Dear Editor, I was interested to read your article about foods to avoid and foods to encourage during illness. I was, however, sorry not to see mothers' milk included as a food to encourage during colds, diarrhoea etc for babies and toddlers. Nursing has got my son through many illness during babyhood and toddlerhood, when he couldn't have or didn't want solid food and when cows milk would have caused problems. Yours Faithfully, Sarah Blakeney Thank you very much for your letter. Of course you are right.
Breast milk has incredible qualities.
My little Lily is now 18 months and breast milk didn t come to mind when I wrote the article. It explained that it is because milk is particularly allergenic and can be responsible for many disorders. Milk is also mucus-forming so is particularly bad for chesty coughs, colds as well as glue ear etc. Although this is all true, Penny Crowther, the nutrition therapist who collaborated on this article, went on to explain in the article what else should be taken instead of milk in order to get a balance diet. If you intend to cut milk out of your child s diet, great, but you should consult a qualified nutrition therapist, who will help you design a balanced diet for your family.