Growth in Infants with Cow Milk Allergy Given Hypoallergenic Infant Milk Formulas

The growth of an infant with cow milk allergy should carefully monitorated, because his diet may lack all the nutrients required for a normal growth.

If your cow milk allergic child is not gaining weight or growing well, you will need to consult a doctor and/or a dietitian. They will review the nutritional requirements of the child, depending on their age and medical condition, assess the nutrition being received from foods and then make changes if necessary.

Delayed growth has been demonstrated in infants with early on-set symptoms of cow milk allergy (3-6 months of age). The younger the child is at the onset of symptoms, the greater is the risk of poor growth.

To ensure proper nutrition and promote catch-up growth, a hypoallergenic, amino acid-based infant formula (AAF) will help prevent the nutritional problems associated with cow’s milk protein allergy.

In comparative studies with hydrolyzed cow’s milk protein formulas, an amino acid-based formula has demonstrated better growth in length and been shown to be the only formula to promote catch up growth in these infants.

During weaning, if a child cannot tolerate a number of foods, it is difficult to introduce the variety required to provide all the nutrients essential for good health.

Amino acid-based formulas therefore continue to play an important role throughout the weaning process, helping to supplement a limited diet. Amino Acid-based Formula can be given as a drink or added to foods as a milk substitute or fortifier. Your Dietitian will advise, at each stage of weaning, how much amino acid-based formula to give and whether this should be as a drink or in recipes.