Can I feed my baby milk right after giving them medicine?
May 25, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
In general, babies should not be fed milk immediately after taking medication, as drugs may affect digestion, absorption, and nutrient metabolism. If the baby has taken antibiotics, which can disrupt the balance of intestinal flora and impair both nutrient metabolism and digestive absorption, it is recommended to wait at least one hour after administering the medication before feeding milk, in order to help alleviate the side effects of the antibiotic.
Generally speaking, babies should not be fed milk immediately after taking medication, as drugs may affect digestion, absorption, and nutrient conversion. The specific analysis is as follows:
If the baby has taken antibiotics, it is recommended to wait at least one hour before feeding milk, because antibiotics can disrupt the balance of intestinal flora and negatively affect nutrient metabolism and digestive absorption, thus delaying feeding helps reduce antibiotic side effects. Secondly, if the baby has taken gastrointestinal medications such as antacids or antipyretic analgesics, these drugs may suppress gastric juice secretion and impair food digestion and absorption; therefore, it's best to wait 2–3 hours after medication before feeding milk. Additionally, if the baby has taken anti-inflammatory drugs, which increase the acidity of gastric juice and may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, thereby affecting digestive and absorptive functions, it is advisable to wait 2–4 hours after taking the medication before feeding milk.
In summary, babies should not be fed milk immediately after taking medication. Waiting 2–4 hours is safer, helps minimize drug side effects, and ensures the baby’s health. It is important to always administer medication to babies under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider to avoid adverse reactions.
