Savvy Parenting

Some Watch Outs When Choosing Your Child’s Growing Up Milk

Not all milk is created equal and your children have different needs than adults, to ensure proper growth while limiting health risks. Therefore, when choosing your child’s milk you need to look for the below:

Iron for Immunity, Brain, Physical Growth and Behavior:

Iron deficiency leads to Pallor, poor growth, recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections and also impacts memory and cognitive functions negatively, some of those are crucial at a young age and might lead to irreversible damages on the health of toddlers and young children. Infant formula needs to be supplemented with Iron to insure adequate intake in this period of rapid growth.

Vitamin C for Iron Absorption:

It is not only the amount of Iron in the formula that is the most crucial factor, but also the bioavailability of this Iron and the amount absorbed and used by the fast-growing toddler. And that is enhanced with the right amount of Vitamin C in the milk.

Fat:

The fat is better extracted from vegetable sources and not animal fat, and this makes a big difference in infant formulas.

Vitamin D For Bones and Calcium Absorption:

Children require 5 to 7 times more Vitamin D compared to adults and all kids need to be supplemented with 400 up to 800 IU per day for the adequate bone health leading to decreased risk of fractures. Infant formulas supplemented with Vitamin D ensure adequate bone metabolism, better immune system and healthier bone matrix for childhood but also decrease the risk of osteoporosis in later stages of adulthood.

Protein for Body Tissue Synthesis:

The choice of Infant formula should take into consideration the adequate supplementation to ensure optimal growth but also the exact amount of proteins, with no excess, to enhance development without increasing the risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome in the future.

Zinc Cofactor for Enzymes and Immunity:

Zinc is an essential Oligo element that is mandatory for the accurate function of multiple enzymes and Immunoglobulins mainly the function of secretory IgA and it helps with growth and appetite and preserves the oral mucosa from different aggressions.

Dr. Antoine FARAH, Pediatrician Clinical Associate AUBMC, Head of Department of Pediatrics St Georges Hospital Ajaltoun

^{Martin R, Nauta AJ, Ben Amor K, Knippels LMJ, Knol J, Garssen J. Early life: gut microbiota and immune development in infancy. Beneficial Microbes. 2010;1(4):367-382}
^{Chatchatee P, Lee WS, Carrilho E, Kosuwon P, Simakachorn N, Yavuz Y, Schouten B, Graaff PL, Szajewska H. Effects of Growing-Up Milk Supplemented With Prebiotics and LCPUFAs on Infections in Young Children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Apr;58(4):428-37.}
^{1. Alles MS, Eussen SRBM, van der Beek EM. Nutritional Challenges and Opportunities during the Weaning Period and in Young Childhood. Ann Nutr Metab 2014;64:284 -293.}

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Martin R, Nauta AJ, Ben Amor K, Knippels LMJ, Knol J, Garssen J. Early life: gut microbiota and immune development in infancy. Beneficial Microbes. 2010;1(4):367-382

Chatchatee P, Lee WS, Carrilho E, Kosuwon P, Simakachorn N, Yavuz Y, Schouten B, Graaff PL, Szajewska H. Effects of Growing-Up Milk Supplemented With Prebiotics and LCPUFAs on Infections in Young Children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Apr;58(4):428-37.

1. Alles MS, Eussen SRBM, van der Beek EM. Nutritional Challenges and Opportunities during the Weaning Period and in Young Childhood. Ann Nutr Metab 2014;64:284 -293.

^{Martin R, Nauta AJ, Ben Amor K, Knippels LMJ, Knol J, Garssen J. Early life: gut microbiota and immune development in infancy. Beneficial Microbes. 2010;1(4):367-382}

^{Chatchatee P, Lee WS, Carrilho E, Kosuwon P, Simakachorn N, Yavuz Y, Schouten B, Graaff PL, Szajewska H. Effects of Growing-Up Milk Supplemented With Prebiotics and LCPUFAs on Infections in Young Children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Apr;58(4):428-37.}

^{1. Alles MS, Eussen SRBM, van der Beek EM. Nutritional Challenges and Opportunities during the Weaning Period and in Young Childhood. Ann Nutr Metab 2014;64:284 -293.}