Balanced nutrition is crucial for healthy growth and development throughout every child’s life. Baby food aisles are filled with toddler formulas that claim many health benefits for growing toddlers. But what is toddler formula, and is it different from infant formula? Also, how much toddler formula does your little one need?
In this article, we answer all these questions and more to help you discover the right toddler formula to address your child’s nutritional needs and help them grow strong and healthy.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Toddler Formula?
If you have a toddler, you may have to deal with picky eating behaviors on a daily basis. This can make the transition period from infant to toddler difficult for both of you. You may be especially concerned if your little one is getting all the nutrients they need for their continued growth.
This is where toddler formulas can help. What is toddler formula? It is a nutritional formula designed to meet the dietary needs of children aged 12 to 36 months. It goes by many other names: toddler milk, transitional formula, follow-up formula, follow-on formula, growing-up milk, children’s milk, or Stage 3 formula.
Keep in mind that toddler formula is not meant to serve as a child’s sole source of nutrition. Instead, it is intended to supplement the switch to a regular diet that consists of solid foods and milk.
Is Toddler Formula the Same as Infant Formula?
Infant formula and toddler formula are both powder-based formulations often produced by the same manufacturers. They help provide essential nutrients in your child’s diet.
But infant formula is designed for babies up to one year of age. Meanwhile, toddler formula is meant for kids older than a year to three years of age. It is not meant for children below one year old.
This is because toddler formula has a different nutritional composition. It usually has higher amounts of the following nutrients than infant formula:
- Calcium
- Iron
- Phosphorous
Toddler formula addresses the nutritional needs of older kids to promote healthy growth.
Infant formula is designed to serve as a baby’s only source of nutrition for the first few months of their life. But you need to complement toddler formula with other foods to aid in your child’s shift to a traditional diet. In fact, its primary purpose is to help toddlers transition from infant formula to solid foods.
Moreover, toddler formula is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same manner as baby formula. So, many toddler formulas in the market may have a higher fat, sugar, and sodium content than advised.
Is Toddler Formula Recommended by Medical Professionals?
Many medical professionals and organizations do not endorse toddler formula.
A 2018 report https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29339115/2018 report stated that toddler formulas are not recommended by medical experts. There are also concerns among public health experts about deceptive labeling practices.
A 2019 AAP expert panel also said that toddler formulas do not provide much benefit to kids already eating solid foods with adequate amounts of vitamins and iron. Moreover, added caloric sweeteners in some follow-up formulas are a cause for concern.
Although toddler formula is not usually recommended, pediatricians may approve its use in the following situations:
- Poor growth
- Excessively low weight
- Malnourishment or nutrient deficiencies
- Allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances to milk or other foods
- Illnesses or disorders that affect a child’s growth rate
- Very picky eating
- Unreadiness of a child to transition to solid foods
How Much Toddler Formula Does Your Child Need?
Unlike breast milk or infant formula, which can serve as the only food for babies, you don’t need to give your child toddler formula multiple times a day. Toddlers need to eat more solid foods, so milk and formula can take a backseat.
Toddler formula is best used as a nutritional supplement. Complement it with a balanced age-appropriate diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein.
Note that toddler formulas have different nutritional values depending on the manufacturer. So, follow the serving instructions on the product label and your pediatrician’s advice for the best results.
What Should You Look For in a Toddler Formula?
Growing children need a lot of nutrients to sustain their active exploration of the world around them. So, you must look for a toddler formula containing the right levels of vitamins and minerals that children need between the ages of one and three. This will prevent micronutrient deficiencies now and in the future.
Here are the ingredients and nutrients that toddler formula should have:
Organic Ingredients
In the United States, toddler formulas are not FDA-regulated. So, brands are free to add sweeteners, fat, sodium, and other ingredients that make the product taste better but can be harmful to children’s health.
When choosing a toddler formula, look for EU organic or USDA organic ingredients. Your child will get only the best nutrition and avoid harmful additives.
