9 types of children's milk and tips for choosing the right one

Currently there are many types of milk for children on the market. Starting from powdered milk, ready-to-drink liquid milk, low-fat milk, milk full cream , there is even sweetened condensed milk. Seeing the many choices of milk for your baby, it might make you wonder what kind of milk is good for your little one's health? Find out more through the reviews below, yes!

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What are the types of milk for children?

Even though they come from the same source, not all cow's milk has the same content and consumption objectives.

In fact, not inferior to healthy snacks for children and healthy food for children, milk also plays a role in fulfilling the nutrition of school children.

Yes, the nutritional needs of children at the age of 6-9 years of development must also be fulfilled properly.

In fact, some types of milk should not even be given to children who are still in the stage of development because they have very little nutritional content.

Therefore, you need to identify various types of milk for children, including elementary school (SD) children, which are commonly on the market such as the following:

1. Powdered milk

Powdered milk is made by steaming liquid milk so that the water content is completely lost and becomes powdered granules.

Based on the Food Composition Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, 100 milligrams (mg) of powdered milk generally contains 513 calories, 24.6 grams (gr) of protein, and 30 grams of fat.

There is also a carbohydrate content of 36.2 grams and calcium minerals around 904 mg.

2. Full cream milk

Milk full cream also known as milk whole milk or milk fat milk because the fat content is high enough.

Milk full cream for elementary school children, it can be available in powder or liquid form. This type of milk contains at least 3.25% fat or about 8 grams of fat.

So, at least about 50% of calorie intake from milk comes from fat.

3. Low-fat milk

From the name, it can be seen that this type of children's milk contains less fat than milk full cream or whole milk.

Low-fat milk generally contains about 0.5-1.5% milk fat and can provide 23 percent of calories from fat for your body.

4. Skim milk (nonfat milk)

Even though it is claimed to be nonfat or fat-free milk, in fact skim milk still contains fat even though the amount is very small.

The process of making skim milk involves removing as much fat as possible leaving no more than 0.5% fat or less than 2 grams of fat.

The fat in skim milk contributes only 5 percent of calories, while the total calories it has only about half of the total calories whole milk.

5. Evaporated milk

Evaporated milk is made by removing about 60% of the water in the milk.

The milk is then carried out with uniform content, for example enriched with vitamin D and vitamin A.

Evaporated milk is usually not given directly like liquid milk or liquid milk powder that is thawed.

This type of milk is generally used as a substitute for cream, a complement to desserts, or a substitute for sweetened condensed milk.

However, children who are allergic to cow's milk are not recommended to consume foods or drinks that contain evaporated milk.

6. Sweetened condensed milk

Sweetened condensed milk (SKM) is milk that goes through a condensation process to remove half the volume of the liquid to make it thick.

Sweetened condensed milk is deliberately added in large amounts of sugar which acts as a preservative.

In addition, SCM generally has a low protein content.

In 100 ml SKM has high calories, which is about 343 cal, with details of 55 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of fat, and 8.2 grams of protein.

7.UHT milk (ultra high temperature)

UHT milk is processed at very high temperatures to kill various foreign microorganisms in the milk and extend its shelf life.

This high temperature processing of milk is called pasteurization.

This heating not only kills pathogens, but also slows down the putrefaction triggered by other bacteria.

The pasteurization process is heating the milk to a temperature of 70-75 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds.

However, with the latest techniques, the process is faster at 150 degrees Celsius for 5 seconds.

At that temperature, all the harmful substances, including spores and enzymes that can damage the milk will die in the heating process.

UHT milk is usually liked small because it has a variety of flavors.

8. Goat's milk

Goat milk is often another option to be given to elementary school children. However, quoting from the NHS, goat's milk formula is not suitable for children who have milk allergies.

The reason is, the formula contained in goat's milk has a protein content that is very similar to cow's milk.

However, the benefits of goat's milk can be used as an option if your child is bored with just the same cow's milk.

9. Soy milk

Soy milk is usually used as an alternative to symptoms of a child allergic to cow or goat milk.

This is because the protein in cow's milk, which can trigger an allergic reaction, is not present in soy milk.

As the name implies, soy milk is a type of vegetable milk because it is processed from plants so that the fat content is not as much as cow's milk.

What kind of milk is good for children?

Seeing the many types of milk for children, you certainly have to be more observant in sorting out the best milk for your little one.

There are several things to consider in choosing milk for your baby, namely:

Give other types of milk if the child has an allergy to cow's milk

When choosing milk for your baby, you should also adjust it to your little one's condition.

Some children may be suitable for any type of milk and some children may not be suitable for feeding formula based on cow's milk.

For elementary school children who cannot drink cow's milk, you can give them soy milk or milk that contains a little cow's milk protein.

In terms of nutrition, soy milk is closest to cow's milk.

Soy milk contains high protein which is good for your little one's nutrition and nutrition. In 100 ml of soy milk contains 41 calories, 3.5 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of carbohydrates.

