At what age is milk given to a child? Is it possible to give cow's milk to children? Aggressive action of cow's milk protein

In the time of our grandmothers, cow's milk helped feed many babies when breastfeeding was impossible, but nowadays formula milk copes with this task perfectly. This causes controversy between young mothers and the older generation.

Should you give milk from a cow to a small child instead of formula or is it dangerous for his health? How to switch a baby from breast milk to cow's milk? What are the benefits and harms of this product for a child’s body? At what age is it best to introduce children to it? Is it necessary to boil it or can it be given straight from the cow?

These and many other questions concern almost every young mother. Let's try to understand them, and also find out why it should not be given to young children, as modern pediatricians say.

Why it's useful

It is a source of healthy proteins, from which children receive all essential amino acids.
Provides the human body with calcium and phosphorus - elements without which the formation of teeth and a strong skeleton is impossible.
Includes a large number of vitamin compounds, including vitamin D, which is important for children.
Helps strengthen the immune system.

It should be noted that all these beneficial properties can be obtained only with the correct and timely introduction of such a product into the diet of children.

Cow's milk contains proteins, calcium, phosphorus and other vitamins necessary for a child's body. At what age should it be given?

Cow's milk appears in the diet of breastfed children at the age of 9 months, as an ingredient in milk porridge. An infant who is fed formula can start preparing this porridge a little earlier - from 7-8 months. In this case, the daily dose of cow's milk is no more than 100-150 ml.

If we are talking about replacing breast milk or an adapted formula with cow's milk, then it is not recommended to do this until 1 year of age. If it is impossible to breastfeed the baby, the best substitute for children in the first year of life is formula milk. Although it is made from cow’s milk, during the processing process it undergoes purification, and the composition is as close as possible to women’s milk.

Children over one year old can be given cow's milk as a drink in small quantities (up to 200 ml). You can regularly give this product in larger quantities to your child every day after 3 years.

For infants aged 8 months, cow's milk is introduced into the diet as an additive to porridge, but not more than 150 ml; milk is suitable for drinking for children after a year of life

Separately, we note that the child is offered a product with a fat content of 2.5-3.2%. If a mother is wondering when to start giving her baby skim milk, she should know that a low-fat product is not recommended until the age of 2.

You can treat skim milk to a child over 2 years old. What is harmful?

The harm of cow's milk for infants is associated with significant differences in its composition from that of mother's milk.

Breast milk is the ideal food that should be given to newborns and fed to all babies until at least 6 months of age. But cow milk is inferior to it in a number of parameters:

It will contain too many proteins. The intolerance that occurs in some children when consuming this product is often associated with an allergy to protein.
A large amount of casein in the composition causes difficulties with digestion. This may cause your child to become constipated.
Contains much more calcium and phosphorus than human milk. And if excess calcium is not absorbed in the children’s intestines, since this process has a rather complex regulation in the human body, then excess phosphorus freely enters the blood. This increases the load on the baby’s kidneys, which try to remove unnecessary phosphorus. At the same time, the child’s body also loses calcium. Due to such processes, intake provokes the development of rickets in young children.
It also contains too much magnesium, potassium, chlorine and sodium. To remove these elements from the baby’s body, the baby’s excretory system works with increased load. One of the consequences of this situation can be dehydration.
Although there is almost the same amount of fat in mother's milk as in cow's milk, the quality of these fats is different. The fatty acids that the baby receives while suckling are better absorbed and have a positive effect on the nervous and digestive systems. The fats in cow's milk are saturated, making them harder to digest. For this reason, milk with a fat content higher than 4% is not recommended for children in their first years of life.
The iron content in cow's milk is much lower than in breast milk, and its absorption is worse, since cow’s milk, unlike mother’s milk, does not contain lactoferrin. Also, this product contains little iodine, copper, zinc, ascorbic acid and vitamin E, and there is no folic acid and taurine in cow's milk at all.
If introduced too early into the children's menu, the mucous membrane of the digestive tract may be damaged, which can sometimes even lead to internal bleeding.
If cow's milk is given at the same time as breastfeeding, this product may adversely affect lactation. The child will satisfy his needs with cow's milk, refusing his mother's, because getting food from the breast is harder than drinking from a bottle.
Does not include immunoglobulin crumbs that are important for supporting immunity. When replacing breastfeeding with such a product, the defenses of the toddler’s body may decrease.

For children under one year of age, mother's milk is very beneficial; it should not be replaced with cow's milk, so as not to harm the little body. Contraindications

Cow's milk should not be drunk in the following cases:

If the child already has symptoms of rickets.
For problems with mineral metabolism.
In case of individual intolerance.
If the child's close relatives have diabetes.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

A popular pediatrician is confident that children under one year old should not be given whole cow's milk. He emphasizes that the early introduction of such a product into the baby’s diet instead of an adapted formula provokes the development of rickets and negatively affects the child’s intestines.

