Infant milk is the first milk you will offer your baby if you have chosen to bottle-feed him or if breastfeeding is not going as well as expected. This high quality milk is specifically formulated to come as close as possible to breast milk and thus meets the nutritional needs of your baby during his first months.

Breast milk is undoubtedly the most suitable food for the infant’s needs: no milk is so perfect in every way. But of course breastfeeding is a purely personal decision that belongs to each mother.

If you cannot breast-feed your child or if you have decided to bottle-feed him, specific milks, perfectly adapted to the nutritional needs of the young child are marketed, in pharmacies and in supermarkets. For the child from 0 to 6 months, this is infant milk, also called “infant formula”. The latter, whatever the reference chosen, covers all the baby’s needs. Only vitamin D and fluoride supplementation is necessary.

1st age milks are made from processed cow’s milk to get as close as possible to the composition of breast milk but have a composition very far from cow’s milk as we know it, which is not adapted to the needs. of the child before the age of three.

Proteins

The peculiarity of these infant formulas for 1st age is their reduced protein content, perfectly suited to the baby’s needs to ensure good brain and muscle development. This milk does not in fact contain more than 1,8 g of protein per 100 ml, against 3,3 g per 100 ml of cow’s milk and 1 to 1,2 g per 100 ml in breast milk. Some references even contain only 1,4 g for the same amount.

Lipids

The amount of lipids contained in 1st age milk is almost similar to that of breast milk with 3.39 g / 100 ml. However, lactic fats are largely replaced by vegetable fats, in order to guarantee the intake of certain essential fatty acids (linoleic and alphalinolenic acid in particular) essential for brain growth.

Carbohydrates

The 1st age milks contain 7,65 g of carbohydrates per 100 ml against 6,8 g / 100 ml for breast milk and 4,7 g only for cow’s milk! Carbohydrates are present in the form of glucose and lactose, but also in the form of dextrin maltose.

Vitamins, trace elements and mineral salts

1st age milks also contain valuable vitamins such as:

• Vitamin A involved in vision and the immune system
• Vitamin B which facilitates the assimilation of carbohydrates
• Vitamin D, which binds calcium to the bones
• Vitamin C essential to properly absorb iron
• Vitamin E which ensures good cell growth and which is necessary for good brain and neurological development
• vitamin K which helps blood to clot normally and plays a role in bone mineralization and cell growth
• Vitamin B9, also called folic acid, which is particularly important for rapidly renewing cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, intestinal cells and those in the skin. It also participates in the proper functioning of the nervous system and in the production of certain neurotransmitters.

They also contain many trace elements and mineral salts, including sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium and iron, which contribute to the proper functioning of cells in the baby’s body. Their dosage is very precise to meet the needs of the baby and not to overload his immature kidneys.

Regardless of the brand chosen, all early milks provide the same nutritional benefits overall and all have approximately the same composition. That said, ranges have been specially developed to respond to certain infant problems in the event of:

• Prematurity: These milks prescribed in neonatology are adapted to the specific needs of babies who have not yet reached 3,3 kg and whose certain functions – particularly digestive – are still immature. They are richer in protein than classic 1st age milks, and are more enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6 in particular), sodium, mineral salts and vitamins. On the other hand, they have a reduced lactose content to ensure better digestibility. When the baby reaches 3 kg, the doctor usually offers standard milk.
• Colic: if the baby has a hard stomach, bloating or gas, milk that is easier to digest may be offered. In this case, opt for a lactose-free infant milk or a protein hydrolyzate.
• Acute diarrhea: if your infant has experienced a major episode of diarrhea, the milk will be reintroduced with lactose-free first-age milk before offering the child’s usual milk again.
• Regurgitation: if baby tends to regurgitate a lot, it will suffice to offer him thickened milk – either with protein, or with carob flour or corn starch (which only thickens in the stomach, so easier to drink). These early age milks are called “anti-regurgitation milks” in pharmacies, and “comfort milks” when they are sold in supermarkets. However, be careful not to confuse regurgitation with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which requires a pediatric consultation.
• Allergies to cow’s milk proteins: if your baby is genetically exposed to the risk of allergies due to his family history, your pediatrician will possibly direct you to a specific milk without allergenic protein and lactose.

In pharmacies or in supermarkets?

Regardless of where they are sold and their brand, all infant formulas for the first age are subject to the same regulations, undergo the same controls and meet the same standards of composition. Thus, contrary to popular belief, milk sold in pharmacies is not safer or better than milk sold in large or medium-sized stores.

Indeed, all infant milks currently on the market obey the same European recommendations. Their composition is clearly defined in a ministerial decree of 11 January 1994 which indicates that they can replace breast milk. They are all designed to ensure correct digestion for the baby and to be perfectly assimilated by his body.

However, the big brands have the advantage of having greater financial means to improve the composition of the milk by getting even closer to breast milk.

What about organic milk?

Organic milk meets the same composition and safety requirements as conventional preparations, but is made from milk from cows raised according to the rules of organic farming. However, organic cow’s milk only represents 80% of the finished product because for the remaining 20%, vegetable oils are added which are not necessarily from organic farming. However, you can check the quality of these oils by carefully reading the composition of infant milk.

Organic is a relatively unimportant criterion for health professionals because the controls that govern the manufacture of classic infant milk – non-organic, are so rigorous and severe that they ensure optimal health security. It is your convictions, in particular on respect for the environment, which will guide you or not towards organic milk.

If baby is bottle-fed, he will be offered infant milk, also called “infant formula” from birth until his diet is sufficiently diverse to have at least one complete meal per day (vegetables + meat or fish or egg + fat + fruit) and without milk (bottle or breastfeeding).

Thus, according to the recommendations, it is advisable to switch to second age milk generally after the child has completed 6 months, but never before 4 months.

Some examples

You can switch to 2nd age milk if:

• Your baby is 5 months old and you give him a full bottle-less meal once a day
• You are breastfeeding and your 6 month old baby eats one full meal a day without breastfeeding

You wait before introducing the 2nd age milk if:

• Your baby is 4, 5 or 6 months old but has not yet started to diversify
• You are breastfeeding your baby and you want to wean him to switch to infant formula bottles. You will then give your child infant milk until he has a full meal per day without milk.