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Ill effects of cow milk for your baby

Dr Satish Saluja
Consultant Neonatologist,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,
New Delhi

Q: In your nutrition for children column I read that cow's milk is not recommended. Why should we avoid cow milk? Is this precaution in the ninth month or at any time?

A:Cow milk is not recommended for the following reasons: 1. The composition of this milk is not appropriate for a neonate and is nutritionally not adequate. 2. It lacks certain live protective factors that are present in breast milk, that protect the baby from infections. 3. The baby may develop an allergy to cows milk. 4. The absorption is not as good and babies may be constipated.