If a mother does not have the opportunity to breastfeed her baby after 3 months or she wants to stop breastfeeding at the age of 5-6 months, Komarovsky advises buying and giving the baby an adapted formula.

Komarovsky calls the inclusion of milk in a child's diet after one year acceptable, but at the age of 1 to 3 years, a well-known doctor advises limiting the amount drunk per day to two glasses. He emphasizes that if it is possible to purchase special milk for a child, recommended for this age category, such a product will be much more preferable than regular milk from a cow.

As for cow's milk in the diet of three-year-olds and older children, Komarovsky believes that after 3 years of age, children can consume this product without restrictions if they like it and do not cause allergies.

Should I boil it?

Safety is very important for baby food, so in most cases, cow's milk offered to babies must be heat-treated. Boiling helps to avoid such a serious disease as brucellosis (carried by cows), which poses a great danger to the child’s body.

If mom is not sure about the quality, it must be boiled. Boiled milk retains all proteins, carbohydrates, fats and many other substances. The content of vitamins in it may only slightly decrease, but this is not as dangerous as contracting dangerous infections. It is permissible to give it unboiled to children only if it comes from a cow that is kept by your family or close friends (you are confident in its health).

Boiling is a mandatory procedure if cow's milk is purchased, and desirable if the milk is from your own cow. How to introduce it into the diet of babies?

Due to the risk of allergies, introduction should be careful and gradual, and every mother should know how to dilute this product, since at first milk is given to divorced children. When the baby is 1 year old, you can take 1 part of cow's milk and combine with 3 parts of boiled water.

The first portion that is given to the child in the morning feeding is 1 teaspoon. If there is no reaction to it, the dose can be increased to 200 ml. Next, start reducing the amount of water until you have eliminated it completely and are giving your baby whole milk. Usually the undiluted product begins to be given from the age of 3. The recommended volume for a child over 3 years old is 500-700 ml per day.

The first portion of cow's milk should be no more than 1 teaspoon diluted. How to choose for a child

If you want to buy milk for a child aged 1-3 years, the best option would be a product labeled “for children”. It is produced in environmentally friendly areas and undergoes more careful control, and is also sold in more secure packaging.

When buying regular milk for a child over 3 years old, you should opt for an ultra-pasteurized or sterilized product. It undergoes careful processing so that no dangerous bacteria remain in it. When purchasing it, carefully read the information on the packaging, checking the fat content and expiration date.

For a comparison of the benefits of cow's and goat's milk, see the program “Live Healthy.”

I think all mothers have heard about the benefits of milk. On my next visit to our pediatrician, I ask the doctor: “Please tell me, is it possible to give the child milk already?” “What are you eating?” - she asked. I listed it. In response: “Okay, you can start slowly.”

Isn't it time for me to try the snow-white delicacy!

When to start

By this time, my child was already 9.5 months old, and we had acquired several teeth. As I found out later, many doctors categorically deny the possibility of feeding a child up to one year old with goat or cow milk. They base their position on the fact that this product contains proteins and fats in much larger quantities (3 times) than in mother’s breast or adapted formulas. In addition, the protein contained in the product produced by a cow or goat can provoke allergies. Yes, there is certainly some truth in their words, but there is no talk of any plaques forming in the belly of a young toddler. These are all fables.

Drinking milk at an early age can cause the most unpleasant consequences.

There are strong arguments in favor of late introduction of complementary feeding with milk of animal origin.

Complementary feeding with cow's milk up to a year threatens:

Increased amounts of allergenic proteins and sodium can lead to allergies;

Skin rashes and itching are the costs of an allergic reaction.

May cause dehydration;
The level of casein is very high - the digestion of this protein is extremely difficult for a small tummy (a dense, almost indigestible clot forms in the stomach);
Enormous amounts of sodium, chlorine, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium negatively affect the urinary system of a young body. The baby’s kidneys are trying to process this crazy amount of microelements, experiencing colossal overload;
With regular use of the product before 6 months of age, internal gastric bleeding is possible;

Moms and dads, be careful! There is no need to rush into breastfeeding.

Zinc, iodine, copper, vitamins E and C, iron are contained in cow's milk in quantities that are insufficient for a growing child's body. Taurine, cystine and folic acid are completely absent. A deficiency of these minerals can lead to the development of quite severe pathologies;
It is strictly contraindicated for children in the first year of life who have relatives with diabetes in their family (due to the possibility of developing this terrible disease).

Feeding goat's milk for up to a year is fraught with:

The toxic effect of the product on the body due to the content of specific acids in the first;
Kidney problems for the same reason as when drinking cow's milk;

Disruption of the internal organs of a weak child’s body is quite likely.

The fat content of the product is several times higher than normal. The consequence is digestive problems due to the immaturity of the stomach and intestines;
The low content of vitamins D and A, folic acid, iron, and the disproportionate ratio of calcium and phosphorus do not contribute to the correct and complete muscular, functional and mental development of the baby. A lack of these substances can provoke some serious diseases;

I can't get used to this milk.

