Although breast feeding is best for your baby there are
rare situations where breast feeding may not be possible or
recommended. They are as follows
- Mother is
receiving treatment for cancer or thyroid disorder
- mother has
expired or is severely ill
- mentally
disturbed mother
- Adopted child
- HIV suffering
mother
In such situations and only such situations should other milks
be used. Which milk to choose-cow milk, buffalo milk
or canned milk? Canned milks are fortified with iron, vitamins and
micronutrients suitable for babies. Their protein content is also suitable
for babies. There is less risk of contamination and infection with
them. But they are quite costly- an important factor. Cow milk,
although much used in India,
has following disadvantages-Poor iron content, higher protein and
sodium content which puts load on kidneys. But it can be used. Cow milk
should not be diluted. Buffalo
milk is not so suitable since it has higher protein content as well as
much higher fat content also. Still, if you have to use it you should
dilute it with boiled water in 3:1 ratio (milk: water).
Canned milks come as I (from birth to six months), II(six months
onwards) and even III forms .Each variety is produced keeping in
mind nutritional requirements specific to age of the baby .Then
there are special milks for low birth weight babies and preterm babies.
These are manufactured according to special requirements of low birth
weight babies. Many companies are making such milks.
