Cow's milk and children
Alternative Names
Milk and children; Cow's milk allergy - children; Lactose intolerance - children
Information
If your child is under 1 year old, you should not feed your baby cow's milk, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This is because cow's milk doesn't provide enough of certain nutrients such as vitamin E, iron, and essential fatty acids. Also, it's hard for your baby to digest the protein and fat in cow's milk. It is safe though, to give cow's milk to children after they're 1 year old.
A child who is 1 or 2 years old should only drink whole milk. This is because the fat in whole milk is needed for your child's developing brain. After 2 years of age, children can drink low-fat milk or even skim milk if they are overweight.
Some children have problems from drinking cow's milk. For instance, a milk allergy may cause:
- Belly pain or cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
A severe allergy can cause bleeding in the intestines that can lead to anemia. But only about 2% to 3% of children under 1 year old have a milk allergy. It is even less common in children who are older than 1 to 3 years.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not make enough of the enzyme lactase. A child who is lactose intolerant can't digest lactose. This is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The condition can cause bloating and diarrhea. This type of lactose intolerance is not a true allergy.
If your child has one of these problems, your health care provider may recommend soy milk. But many children who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.
Children usually outgrow allergies or intolerances by the time they are 1 year old. But having one food allergy increases the risk for having other types of allergies.
If your child can't have dairy or soy, talk to your provider about other food options that will help your child get enough protein and calcium.
The US Department of Agriculture recommends the following daily amounts of dairy for children and teens:
- Under 2 years old: 1 and 2/3 to 2 cups (c) (400 to 480 milliliters [mL])
- 2 through 8 years old: 2 to 2½ c (480 to 600 mL)
- 9 through 18 years old: 3 c (720 mL)
1 c (240 ml) of dairy equals:
- 1 c (240 mL) of milk
- 8 ounces (oz) (240 mL) of yogurt
- 2 oz (56 grams) of processed American cheese
- 1 c (240 mL) of pudding made with milk
References
Barrett KJ, Gilley SP, Haemer MA, Krebs NF, Johnson SL. Feeding healthy infants, children, and adolescents. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 61.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Cow's milk and milk alternatives. www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/foods-and-drinks/cows-milk-and-milk-alternatives.html. Updated March 20, 2025. Accessed June 18, 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant and toddler nutrition. Cow's milk and milk alternatives. www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/foods-and-drinks/cows-milk-and-milk-alternatives.html. Updated March 20, 2025. Accessed October 28, 2025.
Marion G, Venter C. Management of food allergy. In: Leung DYM, Akdis CA, Bacharier LB, Cunningham-Rundles C, Scherer SH, Sampson HA, eds. Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 35.
US Department of Agriculture. My Plate. Dairy. www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/dairy. Accessed October 28, 2025.
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
© 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved.