When Can Babies Drink Milk?
Wondering when your baby can drink milk? Officially speaking, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies drink breast milk or iron-fortified formula exclusively for the first 6 months of life.1 After 6 months, caregivers can introduce solids to a baby's diet while continuing breast milk or formula. But cow's milk is off-limits until after your baby turns 1 year old, according to the AAP.
"Breast milk and infant formula contain the appropriate nutritional ingredients for an infant from ages 0 to 1. Regular milk does not," explains Ari Brown, MD, an Austin, Texas-based pediatrician, author of the Baby 411 book series, and parent education resource.
Here's more on why experts recommend waiting until after your baby's first birthday to introduce cow's milk.
Why Babies Shouldn't Drink Milk
As long as they have no allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances to cow's milk, experts say that children can begin drinking cow's milk as a beverage at 12 months old, but not before. There are a few reasons why parents should avoid giving liquid cow's milk to infants before age 1, explains Jill Castle, RDN, a pediatric dietitian and founder of The Nourished Child.
First, Castle explains that their digestive systems are not ready to handle it, setting babies up for a higher risk of complications like intestinal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia.2
"Large amounts of cow's milk in replacement of breast milk or formula can lead to iron deficiency anemia in a baby because the gut can be irritated by it, leading to blood loss," Dr. Brown explains. She adds that a baby can also get iron deficiency anemia because excess cow's milk can also interfere with iron absorption from other foods.
Secondly, the nutrient composition of cow's milk isn't in the right balance for an infant. "Protein and other nutrients are too high, taxing the kidneys, while other nutrients like iron, are lacking," Castle says.
Finally, Dr. Brown explains that introducing cow's milk to a baby younger than 1 is associated with other negative health outcomes, including poor weight gain and failure to thrive.
Aside from cow's milk, other dairy-based milk such as goat's milk and dairy-alernatives like soy milk, should also be avoided until your baby turns
