Your 1-year-old has been growing strong and steady with amazing speed since birth. At the age of 1, your child's growth begins to slow down. This means they may not eat as much. In fact, they may even eat in spurts. One day your child may gobble up their dinner and the next they may not touch more than a bite. How much dairy does your 1-year-old child need at this point in their development? Read the information below to find out!

From birth to age 1 
Your baby has relied on human milk or formula, along with solid foods (starting around 6 months of age) to meet their nutrient needs. Whole milk should not be provided until your child turns 1. 

From age 1 to age 2
Now that your child is 1, their source of nutrition can come from whole milk, and/or human milk, fortified formula, and solid foods. Until they are 2, offering whole-fat dairy is best because they need the fat to help their brain develop. They need 16-24 ounces of dairy products every day. Good examples include whole milk, whole-milk yogurt, and full-fat cheeses. If you think your child has a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, talk with your child's doctor. They may recommend soy milk or lactose-free milk.

Here is a look at one way you could offer 16-24 ounces of dairy in one day for a 1-year-old:

Breakfast: yogurt (4 ounces or ½ cup), whole milk (4 ounces or ½ cup) with a complete breakfast

Snack: cheese cubes and crackers (1 ounce of cheese which about 1, one-inch cube of cheese, cut up into slices, not chunks)

Lunch: whole milk (4 ounces or ½ cup) served with a complete lunch

Dinner: whole milk  (4 ounces or ½ cup) served with a complete dinner