First things first - WHY CALCIUM IS NECESSARY;

• Helps in building bones
• Keeps teeth healthy
• Regulates muscle contractions
• Regulates your heartbeat
• Helps in normal clotting of blood

The short answer is - Ofcourse not! While milk is one of the most common dietary sources of calcium, vitamin D, and fat for toddlers, it is certainly not the only one. Many other foods also provide these important nutrients.

The idea of including milk in children's diet is considered healthy, much like an obsession, especially in India. But is it always the more, the merrier? Milk is packed with lots of essential nutrients and vitamins such as vitamins A, B, D, calcium, and potassium. However, it may not always be suitable for your child.

It is observed that some children are lactose intolerant and some don't like drinking milk.. Does that mean the child won't get good calcium if milk is not included in their diet? A lot of parents think that milk covers everything and so if the child is a fussy eater, they think that the child is fine as long as they are drinking milk. This may not be true. In fact, drinking excessive milk can hamper your child's appetite in the first place.

Milk products are an excellent replacement for milk, for kids post two years of age. You can opt for paneer, yogurt, cheese, and curd. All of these are higher protein diets without the side effects of milk in children.