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Is it safe to use cow's milk or other milks as a supplement to breastfeeding?By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC In general, only breastmilk or formula should be used if your baby is less than six months old. Between six and twelve months, supplementing with solids (instead of formula) or very small amounts of cow, goat, soy or rice milk is less of a problem, as long as baby is still nursing for the majority of milk intake and baby is not allergic. However, babies under a year are more at risk for allergic reactions (see below) so it can be a good idea to wait. After a year, other milks may be used, but are not needed (other sources provide the same nutrients). It's recommended that you limit the amount of cow's milk that your child receives (possibly other milks too, except breastmilk) to 2-3 cups (16-24 ounces) per day. Too much cow's milk in a child's diet can put him at risk for iron-deficiency anemia (because milk can interfere with the absorption of iron) and decrease the child's desire for other foods. More here on cow's milk after a year.
Use of cow's milk before a year is controversial among experts. You might want to get your baby's doctor's opinion on this. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO cow's milk until after the first birthday. Cow's milk is more specific to a baby cow than a baby human. Cow's milk formula is based on cow's milk but has been engineered to be closer to human milk (still a ways off, but closer). Many infants still have problems with cow's milk formula (allergies, GI problems, etc.). Babies who are exposed to cow's milk before their first birthday are more likely to be anemic, have diarrhea or vomiting, and/or experience an allergic reaction (the proteins in milk are more numerous than those in other milk products, such as the yogurt). The excessive protein load in cow's milk can also overload a baby's kidneys. It is deficient in vitamins C, E, and copper. It is harder to digest as well, often causing intestinal blood loss. A number of studies have also indicated that early introduction of cow's milk may contribute to the development of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Others see no problem with starting cow's milk toward the end of the first year unless there is a family history of allergy to it. Dr. Jack Newman, a renowned expert in the lactation field, is one of these. See the Breastmilk, cow's milk, formula, outside work and bottles section of his article "Breastfeeding and Other Foods." Notice that he qualifies this advice with the importance of the baby being well-established on a variety of solids and continuing to be breastfed (both of which should help make up for what cow's milk can't offer at this age). He also suggests that supplemental milk of any kind is not all that necessary if the baby is allowed to nurse frequently when with mom. He suggests offering the baby solid foods with some water or small amounts of juice instead. Some experts consider yogurt and cheese to be okay for most babies after 6 months. Others prefer waiting until 9-12 months. Of course, if baby has a cow's milk allergy or there is a strong history of allergy to cow's milk in the family, yogurt, cheese and all other foods made with cow's milk should be avoided until 12 months or later. The main difference between yogurt and milk is that the lactose in yogurt has been converted into lactic acid. Cheese differs from milk in two ways: the whey proteins are drained off in the cheese-making process (so only casein proteins remain), and the curdling enzymes break down the casein proteins into smaller protein molecules. For babies and toddlers, try to find the whole milk yogurt (not low or no fat), and avoid the yogurt with artificial sweeteners lots of sugary fruits.
Michaelsen KF. Cows' milk in complementary feeding. Pediatrics. 2000 Nov;106(5):1302-3. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition: The use of whole cow's milk in infancy. Pediatrics. 1992 Jun;89(6 Pt 1):1105-9. Breastfeeding and Other Foods by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC Milk & Gruel May Be Cruel by Lynn M. Johnson. "Giving cow or goat's milk and solids too soon is unhealthy for tiny tummies." Yogurt for infants? by Sue Gilbert, Consulting Nutritionist Cow's
milk for nursing toddlers? @ Calcium @ see also the Nutrition Comparisons below
Using goat's milk before 6 months or regular use between 6 and 12 months is not recommended. Goat's milk is no more appropriate to give baby than cow's milk. If you need to supplement and breastmilk is not available, formulas are a more nutritionally complete product. There are several comparisons of goat vs. cow vs. human milk in the links below. Using this information, goat milk is much closer in composition to cow milk than human milk. Goat's milk is high in sodium (like cow's milk) and is very high in chloride and potassium, which makes the renal solute load too high for babies. This can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and can result in anemia and poor growth (these problems are usually undetected until months later). Goat milk is also deficient in folic acid, which can lead to megaloblastic anemia. Also, infants who are allergic to cow's milk protein are often allergic to goat's milk too. While it's true that whole goats milk (and whole cow's milk) was
commonly used prior to the advent of infant formulas it is also
true that the infant mortality and morbidity rate during the times
of such substitutions was very high. Q&AsWhat About Goat's Milk? by Lynn M. Johnson. "Goat milk is touted as having exceptional nutritional value over cow's milk, but for tiny tummies it just doesn't measure up." Why formula instead of goat's milk? by Sue Gilbert, Consulting Nutritionist Goat's milk as supplement to breastmilk? by Sue Gilbert, Consulting Nutritionist Q&A on Goat's Milk by Alan Greene, MD, FAAP Can I ... use goat's milk? from KeepKidsHealthy.com Goat's milk as an infant formula from Pediatric Nutrition Consultation On-line Got Goat's Milk? from AskDrSears.com (just keep in mind that he is advertising particular brand of goat's milk here)
Nutrition comparisonsGoat - Cow - Human Milk from the American Dairy Goat Association Comparative Average Composition of Goat Milk and Cow Milk from Meyenberg Goat Milk Products Comparison of Nutritional Content of Various Milks by David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D. Dairy Goat Milk Composition by John C. Bruhn, PhD, Dairy Research and Information Center, University of California, Davis Comparing Milk: Human, Cow, Goat & Commercial Infant Formula compiled and referenced by Stephanie Clark, PhD Why Goat Milk? by George F. W. Haenlein Goat Milk and Its Use as a Hypo-Allergenic Infant Food by Dr. H.P. Maree, MBChB
Goat Milk FormulaGoat's Milk Formula from AskDrSears.com (just keep in mind that he is advertising particular brand of goat's milk here) Dairy Goat Co-operative (N.Z.) Ltd New Zealand manufacturer of goat milk formula Bambinchen goat milk formula
German manufacturer of goat milk formula
Page last modified:
07/10/2005
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also discusses other sources for the nutrients in cow's milk