Isn't cow's milk a good "supplement" for my toddler's diet?
No. Unfortunately, cow's milk is not ideal for meeting a toddler's nutritional needs.

What's wrong with cow's milk?
Several things:

• All types of cow's milk are a poor source of iron and has other ingredients that may hinder iron absorption.
  
  
• All types of cow's milk don't have enough of several important vit amins and minerals, such as vitamins C and D* and zinc.
  
  
• Whole cow's milk is high in saturated fat.
  
  
• Whole cow's milk is high in cholesterol.

* Unfortified cow's milk

Is skim milk a healthier choice for toddlers?
Skim milk is not recommended for toddlers. Young children require fat to support growth and brain development. After age 2 years, experts recommend that children gradually adopt a diet lower in saturated fat and cholesterol.

How much iron is in cow's milk?
Cow's milk contains just 0.1 mg of iron per serving, which doesn't help much with meeting a toddler's daily 7-mg iron requirement.

Does it matter that cow's milk has low levels of vitamins and minerals?
Yes. Parents should understand that cow's milk doesn't contain some of the nutrients needed to round out their toddler's diet.

The low vitamin D content of cow's milk is a particular concern. Children who don't have enough vitamin D in their diet may develop rickets. This is a painful disease that can cause children's bones to become unnaturally flexible or bent out of shape.

Cow's milk is also low in vitamin C and zinc. Vitamin C is important because it improves iron absorption. Zinc is essential for normal growth stature and a healthy immune system.

Why is the saturated fat in whole cow's milk a problem?
Researchers have found that the plaque that leads to atherosclerosis, or "clogging of the arteries," begins forming during childhood. To help prevent atherosclerosis, after age 2 years, most experts recommend a diet with a maximum of 10% of calories from saturated fat.

More than one-third of the calories in whole cow's milk come from saturated fat, which far exceeds the expert recommendations.

What's more, the saturated fat in whole cow's milk contains palmitic acid, which makes it harder for the body to absorb calcium.

Why is the cholesterol in whole cow's milk a problem?
Whole cow's milk contains a high level of cholesterol-about 30 mg per 240-mL serving. Researchers have found that children who consume too much cholesterol during childhood can have a higher risk of elevated cholesterol levels and "clogged arteries" as adults.

Children who avoid a high-cholesterol diet may reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

What's the alternative to cow's milk?
Fortified growing-up milks, such as PROGRESS* GOLD, can help ensure that toddlers get the nutrients they need for healthy growth.

PROGRESS GOLD is lower in saturated fat than whole cow's milk. Only 7% of the calories in PROGRESS GOLD are from saturated fat-well within expert guidelines for a heart-healthy diet.

PROGRESS GOLD is lower in cholesterol than whole cow's milk. Children who avoid a high-cholesterol diet may reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

PROGRESS GOLD is fortified with iron at levels 25 times that of cow's milk. Iron is essential for proper brain development.

PROGRESS GOLD provides 7 times as much vitamin C as cow's milk. Vitamin C improves iron bioavailability.

PROGRESS GOLD provides nearly 3 times as much zinc as cow's milk. Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system.

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