As every parent will know ─ every child is different, even when they are identical twins. Thus, parenting is personalised journey and much of it will be dictated by the child himself or herself, although it will be mum who will make the decision about what’s best for her child. When it comes to meeting their nutritional needs, some mums will choose to wean their children at exactly six months ─ the recommended age for starting baby on solids, while others may delay the process until the child reaches toddlerhood. Whichever the method, many mums ─ especially those who have had lactation issues ─ may have supplemented with formula milk and now wonder if they should continue with formula milk or switch to fresh milk since the child has reached one year of age.

Although many paediatricians may say that all children can switch to fresh milk once they hit one year of age, it really depends on the physical maturity and preference of the child, and your reason for switching.

At one year of age, your child would have just begun to walk. Some children begin walking by eight months of age, some a little later but generally speaking, a child learns to stand upright and take his first ungainly steps at around the age of one.

I remember my son started walking on the exact day of his birthday. Right up until that moment, he was still on all fours, crawling. We were preparing to hold his birthday party in the house and had hired caterers and a clown to entertain guests for the evening. As we were busy putting up banners and balloons while he played in the hall, he suddenly raised his hand, gripped the coffee table edge and pulled himself up to a standing position. Thereafter, he took his first steps forward and walked around that table while holding on to it for support. Needless to say, we all stared in astonishment but were overjoyed by that momentous occurrence.

My point is: A child’s internal and external physiology at the age of one is at a critical transition point. He is learning new motor skills, discovering balance and dexterity, maybe even learning to talk and although he may hit developmental milestones on the exterior such as walking and talking, no one knows if his internal organs such as his digestive system might be ready to take on the sudden change to his main source of nutrients ─ milk.

Fresh Milk and Formula Milk are Different

Fresh milk is different from formula milk. Although it can be argued that milk is milk, not all milk is the same, just as not all formula milk is the same and not all fresh milk is the same across all the brands available in the market.

Generally speaking, fresh milk has a different composition compared to the carefully calibrated formula milk designed for the developmental needs of growing children through the different stages of their lives.

Morinaga Chil-kid for example, is specially formulated as growing-up milk for fast-growing children. It has AA, DHA, GOS, Nucleotides, high protein and fat, 27 vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, Bs, C, D, E and K and also contains Niacin, Folic Acid, Zinc, Calcium, Taurine, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Manganese and many, many more. It also includes ARA and DHA.

Fresh milk, on the other hand, has a different amount of fat, protein, carbohydrates and a variation of some key vitamins and minerals[1].suitable for all ages (beyond the age of one), including adults with their more matured digestive system and nutritional needs. Whether it is suitable for a very young child with an immature system is highly debatable.

No Fresh Milk for Children Under Age One

Do remember though, that a child below the age of one should not be drinking fresh or whole milk. There are reasons for that. Fresh milk may put the baby at risk for intestinal bleeding[2] as there are too many proteins and minerals for the infant’s immature kidneys to handle. Furthermore, it does not have the right amount of nutrients that he needs to develop properly.

Technically speaking though, a child can switch over to fresh milk by the age of one, although the CDC[3] recommends he shouldn’t drink too much of fresh cow’s milk a day if indeed you decide to switch him over. Fresh milk should only be a part of the child’s balanced and varied diet which should comprise a good mix of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, dairy and whole grains.

Excessive Fresh Milk Drinking may lead to Iron Deficiency Anemia

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advice that children aged 12 to 23 months drink one and a half to two cups equivalent of dairy a day and this includes all dairy such as milk, yoghurt, cheese and so on. A child drinking more than two cups of fresh milk a day may actually lead to iron deficiency[4] if he is not getting other sources of iron-rich foods. In fact, the study titled ‘The Consequences of Excessive Consumption of Cow’s Milk[5]’ warns that excessive drinking of cow’s milk may lead to protein loss and Iron Deficiency Anemia in children. It says that fresh milk has very low iron content. Furthermore, it is non-heme iron (not animal-based and less absorbable) which is much less digestible than heme iron. Due to its high casein and calcium content, fresh milk prevents the child’s digestive tract from absorbing iron from other foods too. On top of that, fresh milk has low Vitamin C and pasteurisation further destroys the little it has. But Vitamin C is required to increase absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract. So unless the child gets Vitamin C from elsewhere, the complex interplay of nutrients in fresh milk causes a Catch 22 situation. Besides, drinking too much fresh milk may also cause the child to be so full that he may not want to eat his solid food meals, hence making him miss out on even more nutrients.

