What Are Toddler Nutritional Drinks?
Toddler nutritional drinks, sometimes referred to as follow-up or follow-on formulas, growing-up milks, toddler drinks, or toddler milks, are intended for young children 12-36 months of age, and can be used to complement their diets by filling nutrient gaps to help meet nutritional recommendations as they transition to a healthy and varied diet.
Toddler nutritional drink manufacturers have robust food safety, food security and quality programs in place to ensure every product they make meets or exceeds the expectations of consumers, healthcare providers and regulatory bodies. All toddler nutritional drinks marketed in the United States by our members are manufactured under strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices using high quality ingredients and are manufactured and tested to meet all applicable FDA regulations.
There continue to be challenges for some children in the 12-36 month old population in meeting nutrient recommendations. This is particularly true for vitamins D and E, iron, zinc, potassium, choline, calcium and essential fatty acids.
Toddler nutritional drinks may help to fill nutrition gaps as toddlers transition to a healthy and varied diet.
- Fats/Lipids – essential for brain development and a primary source of calories. They also help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
- Carbohydrates/Sugar – provide calories for energy and are necessary for a child’s normal growth and development.
- Vitamins and nutrients – essential in the metabolism of energy nutrients. Minerals play an important part in bone structure, regulate certain body functions and help maintain the body’s water balance. Essential vitamins and nutrients for toddlers include vitamins D and E, calcium, choline, iron, potassium and zinc.
As a young child transitions to the family diet, it can be difficult to ensure they meet their nutrient needs. Therefore parents and caregivers should speak with their child’s pediatrician to assess needs and understand what foods may be appropriate to help meet the nutrition needs of their families.