Cows' Milk

[PigeonPie]

Can anyone tell me what the reason is for not giving cows' milk as a drink to under ones? I'm curious rather than anything else, just can't find any information on the reason.

This has probably been asked before but I'm not very good at working the search facility!

Their tummies can't properly digest the 'enzymes' in it - not developed enough at that age (plus I think they need the added vitamins provided in formula).

Not sure but I think it is (a) because it does not provide all the correct nutrients a growing baby needs and (b) many children are intolerant to it when their guts are not fully developed

The high levels of sodium and potassium can put strain on the baby's kidneys so that isn't very good for them. It's also not recommended as a 'staple' part of their diet because it doesn't contain enough iron and for a baby anaemia can be quite serious.

It is ok to introduce it in small amounts from around 9 months but only as long as FF or BF is kept up as the 'main' milk

hth .

It's about little tumies not being able to digest cows protein properly until they are older. Formulas have cows milk that has been modified to be more "digestable" (and other things added). In terms of what are you trying to avoid by not giving cows milk to an under 1 it's basically... allergies.

This got discussed (a bit heatedly but informative!) here - I'd ignore the top post though, just because something doesn't cause harm once is no reason to ignore medical advice.

The Babycentre website says this:

It is important to wait until your baby is one year old, as cow's milk doesn't contain sufficient iron to recommend its use before then, although small amounts of cow's milk can be used in cooking from six months. Infant formula milks and follow-on milks contain more iron and vitamins than cow's milk, and are the only alternative to breastfeeding for the first year.

From one year, milk should still play an important role in your baby's diet, as it provides essential protein, calcium, magnesium and vitamins B12 and B2 (riboflavin). Your baby needs to have a minimum of 350ml (two thirds of a pint) of full-fat cow's milk each day.

Ta muchly, Liquid, I knew there would have been a thread I'd missed! The reason I ask is because I thought I'd look in the NHS Birth to Five book and all it says is that it shouldn't be given to children under one, but I wanted a reason! I'm quite happy not to do something if there's a reasonable reason

no problem - I learned something new on that thread too - I'd always though the 12 months thing was very rigid and was surprised about the WHO's advice - but there you go, that's why I love MN!

Liquid, your final post on the other thread was really helpful. I've been wondering because you can give cows' milk on cereal but not as a drink.

DS is now 10 mo and is bf; he has only been having some of my cereal for the last month or so, so I don't think that there will be too much of a problem with anaemia.

Why, though, can't these publications actually give the reasons?!