Intestinal bleeding without damaging the integrity of blood vessels (occurs with anemia or poor blood clotting);
The casein content is an order of magnitude higher than in cow's casein (however, it is absorbed better than the former);
Loss of valuable qualities of the product (if diluted with water to a state acceptable for consumption).

Oddly enough, the most similar in composition and beneficial properties to human milk is donkey milk, yes, donkey milk.

During the time of grandmothers

But how did our mothers feed their children using animal milk? - many will be indignant. In those days, medicine was not so developed, and experts could only guess about the causes of many diseases. Now science has filled in most of the gaps in its knowledge and invites us to use already verified information for our benefit.

Grandmothers always have tasty treats for their beloved granddaughters.

About how to start solid complementary feeding and at what age

So at what age should milk be given? From 9 months, you can start complementary feeding for those babies who are on artificial nutrition. This rule applies to both cow and goat products. The baby can eat porridge cooked in milk. Doctors, however, insist on formula feeding for up to a year.

To be on the safe side, don’t eliminate baby formula from your baby’s menu for as long as possible.

Starting from the age of one, a breastfed child can receive a full-fledged cow or goat product, but in a diluted state. Useful l The treat must be boiled and diluted for the first feeding in a ratio of 1:3, where 3 is the amount of water. We introduce complementary foods starting from 1 teaspoon, in which you should get: 1 part milk and 3 parts boiled water. If there is no reaction, we increase the dose. After approximately 2.5 - 3 weeks, the amount of product consumed by the baby will be about 100 milliliters. The fat content of milk should not be less than 3, but not more than 4% since it must be diluted. Gradually reduce the presence of water in the liquid to a minimum, and completely remove it.

In order for a child to grow up healthy, his menu must include

Only meat contains the vitamins and microelements necessary for normal growth.

Fish is no less useful, but this product should be introduced into complementary foods very carefully, because it is a strong allergen. How to introduce fish into complementary foods is described here.

Where to begin

It is better to start introducing complementary foods with goats. It has more benefits (helps in the fight against dysbiosis and colds, increases immunity (taurine component). Goat product is easier to digest in the intestines of an infant because it does not contain agglutin, proteins are lighter, and fatty acid molecules are smaller in size than in cow product, therefore, such food is easier to digest. Allergic manifestations are possible, but to a lesser extent than when eating a cow product. However, the baby may reject this healthy dish because of its unpleasant smell. It is not worth force-feeding the baby, it is better to wait a little time and try. later or mix with your usual food.

Barsik and I demand more!

After goat milk, you can try cow's milk. If the baby is already two years old, then he can be offered dairy products with a low fat content (1-2%) or completely low-fat (if the child consumes dairy products in large quantities). The daily intake of this valuable product for babies is ideally 0.5-0.7 liters per day. It is better to alternate between cow and goat milk, since the ratio of nutrients in these two products is different. For example, cow's milk contains a large amount of phosphorus, which goat's milk cannot boast of. A child can drink this healthy liquid in unlimited quantities starting from the age of three.

Boiling is necessary

It is generally not recommended to give raw dairy products to children. The fact is that large and medium-sized cattle are carriers of a terrible disease called brucellosis. This disease can lead to disability. The spinal cord is most often affected. Only when you are absolutely sure that everything is fine with the animal (this can only be if you are caring for a cow or goat yourself), you can give your child unboiled milk, and then in small volumes.

The most famous pediatrician in the country says

Dr. Komarovsky is not a supporter of the early introduction of dairy products into the diet of babies, but he is not an ardent opponent either:

“When to introduce milk to a child is a personal matter for each parent, but I want to say that we cannot be absolutely sure of our products unless, of course, we independently monitor the process, which is only possible when running our own natural household farming. In my opinion, a high-quality adapted mixture has many more advantages:

The composition includes all the microelements and vitamins necessary for an infant;

The composition itself is stable and does not undergo changes;

Milk protein is processed in a special way, which reduces the possibility of allergic reactions;

Preparing the mixture is much easier, more convenient and faster.”

Moms “for” and moms “against”

“At 7.5 months, my eldest daughter started having terrible rashes - a reaction to cow’s milk. Only the feet and palms remained clean. The rest of the skin is a continuous purple mess. We were saved thanks to the goat. Until the age of two I only drank it. After 5, she seems to have outgrown it, but, having already matured, she doesn’t really like milk. For the youngest, I soak a cookie in boiled and diluted milk. There is no reaction yet."

“My son has been bottle-fed since birth, it just so happens. He got used to formula a long time ago, but at 1 year and 3 months he felt the urge to refuse formula outright. I tried to give him baby food milk from the store (special edition). So, with big eyes and wild pleasure, he drank a whole glass and began to demand more. Now he is already 2 years old. Milk, as they say, has no soul! Well, how can we not give it to children under three years old after that?”

