Why is cows milk inappropriate for weaning infants?
Although cow’s milk is fine for calves, it is a poor food for babies: • Cow’s milk contains very little iron, a mineral with several very important functions involving blood formation and growth. The use of cow’s milk during the first year of life significantly increases the risk of iron deficiency anemia, a condition that can delay mental and physical development. • Cow’s milk contains very little vitamin C, vitamin E, and copper. In some countries, it lacks vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D may put children at risk for rickets, a disease leading to defective bone growth. • Cow’s milk contains too much protein, sodium, potassium, and chloride. Excessive amounts of these nutrients may strain baby’s kidneys. • Cow’s milk is high in saturated fat, which is hard for babies to tolerate and may interfere with calcium absorption. What is the alternative to cow’s milk? Because of the many inadequacies of cow’s milk, leading authorities, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and
