Health and safety in every drop: choose healthy growing-up milk to care for your child.
What nutritional value and health benefits does growing-up milk provide for children?
Contrary to the common belief that liquid cow's milk is a suitable option for a child going through early growth stages, and that it can be included in the child's basic diet, this milk is not the right choice for young children. It can cause many harms and health problems, and it does not provide the child with the nutritional value and essential elements they need. Therefore, it is recommended to rely only on growing-up milk formulated for young children, which provides all the vitamins and minerals that support a child's health at this age and are not found in liquid cow's milk. The most notable of these are the following:[2]
Fortified vitamins
Growing-up milk intended for young children contains many important healthy vitamins, including:[6][3]
- Vitamin A: important for supporting the child's immune system, improving eye function and night vision, and maintaining healthy skin growth.
- Vitamin D: strengthens bone structure and supports its growth, enhances the body's health during the rapid growth stages the child goes through, and helps build a healthy, strong immune system.
Minerals and essential elements
The most important minerals and essential elements found in the composition of growing-up milk for young children include the following:[6][5][8]
- Calcium: an essential element for the growth of a healthy skeletal structure and for building strong bones that help the child stand and walk gradually, and it also supports the complete development of their teeth.
- Antioxidants: preserve the child's overall health and strengthen their immune system.
- Protein: supports the growth of muscle and skeletal tissues and also promotes the health of the child's nervous and immune systems.
- Iron: stimulates the circulatory system by producing red blood cells that carry nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the child's body; it also enhances immune system development and supports cognitive abilities and the child's brain growth.[4][8]
Probiotics
They are beneficial bacteria that enhance digestive health and regulate bowel function, making it easier for the child to pass stool and reducing constipation, which is a very harmful issue for the child, in addition to strengthening the immune system and supporting disease resistance.[5]
Healthy fats and unsaturated fatty acids
A child needs healthy fats to obtain energy, grow, and gain weight, while unsaturated fatty acids help maintain nerve integrity and proper brain development and build the retina. The most prominent acids included in the rich, balanced composition of growing-up milk are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.[5][8]
Why is liquid cow’s milk not recommended during the growth period?
Although the use of liquid cow's milk is common, using it as a substitute and multiple times throughout the day harms the child's health, especially during the growth period. Its potential harms include the following:[2]
- Lower nutritional value of liquid cow's milk compared to milk formulated for child growth, which, as previously mentioned, contains the key elements in a balanced composition suitable for the child's needs.
- Damage to the child's digestive system, especially when liquid cow's milk is consumed frequently.
- Higher proportions of fats and proteins in liquid cow's milk, which may overburden the child's body.
Because a child is a precious trust that requires a caregiving journey involving many challenges among them choosing the best diet and the right, balanced ingredients that preserve their health and safety in the early stages and during the rapid growth phase of the first years and emphasizing avoiding alternative options whose harms may outweigh their benefits, especially when it comes to the type of milk, growing-up milk formulated for young children is the safe and best option that meets the child's needs and ensures healthy growth, physical safety, and strong immunity. Let us remember that raising a small child is an exciting adventure but also stems from noble affection and deep feelings stronger than words can describe.
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