4 Tips for Sufficient Nutritional Needs of Children with Cow Milk Allergy

Milk's Cow - pixabay.com

alergyfoodsforbabies.com - The symptoms of cow's milk allergy will usually disappear once the child reaches the age of four and only a few whose allergies last into adulthood. But for now, many parents are confused how to meet the nutritional needs of children who are allergic to cow's milk. The reason, cow's milk is a good source of protein, calcium, and folic acid to grow children. Do not be confused, sir, Mom! Check out the various tips below.

Tips to meet the nutritional needs of cow's milk allergy children

1. Continue breastfeeding

For breastfed babies, continuing exclusive breastfeeding is the best option for nutrition. Protein content in breast milk is quite high and the composition is different from the protein contained in cow's milk.

The quality of milk proteins is better than cow's milk because breast milk has a complete type of amino acid than cow's milk. One example is the amino acid taurine that has a role in brain development. These amino acids are found in high enough amounts in the developing brain tissue.

2. Avoid all forms of dairy products

Children who are allergic to milk should not be given cow's milk and all derivative products, such as butter and margarine, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cereals, cakes, biscuits, crackers, milk porridge, pudding, and custard. Also beware of products containing casein, whey, and lactose in the raw material column.

For children who can eat solid foods, you can exchange calcium intake from cow's milk with other calcium source foods, such as spinach, bok coy, tofu, orange, egg, anchovy, and sardines.

Also read : 6 Tests To Know The Children Allergy

3. Choose hypoallergenic milk formula

If your child consumes formula, choose a hypoallergenic formula. Hypoallergenic milk is milk that has a small molecular weight peptide and does not cause allergic reactions in children. Based on research, the use of hypoallergenic milk does not cause allergy in 90% of infants and children allergic to cow's milk.

Milk belonging to the hypoallergenic group is extensive milk hydrolyzed and amino acid formula milk. Extensively hydrolyzed milk is administered to children with cow's milk allergy with mild or moderate clinical symptoms. Amino acid formula milk is given to children with cow's milk allergy with severe clinical symptoms. Alternatively, children with cow's milk allergy can also consume milk containing donkey protein isolates.

4. Milk from other animals is not recommended

Most people think of giving milk from other mammals to replace cow's milk. But goat's milk is not recommended for cow's milk allergy children because it can be a risk of cross-reaction. In addition, goat's milk, sheep's milk, etc. should not be given to babies under one year of age unless it has been made into infant formula. However, there is currently no milk-based formula in other mammals (other than cattle) in Indonesia.

Alternatively, you can provide non-beef plant-based milk such as milk nuts. But note also whether your child has a nut allergy. If yes, you can give him rice milk or coconut milk (not coconut milk, you know!)

Also read : 10 Food Allergy Problems In Children

Should not children be fed foods that contain cow's milk protein forever?

A mother should avoid foods containing cow's milk and derivative products until the child reaches the age of 9-12 months or at least for 6 months. After that, the skin prick test (allergy test) can be repeated again. If symptoms do not reappear, meaning children are tolerant and cow's milk can be tried to be given back to the child. If symptoms reappear, then do not first give food containing cow's milk for 6 months and so on.