When can (and is it possible) to give cow's milk to an infant. Cow and goat milk for children - why is it harmful and dangerous

Many parents believe that milk is incredibly healthy for children. It contains both calcium and bacteria useful for digestion. Naturally, from an early age, a child begins to be taught to drink and eat dairy products, even if the little one desperately resists and shows with all his appearance that he does not like them. Is it necessary to insist and is milk as useful as it is commonly believed, says the well-known pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky.

Good for kids, bad for adults

In order for milk sugar (lactose) to be absorbed in the body, a special enzyme is produced - lactase. In newborns, the level of lactase is very high, it is produced a lot, since breast milk is the only food for crumbs. As you grow older, the amount of lactase produced decreases, and in an adult this enzyme is practically absent in the body, since biologically he no longer needs dairy food. But an adult organism quite normally accepts and digests fermented milk products.

A decrease in lactase levels in some people begins at the age of 3, in others from the age of 10, in others later. This is an individual feature of the body and there are no norms in this matter in principle.

If nature has provided for the child the opportunity to eat milk, this does not mean that you need to eat the milk of farm animals. Nature has made sure that the baby absorbs mother's milk well, and not goat's or cow's.

Benefit and harm

The milk of cows and goats for children of the first year of life is not just harmful, but dangerous, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. But this fact is rather difficult to explain to parents who, from their own childhood, remembered sayings that milk is a source of health and energy for a growing organism. It is very difficult to explain to parents that due to the lack or lack of breast milk in a nursing mother, it is best to choose an adapted milk formula.

First, it is important in terms of composition. The mixture contains vitamin D, which prevents the development of rickets. But if you give your child cow's milk and give vitamin D supplements separately, then rickets develops very often. And this can be explained by the processes that take place in the body after the child has consumed cow's milk.

Contains more cow's milk calcium, than in breast milk, almost 4 times. The content of phosphorus exceeds the similar parameter of breast milk by 3 times. Calves need such amounts of phosphorus and calcium so that their bones grow faster. However, the rapid growth of bones for a human infant is not the most preferred developmental option.

In addition, excess amounts of calcium and phosphorus that enter the intestines of the child cannot be fully absorbed. The body will take only the amount it needs, the rest will come out with feces.

with phosphorus other story. His body takes not as much as it needs for normal life, but about one third of the amount received. Thus, the consumption of cow's milk leads to an overdose of phosphorus. The kidneys of the child react to the increased content of this substance, which begin to quickly remove excess phosphorus from the body. Unfortunately, it leaves along with the received calcium, which is so important for the harmonious development of the crumbs.

The kidneys mature closer to the age of one, at about the same time you can start giving milk to the child, gradually introducing it into the diet.

No need to drink liters of crumbs, it is quite enough to give a one-year-old child about half a glass of milk a day, a two-year-old - 1 glass, and a two-year-old toddler - no more than 2 glasses a day. By the age of 3, all restrictions lose their relevance, and children can be given this product, even cow or goat, in any amount that he is able and willing to "master".

Another not the most “useful” aspect is cow protein intolerance, which happens quite often in children of the first years of life. It manifests itself in the impossibility of assimilation of protein, which the body of the crumb regards as foreign. The immune system is activated, an allergic reaction begins. If you have such a child, you should not give him any milk. Only adapted mixtures are suitable, preferably hypoallergenic, in which the milk protein is processed in a special way and neutralized.

In recent years, cows and goats also eat little natural food, and many of the feeds that the owners give them contain hormones and antibiotics. Naturally, this entire set passes in certain quantities into milk. This is another reason not to give this product to children under one year of age, although the final decision rests with the parents. After all, it is quite difficult to dispute the fact that it is rather difficult to provide a varied diet for a child without milk.

Blend or milk?

If after 12 months a decision is made to introduce whole milk into complementary foods, Evgeny Komarovsky advises making an informed decision. This product in dosed quantities will no longer cause harm, but it will still be more useful for an adapted infant formula, in which the amount of phosphorus is reduced, and calcium and vitamin D are increased.

