Dairy's Role in Pregnancy and Early Childhood Nutrition

Nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood lays the foundation for optimal health, cognitive abilities, motor skills and social and emotional development.¹ Consistent access to nutritious foods like milk and dairy foods greatly influences brain, ² bone and immune health,³ ensuring proper growth and development. Healthy eating can have far-reaching impacts on children’s ability to succeed in school and life, as well as likelihood of developing diet-related chronic diseases.

Brain

• While all nutrients are important for growth and development, the American Academy of Pediatrics has identified key nutrients for proper neurodevelopment. Dairy provides 7 of the 14 key nutrients required for brain development: iodine, choline, zinc, protein, and vitamins A, D and B12.²
• The dairy food matrix contains vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and fatty acids, improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A and D and provides high-quality protein that supports brain development.
• Iodine is critical for optimal brain development. Nutrient needs of  iodine almost double during pregnancy and lactation. Dairy is a good source of iodine.^4,5
• Choline impacts infant memory and processing speed,⁶ yet 90% of pregnant and breastfeeding people have choline intake below the recommended amounts. Milk and yogurt contribute to adequate choline intake during pregnancy and lactation.

Source: National Dairy Council

Bone

During periods of rapid growth in early childhood, skeletal size and density increase. Early childhood is a crucial time to get bonebuilding nutrients like calcium, potassium and phosphorus found in dairy foods.⁷

Immunity

• Dairy foods offer 6 important nutrients for immune health and function: protein, zinc, selenium and vitamins A, D and B12.^8,9
• Fermented foods like yogurt, cheese and kefir may have a positive impact on the gut microbiome. Maintaining a healthy gut is associated with improved immune function.¹⁰

First Foods, Beverages + Beyond

• Cheese and yogurt are important first foods that can be introduced with other foods around 6 months of age.¹¹
• Yogurt and cheese are rich in protein and provide a unique package of nutrients that contribute to optimal growth and development.
• Dairy foods offer unique flavors and consistencies that can encourage a broad palette and pair well with other nutritious foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and iron-rich meat and beans.
• A variety of nutritious dairy foods such as plain whole-fat yogurt, whole or lactose-free milk, cottage cheese, kefir and queso fresco contribute to traditional and cultural eating patterns.
• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends introducing age-appropriate, allergenic foods such as cheese and yogurt at around 6 months of age and before 12 months of age, to reduce the prevalence of allergies.¹²
• At age 12 months, whole milk can be introduced replacing infant formulas.

Milk + Water Are the Go-to Beverages Recommended by Leading Health Authorities¹³

• Experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Heart Association agree that only water, milk and small amounts of 100% fruit juice (less than ½ cup per day) should be included in the diet for children ages 1 to 5, except for medical indications like an allergy.
• For children with a cow’s milk allergy, unsweetened fortified soy beverage is the only recommended alternative. Other plant-based beverages are not recommended due to their wide variability in nutrient content, limited evidence on bioavailability and impact on diet quality and health outcomes.

Access to Nutritious Foods Supports Thriving Communities

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) support maternal and child health by providing nutrition education and nutritious supplemental foods, including milk and dairy foods. The WIC public health program has been proven to:¹⁴

• Reduce premature births, infant deaths and low birth weights.
• Improve mothers’ and children’s diet quality.
• Help boost the cognitive development of infants and children.

Resources + Research Summaries

Related Publications

References

1. The First 1000 Days: Nourishing America’s Future. 1000 Days. 2016. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://thousanddays.org/wp-content/uploads/1000Days-NourishingAmericasFuture-Report-FINAL-WEBVERSION-SINGLES.pdf 

2. Schwarzenberg SJ, Georgieff MK, Committee on Nutrition. Advocacy for improving nutrition in the first 1000 days to support childhood development and adult health. Pediatrics. 2018;141(2):e20173716. DOI:10.1542/peds.2017-3716 

3. Robertson RC, Manges AR, Finlay BB, Prendergast AJ. The human microbiome and child growth: first 1000 days and beyond. Trends in Microbiol . 2019;27(2):131-147. DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2018.09.008

4. Bath SC. The effect of iodine deficiency during pregnancy on child development. Proc Nutr Soc. 2019;78(2):150-160. DOI:10.1017/s0029665118002835

5. Bougma K, Aboud FE, Harding KB, Marquis GS. Iodine and mental development of children 5 years old and under: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2013;5(4):1384-1416. DOI:10.3390/nu5041384

6. Caudill MA, Strupp BJ, Muscalu L, Nevins JEH, Canfield RL. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double blind, controlled feeding study. FASEB J. 2018;32(4):2172-2180. DOI:10.1096/fj.201700692rr

7. Heaney RP. Dairy and bone health. J Am Coll Nutr. 2009;28(Suppl1):82S-90S. DOI:10.1080/07315724.2009.10719808

8. Calder PC. Optimal nutritional status for a well-functioning immune system is an important factor to protect against viral infections. Nutrients. 2020;12(4). DOI: 10.3390/nu12041181

9. Daly JM, et al. Effect of dietary protein and amino acids on immune function. Crit Care Med, 1990.18(2 Suppl):S86-93.

10. Leeuwendaal NK, Stanton C, O’Toole PW, Beresford TP. Fermented Foods, Health and the Gut Microbiome. Nutrients. 2022;14(7):1527. DOI:10.3390/nu14071527

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When, what and how to introduce solid foods. Updated June 27, 2023. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html 

12. US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th ed. 2020. Accessed November, 30 2023. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials 

13. Lott M, Callahan E, Welker Duffy E, Story M, Daniels S. Consensus statement. Healthy beverage consumption in early childhood: recommendations from key national health and nutrition organizations. Healthy Eating Research. Published September 2019. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/consensus-statement-healthy-beverage-consumption-in-early-childhood-recommendations-from-key-national-health-and-nutrition-organizations 

14. WIC: building a healthy foundation. Food and Nutrition Service, US Department of Agriculture. Updated February 16, 2023. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/building-healthy-foundation