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Is dairy milk safe for babies?

Dr PSN Menon
Consultant & Head, Department of Pediatrics
Jaber Al-Ahmed Armed Forces Hospital, Kuwait

Q: I would like to know can I use water boiled in electric kettle for making formula milk for my 4 month baby, if not, how long should the water be boiled on gas? When can I start giving my child cow's milk, is milk we get at Mother Dairy safe for a child below 1 yr or I should stick to formula milk only? Reply soon.

A:You can use water boiled in an electric kettle or over a gas stove. There is no scientific study to show that one is better than the other. It is important that the water is boiled rather than how long it is boiled. Please go through the section on 'Feeding and Nutrition' in the section on 'Children', which gives detailed account of the feeding schedule for infants. Milk, whether it is fresh cow milk or that obtained from a dairy or toned milk from the Mother Dairy or that prepared from milk powder, is equally good provided it is boiled, all safety precautions are followed in preparation and given in adequate quantity.