Request

Before you send in your question please browse the Topic list below to see if the issue has been discussed before. Please be brief and clear with your question. Please also be informed that a version of your question may be posted to this site. Feel free to use Dhivehi Latin if you have difficulty with English.

15.2.09

When to give Full cream milk

Mum M: Hi Dr.Niyaf, my baby is 11 months old now and she hates formula milk. But she likes flavoured full cream milk, is it ok to give her this? I am still breastfeeding her and she eats rice, buiscuits, bread and sometimes cereals too. Hoever she is still underweight for her age but her habits are very healthy.

Hi Mum M. Full creak milk could be given at that age. Flavoured milk - I don't recommend. Cming to your concern about weight gain: more milk is not the solution. The nutrients kids that age need to grow are not all available in milk (even those available are not in the required quantity). To improve weight you will have to give more comlementary foods (like rice, roshi, fish, chicken, beef, potatoes, mugu, beans, peas, maize, cheese, eggs...etc). Giving more milk could be counter productive as the filling effect from more milk might make the child less hungry and eat even less! Don't stop milk altogether though. Continue breastfeeds. If she does not drink milk but eats yogurt it is still fine. I hope that helps.