Fermented Milk

[gogomama]

Fermented milk (Elben, Kefir, etc) is pretty popular here and I've been reading about all of the benefits that it offers, probiotics, etc. I was wondering if anyone gives it to their LOs or might have some information about it. Would it work as a substitute for giving normal cow's milk or would it work more along the lines of giving LOs yoghurt ??  Is it ok to give under the 1 year mark?? Thanks in advance!

[~inbalance~]

Here's a little bump for you because I'm not entirely sure!  I would think it's fine to give along the same lines as yogurt.  Not sure I would go ahead and substitute cow's milk with it though.  Maybe your LO's doctor might have more info for you too.

If it were me I would have given it to T, kinda like yogurt, before a year.  But he never had any problems with dairy or such.

Just with a quick google I found this:
http://www.ifm.net/industry/fermented_milk.htm
Might give you some ideas, but as with all things googled probably best not to take as absolute, and double check with your LO's doctor. 

[gogomama]

Thanks Martina for doing some research on my behalf Guess there aren't too many fermented milk drinkers on here I've been looking myself and can't seem to find too much information. Will have to ask the Ped. next time we go, forgot to ask a few days ago when we went. Thanks again.

[Mashi]

Fermented milk (Elben, Kefir, etc) is pretty popular here and I've been reading about all of the benefits that it offers, probiotics, etc. I was wondering if anyone gives it to their LOs or might have some information about it. Would it work as a substitute for giving normal cow's milk or would it work more along the lines of giving LOs yoghurt ??  Is it ok to give under the 1 year mark?? Thanks in advance!

Lots of kefir here too and the other moms I am friends with here are Polish and Czech so they drink loads of it as well!

Under 1 year I would use it as a yogurt or cow's milk -- so up until one year breast milk or formula is the most important source of nutrition and cow's milk is only used to add to cereals and such  but not as a "main" drink to replace any bm or formula.  My son was MSPI so he didn't have any dairy at all so I don't know how much milk in cereals or yogurts LOs under one get in a day normally. 

Over 1 year I would say it's fine in place of cow's milk - mainly becuase after 1 year of age LO's dont actually need any cow's milk at all -- what they need is calcium and milk is the best and easiest way to get the calcium they need. If you choose to not give your child milk (or your LO does not like it! but have them eat enough cheese and yogurt in a day to get their required calcium, then that's fine.  Just did a quick check and 175 ml of kefir has 225mg of calcium, and LOs need about 500 mg per day. (Cow's milk is 300mg in a 250 ml serving so if my math is correct it's pretty close to equal)...he would need to have about 400 ml of kefir a day to reach his calcium needs (if he's just getting kefir alone, no other dairy that is).

HTH!