“We will be one and a half years old in 2 weeks. We still eat Nutrilon mixture. I tried to give my son goat’s milk, but he didn’t want it, so he gave me cow’s milk, but he turns away and pushes the mug away with his hand. It doesn't really bother me. I think that the mixture is more useful, because everything is specially balanced there.”

"Horror! Goat or cow's milk is allowed only after 2 years! It does not resemble breast milk in any way! That’s why children develop gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers, etc. by the age of 5-6. It’s been a long time since milk was bred and given. There was simply nothing else then. Why give it now? There are dry specially adapted mixtures! I don’t scold any of the mothers, but think about it!”

“I think all this crap about milk was invented by formula manufacturers. After all, it’s unlikely that anyone will take their expensive powders if they have real milk. I have been cooking porridge for my son with diluted cow’s milk since he was 5 months old. From 8 - start on solid. Everything is fine with us.”

Kefir has enormous benefits for the young intestines. This fermented milk product is rich in beneficial bacteria that normalize the functioning of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. Best used for baby food

homemade kefir

If your baby has digestive problems or suffers from constipation, we recommend making her prune compote. Read this article on how to cook compote.

In order to calm a child, it is not necessary to resort to medications, it is enough to give him a hercules decoction. More information about the beneficial properties of rolled oats flakes is described on this page www.o-my-baby.ru/razvitie/pitanie/gerkulesovyi-otvar.htm.

Let's summarize

Complete complementary feeding with milk can be carried out from the age of one;
Goat product is easier for the stomach to digest;
Milk must be diluted at the beginning of complementary feeding;
We start complementary feeding with milk porridges;
We give a fatty product for up to 2 years;
Be sure to boil the milk;
From 3 years old you can drink milk without restrictions.

Diana Bal

Age when you can give your baby cow's milk

A common question parents ask is at what age can a child be given regular milk? Even when a baby is growing rapidly, cow's milk is not recommended until the age of 12 months.

Exists There are a number of reasons why you should not give whole cow's milk to babies under 1 year of age.

Babies' digestive tracts are not yet ready to easily and completely digest cow's milk like breast milk or formula. Cow's milk has a high concentration of protein and minerals, which strains the child's immature kidneys.
For children under one year of age, excessive consumption of dairy products may increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia. Milk interferes with the proper absorption of iron, and iron cannot be reduced or removed from a child’s diet.
Cow's milk is not recommended for children under one year of age also because it can irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive system, which is manifested by the appearance of blood in the stool.
Cow's milk contains three times more sodium than breast milk.

However, once your baby is ready to digest whole milk, it can be added to a balanced diet that includes grains, vegetables, fruits and meat.

Why should a child drink cow's milk?

Milk is rich in calcium, which strengthens teeth and bones and helps regulate blood clotting.

It is also one of the few sources of vitamin D, without which calcium cannot be absorbed in the body. The vitamin also plays a decisive role in bone growth.

Milk provides the body with protein for growth, while carbohydrates give your baby the energy he needs throughout the day.

If an infant gets the right amount of calcium to begin with, there is evidence that he or she will be at lower risk for hypertension, stroke, colon cancer, and hip fractures in adulthood and old age.

After introducing cow's milk, it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding the baby. WHO experts recommend continuing breastfeeding in the second year of a child’s life.

How much milk should a child drink?

A child after 1 year can get enough calcium and vitamin D by drinking 1 or 1.5 glasses of cow's milk or an equivalent amount of other dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir). At the age of 2 years, a child should receive 400 ml of milk or other milk-based products daily.

Do not offer your baby more than 800 ml of milk per day. If the baby is still thirsty, offer water.

How does “baby” milk differ from “adult” milk?

Dairy products that are produced for children are adapted for the child’s digestive tract.

Baby milk must meet several requirements.

Highest quality. Baby milk is made from high-quality cow's milk from cows that are completely healthy and live in ecologically clean areas.
Control of sanitary and hygienic conditions. Children's milk is prepared in special workshops, separate from the production of milk for adults
Microbiological control. Close attention is paid to monitoring microbiological data. The number of bacteria in a certain volume of milk is strictly regulated.
Control of fat content. The fat percentage limits for children under three years of age are 2.5 - 3.5%.
Control of medium acidity. There are special requirements for acidity limits for fermented milk products for children. The acidity of baby products should not exceed 100 Turner degrees.
Ultra pasteurization. Milk is specially processed at ultra-high temperatures (125 - 138 ºС) for 2 - 4 seconds in order to preserve maximum benefits. After this it cools quickly. Thus, all pathogenic organisms are destroyed, while beneficial components are preserved.
Package. The final product is packaged in an aseptic Tetra Pak box, which prevents harmful bacteria from re-entering after packaging. In this package, the dairy product remains fresh and safe for several months.

Is it possible to give a one-year-old child skim cow's milk?

Children of this age need a high fat content in milk to maintain a normal weight and an optimal level of absorption of vitamins A and D by the body. When the child turns 2 years old, you can switch him to skim milk if there is a good increase in height and weight.

Exceptions may apply. Your baby's doctor may recommend low-fat milk (2 percent) after age 1 if your baby is overweight or obese or has a genetic predisposition to obesity, high cholesterol, or a risk of heart disease.

What to do when a child refuses to drink whole cow's milk?

Some babies drink cow's milk right away, but others refuse it because cow's milk has a different texture, taste, and even temperature than mother's milk.

If this is the case for your baby, try mixing cow's milk with breast milk or formula first. Try one part milk to three parts breast milk or formula. Then slowly shift the ratio until he drinks 100% cow's milk.

But there are other ways to include cow's milk in your baby's diet. For example:

add milk to the porridge;
Offer your child yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding or milkshakes as a snack;
make soup with milk instead of water.

Allergy to cow's milk

If the child drank a formula based on cow's milk, then he will tolerate regular cow's milk without any problems. Even babies who are exclusively breastfed in the first year can drink cow's milk without problems, having been exposed to cow's milk protein in the mother's milk, unless she avoided all dairy products.

If your baby has been drinking a hypoallergenic formula as recommended by a doctor, consult with a specialist before introducing cow's milk. Your doctor may suggest starting with a soy drink that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium.

But true allergies to cow's milk protein are relatively rare. Only 2 - 3% of children are diagnosed with an allergic reaction. The good news is that children typically outgrow this condition by age 2.

Differences between cow's milk protein allergy and lactase deficiency

An allergy is an immune reaction, and lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder. But their symptoms are similar - diarrhea, abdominal pain after drinking milk.

If a child develops a dry, itchy rash or itching and swelling of the face or lips when he eats a dairy product, or has symptoms such as hives, swollen, watery eyes, he may have an allergy to cow's milk proteins.

Chronic nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing or wheezing may be signs that allergies are affecting your child's respiratory system. When your child exhibits at least one of these signs, talk to your doctor.

Take your child to the doctor or hospital immediately, If:

the baby is very pale or weak;
most of the skin is affected by urticaria;
swelling develops in the head or neck area;
there is bloody diarrhea.

The child may have a life-threatening allergic reaction.

If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, you should be careful. Avoid foods such as cottage cheese, condensed milk, ice cream, yogurt, butter, milk chocolate and milk powder. By law, all allergens are listed on food labels. In this case, the composition will indicate “milk” on the packaging.

Pay special attention to the choice of dairy product for your child. Do not experiment on his health. Provide him with proper, balanced nutrition. And the child will grow up healthy and energetic.

In many families, for a number of reasons, children are bottle-fed from birth. Parents are gradually introducing regular store-bought milk into the diet, replacing infant formula with it. Is it harmful and at what age should a child be given this product from the store?

Store-bought milk and adapted milk formula: which is better?

Packaged store-bought milk contains much less vitamins and microelements than high-quality adapted milk formula, which fully satisfies the baby’s needs. It lacks important enzymes. They are destroyed during processing. A store-bought product may not sour for weeks at room temperature. It is difficult to get tasty yogurt or cottage cheese from it.

Milk from the store is sterilized at high temperatures. It may contain an antibiotic, which gets into the diet of cows through imported feed, and we get it from the cow in the finished product. Many types of shelf-stable milk contain preservatives that are allergic not only to children, but also to adults. Sometimes soda is added to milk powder during the production process to extend shelf life. All this does not add any usefulness to the store-bought product.

Unlike store-bought milk, infant formula contains essential microelements and vitamins. They have a stable composition and the milk protein of the mixtures does not cause allergic reactions in babies.

An unequivocal conclusion arises: milk formula in a child’s diet is much healthier than a store-bought product.

For many mothers, the question remains relevant: at what age can regular milk be introduced into the diet of children?

Children from three years of age are ideal for store-bought milk to appear on menus.

The introduction of new foods into the daily diet of children should not harm the digestive system of a growing organism. Pediatricians recommend adhering to a specific schedule for giving milk to your child.

If the baby is breastfed, then from the age of one year you can try to introduce special baby food into the menu - milk and lactic acid products intended for the appropriate childhood age. It is indicated on the packaging. As a rule, they are sold in small volumes of up to half a liter. Baby milk does not require boiling. A one-year-old baby's diet includes a glass of milk, provided it is well tolerated and has no adverse reactions.

However, many mothers switch their bottle-fed babies to a store-bought product much earlier. In the absence of allergic reactions and digestive problems, it is diluted and gradually added to porridge for children from 9-11 months. Mothers evaluate the reaction of the child’s body to such an “adult” product. If a child develops various disorders or allergies, pediatricians strongly advise giving up this new complementary food for about six months. In this situation, it is advisable to obtain qualified recommendations from an experienced pediatrician.

