Breastfed Babies and Cow’s Milk
Your breastfed baby has thrived off your milk and is doing quite well but she’s approaching her first birthday. Now people are saying your baby should drink cow’s milk, rather than exclusively drink milk from the mama.
Do breastfed babies need cow’s milk?
Nope! There is nothing special about cow’s milk. It’s merely a convenient way for children to get calcium, protein, fats and vitamin D–all of which can be consumed from other sources. Your child’s calcium needs can also be met through broccoli, kale and other leafy greens, fortified nondairy milks (soy milk, rice milk, etc.), fortified OJ, blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds… and the list goes on.
Protein is included in most foods, especially beans, peas, tofu and meat. Fat can be obtained from oils and nut butters. Vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure and cod liver oil.
Cow’s milk is not necessary for a breastfed baby.
Breastmilk is much more nutritious than milk from a cow – and you can’t be allergic to human milk (although rarely your baby may react to proteins that show up in the milk, the most likely of which is dairy proteins).
After all, breastmilk was meant to nourish and sustain humans–not cows, who have drastically different nutritional needs.
So if your child hates cow’s milk or you choose not to provide it, there’s absolutely no need to feel guilty.
