Ask the Expert – Introducing Cow Milk

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Registered Dietitian Victoria Retelny offers some tips for switching your baby from infant formula to cow’s milk.

Victoria Shanta Retelny, RD, LDN Loyola University Chicago – Food & Nutrition Program Registered, Licensed Dietitian – Nutrition Communications Expert Media Resource, Nutrition Therapist, Freelance Writer, Speaker Website: Livingwell Communications Twitter: @vsrnutrition Contact: via email from website

Question: Can you give some tips for switching my child to milk from infant formula?

Answer:

Typically, by 12 months old, infants can be completely weaned from infant formula to cow’s milk.  Be sure to choose whole, full-fat milk as your baby needs the fat and calories for healthy brain development until he/she turns two (at that point you can switch to low-fat or fat-free milk).   However, moving from formula to milk does not have to a cold turkey proposition.  Although it seems like a big transition, it can be a gradual change. Weeks before a baby’s first birthday, you can begin mixing milk in with formula, cereals, vegetables, such as creamed corn, spinach, peas, broccoli, and fruit like mashed bananas.

Since cow’s milk is one of the major food allergens for infants and children, a slow introduction is the ideal way to get your child’s delicate system used to cow’s milk as well as give you an opportunity to see if he/she has any reactions, such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation or skin rashes, which may be associated with lactose/dairy intolerance or allergies.   If you suspect a reaction has occurred from milk, contact your pediatrician or a pediatric allergy specialist for further evaluation.   Have no fear, there are other options to cow’s milk – try soy milk or rice milk.  Always look for added calcium and vitamin D as you don’t want your child to miss out on those key nutrients for healthy bone development.

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Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

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Tagged as: Calcium, Food Allergy, Formula, Lactose Intolerance, Milk, Vitamin D