What store-bought milk is best to give to a child?

When gradually introducing store-bought milk into your child’s diet after three years, you should remember that it is better to use ultra-pasteurized milk for baby food. It is safe and retains all vitamins and microelements.

Low-fat foods are recommended for older children. American nutritionists have proven that children who regularly consume them are prone to obesity. In America, skim milk is stopped until the child is five years old.

For children after three years of age, the fat content of dairy products can be 3-3.2%. By drinking a glass of milk a day, a child receives almost half (approximately 40%) of the daily amount of calcium needed for normal growth and development.

We also read:

When (and if) can you give cow's milk to your baby? -

Is it possible to give kefir to children under one year old? Recipes for making kefir for kids at home -

Goat milk for newborns -

Elena Malysheva about the dangers of milk

It ends, many mothers are wondering what kind of milk to feed their baby next? Regular store-bought or whole cow's milk? Should you take milk labeled "baby" or give preference to children's milk drinks? And does a child older than one year really need milk?

Of course, a baby needs milk! According to pediatricians, dairy products are an obligatory and significant part of both young children and older children: preschoolers and schoolchildren. Such content of nutrients necessary for full development is not found in any other product.

What should be the most beneficial dairy product for a child?

Of course, you should choose from “children’s” products, the composition of which takes into account the child’s physiology, since the consumption of adult foods by young children can lead to a number of problems with digestion, and indeed with health in general.

"Baby" milk is made from the highest quality raw materials, and the production requirements and quality control are much stricter than in the production of regular milk. This milk is safe for children of any age. Dairy products prepared specifically for children must meet the nutritional needs of a growing body. However, this is where the problem lies.

Today you shouldn’t rely only on food products: over the last 50 years, the content of macro- and microelements in milk, meat, fruits and vegetables has decreased significantly. This is due to soil depletion and modern farming methods.

Children are especially vulnerable to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This condition is the cause of mental and physical development disorders, frequent colds, and the occurrence of chronic diseases. Unfortunately, not all “children’s” products take into account the child’s increased need for micro-, macroelements and vitamins.

How to avoid nutritional deficiencies?

To help your baby grow healthy, pediatricians recommend choosing additionally fortified milk formulas. But the technologists of the Dutch company FrieslandСampina went further than simply enriching dairy products with nutrients. They differentiated milk formulas for children under three years of age and older.

Unlike baby milk, specialized dairy products (for children over one year old) and (for children over 3 years old) contain a modern combination of important nutritional ingredients: complete high-quality protein, galacto-oligosaccharides, a balanced range of fatty acids, nucleotides, a full range of vitamins and minerals . Thanks to this combination, Friso Gold 3 and Friso Gold 4 milk drinks have a preventive effect against vitamin and mineral deficiencies, help intestinal function and maturation.

With Friso Gold 3 and Friso Gold 4 milk drinks, parents don't have to worry about providing a balanced diet for their babies.

Comment on the article "What kind of milk should I give to a child over one year old? An important conversation"

Milk: good or bad?

Milk for children is not always an unchangeable benefit, as we are accustomed to believe, believing the admonitions of our grandmothers, they say, it contains strength and health.

First of all, let's learn one simple rule: mother's milk is intended for feeding the young of a given species: women's milk for children, cow's milk for calves, goat's milk for kids. Different types of milk have a different composition from ours, adapted by nature, just for specific babies.

Therefore, complementary foods such as cow's milk for children under one year of age increasingly cause allergies and more and more pediatricians are inclined to introduce it later into the child's diet.

Cow's milk contains much more protein than human milk. And this is an additional burden on small kidneys and gastrointestinal organs;
And keep in mind that most of this protein is casein, which is quite difficult for a child to digest;
Complementary feeding in the form of cow's milk can cause diarrhea, regurgitation, bloating, because its fats are very different from the polyunsaturated fats of human milk, which are necessary for the proper development of the child's brain and entire nervous system;
Cow's milk contains much less iron (there's a risk of anemia) and much more calcium and phosphorus;

Cows often receive hormones and antibiotics through their feed. Think about the fact that all this “charm” partially ends up in milk.

Therefore, ideally, it should be tested, from a “familiar” cow, when you are sure that the owners do not feed it such “seasonings”.

So can children have cow's milk? Can. Question: in what form and when?

When can you give your baby cow's milk?

So, at what age can children use cow's milk as complementary foods? It depends on the type of complementary food itself.

With the so-called pedagogical complementary feeding, products appear in the baby’s diet when he shows interest in adult food (after about six months), in order to introduce the baby to new food (read the article: Pedagogical complementary feeding >>>);

In this approach to nutrition, there are no strict deadlines for introducing foods. If the whole family eats porridge with milk, then the child is given 1 microdose of porridge and then the reaction is assessed.

