Do babies drink cold milk with colic and diarrhea?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Doan Ngoc Quynh Tram - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

1. Is it okay for babies to drink cold milk?

Breastfed babies receive milk directly from their breasts at body temperature (about 37°C). Babies who are formula-fed or bottle-fed are usually slightly warmed, but sometimes families feed babies with formula that has cooled to room temperature or even just taken it out of the fridge.
Scientists have proven that temperature does not affect the nutritional composition of milk, babies can drink cold milk. It's actually not as important as using the right mix of water and formula (bottle-fed babies) and properly storing breast milk (breastfed babies). In addition, breastfeeding milk that is cold, just a little warm or just taken out of the refrigerator will be simpler and more convenient for parents in the middle of the night.
It is important to note that cow's milk should never be given to a baby, whether warm or cold. Cow's milk is not suitable for children under the age of 1, you only have two options: formula or breast milk.

2. Is it safe for children to drink cold milk?

It is still considered safe for babies to drink cold milk. In fact, frozen breast milk can even be used to relieve teething pain. Specifically, you need to put breast milk in an ice cube tray. After the milk has curdled, place the cold milk pellets in the mesh feeder and let your baby suckle slowly.
Although many parents choose to reheat their baby's milk, in practice there can be many risks when warming milk such as heating milk at too hot a temperature that destroys the inherent nutrients of the milk.

3. Note when warming milk

The first thing to consider is the use of the microwave. You should not microwave breast milk or cooled formula. Because microwave milk does not heat milk evenly, can leave overheating spots, even though you have checked the temperature of the milk before giving it to your baby, it can still burn your baby's mouth or food. manage when drinking.
The most common method of warming breast milk is using a warmer or placing the bottle in a basin of hot water. However, you still have to be careful because heating the milk too hot can destroy the immunity and nutrients in breast milk.
One study found that warming methods that cause breast milk to exceed 80°C (176°F) rapidly deplete vital nutrients. So, if you want to warm your baby's milk, set the heat to low on the warmer or use a basin of warm water instead of boiling water to avoid overheating the milk.
Also, you should not reheat milk that has already been reheated. If your baby still hasn't finished the bottle 2 hours after warming, it's best to discard the bottle to avoid spoilage or exposure to environmental germs.
Besides some potential risks, warming milk still offers many health benefits for babies, especially those born prematurely. One study found that heating liquids to the right temperature can help increase the tolerability of breast milk or formula.

4. Concerned when babies drink cold milk

While it's still safe for babies to drink cold milk, many people choose to warm it up. Because breast milk is sucked directly from the breast with a warm temperature. Babies who have been breastfed for a long time are used to this warm liquid, so for some babies who are a little more sensitive, cold milk can also be a reason why babies don't want to suck as much. If your baby is not feeding well, you can test the bottle temperature to see if it is suitable.
Many parents are also concerned about liquid separation that occurs when breast milk cools. However, this layering is normal and does not affect milk quality. In fact, you can still gently rotate the bottle a few times to mix the mixture. Warming the milk a little can aid in mixing the layers more easily.

If you still feel worried, concerned about the risks when giving cold milk to your child; then you can apply the gradual transition. Each time you feed your baby, warm the milk to the right temperature, then watch your baby's reaction and find the milk temperature that works best for your baby.
In general, if you decide to warm up breast milk or formula, you need to do it safely. Do not overheat milk or microwave it, always check the temperature of the milk before feeding your baby.
To save time, you can refer to using smart water heaters on the market that have the desired heat preservation mode. Prioritize products that use heat-sensing technology, automatically dechlorinate and keep heat for 24 hours, both helping mothers save a lot of time in warming milk and sterilizing bottles.

Although giving children cold milk to drink does not affect the nutritional composition of milk, to ensure the safety of children before giving cold milk to children, mothers need to use cold milk properly, milk needs to be safe. time to use. During use, if any unusual reactions occur to the child, parents should not be subjective and need to take the child to the nearest medical facility for timely handling.
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Reference source: Healthline.com