Raw Milk for Toddlers
Your baby’s first birthday is approaching. You’re either done breastfeeding or looking to switch off formula. But there’s so many milk options to choose from. Do you do store milk? Nut “milk”? Or raw milk? What do you put your sweet babe on for milk next??
Let’s start with nut “milk” as an option. The benefits to this option are that it works for lactose intolerant kids and the only option for those with a milk allergy.
The issue with nut milk is that is can be full of seed oils, gums, and other ingredients. The only vitamins and minerals that are in it have to be added and fortified. There is also no cholesterol which despite it’s bad rap is necessary for all ages but especially children.
You could do whole pasteurized milk. This option does have benefits. You can buy it from any grocery store. There are some vitamins nutrients in it. There’s cholesterol in it which is necessary for brain and cognitive development.
There are downsides to pasteurized milk. The nutrients are damaged in the pasteurization and homogenization process. The fat soluble vitamins like D and A are damaged therefore rendering them less effective. Also, the enzymes, like lactase which breaks down lactose, are destroyed making it harder to digest.
Now for raw milk as an option for your toddler. Obviously, I love this option and for a good reason! Raw milk not only has all of the nutrients intact in it, but also has all of it’s digestive enzymes too. If your toddler struggles with a dairy intolerance (NOT and allergy), raw milk may work well for them due to the lactase enzyme in it. It has cholesterol in it for optimal brain development. The vitamins and minerals in it are great for picky toddlers to get more nutrients. There are probiotics in it too which helps the gut microbiome flourish and can aid in rebuilding the microbiome if your child needs to be on antibiotics. Also, there are antidotal reports of raw milk helping young children with eczema (like my daughter), allergies, and some gut issues! There are so many benefits to raw milk for your toddler!
Downsides to raw milk are first that it can be hard to source due to restrictive laws on it. Second, it will not work for a true milk allergy. Lastly, like all foods, there are some risks. If raw milk is not sourced from a farm you trust and know has high standards, there is risk of harmful pathogens in it.
Overall, raw milk sourced from a quality farm and handled properly, is, in my opinion, the best option for young children. It’s the most nutrient dense option and arguably the best for digestion and the gut. Its a one ingredient, real food that can add so much benefit to your toddler!
If you’re interested too, the Weston A. Price Foundation also has a recipe for raw milk formula for children under 1 to assure they get all that they need while avoiding using store formulas if you’re interested in that as well! Raw Milk Formula
For further reading to this important choice for your family, here are a few other blogs I’ve written:
Should Babies and Kids Drink Raw Milk?
A Brief History of Milk Pasteurization