The amount of iron in cow's milk is insufficient and its regular consumption will lead to anemia. In adapted mixtures, this composition parameter is provided, and the child will receive the amount of iron he needs.

If the family budget allows, it is better to choose a mixture that is appropriate for age - from 12 months. Typically, such mixtures are indicated by manufacturers with the number "3".

Fatty or low fat?

Today, the food industry offers a plethora of skim milk options. It is considered preferred by adults and children who are intolerant to full-fat cow's milk. However, in the very concept of “fat-free”, according to Yevgeny Komarovsky, there is a catch.

Baby milk differs from regular milk by ultra-pasteurization. The percentage of fat in it is reduced, but is not at the minimum mark. The box usually indicates at what age the manufacturers recommend the product. Most often it is 8 months. Komarovsky urges to give such milk, if the mother really wants to do it, no more than once a day and in small quantities.

Children after a year can dilute regular milk with a fat content of 3% with ordinary water by about one third of the volume.

Dairy products

It is very good if a mother learns how to make homemade fermented milk products for her child. For them, you can use ordinary store-bought cow's milk with a fat content of not more than 1.5%.

Complementary foods in the form of fermented milk products are not very desirable for children with mineral metabolism disorders, with signs of rickets. Therefore, before introducing such complementary foods, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician.

Cow's milk, the benefits of which are explained by the large number of useful substances contained in it, is a product known to mankind since ancient times.

However, in recent years there have been different opinions about the benefits of cow's milk: a number of researchers still consider milk the most useful and necessary product for humans, others talk about the shortcomings of this product and the negative impact on the human body.

To understand which opinion is more correct, it is worth carefully studying the arguments of opponents and supporters of milk consumption.

Cow's milk - source of origin, processing methods and chemical composition

A cow's milk is a product of the secretion of her mammary glands. At the same time, the most useful is the milk that is inside the mammary glands of a cow and has never come into contact with air. The reason for this is that fats are partially oxidized in milk that has been exposed to air. However, even such milk does not lose its nutritional value for the human body.

cow's milk calories 52-64 kcal per 100 grams depending on fat content. Cow's milk contains a number of substances necessary for the human body. First of all, it is vitamin B12. This substance is vital for the proper functioning of the human nervous system, and is also involved in the process of hematopoiesis. It also contains other B vitamins, vitamins D, E, PP, beta-carotene, lactose and others. Milk contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates and amino acids that are useful to humans. There are many trace elements in cow's milk, among which calcium is the most valuable. The chemical composition of cow's milk is constantly changing depending on various factors: the stage of lactation in the animal, the breed of the cow, its nutrition and conditions of detention.

In general, taking into account modern methods of milk production and storage, we can distinguish such types of this product:

Whole milk. It is a completely natural product that has not been exposed to anything other than straining. Heating, dilution, skimming, evaporation changes the initial chemical composition of milk, such a product can no longer be called whole milk. Now such milk can only be purchased on agricultural farms and from villagers.

pasteurized milk. Milk that has undergone heating can be called pasteurized. There are several ways to pasteurize milk: long-term pasteurization, in which the product is heated to a temperature of 63 - 65 ° C for half an hour; short pasteurization, in which the milk is heated within one minute to 85 - 90 ° C; instant pasteurization, which is carried out within a few seconds, while the product is heated to 98 ° C. Such processing is carried out to destroy various microorganisms in milk, as well as to increase the shelf life of this product. Many experts believe that the nutritional value of such a product remains virtually unchanged. However, other researchers believe that the value of such a product is much lower compared to whole milk, since proteins, vitamins and trace elements in milk change their bonds and formulas under the influence of elevated temperatures.

UHT milk is a product made by heating whole milk to 125 - 150 °C for 2-3 seconds once. After that, the milk is poured into sealed packages under sterile conditions. This processing method allows you to store milk for more than a month. However, such processing destroys almost all the beneficial substances in milk.