In pediatric complementary feeding, a new product is introduced in accordance with age.

Cow's milk, like other products, in this case is introduced into complementary foods, with the goal of gradually replacing breast milk or formula with food from the common table;
From how many months can a child be given cow's milk as complementary food in this case? Not earlier than 1 year. Until then, the priority should be breast milk (or an adapted formula).

Fermented milk products can be given as complementary foods from an earlier age:

cottage cheese – from 7 months;
kefir, fermented baked milk, yoghurts - after 8 - 9 months.

We are talking about natural yogurt, without sugar, dyes, preservatives, or flavors. But complementary feeding from ready-made dairy products from baby food stores is best left until 1.5-2 years.

Attention! So, let’s remember: the age when a child can be given cow’s milk is a year, fermented milk products are 8-9 months. Store-bought dairy products – 1.5-2 years.

Watch the online course to figure out when and in what order to introduce foods into your child’s diet and how to maintain a good appetite for your baby. Follow the link: ABC of complementary feeding: safe introduction of complementary feeding to an infant >>>

Yes, and also regarding fat content. Don't believe it if you see "skim milk with vitamin D" on the label. This is pure fiction.

The fact is that this vitamin dissolves only in fats and is absorbed along with them. Similarly, a low-fat product cannot contain vitamin A.

Cow protein intolerance is not a death sentence

Can children use milk as complementary food in this case? Of course not! You wouldn’t feed your baby eggs, knowing that he has a terrible allergy to them, would you?

Intolerance is not an allergic reaction, but an inability to absorb some food. But it has the most unpleasant symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract:

Flatulence;
Intestinal colic;
Spasms;
Diarrhea (read the article on the topic: Diarrhea in infants >>>)
Epigastric pain, etc.

By the way, a child may well have an allergy to milk. In this case, of course, you can’t give it either.

But what complementary foods can be used to compensate for the lack of calcium in a growing body? I understand that this is the first thing you thought of.

Don't worry, milk doesn't contain any substances that can't be replaced by other foods. For example, similar vitamins and amino acids are found in meat. Increase the portion of complementary meat in your baby’s diet and the problem is solved;

But you will probably argue: milk is calcium! So, there are many other products that contain no less calcium (and it is often even better absorbed from them);

For example, this is parsley, spinach, white and cauliflower, broccoli, sesame.

One more question: what to do with an afternoon snack if the baby is not allowed cottage cheese and yogurt? Replace them with any other light snack: fruits or vegetables.

Remember: vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, eggs, cereals, cereals - all this may well constitute a balanced diet for a child, even if there is no milk in it.

By the way! If a child has an allergy or intolerance to cow protein, it is advisable that he receive breast milk or at least formula for at least 2 years. This will help balance the digestive system and the baby’s diet.

Portion size matters

Well, we discussed the benefits and harms of cow's milk, we also sorted out allergies and age. It remains to talk about how much milk a child can be given if there are no contraindications.

So, I’ll give you a clear picture of the norms of dairy products for babies before and after one year:

But what about porridge? Can children have porridge with milk, since it is a hearty and healthy dish?

If a child has intolerance to cow's milk protein, then milk porridges are excluded from the child's diet. In all other cases, porridge with milk can be given to the child.

The question of age is again very conditional and depends on how the child’s body reacts to milk.

By the way! Even if you have a reaction to cow's milk, you can successfully start using coconut milk, which nutritionists consider safer and healthier for any person.

At 2 years old, you can give as much milk as the child wants. With a healthy appetite, the child will not drink more than his body requires.

Finally, some useful tips on the topic of complementary feeding:

Pasteurized milk also does not need to be boiled - it has already been thermally processed;
If your baby stubbornly refuses to be fed cow's milk, don't insist;

Firstly, forced infusion will never benefit digestion and the body as a whole;
Secondly, very often children intuitively avoid those foods that are harmful to them (cause pain, allergies).

Choose milk with fat content up to 3.2%. More is extra fat. Well, less - I already said: it cannot contain any vitamins D or A, which is also not very useful;
Try not to feed your baby cottage cheese and kefir outdoors in the summer - pathogenic flora develops in them quite quickly in the heat, which can lead to infection, for example, with E. coli.

I hope the knowledge gained today will help you correctly introduce milk into your baby’s diet in order to avoid many unnecessary problems.

In many families, for a number of reasons, children are present from birth. Parents are gradually introducing regular store-bought milk into the diet, replacing infant formula with it. Is it harmful and at what age should a child be given this product from the store?

Store-bought milk and adapted milk formula: which is better?

Packaged store-bought milk contains much less vitamins and microelements, which fully satisfies the baby’s needs. It lacks important enzymes. They are destroyed during processing. A store-bought product may not sour for weeks at room temperature. It is difficult to get tasty yogurt or cottage cheese from it.

