Hi all

I am seeking opinion on the suitability of feeding diluted animal milks to
babies aged 0 - 6 months, as a sole replacement for breastfeeding.  I need
to find this info fairly fast and the only thing I can find in print is
Marsha Walker's brilliant paper "A Fresh Look at the Risks of Artificial
Infant Feeding" (JHL 9(2), 1993, with only one reference on the
unsuitability of cow's milk:  AAP Committee on Nutrition: The use of whole
cow's milk in infancy.  Pediatrics 89:1105-9, 1992 (which I don't have).  Is
there anything newer, older?

Is diluted cow's milk *ever* recommended in Western, industrialized
countries as a breastmilk substitute - either as a total replacement feed,
or for use as a supplement to breastmilk?  If so, what is the correct "mix"?
(3/4 milk and 1/4 water, or 2/3 milk and 1/3 water, or 1/2 milk and 1/2
water - I have various sources that suggest all three of these are suitable
to be fed to babies who are not to be breastfed).  And how much sugar needs
to be added?  Would the mix change as the baby grows older?  And how long
does the water need to be boiled? Should the animal milk be boiled?   Would
it make a difference if the milk came straight from the cow/goat, or if it
was pasteurized first, and came straight from the bottle/packet?
Alternatively, should the milk and water be boiled together? How long could
these mixed milks be safely stored without refrigeration at temps 20 - 35
degrees C?

If diluted animal milks are *not* recommended, why not?

You guessed it.  The powers that be are currently working on HIV and Infant
Feeding Guidelines and there is an element of urgency.  I need information
(preferably documented somewhere, but your knowledgeable opinions will help)
about the risks of feeding human babies unphysiologic and nutritionally
inadequate/excessive mixes made from other (cheap) sources (cows, goats
etc.)  I dare not check the Archives under "cow's milk", fearing inundation.
Grateful thanks if you can help.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
mailto:[log in to unmask]