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Date: | Sat, 14 Aug 1999 07:31:31 -0400 |
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A very important reason that whole cow's milk (and pop, juice, etc.) is NOT
an appropriate substitute for ABM for (unfortunate) non-BF infants is that
it contains very little iron. Infants are rarely eating sufficient amounts
of iron-rich supplemental foods. Without receiving iron in the breastmilk
(or as an inferior substitute, ABM), they can become severely anemic.
Admitted-to-the- hospital-with-Hg-less-than-7-or-8 kind of anemic. This is
the major reason that I tell parents to limit the cow's milk intake for
toddlers to 12-20 oz/d. Some of these toddlers are picky eaters who are more
than content to drink 1/2 gallon of cow's milk each day and refuse other
foods. I want to be sure that these toddlers aren't just filling up on milk
and that they retain enough appetite for other foods. Infants are even less
likely to be able to obtain enough iron from supplemental foods if they are
receiving cow's milk as the main source of their nutrition.
Of course, if a toddler is receiving breastmilk then there's is no need to
watch amounts because it is a perfect food. Lest anyone suspect me of
anti-dairy, I love my dairy products (in moderation) and actually have
several friends/ acquaintances who are dairy farmers. BTW, these dairy
farmers breastfeed their kids.
Mari Douma, DO, FACOP, FAAP
MSU Dept of Peds
Lansing, MI
Mom to Teagan 3 1/2y and half way through pregnancy for baby number two
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