In another section below, we’ve shared a list of harmful ingredients that organic formulas should not contain.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that boosts the immune system. Toddlers must regularly consume this antioxidant to support their health and keep infections at bay. As human bodies cannot produce vitamin C, toddlers must consume foods rich in it.
Toddler formulas packed with vitamin C are a great way to supplement your child’s nutrient intake and improve their immunity.
Vitamin D
One-year-olds to two-year-olds need 600 IU of vitamin D every day. It supports the development of strong bones in little ones. A regular supply of vitamin D becomes even more crucial in the winter when children are exposed to much less sunlight.
Getting enough vitamin D through toddler formulas will help your child grow strong and healthy.
Calcium
Calcium is another essential nutrient that is important for strong bones and teeth. Kids between the ages of one and three need a daily calcium intake of 700 mg for healthy growth.
If your child has sensitivities or allergies to or does not like milk or other foods with high calcium, give them a formula that is high in this crucial mineral.
Iron
Like calcium, iron is vital for children’s healthy growth. Our bodies need iron to create red blood cells that carry oxygen from our lungs to our organs and tissues. Low iron levels lead to fatigue and affect brain development.
How Do I Know if My Toddler Is Ready to Wean From a Formula?
When your child turns one, you can slowly begin weaning them from infant formula to solid foods, milk, and toddler formula. You can gradually begin this process by mixing milk and toddler formula in equal proportions in a bottle. This transition stage will ensure that they tolerate the switch and slowly adapt to the difference in taste.
Toddlers should not rely extensively on formulas for their nutritional needs. The biggest percentage of their diets should be solid foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
Once they are older than three, your child can discontinue toddler formula and stick to a regular, balanced diet.
What Is Organic Toddler Formula?
Organic toddler formula is crafted from organic ingredients. If it has an EU organic or USDA organic certification, it means that it also meets strict standards and uses certified organic ingredients and processes.
It does not contain the following harmful ingredients:
- Added sugars, including sugar, maltodextrin, corn syrup, corn sugars, brown rice syrup, and syrup solids
- Artificial preservatives
- Artificial flavors
- Hormones
- GMOs
- Pesticides
- Fertilizers
- Carrageenan
- Palm oil
- Soy
- Synthetic DHA and ARA
- Synthetic nutrients like lycopene, lutein, taurine, nucleotides, l-carnitine, and l-methionine
Is Clean Label Certification Necessary for Toddler Formula?
Clean Label certification is not necessary for toddler formula. However, some manufacturers opt for it to demonstrate the reliability and safety of their products.
The Clean Label Project is a non-profit that conducts testing to check for environmental and industrial contaminants and toxins. These contaminants include pesticides, heavy metals, plasticizers, and so on.
Clean Label certification gives customers much-needed peace of mind about providing their kids with clean, whole-plant nutrition derived from natural ingredients and clean industrial processes.
Brands are awarded Clean Label certification only if they meet the FDA’s minimum regulations to eliminate toxins and contaminants in food. They must restrict traces of heavy metals, pesticides, and bisphenols to tolerance levels.
Else Nutrition: Something Else, Something Better
Else Nutrition aims to deliver the best-quality toddler formulas for children above one-year-old. Our plant-based toddler formulas are organic, non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, and chemical-free. Only three simple and nutrient-dense ingredients make up 98% of our formulas:
- Buckwheat
- Tapioca
- Almond
The remaining 2% consists of responsibly sourced natural ingredients. They provide toddlers with the essential vitamins and minerals they need to thrive. They are easily digestible and tolerable for most children, so there is little risk for sensitivities, intolerances, and allergies.
Else products also adhere to the strict standards of the Clean Label Project Purity Award. You can be sure that your child is in safe hands.
If you want a healthy, clean, and sustainable toddler formula for your child’s nutritional needs, choose Else Nutrition.
Hey welcome to my blog . I am a modern women who love to share any tips on lifestyle, health, travel. Hope you join me in this journey!
Speak Your Mind