Can You Give a 1-Year-Old Almond Milk Instead of Cow’s Milk?
Considering all the nutritional benefits milk provides, it’s no wonder that it forms an important part of many children’s diets. After 1 year of age, many children have been weaned off breastmilk and are consuming cow’s milk instead. However, for some children, a diet rich in cow’s milk could be harmful by causing an allergic reaction. As many as 2-3% of children under 1 year of age1 are allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk. This risk decreases as children get older, but many toddlers must continue to avoid milk in their diet. For these children, an alternative is often necessary to provide the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that cow’s milk usually provides; without them, a 1-year-old may be at risk for poor growth or failure to thrive. As one of the many popular milk substitutes on the market, almond milk may seem like a natural alternative, but should you give a 1-year-old almond milk as a replacement for cow’s milk? To find out, keep reading as the team at Cambrooke, makers of hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk allergies, provides some answers.
Nutritional Differences Between Cow’s Milk and Almond Milk
Almond milk does have some nutritional benefits, but it also has some nutritional drawbacks that may limit its usefulness as a cow’s milk substitute. For instance, many brands of almond milk may contain as little as 2% almonds2, meaning it offers relatively few of the nutritional benefits of almonds unless you purposefully seek out brands that have a higher almond content. While almond milk may meet some nutritional needs, it does not provide the same nutritional profile as cow’s milk and cannot replace these nutritional benefits on its own. Because of this, it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider if almond milk will provide enough nutrition for your child.
Nutrients, Including Vitamins and Minerals
Different brands and varieties of almond milk provide different amounts of nutrients, vitamins and minerals but almost all of them still fall short of providing comparable nutrition to cow’s milk. Most almond milk brands are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and will often contribute significantly to meeting the recommended daily amounts for these vitamins and minerals if given in adequate quantities. Some brands are even fortified with calcium at higher levels than cow’s milk and may provide an excess amount of calcium when taken in larger quantities. In contrast, you may think that almond milk would be a good source of protein since almonds are often a suggested protein source. However, while almond milk does contain some calories, protein and fat, these are usually too low to meet the needs of growing children. One cup of unsweetened almond milk typically provides about 35 calories, 2.5 gm of fat, and 1 gram of protein compared to the 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 8 grams of protein provided from one cup of whole cow’s milk. The take-away is that almond milk, does not usually meet a child’s nutritional needs on its own especially in children with restricted diets3.
Low in Calories and Sugar
Along with the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients almond milk offers, unsweetened versions tend to be low in calories and sugar. However, some brands of almond milk are sweetened and may have more sugar than you’re expecting (as much sugar as the equivalent of 5 teaspoons per cup). Still, for those who want to keep their 1-year-old from drinking too many sugary beverages, unsweetened almond milk may fit the bill, as long as you check the nutrition facts label to ensure it has a low sugar content. It is important to consider your child’s medical history and their overall nutrition status when making a beverage choice for your child. In diets that otherwise meet a child’s nutrition needs, almond milk may be an appropriate choice when looking for a substitute for cow’s milk in things like cereal, baking, and cooking, but is usually not an adequate replacement for cow’s milk in the diet3.
Things to Consider Regarding Almond Milk for 1-Year-Olds Allergic to Cow’s Milk
If your 1-year-old is allergic to cow’s milk, you probably already know how important it is to avoid any contact with products that contain milk, even in small amounts. At the same time, you still need to supply your child with the protein, calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients he or she would otherwise get from cow’s milk, so you may have found yourself wondering whether another type of milk, such as almond milk, would be an appropriate substitute.
May Cause a Reaction
It may be perceived that one of the most significant benefits of almond milk for 1-year-olds who can’t tolerate cow’s milk is that it’s completely free of milk proteins that cause reactions in those with a milk allergy. While this may seem like an obvious assertion, there are a surprising number of cow’s milk alternatives that may also cause a reaction, including goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, soy milk, and even almond milk3. Like other tree nuts, so there’s a chance that a 1-year-old who is allergic to cow’s milk is also allergic to almonds. Even in children with cow’s milk allergy who are not allergic to almonds, it is important to consider how the brand of almond milk is manufactured. Many brands are manufactured in the same facility or on the same equipment as cow’s milk. If certain precautions have not been taken during production to prevent cross contact, almond milk may be contaminated with enough milk protein to cause an allergic reaction in individuals with cow’s milk allergy4. For the reasons above, please be sure to speak with an allergist or pediatrician before starting a child with a cow’s milk allergy on almond milk, soy milk, or any other milk alternative.
Try Cambrooke Formulas to Support Your 1-Year-Old with a Cow’s Milk Allergy
When choosing a product to give a 1-year-old who is allergic to cow’s milk, there are two main considerations to keep in mind: the safety of the product in question and the nutritional benefits it offers. While many almond milks may be unreliable in both categories, Cambrooke formulas are not. Our EquaCare Jr. and Essential Care Jr. formulas are made with amino acids, not intact proteins, so they’re fully hypoallergenic, and each formula is specifically designed to provide complete nutrition to children with food allergies, food intolerances or gastrointestinal disorders. To learn more about the benefits of our healthful, hypoallergenic formulas, visit Cambrooke online, or call us today at 1-833-377-2773.