An unequivocal conclusion arises: milk formula in a child’s diet is much healthier than a store-bought product.

For many mothers, the question remains relevant: at what age can regular milk be introduced into the diet of children?

Children from three years of age are ideal for store-bought milk to appear on menus.

Note to moms!

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If the baby is a child, then from the age of one year you can try to introduce special baby food into the menu - milk and lactic acid products intended for the appropriate children's age. It is indicated on the packaging. As a rule, they are sold in small volumes of up to half a liter. Baby milk does not require boiling. A one-year-old baby's diet includes a glass of milk, provided it is well tolerated and has no adverse reactions.

However, many mothers switch their bottle-fed babies to a store-bought product much earlier. If there are no problems with digestion, it is diluted and gradually added to porridge for children from 9-11 months. Mothers evaluate the reaction of the child’s body to such an “adult” product. If a child develops various disorders or allergies, pediatricians strongly advise giving up this new complementary food for about six months. In this situation, it is advisable to obtain qualified recommendations from an experienced pediatrician.

What store-bought milk is best to give to a child?

Low-fat foods are recommended for older children. American nutritionists have proven that children who regularly consume them are prone to obesity. In America, skim milk is stopped until the child is five years old.

Video from Mamalara: Can a child have cow's milk?

At what age can you start feeding your child natural cow's milk? Is cow's milk suitable for infant nutrition? Nowadays a lot is said and written about the dangers of cow's milk for children under one year old. Is it true? Is formula really healthier for a child than real cow's or goat's milk? At what age can you start giving your baby cow's milk? Let's try to figure out these questions.

The nutrition of a small child in the first year of life is of great importance. The eternal debate between grandmothers from the Soviet Union and modern mothers: “Can cow's milk be given to infants?”- seems to still be relevant. Pediatricians do not recommend introducing cow's milk into the diet of children before. The best nutrition for a newborn has always been and will be mother's milk. Namely, breast milk contains everything that is so necessary for the development of the baby. The baby's body is not ready to drink any other milk.

Composition of cow's and breast milk

Breast milk contains carotene and orotic acid (B13); cow's milk contains virtually no these two components. Fat in both products is approximately 4%. Cow's milk is oversaturated with fatty acids, and breast milk contains the necessary amount of healthy fatty acids.

Breast milk contains the required percentage of linoleic acid, which is necessary for the development of the baby's brain, but cow's milk does not have enough of it. Breast milk contains lipase, but cow's milk does not. For example, the sodium in cow's milk is 24 percent higher than in breast milk, which is not desirable for the baby's body. There is quite a lot of such an element as potassium in cow's milk, but it cannot be absorbed by the body of a newborn. Calcium, which is necessary for the growth and development of the baby, is present in large doses; unfortunately, it is not able to be absorbed by the newborn’s body. Phosphates that are harmful to children are found in excess quantities, namely in cow's milk, and this is very dangerous for the developing digestive organs of the baby. It is known that iron in mother’s milk is completely absorbed, whereas in cow’s milk it is not absorbed at all. The vitamins in breast milk cannot be compared in any way to the vitamins in cow's milk. When breastfeeding, it is not necessary to supplement the baby's diet, while feeding with cow's milk requires adding water to the diet.

What is the harm of cow's milk for a child?

Before introducing any new food to your baby It's better to consult a doctor. If the child is breastfeeding, it is better do not stop until 1 year. If the baby is “artificial”, then milk of animal origin can be introduced into the diet no earlier than nine months. Still, adapted feeding formulas are more suitable for feeding a child and do not lead to.

If your child does not eat properly, a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium may develop. Back in 1762, it was found that cow's milk was harmful to children and it was replaced by hiring wet nurses. Cow's milk contains a huge amount of proteins and phosphates, which lead to vitamin deficiency and kidney disease. At the same time, all the resources of the child’s body are directed to combating phosphates and the entire body gradually weakens. Also, children who were introduced to cow's milk early in their diet may subsequently develop a dangerous form of the first type. Deficiency of calcium and growth vitamin leads to the development, therefore, introduction of cow's milk into the diet before 3 years of age is not advisable.

What are the benefits of cow's milk for children over three years of age?

Exactly, from the age of three the baby is switched to adult food and his body is already ready for this. After the age of three, all the beneficial elements of milk begin to be absorbed, which is why it should even be given to children.

Remember that besides natural breast milk, there can be nothing better for the baby. I tried to breastfeed my children for as long as possible. I managed to feed my son until he was 1 year and 10 months old, and for me this is a victory. Our family used special adapted formulas as supplementary feeding, but at night and when the child was ill (during treatment at a day hospital), breast milk saved the situation. Don't give up breastfeeding - this is a reliable foundation for your baby's health!

Attention! The use of any medications and dietary supplements, as well as the use of any therapeutic methods, is possible only with the permission of a doctor.