A 9-month-old infant's mother is questioning why cow's milk is not recommended in the first year of life as it is much cheaper than formula. What rationale does the nurse include in her response?
1. It is permissible to substitute cow's milk for formula at this age as he is so close to 1 year old.
2. Cow's milk is iron poor and does not provide the proper balance of nutrients for the infant.
3. As long as the mother provides whole milk, rather than skim, she can start cow's milk in infancy.
4. If the mother cannot afford the infant formula, she should dilute it to make it last longer.
Answer: Cow's milk is iron poor and does not provide the proper balance of nutrients for the infant.