If you are ready to discard the breast pump or the pricey formula, you are right on schedule. 12 months is the legal drinking age, for cow’s milk, that is. So now that your child has turned one, he is ready for the big switch. However, the question is, which kind of toddler milk powder should you choose?

The common belief was that 1 year old toddlers should get whole milk because the fat it contains was considered important for proper brain and nervous-system development. 2 years old, whose bodies are more developed and no longer need the extra fat, were supposed to move on to two percent or one percent milk. Still at times, they are a changing. Nowadays there is so much concern about childhood weight and rising cholesterol levels that experts have a new message regarding toddler milk.

The present message is that because toddlers get a lot of saturated fat from other sources, milk fat is not as important as we once believed it to be. As a matter of fact, research shows that toddlers who drink lower-fat milk develop just fine. Therefore, with this in mind, here is a new master plan on toddlers' milk.

You Can Start Your 1-Year-Old on Whole Milk If:

She is at a healthy weigh: this means that if she is below the 85th percentile on the body mass index charts.

There are no history of obesity, high cholesterol, or heart disease in your family.

Start Your 1-Year-Old on Reduced-Fat Milk If:

Her body mass index is above the 95th percentile.

High cholesterol and heart disease run dangerously through your family tree.

When your baby is at two, ask your pediatrician whether your infant should keep taking reduced-fat milk or switch to one percent.

And What If Your Toddler Doesn’t Like Milk?

If your kid doesn’t’t like milk, you may have to consider some sneaky tactics to help her get used to it. You can try some of the following tricks:

Try mixing milk with formula or breast milk, then increase the milk into the mix gradually until all you have is straight up milk.

Also, experiment with different temperatures as your little one may like the milk better if it is warm as opposed to cold.

You can also toss some milk in a blender with your toddlers’s favorite fruit to change the color, flavor and texture. Giving your baby a “true blue brew” or a “princess pink drink” could make all the difference. Plus, this plan will also enable you to kick up the fiber and vitamin content.

However, don't fret if your independent-minded toddler is determined to reject milk. And don’t ever force it. If she is getting healthy fats from other sources, just make sure she also gets vitamin D from a multivitamin and calcium from other foods, such as dairy or calcium-fortified breads, cereals and orange juice.