TODDLER DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES & SAFETY

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Toddler Drinks What Does the Research Say About These Products?
They arent unhealthy but theyre probably a waste of money
If youve been wandering the baby aisle in your local grocery store recently you may have noticed they stock beverages labeled specifically for toddlers. But they arent the same as infant formula and they arent medically prescribed nutritional supplements.
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And because shopping for your children isnt complicated enough the language we use to define these toddler drinks is well a little on the slippery side.
We spoke to pediatric dietitian Jennifer Hyland RD CSP LD to get clarity about what these beverages are what they arent and whether or not theyre worth pouring your savings into.
What are toddler drinks?
Toddler drinks also referred to as toddler milks or toddler nutrition drinks are powdered products that are usually sold by baby formula companies. Toddler milks are marketed specifically for children ages 12 to 36 months who are transitioning from breastchest or formula feeding to solid foods.
Like the baby formula theyre supposed to help children transition away from toddler milks tend to be quite pricey.
If thats what toddler drinks are what arent they?
Toddler drinks are not the same as the supplemental nutrition drinks for children that may be prescribed by your doctor to help with growth. These products usually come premixed in a variety of flavors and are used as medically necessary for children with specific medical needs. Supplemental nutrition drinks should only be used if your doctor or dietitian recommends them. These drinks are higher in calories than powdered toddler drinks and regular milk.
Now that we have a working definition of toddler drinks its time to talk about the claims their manufacturers make. Are these transitional drinks actually necessary for your little one? Or are we reinventing the wheel when we could just give our kids good oldfashioned whole milk? 
Is there any evidence that toddler drinks help children transition from breast milk or infant formula to solid foods?
Hyland doesnt pull any punches when it comes to the science around toddler nutrition drinks. There is no literature to support the claim that toddler milks are necessary or warranted for a developmentally neurotypical child she states.
In other words if your child is