

Worst-case scenario, there could be some blood in their stool due to colitis, an inflammation in the colon. Babies likely won't have an immediate reaction to the cow's milk, but instead they may gradually start to spit up or have diarrhea more often. And be mindful of signs and symptoms of any inflammatory or allergic reaction, he added. In cases in which supplementing with cow's milk for a short period of time may be necessary, such as the 2022 infant formula shortage in the U.S., transition to cow's milk slowly if you can, so that it doesn't shock the baby's system, Kim said. What happens when a baby takes its first breath? While the vast majority of babies over 6 months will do fine drinking cow's milk, the foreign protein can cause inflammation through an allergic response in some babies, Kim said. That's why "we've really recommended strongly to avoid cow's milk for the first year of life," Kim said. High concentrations of the protein and minerals found in cow's milk "can stress a newborn's immature kidneys and cause severe illness at times of heat stress, fever or diarrhea," according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (opens in new tab) (AAP). "The final infant formula is quite different from the dairy milk you get," Kim said.Īn infant's gut, kidneys and immune system need time to mature before they can safely tolerate new types and amounts of protein found in cow’s milk, Kim said. Even though infant formula is made from cow's milk, manufacturers remove the proteins and alter them before adding them back to the formula, along with other essential ingredients. As such, cow's milk contains proteins that are hard for babies to digest, and it lacks key vitamins and minerals, such as iron, that babies need to develop. Jae Kim, director of the Division of Neonatology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, told Live Science. Human milk is produced specifically for human babies, whereas cow's milk is really for calves, Dr.