Cow's milk health benefits

The chemical composition of milk makes it a unique source of nutrition for humans. It has a significant positive effect on our body and provides it with the necessary vitamins and minerals.

So, thanks to the large number calcium, milk has a positive effect on the condition of the teeth and bones of a person. Therefore, people who consume milk reduce the risk of dental problems. Drinking milk is also recommended to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Protein, which cow's milk contains in large quantities, promotes the growth and strengthening of human muscles. Therefore, this product is especially popular among athletes seeking to build and strengthen muscle mass.

vitamins, contained in cow's milk, help reduce stress levels in humans. Therefore, a glass of warm milk is the best way to relax and relieve tension accumulated during the day. It can also reduce the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome in women, relax the body and reduce nervous tension during this period.

Scientists in the UK, after analyzing numerous studies, came to the conclusion that milk helps lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. In addition, cow's milk helps to get rid of heartburn, improves digestion, gives a person a feeling of satiety and, thereby, contributes to weight loss.

Thus, milk is a healthy and tasty natural product that can support the human body in good physical shape, and can also serve as a prevention of various diseases. Therefore, many people should include this product in their daily diet.

Cow's milk is harmful to humans

Many scientists talk not only about the benefits, but also about the dangers of milk. In particular, note the frequent allergic reactions for milk. Such reactions are caused by intolerance to milk sugar (lactose), which occurs in 15% population. This intolerance is expressed as follows: after drinking milk, a person begins severe bloating and diarrhea. Also, allergic reactions to casein protein, which is found in large quantities in cow's milk, are not uncommon.

However, when talking about allergic reactions to milk, it should be borne in mind that the frequency of these reactions is different. from different peoples. In representatives of the European ethnic group, milk intolerance is not very common, on average it is 2-5% of the ethnic group. At the same time, among the peoples of Asia and Africa, milk intolerance is much more common, up to 50-75% of the ethnic group. This is explained by the fact that European peoples are better than Asians and Africans are adapted to the use of this product at the genetic level.

Also, many theorists vegetarianism and raw food diets talk about other disadvantages of drinking cow's milk. So, according to some researchers, the acidity of gastric juice increases from milk, as a result of which the risk of developing stomach ulcers increases.

Some scientists believe that drinking cow's milk increases the risk of breast, prostate, and bladder cancer. However, which component of milk increases this risk is not known. Some scientists blame it on milk sugar, others on the hormone estrogen found in milk. At the same time, milk is known to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

It should be noted that modern milk producers very often administer to animals hormonal preparations And antibiotics. Such methods, of course, have a negative impact on the quality of milk and its beneficial properties. In this context, the most useful milk is produced by farmers in villages where cows live in natural conditions, eat fresh feed and grass, and are not exposed to hormonal drugs and antibiotics.

Cow's milk in the diet of pregnant and lactating women

Pregnant and lactating women have a greater need for calcium, protein and vitamins. To satisfy this need of the body, they should include cow's milk in their diet. The benefits of this product during pregnancy and breastfeeding are as follows:

Milk is a source of calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the skeletal system and the child. Also, this product helps to replenish calcium reserves in the mother's body.

Milk during pregnancy and feeding of the child becomes a source of animal protein, which is necessary for the formation of the fetus and the proper physical development of the child.

The use of milk has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails of a pregnant woman.

Milk sugar contained in milk promotes better absorption of calcium. It also helps to strengthen the immune system.

Thus, cow's milk and other products made from it are indispensable both during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Except in cases of individual intolerance and allergies.

Cow's milk for children: benefit or harm?

For many years, cow's milk was considered an appropriate food for babies whose mothers could not feed them with their breast milk. However, the latest research shows that cow's milk feeding to babies is not as healthy and safe as previously thought.

Of course, cow's milk contains many useful elements. However, such a composition of milk is by no means beneficial to the baby's body, since it is not able to absorb these substances.

Enzymes contained in cow's milk do not correspond to the norm for a child. Therefore, his body will not be able to fully assimilate such nutrition, and undigested food residues will irritate the baby's intestines.

