Amazing Benefits Milk Offers Growing Toddlers

The first form of nutrition a baby is provided with once it’s born is milk. Whether that be formula milk or breast milk, milk is highly important for babies as much as it is for toddlers. However, if you are breastfeeding, after a certain age, you may not wish to breastfeed your child, and that’s when you need to begin the process of weaning the child from breast milk. Whether you wish to give your toddler whole milk or toddler milk formula is completely up to you. In today’s article we’ve discussed the 4 main reasons why your toddler needs milk.

Milk has Calcium
When you hear the word calcium, you know it has everything to do with bones. Calcium is the main component found in bones and teeth. Did you know that the human body does not make calcium of its own? This means that you need to find a source that can supply it. Milk is loaded with calcium. Therefore it’s no wonder why it’s important for a growing child to consume milk for strong and healthy bones and teeth. A toddler should drink 2-3 cups of milk daily to ensure that he/she is meeting their daily calcium intake requirement. Calcium is also important in that it helps promote muscle and nerve function in toddlers.

Milk has Vitamin D
Did you know that the human body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium? Your body is capable of making vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight for a short amount of time. Therefore, it’s important to let toddlers play outside so they can get enough exposure to sunlight. Milk also contains vitamin D. If the body is deficit in vitamin D then the result would be soft bones (rickets) in children. Vitamin D is also responsible for strong bones and teeth. It promotes healthy growth in children. Ensure that your toddler is getting a daily dose of 400-800 IU of vitamin D a day.

Milk has Important Fats and Proteins
Milk is replete with vitamins and minerals, maybe that’s why we consider it to be so nutritious. There have been 400 different fatty acids that have been found in milk. Furthermore, milk is an excellent source of protein. Fats are important for children because it helps in brain development. Fats are used in the body as a fuel when carbohydrates are not present, and they help to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Proteins are crucial for building and repairing cells, enzyme formation and more. Therefore, a toddler needs milk to give it all these important benefits.

Milk has Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Milk is replete with essential vitamins or minerals like potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin, as well as vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12. Vitamin K is important in preventing blood clots, vitamin E is important for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails, and vitamin A is important for healthy eyes and for maintaining a healthy immune system. Furthermore, riboflavin is important in providing the body with energy, whereas potassium is important for regulating fluid balance. Milk can be considered as the river of life, and all these vitamins and minerals are so important for growing children.