Types of milk

Breast milk

Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for your baby. Its composition is perfectly tailored to your baby's growth and development. 

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life.

After 6 months, breast milk no longer meets all of a baby's nutritional needs. It is then time to introduce new sources of nutrition. Between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, the WHO recommends supplementing breast milk with solid foods such as puréed fruit and vegetables.

Advantages of breast milk

• Breast milk is well tolerated and easy for the baby to digest.
• Breast milk is always fresh and at the right temperature.
• Its composition changes over time and is perfectly adapted to what your baby needs.
• Breast milk contains antibodies and protects your baby from infections.
• Breast milk does not contain any foreign proteins, which reduces the risk of your baby developing allergies.
• Breast milk does not contain any harmful bacteria.
• Breastfeeding is an intense muscular workout for your baby, helping to promote the proper development of the palate, gums and facial features.
• Breastfeeding also involves skin-to-skin contact with your baby. This emotional connection instils love and a sense of trust: two key ingredients for your baby's psychological development.

Advantages of breastfeeding for the mother

• Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly.
• Breastfeeding helps to protect against breast cancer.
• Breastfeeding promotes weight loss after pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding is practical: the milk is always ready, germ-free and at the right temperature.

Infant milk (0 to 6 months)

If you do not wish to breastfeed your baby, you must use formula milk instead. The composition of formula in terms of vitamins, mineral salts and trace elements is perfectly suited to the needs of your baby up to the age of 6 months.

Formula milk provides all the nutrition that your baby needs. Nothing else is required. However, a vitamin D supplement may be appropriate.

Ask your paediatrician for further advice.

Follow-on milk (from 6 months onwards)

From the age of 6 months, follow-on milk should be used instead of infant formula. This is a type of milk specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of babies between the ages of 6 and 12 months.

It can actually be used up to the age of 18 months. You can buy follow-on milk in pharmacies and supermarkets. Again, it is helpful to use a vitamin D supplement, which will often be prescribed by your paediatrician. Ask your paediatrician for further advice.