Too much casein protein in cow's milk can cause allergic reactions;

Too high fat content of cow's milk causes an overload of the child's body;

The amount of vitamins and iron in cow's milk is not enough for a growing organism;

And there are too many minerals in cow's milk. Therefore, feeding with cow's milk can cause too much stress on the baby's kidneys.

For the reasons listed above, modern doctors do not recommend feed children with cow's milk up to 2 years. The ideal food for such children is breast milk, and if breastfeeding is not possible, it is necessary to choose a suitable mixture, whose composition is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk.

Thus, the harm and benefits of drinking cow's milk depend from many factors: from the processing methods to which the product was subjected, from the conditions in which the animal lives, from the individual characteristics of each person and other factors. Therefore, the question of the need to use this product, each person must decide individually, taking into account their individual characteristics.

Today, there is a lot of controversy around the use of cow's milk in baby food. Why is the product, which a decade ago without hesitation given to babies to drink, now causes concern among specialists? Consider what is its benefit, harm and when it can be given to a baby.

Pros and cons: milk in the baby's diet

Cow's milk is considered a very valuable product for its rich protein content. Such a protein is much easier to digest by the body than, for example, meat or fish protein. Milk contains a lot of calcium, which is necessary for strong bones and teeth. In addition, it also contains potassium, which the body needs to organize muscle activity and improve the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It contains vitamin A, which is responsible for vision and growth processes, and a number of B vitamins (B2, B6, B12), which are an essential component of metabolic processes. Most of all - the content of vitamin B2, necessary for the production of energy by the body. Milk is also rich in provitamins, which, under certain conditions, turn into active substances that affect development processes and maintain immunity.

Despite the uniqueness of milk in its nutritional composition, doctors are wary of it. Before answering the question of whether it is possible to give milk to children, let us turn to the conclusions of experts regarding this product:

The composition contains a large number of elements that cannot be fully absorbed in a small body. When such an excess of useful substances appears in the body of a child, it will certainly adversely affect his health. The high content of minerals and protein increases the load on the kidneys by 5 times, as a result of which the body loses a lot of fluid. For example, by drinking cow's milk, your baby gets 6 times more phosphorus than when breastfeeding. Due to excess phosphorus, the level of calcium in the blood decreases, which leads to impaired bone development. Komarovsky sees this as the main problem of using this product.
The gastrointestinal tract of the baby is not able to absorb some of the components contained in milk, since many children do not produce the enzyme necessary for this at all.
Contains a substance such as casein, which is very dangerous for an infant. When it appears in a small organism, it harms the intestinal mucosa, which is fraught with bleeding and a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels. This, in turn, can lead to anemia.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, received by the child from the mother during breastfeeding, are absent in cow's milk in the required amount. Among their useful properties, the most significant for a growing child, is the neutralization of inflammatory processes and the construction of full-fledged cell membranes in the body.
It contains very little iron, which is responsible for the access of oxygen to tissues and the removal of carbon dioxide from them, as well as for the reproduction of red blood cells.

Based on the studies, scientists concluded that it is dangerous to give milk to children up to 12 months. The WHO is of the same opinion.

When and what kind of milk is useful

Most pediatricians agree that cow's milk can be introduced into a child's diet after they reach two years of age. By this time, the body is already strong, and therefore fully absorbs the products. You can eat from 8-9 months, but before that it must be diluted with water (1: 2). It is much more useful to give fermented milk products to the baby, as they are better absorbed.

Doctors consider it most appropriate to use a special infant formula for feeding babies who are bottle-fed. It contains all the necessary substances and vitamins for normal growth and development.

Komarovsky also speaks about the preference for a dry mixture. He believes that cow's milk can be consumed only after a year. According to the doctor, giving babies a glass of such a whole product at this stage of development is not at all harmful, since their nutrition is already completely balanced, and the kidneys can easily cope with excess phosphorus and remove it. With breastfeeding, emphasizes Komarovsky, such problems are excluded.

