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Milk Type in Toddlers (Milk-TOT)

A young girl drinking milk from a cup with a straw.

Image credit: iStock by Getty Images

Participate in a Study!

An important project on milk for young children

Do you have a toddler who is currently drinking cow’s milk? Do you live in the San Francisco Bay Area? You are invited to participate in a 1-year study regarding child milk intake.

The purpose of this study is to see how the type of milk (whole fat vs low-fat 1%) consumed between the ages of 2-3 years old affects the health, growth, and development of young children. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children switch from whole fat to low fat milk starting at age 2. However, there has not been rigorous research to support this recommendation which is why we are conducting this study. The study findings will help to inform future policy and recommendations for the optimal type of milk for young children to consume.

You can receive up to $275 in gift cards and 1 year of free whole or low-fat (1%) cow’s milk for your participation.

To be eligible to participate your child must:

  • Be 23-30 months of age
  • Not have milk protein allergies, lactose intolerance or other major illnesses/disabilities that could affect growth
  • Live with you in the Bay Area for the next year
  • Have public or private medical insurance

 Are you eligible?

Please scan the QR code below to visit this study’s official webpage. Click “see if you may qualify” in order to take our preliminary eligibility screener. If eligible, you will be prompted to submit your contact information and someone from our team will reach out to you. You may also copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://studypages.com/s/milk-type-in-toddlers-milk-tot-269051/

Milk TOT Study Pages QR code

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I have to do to participate?

Participation will occur over 12 months. In order to participate you will need to:

  • Be ready to or already have introduced your child to drinking either whole or low-fat (1%) cow’s milk in a cup
  • Receive optional quarterly phone calls with a registered dietitian
  • Have your child’s growth, diet, development and health measured

Do I receive money for participating?

Yes, you will get up to $275 for participating. You will also receive a 12 month supply of free milk.

How do I participate?

Please visit our study webpage to see if you may qualify. You may also contact Kassandra Bacon or Ryan Williams at Phone: (510) 987-9023 or E-mail: Milktotstudy@ucanr.edu for more information on the study.

How do I know I am eligible?

If you have a child that meets the criteria below, you are likely eligible:

  • 23-30 months of age
  • Does not have milk protein allergies, lactose intolerance or other major illnesses/disabilities that could affect growth
  • Will live with you (the parent or guardian) in the SF Bay Area for the next year
  • Has medical insurance

What will a check in phone call with a registered dietitian be like?

The dietitian will give you information on how to help your child drink cow’s milk from a cup in amounts that are healthy.

What will a study visit be like?

At the start and end of the study, a trained researcher, who has been immunized against COVID-19 and will follow safety precautions, will visit your home. They will measure your child’s growth and ask you questions about what your child eats and drinks and about their development. Separately, you will be asked to take your child to a local clinic for a blood draw to measure your child’s blood lipids and vitamin D status. A stool sample will also be collected to assess gut microbiome diversity. This sample will be collected either at home visits or independently.

Who can I contact if I have any questions?

Please contact Kassandra Bacon or Ryan Williams at Phone: (510) 987-9023 or E-mail: Milktotstudy@ucanr.edu

Principal Investigators

Lorrene Ritchie, PhD, RD | 510-471-4760 | lritchie@ucanr.edu | UC ANR, University of California Office of the President, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland CA 94607, Attention: Nutrition Policy Institute

Anisha Patel, MD, MSPH, MSHS | 650-497-1181 | anipatel@stanford.edu | Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Stanford University, Division of General Pediatrics, 3351 El Camino Real Ste 100, Atherton, CA 94027