Choose milk according to the child's age

Before you decide to buy a certain type of milk, pay attention to the information on the milk packaging.

Usually, the manufacturer provides a description of the age range that is suitable for drinking the milk.

We recommend that you choose milk according to the age of your little one at this time to help meet the nutrients he needs.

Avoid choosing sweetened condensed milk for children

For your little one who is growing, avoid giving sweetened condensed milk.

This is because the nutritional content in condensed milk is still not optimal to meet its nutritional needs.

Another reason is also because sweetened condensed milk contains very high amounts of sugar.

This relatively high sugar content is certainly a bad risk for children's health.

Children are at risk of developing diabetes, being overweight, and tooth decay in the future.

In fact, the official website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia states that sweetened condensed milk is not categorized as milk.

Low-fat milk can be an option for children

Fat intake certainly plays an important role, especially during children's physical development and cognitive development.

However, if you are worried that your child is consuming too much food and drink sources of fat, low-fat milk can be an option.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children should not be given low-fat milk until they are two years old.

This means that in the age range of 6-9 years, elementary school children are allowed to drink low-fat milk.

Especially if the child is overweight, giving low-fat milk can be done.

It's just that, you should consult with a pediatrician or nutritionist first to get the best advice regarding breastfeeding for obese and obese children.

Quoting from the Medlineplus page, the consumption of children's milk every day cannot be excessive, here are the recommendations:

• Children aged 2-3 years: 480 ml
• Children aged 4-8 years: 600 ml
• Children aged 9-18 years: 720 ml

This dose is calculated for the intake of milk in one day, not one drink.

In fact, if you are still confused in deciding between giving milk full cream and skim milk, consultation with a doctor is the best way.

Can I give weight gain milk for children?

Even though they are of the same age, the weight that each child has is not necessarily the same.

Sometimes, there are children who are underweight or not according to their height.

Apart from being given daily food intake, another solution that is often done by parents is by giving children weight gain milk.

Giving weight gain milk aims to increase appetite so that children are not lazy to eat.

The cause of children needing weight gain milk is usually because children have difficulty eating so that it affects their weight gain.

The habit of picky children eating (picky eater), stress, and having certain medical conditions also affect their appetite.

However, it is necessary to pay attention to the correct dose in giving weight gain milk.

Avoid excessive giving because it can result in children lazy to eat because they are full.

This is because your baby's nutritional needs are not fulfilled by milk intake alone, but they still need nutritional intake from food.

Important content in milk for weight gain for children

When doctors advise children to be given weight gain milk, you cannot choose formula milk products carelessly.

There are several important ingredients that must be in milk for weight gain and children's appetite, namely:

Calories

When you are looking for weight gain milk for children, look at the number of calories in one glass of milk.

You can see it in the nutritional adequacy number listed on dairy products.

This is because calories play a role in producing energy for children, including milk to increase children's appetite so that they gain weight.

The energy needs of children aged 6-9 years are around 1400-1650 calories (calories).

Children who need to gain weight really need extra calories.

In order to find the type of milk with the right calorie dose, you need to ask your doctor for recommendations.

Fat

Weight gain milk must be high in calories so that your little one's weight increases quickly.

Fat needs for children aged 6-9 years based on the nutritional adequacy rate (RDA) in 2019, namely 50-55 grams.

These fats can be obtained from various sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

To gain weight quickly and in a more measured way, you can use weight gain milk that has been recommended by your doctor.

Protein

Protein plays a role in the formation of cells in the body, hormones, the immune system, and the growth of body support structures such as muscles.

Weight gain milk for children under five must contain protein to increase muscle growth which then affects the little one's weight.

Protein needs of children aged 6-9 years, which is about 25-40 grams.

When you decide to buy weight gain milk for children, don't forget to look at the nutritional adequacy table on each product package.

Usually, the amount of nutrients on the packaging is according to the age of the little one.

Calcium

The important content in milk for weight gain for children under five is calcium and vitamin D.

Calcium is an important substance for increasing bone density and strength during growing children.

Calcium needs for children aged 6-9 years are approximately 1000 mg.

Apart from milk, calcium can also be found in several types of food, such as yogurt cheese, kidney beans, almonds, and green vegetables.

Always consult with your doctor about the need for weight gain milk for children.

In addition, you also need to ensure that the food intake for children is healthy and balanced.

How do you trick it if your child doesn't want to drink milk?

There are ways you can do so that your little one can still get calcium and other nutrients from milk.

You can make recipes for foods mixed with milk.

Yes, here, mothers are required to be more creative in making attractive foods with delicious flavors but still high in nutrition.

So if you want to keep your little one drinking milk, you can outsmart it by modifying the recipe with a milk mixture.

After seeing all kinds of milk available on the market, don't just pick milk carelessly for your baby.

Remember, milk has an important role in its growth and development.

So, it is important for you to choose milk that contains enough nutrients for your little one.