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Formula Milk Dangers: Experts Warn New Parents
5 Sep
Summary
- Experts warn against formula milk, promoting mother's milk as ideal.
- Alternatives include donor milk from banks or boiled cow's milk.
- Formula foods are costly and not a substitute for natural milk.
Health authorities and pediatricians are advising parents against feeding formula-based products to infants following a recent enforcement drive that uncovered expired infant formula. Experts strongly advocate for mother's milk as the sole and best option for newborns.
In exceptional circumstances, such as infant illness or medical conditions preventing the mother from feeding, alternatives like donor milk from hospital milk banks or specific brands of boiled cow's milk are suggested. These milk banks store donated milk after rigorous health screenings of the mothers, with the milk remaining viable for six months.
Lactation consultants highlight World Health Organization guidelines recommending no formula for infants under six months, as it can hinder breastfeeding. They also note that formula is costly, with prices ranging from ₹700 to ₹1,800, and strongly advise against feeding cow milk due to potential gastrointestinal issues.
