Your baby has specific nutritional needs during his first year of life. Breast milk, iron-fortified formula and appropriate solid foods are all he needs to grow and develop until he is 12 months old. You may find yourself wondering if offering regular cow's milk is safe before his first birthday, when in fact it can be hard on his kidneys and cause other health problems.
Kidney Stress
Cow's milk contains levels of sodium, potassium and chloride that can be difficult for your infant to digest and absorb. Her body is not yet ready for higher levels of these nutrients, so her immature kidneys could become stressed if she drinks cow's milk. This can result in sickness and damage to her developing kidney function.
Nutrition for Babies
Although cow's milk contains some levels of nutrients that can be hard on your infant's kidneys, it is also lacking in some areas. It does not have all the vitamins and minerals that your baby needs to grow and develop properly in his first year of life. For example, cow's milk does not have the same amount of iron that breast milk or iron-fortified formula contains. Drinking cow's milk before your baby is 1 year old can cause him to develop an iron deficiency.
Other Problems
Drinking cow's milk too early can increase your baby's risk of developing a milk allergy. In some cases, drinking milk can cause your infant to experience internal bleeding and other serious health issues.
Offering Milk
When your baby is ready for whole cow's milk, it will help her to build strong bones and teeth and regulate her muscle control and blood coagulation. It will also provide her with protein and fat for growth and development, as well as carbohydrates for energy. Beginning at 1 year of age, she can safely have 16 to 24 oz of cow's milk a day.
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