Dangers of cow's milk for childrençchildren under 1 year

2023 Author: Benjamin Dyson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 01:37

Cow's milk should only be given to the baby after he is 1 year old, because before that his intestine is still too immature to digest this milk, which can end up causing problems such as diarrhea, allergies and low weight.

Up to the first year of life, the child should only drink breast milk or consume special milk formulas, suitable for their age, according to the pediatrician or nutritionist's guidance.

Problems that cow's milk can cause

Cow's milk has complex proteins that are difficult to digest, which end up attacking the cells of the intestine and causing problems such as:

1. Malabsorption of nutrients;
2. Intestinal bleeding, with or without visible blood in the stool;
3. Diarrhea or very soft stools, which do not improve in texture;
4. Anemia, especially by reducing the absorption of iron in the intestine;
5. Constant cramps;
6. Allergy to milk and its derivatives;
7. Low weight, as the baby cannot get the calories and nutrients needed for growth.

In addition, cow's milk does not have a good composition of fats for this stage of the baby's life, and is also very high in sodium, which can end up overloading the child's kidneys. Siaba how to have more milk to feed the baby.

Difference between Infant Formula and Cow's Milk

Although they are usually made from cow's milk, infant formulas are prepared in a way that facilitates the baby's digestion and meets all his nutritional needs. They are made to look like breast milk, but no infant formula is as good and suitable for a newborn as breast milk.

If necessary, infant formula should only be used according to the pediatrician's instructions, and it is important to pay attention to the product label, which should have the word formula instead of milk.

Plant milks should also be avoided

In addition to avoiding cow's milk, it is also important to avoid giving your baby plant-based milk such as soy, oat or almond milk, especially in the first year of life. These milks do not contain all the nutrients necessary for the child's proper growth and development, and may harm their weight gain, height growth and intellectual capacity.

However, it is important to remember that some infant formulas are made from soy, with a special composition that adapts to the baby's needs. They must be prescribed by the pediatrician, and are usually necessary in cases of milk allergy.