Can a Baby Drink Milo and How Healthy is It?

Is Milo good for babies..? Milo is a popular drink in Malaysia and other parts of Asia, but can a baby drink Milo? How healthy is it really?

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Mom’s Question:
Can a baby drink Milo..? My son is 9 months old and refuses to eat solid foods, but if you give Milo in between the feedings, he shows interest in eating.

Is it advisable to give Milo to him?

Please help me.

Ram

Can a Baby Drink Milo? Yes Or No and Why

When an old enough baby refuses to eat solid foods, it is easy to feel pressure and stress and to desperately try to find ways to get the picky baby to eat.

Milo has a sweet taste, and I am sure many picky babies would love it. But there are many reasons not to give Milo to a baby:

• First of all, Milo contains a lot of sugar, which is very unhealthy and can lead to both obesity and cavities. In addition, giving a picky baby something with sugar in it may make the introduction of solid foods even more difficult. All humans love sweets!
• Secondly, even if it does contain several essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and Vitamins A, B1, B2 & C, Milo is not composed to be an optimal food source for a baby, like formula or breast milk.
• Finally, Milo is based on cow’s milk and should be used with caution for any child younger than 1-year-old. The introduction of cow’s milk, in general, can also lead to constipation, and some toddlers need a gradual introduction. Since Milo is sweet, children may be more likely to drink large amounts quickly.

You can read more about what foods to avoid for babies here.

Remember that during the whole first year, solid foods – or actually anything but breast milk or formula – are mainly aimed at getting the baby used to other foods. You can safely continue to view breast milk or formula as the baby’s primary food source.

You don’t mention if your baby has started to refuse formula/breast milk too. Some do when they get a taste for other food sources. In such a case, some creativity is called for.

Rather than giving your baby Milo, try offering breast milk or formula shakes. This may sound like a crazy idea, but seasoning formula or breast milk with a little bit of unsweetened fruit juice, for example, is a lot better than offering Milo or pure fruit juice. Read the answer to this question about formula shakes for ideas on what to mix into them.

You’ll find tips on how to encourage a picky eater baby here.

I hope this helps,
Paula

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References:

Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.