can an infant drink cow milk?

Question

i am doing a science fair project and i need to know more about infant botulism? help!

Answer 1

CRAPPY FAT GIRL
YOU BETTER GET OFF THIS OR IMA GONNA BEAT YOUR FAT SELF!

LIAR YOURE NOT DOING A PROJECT, UR A FAT INFANT WHO WANTS TO DRINK COW MILK

HAHAHHA=]
FATTTYY

Answer 2

Yes, an infant can drink cow's milk. The reason why they don't give them cow's milk today is that non-human milk isn't completely compatible with infant humans. By removing a protein from cow's milk, certain digestion problems (bleeding in the intestines) were eliminated. Of course, it caused NEW problems (projectile vomiting and way more severe gastroenteritis), but for most infants, it's best to stick with commercial formula. 95% of all adults that you know now were raised on cow's milk with cereal (it provided the iron that was lost using cows milk). Formula wasn't really in general use until after about 1983 (prior to that, it was by prescription only and used by infants who couldn't tolerate cow's milk).

Infant botulism came under scrutiny some years ago because physicians started to recognize the symptoms. Although honey is mentioned as a source for botulism spores, 85% of cases are from ingested spores from the surrounding air. The second article lists states where infant botulism tends to occur more frequently.

Answer 3

You shouldn't give a baby regular cow's milk. They need the nutrients in the formula along with baby food and regular milk isn't easy enough for their tummy's to break down yet. If you start milk too early you'll end up with a child that could be allergic to milk, my friend gave her 10 month old regular milk and now he has to drink soy milk and her pediatrician told her it was because he was introduced too early to regular milk. Also when milk is introduced it should be mixed with formula example: if the baby is on 8 ozs formula you could cut out either one or two ounces of formula and substitute it with whole milk and keep on adding more and more milk until that is all there is!

Oh and infant botulism is found in honey I just read that last part and no honey should be given before age 1, it is definetly alright before age 2.

Answer 4

Yes...

I did from birth, since my mother had Scarlett Fever as a child and was strictly ordered to never breast-feed when she discovered she was pregnant and went for her pre-natal testing (such as it was, back in the dark ages).

The problem is that cow's milk lacks several key "ingredients" that human milk has, and is not as easily digestable by an infant, resulting in occasionally serious gas build-ups.

If you are serious about the science fair stuff...make an appointment with an OB/GYN, Family GP, drop-by a neo-natal unit of a hospital, etc. It may be "harder" to do it this way, but the information will be more immediate, and if they agree to be used as a source, can receive you extra marks. They can also direct you to literature and texts that discuss this in depth.

Answer 5

Babies can't digest cow's milk because they lack the enzyme to do so. Around 12 months of age they are capable.

Botulism is caused by the spores that are found in honey. That is why no one under age 2 should eat honey, or products that contain honey (like some cookies). You can read the warning on any jar of honey. Botulism causes paralysis starting in the mouth, digestive track, and vocal cords. And it can be fatal.

Answer 6

A baby should be about 1y/o, (10mnths at the youngest) before drinking cow's milk. It just doesn't have all the nutrients in it that breastmilk or formula does. Also it can make a baby constipated. Dented or damaged cans of formula can cause botulism. So can honey, if introduced to a baby under a y/o.

Answer 7

OK Yes they can! Did you know some baby's in Mexico drink it.They start drinking it when they are a day old.I know this because i lived in Mexico for Five years and my Little girl drank it all the time.And it is better then that powder milk.So YES new born baby's can drink cow milk.

Answer 8

They should be 1 year old or close to it, but my mom adopted my older brother from Germany and he is now 38, back then their Pedi told her to give him cows milk since they couldn't find an American formula that he would take.

Answer 9

Babies can drink milk after approx 10-12 Months old. Before then they should be either breast fed or on formula.

Answer 10

Infants can not drink milk and they can't have honey