Is Cow's Milk Good For Your Infant?

All age groups

Created by Ambili S Kartha
Updated on Jun 15, 2018

When my first baby was born, it was the happiest moment of my life. Soon after a few months, my happiness turned into worries because I had lactation issues. It was a struggle, both emotionally and physically. I couldn't produce enough milk for my baby. It hit me hard. With a hungry baby who is crying most of the time, I couldn't figure out what to do?

My relatives suggested that I feed him cow's milk. However, this created more issues. When I fed him his very first serving of cow’s milk, my son started to vomit after some time. Foul smelling poop (he contracted diarrhoea) was another issue that followed suit. Moreover, stomach pain due to the formation of gas made him crankier. Then, one of my friend’s mom, who is also a doctor suggested that I use other suitable alternatives instead of cow’s milk. And guess what, it worked out pretty well for my baby and me!

So, if you are a new mom, and you are struggling with the dilemma of whether you should give cow’s milk to your baby or not – here is some information that may help you make a better choice for your little one.

Why is breastmilk best for your baby?

Without any doubt, nothing is better than breastmilk. Exclusive breastmilk is recommended for the first six months. It does not only provide all nutrients for ideal growth of your baby but also helps your baby fight various infections. Did you know, your breastmilk is tummy friendly and has growth promoting nutrients such as right quality and amount of proteins, and appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals? In fact, whey protein (present in your breastmilk) is gentle on your baby’s digestive tract. Moreover, higher whey content helps in faster gastric emptying. All the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals present in your breastmilk promotes brain growth, vision growth and overall development of your baby.

Why cow's milk doesn't suit your baby?

In simple words, the carbohydrate, protein and fat content of milk from one animal is finely tuned to meet the nutritional requirements of that particular animal. This is the simple reason why infants are not able to digest and assimilate the nutrients of cow's milk.

Proteins in cow's milk are hard to digest: The ratio of caseins and whey proteins in human milk is 40:60 respectively; while in cow's milk the ratio stands at 80:20. Your newborn will not be able to digest caseins and this particular protein is capable of bringing about a range of allergies and illness in newborns.

Stress on kidneys: The level of sodium, potassium, and calcium in cow's milk is very much higher and it can put stress on the immature kidneys of your baby (who is less than 12 months old).

So what is a better choice for your baby?

Now, this is for all mothers out there like me who are facing lactation issues. You might have been told that cow's milk may be a good alternative to your breastmilk. Cow's milk creates various issues for babies under one year of age. Rely on your paediatrician’s advice or choose the alternative which is tummy friendly and has growth nutrients for your baby.

So, mommies, was this blog useful to you? Do share your thoughts with me in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: SHSH programme is for educational purposes only, in partnership with doctors. Consult a doctor for queries about your or your child's health