Infants should be fed human breastmilk or formula for the first year of life. Studies have shown that infants switched to whole milk between 6 and 12 months of age have poorer iron status and more loss of blood from the gut. Furthermore, iron found in infant cereal is not absorbed as readily as that from human breastmilk or formula.

When switching, it is important to use whole milk until age 2, since children need the higher fat content while their neurologic system matures. After age 2, low-fat milks are safe.

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