What Ingredients to Look For in a Nutritional Shake for Toddlers

Read time: 4 minutes

Kids’ nutritional shakes seem to be popping up everywhere, but are they all good choices for your toddler? Not necessarily.

As a registered dietitian with two kids, I know how hard it can be to find a product that adds to your little one’s nutrition and meets your standards. Whether your child is a picky eater, or you just want to support their nutrient needs, it’s important to look for a nutritional shake that has the right ingredients for your toddler.

In this article I’ll discuss the most important ingredients to look for in a toddler nutritional shake.

What is a toddler nutritional shake?

A kids’ nutritional shake is a drink specifically designed to help provide calories and nutrients for a growing child. Do note that nutritional shakes are not meal replacements.

Most nutritional shakes made for children are based on calorie and nutrient needs for kids ages 4 and up, so if you’re looking for a nutritional shake for your toddler, these drinks may provide too much.

Should you be looking to help round out your toddler’s diet with a nutritional drink, be sure the product is specifically made for this age group and designed with the nutritional and daily calories needs of a toddler in mind.

Have questions about how your toddler is eating? Reach out to our team of registered dietitian nutritionists and lactation consultants for free! They’re here to help on our free live chat from Monday – Friday 8am - 6pm (ET). Chat Now!

Important ingredients to look for in a toddler nutritional shake

Milk

At 2 years, milk is a great choice when it comes to your child’s nutrition. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6.

If possible, look for this as the first, and primary, ingredient in your toddler’s nutritional shake to help support their nutritional needs.

No added sugar

Even if you’re looking for an option to help increase the calories in your little one’s diet, having them come from added sugar may not be the best choice.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping added sugar to a minimum at this age so that there is more room for all the nutrients your little one needs for optimal growth and development.^1,2

Choosing a product with no added sugars will help provide nutrients for your little one without compromise.

Read about: How to Help Avoid Giving Your Child Too Much Sugar and Salt

Nutrients to help support immune system

Help support their immune system by looking for a nutritional shake that includes vitamins C, D, B6, and iron. These vitamins and minerals all help support the immune system.³

While a well-rounded diet will usually provide these nutrients, having some reassurance that your little one is getting them – especially when it feels as though what they’ll actually eat changes every day – can provide some peace of mind.

Nutrients to help support brain health

Our kid’s brain continues to develop through the toddler years and into adolescence, so we want to make sure they’re getting the nutrients needed to help support this growth and development.⁴

DHA and choline are recommended to help support brain health, so look for a toddler nutritional drink that contains these two nutrients.

Just enough protein

Protein is important to help support muscle health, but a tot needs less than a child who is older than 4 years.

The typical 1–3-year-old needs about 13 grams of protein total per day, so a nutritional shake with about 8 grams of protein, like a cup of milk, will help meet their needs.¹

Be aware that nutritional shakes for older children may contain more protein than what your toddler needs.

FAQs

Learn a little more about toddler nutritional shakes before making the right decision for your family.

Does my toddler need a nutritional shake?

Whether or not your child is a picky eater, a nutritional shake developed specifically for their age may help support their nutrient needs.

Always chat with your child’s pediatrician before starting any new supplements to make sure it’s the right step.

Does a kids nutritional shake help with picky eating?

While a nutritional shake can help provide nutrients and calories to your selective eater, it’s not the only solution that should be used.

To make a long-term, positive impact on picky eating, it’s important to follow a few strategies so that your child will eventually grow into an adventurous eater.

Learn more here:

How to Support your Picky Toddler: From Balanced Meals to Nutritional Shakes

6 Tips to Help Manage Picky Eating in Children

How many nutritional shakes can my toddler have per day?

It is recommended to give your child only one nutritional shake per day.

The rest of the time, offer balanced meals with protein, vegetables and fruit, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, and let your little one decide what and how much to eat of those foods.

Read more: The Division of Responsibility: Helping Avoid Picky Eating

At what age should kids start drinking protein shakes?

Protein shakes are not recommended for kids under the age of 4. However, a nutritional shake may be provided as most do not have added protein.

Be aware that most kid’s nutritional shakes are made for children over the age of 4. If you are looking for a nutritional shake for your 2- or 3-year-old, be sure to get one that is specifically designed for toddlers.

Please check with your pediatrician if you are unsure whether or not to give nutritional shakes to your toddler.

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Our Happy Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too! They’re here to offer personalized support on our free, one-on-one, live chat platform Monday - Friday 8am-6pm (ET). No appointment needed, no email or sign-up required. Chat Now!

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For more on this topic, check out the following articles:

Fun Food Activities to do With Toddlers

Picky Eater Meal Plan: Recipe and Snack Ideas

Is My Toddler Eating Enough?

Family Dinner Ideas: Fun and Easy Interactive Meals to Make with Your Child

Family Meals: Developing Healthy Eating Patterns