Written by Swati Dave
Cow milk is considered one of the most nutritious additions to a baby’s diet. Cow milk is considered next best to mother’s milk both in terms of nutrients and easy digestibility. But it is equally important to introduce it at the right age to avoid nutritional deficiencies and digestion issues.
Breast milk and formula provide more iron and other essential nutrients to babies under the age of six months than cow’s milk does. Doctors and nutritionists recommend avoiding giving cow milk until your baby turns one through a bit of addition to cooked foods is still permitted. Here is everything you need to know about the right way and age of introducing cow milk to babies.
In This Article
Experts worldwide recommend waiting till the first birthday before introducing cow’s milk to a baby (1). Here are the reasons why early introduction of cow milk may not be advisable for your little one.
Once the baby starts taking solid foods and is about six months of age, you can give them foods cooked with a bit of cow’s milk for example porridges, but not as a complete meal or drink on its own.
After 6 months, breast milk does not provide your baby with the RDA of iron. Mothers should try and introduce iron rich foods to prevent any deficiencies.
Once the infant is a year old, they can be given full-fat cow’s milk.
Introduce the new milk to your baby in a sipper cup. You can offer it as a snack or as a main course.
Most babies enjoy experimenting with different tastes, and while some babies will readily accept cow’s milk, some may not.
This is also the right time to get rid of the bottle if your baby takes feeds through the bottle. Offer them milk in a cup instead of giving it in a bottle. However, you can still continue to breastfeed your baby.
Here are some useful pointers when introducing cow’s milk to your baby.
The table below lists the nutritional value of cow’s milk and some of the vital nutrients and their quantities (3).
Energy – 60 kcal
Protein – 3.28 g
Fat – 3.2 g
Carbs – 4.67 g
Sugars 4.81 g
Calcium – 123 mg
Iron – 0 mg
Vit A – 208 IU
Vit B12 – 120.54 µg
Vit C – 0 mg
The majority of existing scientific research suggests that consuming cow’s milk and dairy products helps babies meet their nutrient requirements (4).
Here are some of the benefits of cow milk for babies.
Cow milk’s high calcium content can improve bone mineral density during infancy, reducing the risk of osteoporosis in adulthood.
Milk is a high-quality protein source with all nine essential amino acids. It may aid in the development and growth of the muscles and tissues of infants.
Milk contains potassium, which can aid in the growth and development of blood vessels as well as the proper function of the baby’s heart.
Cow milk contains beneficial micronutrients like vitamin E, selenium, and zinc. These nutrients boost your baby’s immunity and protect him from diseases.
It contains a lot of vitamin B, which helps relax your infant and maintain a regular sleep pattern. Vitamin B12 has been shown to increase memory and sharpness by promoting the overall brain development of a growing kid (5).
Yes, cow milk can constipation in babies. The protein in cow milk may interfere with bowel movement and inflammation, which can contribute to constipation and anal fissures in some cases (6). You may notice that your infant passes stools less regularly after being introduced to cow’s milk; nonetheless, babies sometimes experience constipation when introduced to a new diet.
New meals or milk can disrupt your baby’s bowel movements, so don’t be concerned unless there is a significant delay. Furthermore, when your baby’s digestive tract matures, she will absorb an increasing amount of nutrients from her meal, resulting in insufficient waste production.
So your little one does not like the taste of cow’s milk, making you wonder how they will get the necessary nutrition. If the baby refuses to have cow’s milk, you may consider supplementing their diet by adding other dairy products to her diet like yogurt, paneer, milkshakes, cottage cheese, etc.
You can also try mixing a bit of cow’s milk into her cereal and other foods, including breast and formula milk, increasing the quantity gradually. If your baby still does not like cow’s milk, look for alternative sources of calcium that also have vitamin D.
Essential vitamins like A and D are found in fat, hence it is safe to start your baby with whole milk. Whole milk also helps your baby to gain weight normally and provides energy to the baby. Nonfat or skimmed milk may make the baby miss out on essential nutrients, and can also be heavy to digest.
The only possible exception is if your family has a history of obesity. After the age of two, low-fat milk should be started.
Cow’s milk is a good source of calcium, vitamins, magnesium, and protein. Calcium is vital for bone and teeth development.
As per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 2-3 cups of milk in a day is sufficient for the baby (7).
If the baby takes more than three cups of milk in a day, she might not feel hungry and may miss out on other essential nutrients present in various food items. However, never give your baby ‘raw’ or unpasteurized milk as it can contain harmful bacteria and parasites.
Some babies may be allergic to cow milk and the ratio is only 2-3%. Most babies overcome this allergy by the time they are three years old.
Most babies who consume cow milk-based formula or breast milk are not allergic to cow milk unless the mother avoids all dairy and the infant is not exposed to the complex.
If your baby is on hypoallergenic or soy milk, consult their doctor before introducing cow’s milk.
The early introduction of unmodified cow’s milk (before the baby turns one) into a baby’s diet may result in the development of food allergies, and allergic and hypersensitivity reactions (8). Many babies are sensitive to milk proteins (whey or casein) or milk sugar (lactose) and cannot digest cow milk.
Common symptoms of milk allergy are
If your baby exhibits any of these symptoms after drinking cow’s milk, you must speak to their pediatrician. If the baby develops breathing issues, take them to the nearest emergency.
Disclaimer: Breastfeeding is essential for babies. The Ministry of Health recommends breastfeeding a baby till two years old (9).
Here are some of the precautions you must follow when starting cow milk for your baby.
Wait until your infant is at least a year old before introducing whole cow’s milk. It is critical to ensure that your little one receives all of the nutrients they require, and cow’s milk is an important source of these nutrients. Try making the shift from bottle to sipper cup gradually while introducing cow milk. This can help avoid your baby’s tummy troubles. Cow’s milk isn’t necessary for a balanced diet, so don’t worry if your baby doesn’t enjoy it.
Yes, cow’s milk is an excellent option for your baby. It provides a rich supply of protein, calcium, and calories for a growing infant. However, you should see a pediatrician before feeding cow’s milk to your kid.
You can give cow’s milk to your kid when they are 12 months old. By this point, they have a well-balanced diet of solid foods such as cereals, vegetables, seasonal fruits, eggs, and meats.
Cow milk is not better than formula because infants do not digest cow milk compared to breast milk or baby formula. Cow’s milk includes plenty of protein and minerals, which might stress a newborn’s developing kidneys. Cow’s milk contains insufficient levels of iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients that newborns require.
References
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