Before you give your baby milk, you should follow a number of rules:

be sure to boil, because through it diseases of cattle, such as brucellosis, can be transmitted to humans.
introduce the product gradually. Start giving it with half a dessert spoon. Monitor the child's condition, and if there is no allergy and stool changes, the portion can be increased.
when adding the product to porridge, do not forget to dilute it with water.
Check the expiration date carefully before buying. A short period indicates the absence of preservatives.

When buying milk for a baby, look at its fat content: it should be in the range of 2.5 - 3.2%. A fat-free product will not be useful, since calcium and vitamins are poorly absorbed from it, and intolerance and digestive problems can occur from a fatty product.

Cow's milk and breastfeeding

Is it possible to drink milk while breastfeeding? There is also no single answer. However, scientists do not recommend that a nursing mother drink cow's milk in the first month of a baby's life. This is the period when the child is especially acutely concerned about intestinal colic, and the protein contained in milk enhances them. There is an opposite opinion that the use of this product by a mother during breastfeeding does not pose any danger to the baby, but on the contrary, it can and should be drunk, since it contains a lot of calcium.

Despite various opinions, it is up to the mother to decide when to give her child cow's milk. But in view of the fact that the child receives all the most useful from his mother during breastfeeding, and infant formula is balanced and fortified, you should not rush to introduce it at least up to a year.

Cow's milk is a valuable and nutritious product. However, is it really good for babies? The product contains a large amount of animal protein, which is quickly and efficiently absorbed in the digestive system. Especially if you compare it with a similar component of meat and fish. Cow's milk for babies can also carry a number of dangers. That is why it is allowed to give it to the baby only if he is already one year old.

Main Features of the Product

The difference between cow's milk and mother's milk is significant, so you need to be extremely careful with it. Its advantage lies in the high content of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Giving cow's milk to a baby is not recommended, since a large amount of carbohydrates can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The product can cause a serious allergy, which develops due to the unpreparedness of the body to digest the main components. Parents have a question, at what age is cow's milk safe for babies? Breastfeeding experts recommend gradually introducing it into the diet of children older than one year.

It is not allowed to feed a baby with cow's milk. It is only at first glance it may seem that both liquids have the same structure and composition. Actually it is not. Cow's milk can be very harmful to babies, since its composition is adapted to the animal's digestive system. It contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, but they can become useful only from a certain age.

Flaws

Cow's milk during breastfeeding, according to traditional concepts in medicine, is prohibited. In order not to harm the work of the gastrointestinal tract, it can be given to babies from the age of three. During this period, the body will fully adapt and will be ready to digest all the components of the composition. Some mothers give milk to the newborn, and it does not cause a negative reaction. However, this process is associated only with the individual characteristics of the baby's body.

Whether this product can be given to a baby, only a breastfeeding specialist can determine. Parents should not make such a decision on their own, as it may adversely affect the state of his health. - a frequent occurrence, so you need to do everything in order to avoid it.

The composition of cow's milk in infants can cause a serious disruption in the digestive system. The situation arises against the background of the presence of a large amount of minerals and proteins in the liquid. Not all components will be useful for a growing children's body. On the contrary, they can lead to aggravation of kidney function. Cow's milk also removes phosphorus and calcium from the body, which are vital for the proper growth and development of the baby. If the situation continues for a long time, then the child's risk of developing rickets increases.
For a baby, the value of the product cannot be compared with mother's milk. The stomach cannot yet fully cope with its digestion, therefore, the risk of internal bleeding and the manifestation of other life-threatening symptoms increases.
In an infant, this product may cause severe allergies. Not all babies can digest lactose and milk protein from the first days of life.
It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of developing anemia in a baby. Milk creates a situation in the body with a lack of iron and hemoglobin. If the mother begins to feed the child only with such a product, then anemia develops. The disease is serious and can lead to dangerous consequences.
If you feed the baby with a cow's lactation product, then the risk of his rejection of the breast increases. Therefore, such complementary foods should be used with extreme caution.
Scientists were also able to establish that this feeding option increases the risk of developing many pathologies and chronic diseases. This feeding option does not introduce immunoglobulins necessary for proper growth and development into the child's body. Due to this, the protective functions of the body are significantly weakened, so the child cannot cope with infections and viruses on his own.
A nursing mother does not need to store milk, so her baby always gets it fresh. In the second case, the risk of getting food poisoning increases markedly.

