Paediatric Specialist States Children May Consume Milk Until Adolescence

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Paediatric specialist Professor Rini Sekartini, Sp.A(K), stated that children can continue to consume milk even into adolescence. “So, if asked at what age milk should be consumed, it is for all ages of children. If it is during pregnancy, it is the mother who drinks the milk, up until the child reaches adolescence,” said Rini, who is also a consultant in social paediatric growth and development, during a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday night.

She noted that parents often mistakenly believe that milk should only be consumed until the age of five, whereas milk serves as a supplementary component to a child’s daily nutritional intake. Furthermore, she explained that the issues currently facing Indonesia are malnutrition, stunting, and undernutrition in children.

According to her, nutritional deficiencies lead to inadequate intake; if left unaddressed from primary school through to adolescence, it can cause prolonged issues. This is particularly significant for females, as malnutrition during their developmental years can lead to giving birth to low-birth-weight infants. “Ultimately, when they become pregnant, they may give birth to underweight babies. Stunting is essentially short stature caused by malnutrition and chronic infection,” she said.

She added that malnourished children experience decreased immunity compared to healthy children, while overweight children face potential long-term risks of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, particularly in young adulthood.

She also advised parents to be selective with children’s food intake to prevent dental caries, as tooth decay can hinder nutritional intake by making it difficult for children to chew food properly. “Excessive sugar consumption, from candies and chocolate to cakes and others, can increase the incidence of caries,” she noted.

Another concern raised was Vitamin D deficiency, which is essential for bone metabolism. “Even though our country has abundant sunlight, people often use umbrellas or hats when going outside, preventing sunlight from reaching the skin,” she said. She suggested that the public sunbathe between 8:00 and 9:00 am without hats or heavy jackets to ensure maximum absorption of sunlight. Additionally, she emphasised the importance of nutrition and stimulation to ensure optimal brain development in children.