The milk fairy exists and breast milk is the best milk for babies. Breast milk is the ideal nutrition for newborns and breast milk feeding aids in the development of a baby’s immune system, digestive system, and brain. Breastmilk also provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow, such as fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and hormones.
However, breast milk isn’t always enough. When breast milk isn’t enough or when your baby has an illness like colic or formula isn’t available or suitable for feeding your baby breast milk may need alternatives including water or breast milk ice cubes. While breast milk ice cubes are not commonly used in the modern breastfeeding world they are still worth mentioning because of their unique properties. This blog tells you everything you need to know about water bottle feeding babies with breast milk ice cubes and why it is beneficial for them.
Is it safe to feed babies cold milk?
It is safe to feed babies cold milk, including breast milk cubes as a form of pain relief for teething babies. Babies can safely drink cold milk during the warm months of the year and cold milk is a good choice as a soothing option for babies when they are sick or have a sore mouth. Overheating baby milk may present more risks than giving it cold, so it’s best not to keep baby milk in the refrigerator too long. Also, feeding baby milk straight from the refrigerator can lead to confusion and irritability, so it’s best to serve it warm. If feeding cold formula, it is best to warm it up a bit before giving it to the baby.
This way, the baby won’t experience any discomfort from the temperature of the formula or be given any harmful bacteria.
Pros of Giving Your Baby Cold Breastmilk or Formula
Adults may opt to warm up formula when they’re having a harder time digesting milk protein. But babies don’t have the same tolerance for cold milk, especially when they’re breastfeeding. That’s because breast milk is specifically designed to feed babies of all ages and temperatures. The body temperature of breastfed babies is already close to the optimum temperature for healthy growth and development, according to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
If you’re giving your baby cold formula, make sure it’s room temperature and not too cold (like ice water). Also, make sure the formula isn’t expired or has gone bad. And if cold formula backfires, warming the bottle in a bowl of warm water can help get the milk temperature closer to body temperature.
Cons of Giving Your Baby Cold Breastmilk or Formula
You may be surprised to learn that cold milk is not recommended for babies. When given cold, breast milk or formula can cause your baby to refuse to drink from the bottle or breastfeeding breast, which could lead to dehydration.
Also, cold milk can interfere with the proper development of your baby’s teeth and gut. For these reasons, you should avoid giving your baby cold milk unless it is prescribed by a doctor. Plus, warm milk is easier on a baby’s stomach if they are having trouble digesting milk proteins.
Instead of giving your baby cold milk, you can warm up breast milk or formula in a bowl or mug before feeding it to your baby. You can also warm water in a bowl or using a microwave-safe bowl and water in microwave safe cup and feed your baby from this.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, you should always make sure it is breastfeeding at its temperature. Additionally, if your baby has been bottle-fed for long periods of time, you may need to slowly wean him off the milk as his body adjusts to breastfeeding again.
Conclusion
Over the past few decades, breast milk has found its way into the spotlight as a baby’s first and most important food. But what we’ve discovered is that breast milk isn’t just milk; it’s also an intricate mixture of fat, water, antibodies, and other components. For babies to get the nutrition they need and thrive, breast milk must be in their system at room temperature. Too cold breast milk can leave babies dehydrated. If you’re worried about feeding your baby breast milk that’s too warm or cold, here’s what you can do to help them adjust.