Can babies drink cold breast milk - The risks and benefits

A common question among new moms, especially those with a plentiful milk supply, is "Can babies drink cold breast milk?". Many mothers worry about whether giving babies cold milk could impact the quality of the milk and their baby's healthy. Let's dive into the detailed answer of Zextrasure below.

Can babies drink cold breast milk?

Infants naturally drink milk directly from the mother’s breast at a body temperature of around 37°C. Therefore, breast milk at room temperature or directly from the refrigerator is completely normal. 

Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “ Breast milk does not need to be warmed and can be given directly at room temperature or cold.” So if you wonder “Can a newborn drink cold breast milk?” The answer is that children can consume cold breast milk safely without posing any health concerns.

However, the preference for cold or warm breast milk can vary from baby to baby. If your child prefers warm milk, forcing them to drink cold milk is unnecessary. Thus, it’s important to observe your baby’s preferences and respond to their cues accordingly.

Can infants drink cold breast milk?

Benefits of giving baby cold breast milk

The answer to the question, "Can babies drink cold breast milk?" is yes. This also brings a few benefits to mother and baby such as:

• Giving your baby cold milk will save time when heating the milk.
• Cold breast milk usually has a longer shelf life than milk that has been reheated or cooled multiple times.
• Cold milk will ensure the integrity of the milk's nutritional composition. The use of heat can decompose nutrients in milk, affecting milk quality.
• When heating, if you do not know how to control the amount of heat in the milk, it can cause burns to your baby if the milk is too hot.
• If your child is used to drinking cold milk, you can take them on a trip without worrying about bringing a public bottle warmer with you.

Can my newborn drink cold breast milk?

Risks of giving baby cold breast milk

You should also be aware of the potential risks associated with this, as follows:

• Premature babies drink cold milk can affect the baby's digestive system. Warming milk will bring more benefits to children.
• Newborns are used to drinking milk directly or warmed up. If you change to cold milk, it can cause shock and resistance when drinking.
• Refrigerated milk tends to have the fat separate from the water, forming two layers. This will make it harder to blend the two ingredients and make it harder for your child to drink.
• Some children with weak digestive systems are at risk of indigestion when drinking cold breast milk. Suddenly putting cold milk into a child's stomach can lead to temporary digestive disorders in the child, making the child uncomfortable and start crying.
• For mothers who are breastfeeding their babies directly, continuously giving them cold milk may affect their milk supply. The breast will respond to signals about changes in temperature, habits, and preferences of the baby. This can cause the body to produce less milk and affect the quality of milk.

Can babies drink cold breast milk - Is yes but  it is cold milk, not frozen milk

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Be careful when using cold milk for children

In addition to understanding the answer to the question, "Can babies drink cold breast milk?" you should also take note of key precautions when giving your baby cold milk to prevent any potential health risks.

Regarding the layer of fat that separates when exposed to cold:

When breast milk is refrigerated, the fat will be separated. Many people think that the layer of fat is not good so they want to throw it away to make it easier for the baby to drink, but these things are not true. That layer of fat is an essential ingredient for the baby and is needed in milk. Therefore, if you encounter fat separation, you just need to gently shake the bottle. In case, the fat still does not dissolve, you can warm the bottle a little with warm water so that the solids blend into the liquid.

When milk is curdled

If you see that the cold milk in the separated fat is lumpy, the more you shake it, the bigger and more lumps become, you should throw it away. e milk might be spoiled, denatured, or expired. Using this milk even if it has been warmed will affect the quality of the milk and harm the child's health.

Give your child cold, unfrozen milk

Understanding the answer to the question, "Can babies drink cold breast milk?" will help you realize that cold milk is different from frozen milk. Cold breast milk is the type that is stored in the refrigerator, not frozen, and can be used directly by the baby. Frozen milk is the type that has been frozen and cannot be used immediately. You need to defrost for at least 12 hours before letting children use it.

Sick children should not drink cold milk

If your baby is sick, it’s best not to give them cold milk. You should use warm milk to help your baby feel more comfortable and alleviate unpleasant symptoms such as coughing, fever, or a cold.

Sick children should not use cold milk because it can make the condition worse

With the question “Can babies drink cold breast milk?” The answer is “Yes”.  But to ensure the child's health and absorption ability, mothers should observe the child's reactions and preferences, and see if the child likes warm or cold milk to feed the child the most suitable type.