Milk is a food that plays a important role in infant feeding. It contains a high nutritional value and is an abundant source of calcium, a mineral necessary for the formation and maintenance of the skeleton and teeth.
There are children who refuse milk because they don't like it, so do not drink any milk or drink too little. During the first six months, milk is the only food for the baby, which then complements with new foods that are introduced to the diet. Although thereafter milk is not indispensable, it is an excellent food, especially as calcium source.
Therefore, if the child does not drink milk we must replace that calcium intake with other foods rich in this mineral. Attentive to the following tips for the child who does not want to drink milk.
Calcium needs in children
Calcium is a vital mineral in the growth stage. It is essential for skeletal ossification, but it also intervenes in other functions not less important as blood clotting, muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.
A daily calcium intake of 400 mg is recommended in the first six months, 600 mg in the second semester, 800 mg in the period between 12 months and 10 years and 1,200 mg during adolescence. This is equivalent to between two and four servings of dairy products per day, according to age.
To give you an idea, a liter of cow's milk provides 1200 mg of calcium.
Other foods that contain calcium, in addition to milk
Calcium can not only be found in milk, there are other foods that contain it.
It is found, of course, in milk derivatives such as yogurt or cheese in all its variants.
But it is also found in others that we consider less as some fish (canned sardine, preferably with its scrape, sea bream, sea bream, sea bass, anchovy), egg yolk, legumes (mainly soybeans, chickpeas, beans and lentils ), vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, chard and broccoli, almonds, figs and cereals, especially oats and wheat.
Some alternatives to milk can be fruit smoothies with a little milk, drink calcium-fortified juices, rice pudding or homemade flan, soft cheeses such as snacks, or add grated cheese in pastas, stews and soups.
Other tips to keep in mind about calcium
In addition to taking foods with calcium, it is important to take into account other tips on this mineral.
Calcium alone is not enough. For calcium to be absorbed by the bones, vitamin D and physical exercise are essential. Most of the vitamin D we need is manufactured by our own body thanks to exposure to sunlight and the practice of exercise.
Foods rich in vitamin D are mainly some fatty fish. The egg, milk and liver of animals also contain it, but in smaller quantities. Vegetables lack vitamin D. It is important to know that removing fat from milk ("skimmed" products) does not lose calcium, but vitamins D and A (milk is rich in vitamin A).
Childhood is a crucial period for bone development because in the early years more than 90% of the bone mass is formed that you will have as an adult. Therefore, in addition to consuming foods rich in calcium, either milk or other foods, sun exposure and exercise are essential.
Possible causes of milk rejection: lactose intolerance and allergy to cow's milk proteins
Many children do not like the taste, but in some cases the rejection is related to other disorders such as lactose intolerance and allergy to cow's milk proteins.
When a child has lactose intolerance, does not digest milk well (which contains lactose, the natural sugar in milk). A while after drinking milk or derivatives (not immediately) you may have nausea, tummy ache and sometimes diarrhea.
If you do not have intolerance with small amounts of milk or calcium derivatives, it is not recommended to completely avoid lactose, as it contributes to calcium absorption.
Foods made with fermented milk (yogurt or cheese) are also recommended as they contain less lactose than milk and are better tolerated.
On the other hand, in the case of allergy to cow's milk proteins, symptoms usually appear when the first bottles of adapted milk are offered to the baby. Swelling of the lips and face, red spots and itchy hives may appear on any part of the body, nausea or vomiting and abdominal pain.
In these cases, cow's milk is eliminated from the diet, as well as its derivatives and any food that contains milk proteins.
I hope these tips come well for children who don't want to drink milk or drink a small amount, in order to guarantee the necessary calcium reserves for adequate growth in childhood.
