Is cow’s milk really inappropriate as a drink in the first year of life?

In the first four to six months of life, human milk is the ideal nutrition, perfectly tailored to the individual needs of an infant. From around the second half of their first year, infants' energy and nutrient requirements increase, e.g. especially iron, and human milk and/or infant formula alone is no longer sufficient to meet their nutritional needs – so it’s time for complementary food! Infants should continue to be breastfed or given infant formula even after being introduced to weaning food. The ideal way to introduce weaning food is to gradually replace individual milk feeds with puréed food. The infant will need additional liquids when introducing the third purée. When it comes to the question of what additional liquid is suitable as a drink it is often said that cow’s milk is inappropriate. Is that true? Should the consumption of cow’s milk as a drink be avoided during the first year of life?

Yes! In fact, it is true that the use of pure cow’s milk as a drink is inappropriate in the first year of life and should be avoided. The composition of cow’s milk differs from that of human milk. Its high protein and mineral content strains the infant’s still immature kidneys. As additional drinks to accompany weaning food water or unsweetened tea are suitable. 

It is possible to use cow’s milk as an ingredient - the tolerable amount of cow’s milk is 200 ml, to be used as part of the preparation of a milk-grain porridge, which serves as a source of protein and calcium. Important: Do not use raw milk, as it poses a high risk of infection from various pathogens. The ESPGHAN states that “animal milks should not be used as the main drink before 12 months.”