This type of milk was developed in the 2000s because it was realised at that time that children aged 1 to 3 years were particularly prone to iron deficiency. They often fell ill in winter, and their parents were concerned about their paleness and chronic fatigue.
As children at this age drink a lot of milk, the good idea was to imagine a cow's milk enriched with iron (and a few other nutritional elements, such as zinc, which stimulates the immune system). The term 'growth milk' was coined.
And so it took off, quite well we might say, because many parents give growing-up milk to their child, from 1 to 3 years. They can't give it before that because it's not a follow-on milk (2nd age). It is not as complete and could in no way claim to cover 70% of the infant's nutritional needs as does a complete and strictly regulated formula of asecond age milk.
However, not all babies need to take growth milk. Only those who are exposed to iron deficiency are concerned. That is to say, children who are already born with a lack of iron because their mother lacked it during pregnancy.
This may be the case of mothers who are frequently iron deficient for various reasons (most often gynaecological) and who have not been given iron supplements during their pregnancy. In this case, the baby is born with few iron reserves, but remains in good health for the first year because its daily iron needs are met by its mother's milk or infant milk (1st age) or follow-on milk (2nd age) which are necessarily enriched with iron at a rate of 1mg of iron/100ml. With 500 to 800 ml of infant milk per day, the child received the 7 to 8 mg of iron he needed.
But when he blew out his first candle, no morebaby milk. Here he is in the big league. He switched to cow's milk. But cow's milk contains practically no iron. Moreover, between the ages of 1 and 3, the child must have very small portions of meat (adapted to his age: 20 to 30 g per day). This is not how they will cover their iron needs!
If he has good iron reserves, he will dip into them while waiting for better days with the meat and fish portions that will gradually increase.
On the other hand, if he has few iron reserves, he will very quickly decompensate and develop an iron deficiency. The paediatrician will diagnose this and give him an iron salt syrup, but this will be for a limited time. It will be necessary to take over with a growth milk.
It is simply cow's milk enriched with 1mg of iron/100ml. At a rate of 500 ml per day (2 bottles or 2 bowls), his iron needs will be covered at 70%.
Be aware that there are sweetened and plain versions. Look closely at the labels: if there are only 5 g of simple sugars/100 ml, it's only the lactose in the milk. The ideal choice. If, on the other hand, there are about 10 g of simple sugars/100 ml, then there is added sugar. This will be confirmed by seeing it in the ingredients list. I recommend it plain so that the child does not get used to drinking sugar.
Another useful fact to know is that these milks often have a vanilla taste, even those that are not sweetened. This flavouring serves to hide the taste of the iron salt added to the milk. No more, no less.
In conclusion, growth milk is a useful milk that helps the child build up its iron reserves. For parents who do not want it or who, for financial reasons, prefer to buy the same cow's milk for the whole family, there is still the solution of red meat (minced steak) and well-cooked liver, as well as fish, with occasional pureed pulses.
Always include at least one fruit rich in vitamin C during the day as this vitamin increases the absorption of iron. Be careful to respect the quantity of meat or fish per day to avoid excess protein: 20 to 30 g per day up to 3 years old - 40 g at 4 years old - 50 g at 5 years old. That's it. Enjoy your meal!
Dr Laurence PLUMEY
Nutritionist. Paris Hospitals IDF
Professor of Nutrition
Author of numerous books for the general public