As a drink intended to replace their usual milk, cow's milk is not recommended before the first birthday. Until 1 year, your baby needs breast milk or a infant formula suitable for their age. From 1 year, UHT whole cow's milk can be offered, but preferably alternated with a toddler milk (3).
Can cow's milk be given before 1 year?
Before 1 year, cow's milk should not replace breast milk or an infant formula when you do not wish to or cannot breastfeed. Its composition does not allow it to properly cover their specific nutritional needs, especially their iron needs (2).
This recommendation also applies to regular goat, sheep, mare, or donkey milk: they are not suitable alternatives to breast milk or infant formula.
Good to know: It is important to distinguish these regular animal milks from infant formulas. An infant goat milk, for example, remains a formula specifically formulated for infants and young children: it is not simply goat milk sold in the refrigerated section.
Why is infant formula still recommended before 1 year?
Breast milk is the ideal and natural food for every infant, as the sole source of nutrition during the first 6 months, then as a complement to a diversified diet. When your baby is not breastfed or is no longer breastfed, an infant formula can be offered.
Infant formulas, sometimes called stage 1 milk, are intended for the first months of life, while from the start of diversification, a follow-on formula or stage 2 milk can take over. Their composition is regulated in order to meet the specific nutritional needs of the infant.
Read also: what to do if the baby refuses their bottle?
Why not give cow's milk too early?
The first year is a period of particularly rapid growth and development. Your baby's diet must therefore provide them, in proportions suitable for their age, the energy and nutrients they need, especially iron, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Your baby's specific nutritional needs
Before 1 year, replacing breast milk or an infant formula with cow's milk exposes the baby to a diet not adapted to the specific needs of the infant. What matters, therefore, is not only the quantity consumed, but also its nutritional composition.
Plant-based drinks are also not an alternative. Even enriched with calcium, drinks made from almonds, oats, or other plants do not meet the nutritional needs of a baby under 1 year. Furthermore, soy-based products are not recommended before 3 years in French recommendations (2).
The risk of iron deficiency
Iron is particularly important during the first years, a period when your child's growth is rapid.
Before 1 year, a milk not enriched with iron, such as cow's milk, should not replace breast milk or an infant formula. Infant formulas are enriched with iron to better meet the infant's needs (7).
After 1 year, toddler milk remains interesting because it is enriched with iron. If your child only drinks UHT whole cow's milk, their diet must also regularly include foods rich in iron, such as legumes, fish, eggs, or meat. Foods rich in vitamin C can also promote the absorption of plant-based iron (3).
Cow's milk and fat needs
Fats also have an important place in the young child's diet. They notably contribute to the energy intake necessary during this period of development.
Skimmed, semi-skimmed, or 0% fat versions are not the most suitable for children under 3 years, because they provide less fat. When cow's milk is offered after 1 year, whole milk is therefore to be favored (4).
What milk to give baby after 1 year?
After their first birthday, your child continues to have special nutritional needs. If you continue breastfeeding, breast milk naturally keeps its place. Otherwise, toddler milk is to be favored between 1 and 3 years.
Toddler milk or cow's milk: which to choose?
The baby toddler milk is enriched with iron and designed for this period of life. French recommendations therefore suggest favoring it from 1 year when the child is no longer breastfed.
In case of doubt, your pediatrician, your doctor, or a PMI professional can help you assess the situation according to your child's eating habits and growth.
Can whole cow's milk be given to baby?
Yes, from 1 year, UHT whole cow's milk can be part of your child's diet. However, recommendations suggest favoring toddler milk or alternating the two rather than systematically replacing all bottles with cow's milk.
How much milk to offer from 1 year?
Between 1 and 3 years, count on about 500 ml of milk per day. This benchmark can correspond to breast milk, toddler milk, or, according to French recommendations, an alternation between toddler milk and UHT whole cow's milk. Dairy products consumed during the day are also to be taken into account: it is recommended not to exceed the equivalent of 800 ml of milk and dairy products per day.
As a benchmark, 150 to 200 ml of milk corresponds approximately to one yogurt or 20 g of cheese (3).