Fresh cow’s milk also lacks essential nutrients for brain, eye and central nervous system development such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, particularly Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Intake of these fatty acids affect growth[6], sleep quality, cognitive performance, heart and immune system development of the growing child.

Unless it is fortified with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, fresh milk does not provide the recommended levels needed by the growing child, and the body does not manufacture Omega 3 by itself.

Omega 3 can only be obtained through eating Omega 3-rich foods such as fish (like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines), nuts, seeds, eggs, cruciferous vegetables and plant oils such as flaxseed oil, soybean and canola oil.

This means that if you decide on giving your child fresh milk, he should already be eating solids from across the five food groups in order to obtain the optimal nutrients required for his growth.

Conveniences and Inconveniences

One of the main conveniences about giving your child fresh milk is that it is easily available, if you are not particular about the brand you buy. Milk ─ whether sold as UHT milk or pasteurised fresh milk ─ is usually stocked in every grocery store and supermarket.

• Shelf Life of UHT Milk

UHT milk stands for Ultra Heat Treatment milk. This is milk that has been heated to 135° Centigrade for one to two seconds before it is packaged. The high heat treatment kills off most bacteria (good and bad) and some sensitive vitamins such as folic acid, Vitamin C, B12 and B6[7]. This is why it tastes different from fresh milk and can be stored in its carton without refrigeration for up to nine months before it is opened. However, once it is opened, it behaves the same as pasteurised fresh milk, meaning that it must be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within four to seven days; the sooner the better. When buying UHT milk, as with other types of milk, do look at the expiry date before making the purchase as some shops move their stocks slower than others.

• Shelf Life of Pasteurised Fresh Milk

Pasteurised milk is fresh milk that has been heated to 74° Centigrade for 15 seconds before being bottled. That is why it has to be stored in the refrigerator at all times, from before it is opened to the time it is opened and consumed completely. Fresh milk has a very short shelf life, typically about a week or so after packaging and should be consumed before its “use by” date. Fresh milk is usually sold in 1 litre bottles in supermarkets and 1 litre yields about 4.2 cups of milk. If your child is drinking the recommended one and a half to two cups daily, the milk will be finished in about two to three days. That is why if you are thinking of changing to fresh milk for your toddler, you need to ensure that the milk is replenished in your refrigerator very often and very regularly.

• Shelf Life of Powdered Formula Milk

The minimum shelf life of toddler formula is at least 12 months from the date of production, if not longer. Once opened, however, it is best consumed within one month. Formula powdered milk gives you the advantage of buying in bulk and storing, so you don’t have to run out and get milk every two days. It is also easy to make and takes less time to heat up than refrigerated fresh or UHT milk.

However, whether your child is drinking formula, fresh or UHT milk, milk that has been left in room temperature for more than two hours should always be thrown away. In our Malaysian tropical weather, it will go bad very quickly and you don’t want to take any chances that your toddler might find and drink his half-finished milk that has accidentally been left in the car or in a corner of the house since yesterday. Consuming milk that has gone bad can cause severe food poisoning.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours whether you wish to switch your child over from formula to fresh milk when he turns one or two. Always choose plain milk, and not the flavoured ones with its artificial flavouring, additives and heavy sugar content.

If he is a picky eater, or if he has not yet tried the range of foods he should be eating or is allergic to certain foods or has a condition which limits his diet, the safer bet is to stay on formula as it is fortified milk that has the complete profile of vitamins and minerals necessary for his optimum growth. The milk will “fill in” where his diet may be lacking.

Even for older children past their picky eating stage, formula milk will fulfil their nutritional requirements as they may prefer eating junk food and fast food to having proper meals. And at school-going age where concentration and learning power is required, formula milk with its added EPA and DHA will boost their energy, attention span and cognitive function.

Morinaga Chil-kid for Complete Nutrition

Morinaga Chil-kid is also low in sugar and has a very palatable vanilla taste that children prefer.

For parents who want reassurance that their children’s nutritional intake is not compromised regardless of what they eat or don’t eat, they will have better peace of mind knowing that Morinaga Chil-kid provides balanced and optimum nutrition and will help a child achieve his daily Recommended Nutrition Intake (RNI).