Have heard that cows milk should not be given to children below 5 years as it is not healthy for their bones.. Is it True ??? Could you also please suggest some recipes.. Thank You !   Hello Ms. Vidhi, It’s an exaggerated belief that cow’s milk should not be given to children below 5 years. I am sure you have breast fed your baby at least for the first 6 months as its important for both baby’s health & psychological benefits. If yes, then I would encourage you to continue breast feeding your baby as long as you can. In case if you choose not to breast feed your baby then its advisable to switch over to standard milk based formula or infant formula as it is the only alternative to breast milk for at least the first 12 months. Cows' milk can be introduced after nine months to 1 yr of age. For infants under six months, cows' milk protein is hard to digest, the fat is poorly absorbed, and the mineral & salt content is too high. For infants under nine months, reliance on cows' milk as the main source of energy may not provide enough iron. By nine months, the infant's intestinal tract has matured, and cows' milk may be introduced. At this stage, the infant should be consuming iron-rich foods such as iron fortified cereals, and vegetables and fruit containing vitamin C. I trust you must have started weaning your baby by now as mother’s milk is not sufficient to support the baby’s nutritional needs after 6 months. Usually this is the stage when their taste for food develops and they often grow up to become choosy, so try to introduce a variety of foods to the baby from the family pot, this way you can get your baby used to what the family eats. Some of the food choices that you can include along with the feed/formula: • Puree of vegetables (carrots, beans, yam, potatoes, peas, greens etc) • Puree of fruits (apple, banana, sweet lime, papaya, guava) • Mashed dhal & rice or khichdi, mashed rice and vegetables with ghee, seviyan kheer or rice kheer, well cooked egg yolk, Bombay toast (bread dipped in egg & milk mixture) • Cereals like rice, sago, maize, cornmeal or millet, powdered & roasted pulses/dals can be mixed with milk or water to make nutritionally adequate feeds. Substances like sugar, honey, salt and processed foods should be used judiciously. Commercial baby foods can be useful but don't let them replace family foods altogether. Warm Regards Mrs. Iyengar, www.NutritionVista.com