Parenting Tips: Milk is considered a superfood for children. Until 6 months of age, babies only consume breast milk. Many parents wonder if they can give their child cow's milk after 6 months. Pediatrician Anuradha shared a video on her Instagram handle addressing this question. In the video, the doctor specifies the correct age to introduce cow's milk to a child and also explains how much milk a child should consume daily. Let's find out what the expert says:

When to give a child cow's milk?
Dr. Anuradha says that cow's milk can be included in a child's diet after the age of 1 year. Until then, breastfeed your child. If breast milk is not available for any reason, you can give your child formula milk after consulting a doctor.

How much milk should a child drink in a day?
Answering this question, the pediatrician says that 400-500 ml of milk per day is sufficient for children aged 1 to 5 years. Giving more milk than this fills the child's stomach, causing them to eat less solid food, which can lead to inadequate nutrition. This can result in weakness or nutrient deficiencies.

Which type of milk to give: full cream or toned?
Many parents also wonder whether to give their child full-cream milk or toned milk. Regarding this, the doctor says:

For children aged 1 to 2 years, full-cream milk is better because they need more healthy fats at this age.

After 2 years of age, you can give toned milk if you wish.
Which types of milk should to avoid?
Avoid giving children aged 1 to 5 years flavored, chocolate, strawberry, or excessively sweet milk. These increase children's sugar cravings and also damage their teeth.

Keep these things in mind
The doctor says that milk is good for children, but avoid giving them too much. Do not use milk as a substitute for meals. Along with this, give the child foods like roti (flatbread), lentils, vegetables, fruits, eggs, and yogurt. The more balanced the child's diet is, the healthier and more active they will be.

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