Beneficial features

Only a pediatrician can correctly answer the question of when it is possible to give milk to a baby. As a rule, this process is allowed gradually from eight months. At the first stage, it is allowed to give the child some cottage cheese. If there is no intolerance, then you can continue to introduce products of this group into the diet.

Breastfeeding mothers are advised to use products that have been specially formulated for babies under one year old. In such cocktails, all the beneficial properties, vitamins and minerals are ideally combined. With their use, the likelihood of food allergies is minimized. Cottage cheese must be present in the diet of the baby. With its help, it is possible to create the correct intestinal microflora.

Bad manifestations in the baby ends with the use of drinks with a lot of preservatives. Flavors and dyes are dangerous for a growing organism. Only infant formula is allowed. The adult version of the drink should not be diluted and given to a child. Today, not only sterilization is used for processing, but also pasteurization. These are different methods with a number of features that parents should familiarize themselves with before giving a drink to a child.

During pasteurization, the temperature treatment exceeds one hundred degrees. The drink is not allowed to be diluted, because it contains a small amount of vitamins and minerals useful for the body. A healthy drink is produced through gentle processing. As a result, its shelf life is reduced to a few days. It is allowed to give it to a child only if the parents are sure of its freshness and high quality. In the store, you should also carefully study the composition, processing method and expiration dates.

Agusha is a safe drink for babies

Negative symptoms in the baby will not appear if you use a drink with a minimum fat content. In this case, all useful components are guaranteed to be well absorbed in the child's body. With a high percentage of fat, the risk of harming the digestive system increases.

Features of introducing the product into the diet

Before cow's milk, you need to make sure that the child is not allergic to animal protein. For the first time, a small amount of a drink can be given to a baby only at nine months old. At the same time, parents must adhere to a number of rules:

Before drinking, the drink must be boiled and mixed in a ratio of 1: 3 with water.
The first time it is allowed to give no more than one teaspoon of the drink to the baby. Next, you should carefully monitor the reaction of the body of the crumbs.
If the allergy has not been noted, then it is allowed to double the daily portion.
The maximum daily volume should not exceed one hundred grams.
Over time, it is necessary to reduce the amount of water used for dilution.

Raw drink is strictly contraindicated. All cows are carriers of the harmful bacteria brucellosis. When entering the body, this virus negatively affects the functioning of the spinal cord. If treatment was not started on time, then the child may remain disabled for life. It will be possible to avoid the situation if you pass a protein test.

Fresh milk is a favorite drink of many adults. That is why many parents mistakenly believe that this type of complementary foods should be introduced into the diet as quickly as possible. Buy only a certified product. Therefore, when buying goods on the market, it is necessary to clarify the availability of the necessary documents. Remember that harmful bacteria can get into the milk if the basic milking rules are not followed.

Gradual introduction of the product into the diet

Before introducing milk into the diet of an infant, you should consult your doctor. He will be able to advise what kind of complementary foods to start with. In some cases, on the contrary, a woman must follow a diet that does not include milk in its pure form. It is important to limit yourself to drinking this drink, because otherwise the child increases the risk of developing allergies. Milk should not be given to a baby immediately after birth, because it can cause significant harm to the functioning of organs and systems.

If a woman does not have the opportunity to continue the natural feeding option, then she should not switch to animal milk either. This option may seem cheap, but it will only harm the formation of the baby's organs and systems. Even if relatives tell a woman that they themselves acted in this way, their experience should not be repeated. A few decades ago, people did not know about the features of all foods. Modern research has confirmed that beneficial properties can only be obtained from the later introduction of the drink on the menu. For all parents, the health and well-being of the child should always come first.

