Babies under 12 months cannot drink undamaged cow's milk because it would be dangerous for their health, so when they are not breastfed, when they are not fed with breast milk, they have to receive start-up formulas that, after 6 months they can be changed by continuation formulas (although it is not really necessary and the start one is still better).
Once they turn 12 months, the 3 formulas or growth milks, advised by many pediatricians, who have some benefits such as a smaller amount of protein with respect to cow's milk, but some damage, such as the addition of sugar, totally unnecessary and excessive in some versions. That is why we ask ourselves this question: Is growing milk the best option for one-year-old babies?
For those who are not breastfed, of course
If the baby is breastfed, the best option is always breast milk. That is, if the mother breastfeeds him there is no nutritional reason to give less breast and more milk, whatever the milk. Another thing is that the mother is not present or wants to start breastfeeding.
What types of milk can a 12 month old baby drink
Breast milk aside, a 12-month-old baby can consume any milk:
- starting formula
- continuation formula
- growing milk (or milk 3)
- cow or whole goat milk
- vegetable drinks
The latter I discard because nutritionally speaking they do not approach others. Vegetable drinks should only be consumed at specific times (Unless we talk about vegetable formulas adapted for babies, these can be consumed as an alternative). If we talk about vegetable drinks that adults consume, they can be given from time to time, as if it were a milkshake or similar, because one day you feel like it (and beware that some carry a lot of sugar).
The start and continuation formulas
The start ones are designed for babies from 0 to 12 months, while the continuation ones are intended for babies from 6 to 12 months. Why? Because after 12 months they can already consume whole cow's milk.
But that doesn't mean they can't keep consuming them. They do not become poisonous or lack of any kind. In fact, it is quite the opposite, they are still, above all, the one that most closely resembles breast milk (continuation formulas are considered somewhat less adapted for babies).
So if someone wants to continue with these options, they can.
Growth milks
Those of growth are those that consume many children because they have been recommended to the parents, or because parents believe they are more nutritious than cow's milk. It is not that they are not poison, but they are a product a little in no man's land (those younger than 12 months should not consume it and those older than 12 months who eat food do not need it), and to get parents to buy them they have to make use of a thousand and one tricks that, as a father and professional, they bother me a lot.
Today I was in the supermarket and I took several to look at them carefully. I have taken photos and for this post I have stayed with one of them, to explain it and that each mother and father do the same with the rest of products of other brands (in reality with everything that comes to their hands).
The one in the picture is Nestlé Junior 1+ (that is, for over a year), but could have put other brands and we would probably see something similar. In the photo I have put numbers on what I have seen, to mention it below:
1. The AEP out there in the middle
"Nestlé collaborates with the Spanish Association of Pediatrics": the word Pediatrics very large, so that many people think (and I know they think it) that it is a product "recommended" by the AEP. Translation is: Nestlé gives money to the AEP to be allowed to stamp. The AEP should stay out of these advertising tricks, but it doesn't, and it's a shame. Thus we see his stamp on various unhealthy foods, so we will soon have to make the following recommendation: do not buy anything bearing the seal of the AEP.
2. Growth Milk
This should be regulated in some way. There should be a law that prohibits saying that a specific product promotes growth, because This product has not been proven to make children grow older, and many people (I know) think so. Come on is a lie... grow the same with this milk than with any other.
3. With all its original flavor
What do they mean? What is a product just modified? The original? What original, milk? But if you carry sugar and you have changed fats. I can only imagine that they are talking about the original taste of the modified and sweetened milk.
4. Milk composition
In the composition they say it clearly: lactose on the one hand (natural milk sugar) and sugar on the other. Also, he says he wears Palm oil, nabina oil (rapeseed, but it sounds better to say nabina).
Actually this does not carry too much sugar compared to other growing milks (with cereals, biscuit maria, ...), but of course it carries more than the milk we drink the elderly. If it's for children, It shouldn't take more, but at most the same.
5. With Iron
He says that two glasses contribute 81% of the recommended daily amount. It's very good ... but the problem is that then you add the number 6, which is Calcium.
6. Enriched with Calcium
That goes very well for the bones, but that hinders iron absorption, which, coming from milk, is not absorbed too well by itself. Luckily then they add vitamin C, which helps iron absorption ... all this to say that the best thing is that iron comes from food, because the best thing is that as of the year the children are eating a diversified diet.
7. They have reduced animal proteins
This is very good, because in general most children consume much more protein than they need. However, after 12 months, WHO already suggests that since milk is another food within a varied diet, children can already drink normal cow's milk, which must be whole.
8. We substitute animal fats for vegetable oils
Growing milk is made with skim milk to which essential fats are added, so that there are more polyunsaturated fatty acids. But why do they call the animal fat and the vegetable "oil"? They are also fats, and normal milk fats have not been proven to be worse than palm, rapeseed and sunflower oil. In fact, it is recommended that children consume whole dairy (with all its animal fat) up to at least 5 years. Moreover, there are studies that show that adults can also consume them whole without problem.
But my son eats very badly yet
The truth is that it is a reality. Many 12-month-old children eat quite a bit yet, for whatever reason, so in this case the type of milk children drink is still important.
Is it a good option then? They can be if we talk about a milk with little sugar and whose ingredients we do not see many strange things (No cereals, no cookie, honey or this kind of 'goodies'). A study published a few months ago on this topic concludes that fortified milks for young children are useful for preventing anemia, without causing changes in height and with very little difference in weight. However, as there are so many growing milks, they don't dare to establish a generalized recommendation (as I just said, some carry too much sugar).
Another option is to continue with the continuation or starter milk, and in the meantime offer varied foods in different presentations, eating with adults at the table, removing the TV, moving away the mobile, talking with him, doing make it a pleasant time for the child too, and offering food naturally.
That is, if they eat very badly, it may be an option as a temporary transition until they eat more food and then milk becomes one more food (but you have to work this, because in reality it is not the best option to receive nutrients from a supplemented milk). So when milk is another food, the best option is the whole cow, like the one we consume.
Stop trying to trick us
I only ask for one thing, like the rest of the parents: that stop inventing things with tagging. More and more parents are sure that going to the feeding aisle for babies and children (or buying food in their children's version) is nothing more than a synonym for food rich in dubious quality oils Y rich in added sugars. Quite the opposite of what parents really look for.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and more | The OCU returns to the analysis of growth milks reaching the same conclusion: they are not necessary, Puleva responds to the OCU study on growth milks, "growth" milks are not necessary
