The fact that it is not worth giving milk to children under one year old was said back in the 18th century. And there are a number of reasons for this. However, doctors still propose to introduce this product as complementary foods for infants. Modern proponents of natural parenting and advanced pediatricians consider this unacceptable.
Cow's milk is a product loved by many. And it is quite difficult to imagine the life of modern mankind. Porridge, pies, cakes, sour cream and other fermented milk products are often based on cow's milk. At the same time, there are many who very strongly criticize cow's milk for its excessive fat content, satiety, etc.
It is everyone's business to agree or not to the potential harm of cow's milk to the human body. However, it is possible to assert with confidence only the fact that it is better not to use such a product for children under one year old. And there are quite a few reasons for this.
Reasons not to give milk to children under one year old
First of all, and this is the main reason, the milk of each animal, including humans, is designed for the specific needs of its young. And they are completely unsuitable for other species. So, for example, it is worth remembering that calves grow an order of magnitude faster than human children. This means that cow's milk contains more nutrients that are necessary for raising a healthy calf. The baby's digestive system simply cannot cope with such a load.
Especially it is not worth experimenting with children who are already suffering from problems with the gastrointestinal tract from birth. For them, such a fatty and protein-rich product can be quite a challenge.
Another reason lies in the fact that the cow belongs to the class of herbivores, while man is a carnivorous animal. This means that two biological species - a cow and a human - have completely different enzyme systems. The composition, amount of amino acids and much more, which is important for the development of the calf and the baby, differ. So, for example, cow's milk contains 3 times more proteins than human breast milk, the same amount of various mineral substances. An excess of such substances leads to an excessive load on the baby's body, because to remove excess kidneys of the child, they begin to work with doubled, and sometimes even tripled strength. Accordingly, the body wears out faster.
There is not enough iron in cow's milk, which is very important for the full development of the child.
This point can be considered controversial, since milk is usually not given to replenish iron deficiency in the body. You just need to take this fact into account and additionally provide the child with an iron rate.
A baby needs a lot of energy to break down enzymes from cow's milk. Moreover, if the body makes a mistake and accepts amino acids foreign to it for its own, this is fraught with the development of allergies and its manifestations in the form of atopic dermatitis, diathesis, etc.
Due to the fact that cow's milk is a heavier product for a child, it takes a long time to digest, and often leaves undigested particles in the intestines. They, as you know, quite aggressively affect the intestinal mucosa. As a result, constipation, swelling, or, conversely, loose stools appear.
Experts say that the intestinal mucosa of a child is able to neutralize the aggressive effect of protein only at the age of 1, 5-2 years.
What are the risks of taking cow's milk for children under one year old
Naturally, not every child can react to the intake of cow's milk. And if some processes take place deep inside, this does not mean at all that you can ignore them. It is just worth remembering that an excessive enthusiasm for cow's milk by children under one year old can lead to quite serious problems.
So, for example, doctors are aware of cases of a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In addition, gastrointestinal bleeding may well develop due to intestinal overstrain at the time of digestion of such a heavy product.