Cow's milk is a valuable food product, an indispensable source of calcium, minerals and vitamins. However, not all people get it the same way. Drinking milk sometimes causes indigestion and allergies, even in adults. Cow's milk is very different in composition from women's milk, and the digestive organs and kidneys of the child are not so developed as to cope with the full processing of all its components (proteins, fats, minerals). It is necessary to accustom a child to a new product carefully, taking into account the peculiarities of physiological development.

The content of calcium in cow's milk is 4 times, and phosphorus - 3 times more than in women's milk. These elements are necessary for the development of bone tissue, teeth, and the formation of nerve cells, but their excess is just as harmful as their deficiency. In order to remove excess from the body, the child's kidneys must work in an enhanced mode.
The proteins contained in the drink are absorbed worse than the proteins of mother's milk. There is an accumulation of them in the body, irritation of the intestinal mucosa. The child has abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea. An allergic reaction occurs.
When drinking cow's milk, young children may develop anemia (anemia, lack of hemoglobin in the blood). This also applies to older children (up to 2 years). The occurrence of anemia contributes to the poor absorption of cow's milk by the child's body. Gastrointestinal bleeding often occurs due to damage to small vessels by undigested food. At the same time, the level of hemoglobin and the concentration of red blood cells in the blood decreases. To eliminate bleeding, you must stop taking the product completely. The child needs treatment with iron preparations.
In the body of some children, insufficient production of lactase (a special enzyme that breaks down milk sugar - lactose) occurs. When cow's milk is consumed, due to the impossibility of its full assimilation in a child, food may be poorly digested, which leads to the appearance of various kinds of dermatosis, as well as bad breath.

It is impossible to give a whole product to children under 1 year old, even in a diluted form. If breastfeeding is not performed, then special infant formulas can be used, the composition of which is close to the composition of human milk (the content of phosphorus and calcium is normal, the content of iron, zinc, iodine and other trace elements is increased).

Video: Dairy nutrition. Benefits and harms for children, says Dr. Komarovsky

Types of milk

According to the fat content, the product is divided into the following types:

fat milk (contains from 3.2 to 4% fat);
fat free (2%);
filmed.

You can give cow's milk to a child when he is 1 year old. Up to 2 years, it must be necessarily fatty, since it contains a lot of amino acids that affect the development of nervous tissue and the brain. After 2 years, you can use a low-fat product, yogurt, kefir.

What is the need of the child's body for milk

After 1 year, it is one of the main suppliers of calcium to the child's body. The kidneys and digestive system are already sufficiently developed to cope with the processing of cow's milk. At the age of 1-1.5 years, the child should consume 400-450 ml of drink per day, and from 1.5 to 3 years, you can give up to 600 ml (considering adding it to porridge, eating fermented milk products).

What kind of milk can be given to children

Do not give raw and fresh milk to children. It contains microorganisms that cause such serious diseases as tuberculosis, brucellosis. Raw, it can cause dysentery and other intestinal infections. At the same time, when boiling, the value of the product is significantly reduced, since many vitamins are destroyed. Therefore, the most useful and safe for children is pasteurized cow's milk.

For children with a lack of lactase in the body, a special drink is produced in which this enzyme is added. You can make this product yourself. To do this, add lactase in the form of tablets or drops. In the presence of allergies, children are recommended to give substitutes (soy, rice milk) that contain enough vitamins and proteins. However, their calorie content is low.

Disadvantages and advantages of goat milk

According to its nutritional properties, goat's milk is not inferior to cow's. The percentage of essential fatty acids that a person needs, but is not found in the body, is higher in it. The fats contained here are easier to digest. It does not cause allergic reactions. Therefore, the product is recommended for children suffering from allergies to cow's milk.

The disadvantage of goat's milk is that it contains too little folic acid, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamins, as well as for the formation of red blood cells. This is fraught with the appearance of anemia. Store-bought products are usually labeled "fortified with folic acid". If there is no inscription, then when drinking this drink, folic acid should be given to the child separately.