butter and oil?

so what's the deal with butter and oil? are these good fats for a 1 year old or should we aviod too much?

tia!

Re: butter and oil?

I think they are fine to give in moderation. I give Lance matzo with butter sometimes, or tomato salad with olive oil. (we only use olive oil)

Re: butter and oil?

Olive oil is definitely a good fat....butter--not so much. My ped told me to drizzle olive oil on DD's pasta to beef up her fat intake.

Re: butter and oil?

Im trying to find the guidelines on fat intake and infants and toddlers. In general children under the age of 2 need fat in their diets for brain growth...that's why peds tell us whole milk until 2 years of age. I thinks it's something like 40% of their calories should come from fat...

But dont quote me on this..I'll post it when I find it...

ETA..here is what I found but it's not from the source I wanted it from..

Before age two a child's fat intake should not be restricted. Fat aids brain development and plays a critical role in myelinization, which is the development of a protective coating around the nerves, says Naomi Neufeld, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist and professor of pediatrics at the KidShape program at the University of California at Los Angeles Center for Human Nutrition.

Fortunately, both breast milk and formula contain anywhere from 40 percent to 55 percent fat—an optimal amount for the first two years of life. There is, however, potential for confusion about how much fat a child needs once cow's milk is introduced into his diet. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children can be fed cow's milk after age one and that once you introduce cow's milk, it should be whole, not low-fat or skim. "Children this age eat mostly grains and pureed fruits and vegetables without added fat, so they need the fat in whole milk," says Patty Morse, a pediatric dietitian at the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.

Message edited 5/12/2008 1:06:51 PM.