Keep your baby happy and healthy
Research conducted by Onepoll, on behalf of SMA nutrition, found that over a third of mums weren't confident about making the transistion from breast milk or first infant milk to another type.
The SMA Cows' Milk Culture report was designed to helps mums to be confident that they're giving their infant the correct nutrients needed to support healthy growth and development.
Cows' milk is massively popular in the UK, with the population buying the equivalent of nearly 4 pints a week. Many mums are in the habit of giving this to their child because they themselves have grown up drinking it. However this new research demostrates why this isn't always the best option.
Government guidelines advise mums to not introduce cows milk into a childs diet before the age of one. At about 6 months old, babies could benefit more from being given a follow-on milk which can provide the important nutrients they need as they move onto solid foods.
Anne Sidnell, SMA nutrionist, says: "As the research shows, a significant number of mums plan to introduce cows’ milk before their baby reaches one year old, going against government recommendations. What mums might not know is that although a cheap and wholesome drink, cows’ milk contains very low levels of vitamins, particularly vitamin D and iron - only 0.02mg of iron per 100g of milk, when babies need 7.8mg per day from 10-12 months of age."
Cows' milk does contain plenty of key nutrients such as calcium, protein and vitamins and minerals, however, a quarter of mums in the poll believed it contained iron, when in fact it is very low in iron.
According to the World Health Organisation, iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting every age group but particularly young children.
A milk such as SMA Follow-on Milk helps provides babies from the age of 6 months with important nutrients and it complements a weaning diet.
Whilst cows' milk is hugely popular in the UK, worldwide, goat, camel, sheep, soya, oat, rice and buffalo are types of other milk which are consumed because they're widely available and all believed to be nutritional.
Alexandra Baracskai