The Importance of Milk in Child Development
Nutrition experts have expressed growing concerns about the low levels of milk consumption among children under five years old. They warn that this deficiency could lead to serious health consequences, including stunted growth, rickets, impaired brain development, and weakened immunity. Milk is considered one of the most nutrient-rich foods for young children, playing a crucial role in their overall development.
Regular milk consumption is essential not only for building strong bones but also for supporting immunity and mental development. Insufficient intake can affect growth, bone development, immunity, and cognitive performance later in life. This issue has been highlighted at events such as the 2025 World Milk Day held in Abuja, where officials expressed concern over the low consumption of milk in the country.
The World Health Organisation recommends an annual intake of 10 litres per person, but Nigeria’s average stands at just 8.7 litres, far below the African average of 40 litres. Experts stress that inadequate milk consumption can lead to long-term issues such as growth delays and cognitive development problems. To address this, they recommend that children under five consume around 350-400 mL of milk daily.
Nutritional Benefits of Milk
Milk is a nutrient-dense liquid naturally produced by the mammary glands of female mammals to nourish their young, and it remains a popular food source for humans. For children under five, milk provides essential nutrients needed for proper growth, immunity, and bone formation. It contains high-quality protein, which is crucial for tissue building and repair, along with calcium and phosphorus for strong bones.
Additionally, milk includes potassium to help maintain healthy blood pressure, vitamin D for bone health and a healthy heart, and vitamin B12 for the formation of red blood cells. These combined nutrients make milk an indispensable component of a child’s diet during the formative years.
Long-Term Impacts of Inadequate Milk Consumption
Experts warn that inadequate milk consumption can prevent the body from maximizing bone mass accretion during growth and achieving peak bone mass in adulthood. This can weaken bones in later years, making them more prone to fractures and other degenerative conditions in old age. Children who do not consume enough milk may fail to maximize bone mass during growth, affecting their peak bone mass in adulthood and leading to weaker bones.
Low milk intake among children can also result in stunted growth, nutritional deficiencies, and impaired cognitive development. These conditions can be mitigated if parents and caregivers prioritize exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, ensuring that babies latch well and feed adequately from both breasts at each session.
Recommendations for Milk Consumption
After six months, complementary feeding should be introduced alongside breast milk, and infants and young children should continue to receive milk regularly. While only breast milk is recommended for infants aged zero to six months, infant milk formula may be given between 12 to 24 months. Whole dairy milk is suitable for children aged two to three years, while skim or low-fat milk is recommended for those aged four to eight years.
These recommendations are based on the unique nutritional needs at each stage of growth, with whole milk providing essential fats for brain and body development in the early years, and lower-fat options becoming more suitable as children grow older and their dietary needs change. From age two to three, whole milk is important due to the essential fats it contains, and from age four, skimmed or low-fat milk becomes more suitable.
Additional Nutritional Insights
Registered nutritionist Mrs. Odunayo Babatunde highlights the benefits of calcium in milk, describing it as critical for bone formation and strength. She adds that vitamin A and zinc in milk also contribute to boosting immunity, while its protein content aids in tissue repair.
Inadequate milk intake can lead to low calcium levels, which, when combined with low vitamin D levels, can cause poor bone mineralisation and increase the risk of rickets in children. This can negatively affect their height and overall growth potential. Low milk consumption can also compromise a child’s immune system, making them more prone to frequent illnesses.
In adulthood, inadequate milk consumption may increase the risk of osteoporosis, cause bones to fracture more easily, and even delay early developmental milestones such as walking due to weak bones. Parents are urged to ensure that their children receive a balanced diet that includes milk or fortified alternatives, particularly for children with dietary restrictions.
Plant-based milk alternatives can be used in such cases, but parents are advised to consult professionals to choose the most suitable options for their children’s needs. Breastfeeding from birth to six months is emphasized, as breast milk contains all the essential nutrients as well as natural antibodies that protect infants from infections.
Infant formula, designed to be easily digested without overburdening a child’s kidneys, can be used in situations where breastfeeding is not possible. From age one, a transition to plain whole family milk is recommended, as children’s digestive systems are typically developed enough to handle it without difficulty.
Parents are encouraged to incorporate milk into meal times, either as a drink or as part of recipes, to help combat stunting and underweight conditions while also supporting cognitive development. Low calcium intake can lead to poor immunity, causing children to fall sick frequently. In the long term, inadequate milk consumption may also result in osteoporosis and brittle bones in adulthood.
It is vital for parents and caregivers to prioritize the inclusion of milk in children’s daily meals. Doing so will help in combating undernutrition, supporting brain development, and building strong immunity in growing children.