Everything you need to know about Goat Milk For Babies

May 16, 2018

Is Goat Milk good for my baby?

This is a question we get very often at the Organic Baby Food Shop, especially by parents whose baby is suffering from a Lactose condition such as digestive problems or not being able to tolerate cow’s milk. Symptoms of not being able to properly digest cow’s milk can include colic, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rashes. All of these symptoms can easily be treated and even disappear if you switch your baby to Goat Milk formula.

Why is Goat Milk easier to digest than Cow's Milk?

Goat Milk is easier to digest has it has a smaller amount of fat globules as also a higher level of medium chain fatty acids, this helps the digestive tract break down and digest the protein, compared for instance to Cows' Milk.

Will my child miss out on nutrients if I only feed it Goats Milk?

It is not advised to feed your baby purely on Goats Milk or any pure animal milk for that matter, however, you can choose a formula made out of goat’s milk from birth, such as Holle Goat, which will ensure your baby will get all the vitamins and nutrients for healthy growth.

Starting at 6 months you can also start integrating other Goat Milk products into your baby’s diet, through cheese, yogurts or custard - make sure that the milk is always organic and pasteurised.

Switching to goat milk

Is there anything to keep in mind if I plan to switch from Cow’s formula to Goat Formula?

If your baby has been reacting to cow’s milk formula, we strongly advise you to speak to your doctor before making any changes to its diet. Let your doctor determine if in fact, your child is having a reaction to the Cow Milk formula itself or if there are any other underlying reasons while your baby is experiencing discomfort. If your doctor says its ok, you can switch to Goat Formula.

How do I switch from Cow’s Formula to Goat Formula?

Some babies take new foods in without a problem right from the start, others take longer to adjust to new flavors and textures and it can take at least 5-10 feedings to adjust. While it is important that your baby is still being fed the right amount of necessary milk and/or formula a day, don't give up if your baby refuses Goat Formula in the beginning. Repeated exposure will lead to success.

Take the 5-day approach

During five days, mix the current formula your baby is consuming with the goat formula (always make sure your pediatrician agrees to this before).

Start the first day just by adding a little Goat Formula to the bottle with the Cow’s Formula, and gradually increase the Goat Formula amount while decreasing the Cow’s formula. Make sure you always have the right measurements, for example:

Day 1: If your baby is currently on Holle Cows Milk Stage 1 and you want to switch to Holle Goat Milk stage 1, prepare the first bottle with:

80 % of Holle Stage one, based on the given measurements for 1 feeding and 20% of Holle Goat Formula.

Day 2: 70 % Holle Cow Milk Stage 1 and 30% of Holle Stage 1 Goat Milk

Day 3: 50 % Holle Cow Milk Stage 1 and 50% Holle Stage 1 Goat Milk

Day 4: 70% Holle Stage 1 Goat Milk and 30% Holle Cow Stage 1

Day 5: 90% Holle Goat Milk stage 1 and 10 % Holle Cow Milk Stage 1

On day 6 your baby can have a bottle just of Holle Goat Milk.

Goat Milk for Babies: Holle Organic

Is there any side effect when switching formula?

If your doctor agreed to you switching to Goat Milk formula, and you gradually introduce the new formula to your baby, there should not be any side effects. However, mild discomfort such as: Diarrhea, spit up and some mild gas can occur while your baby is adjusting to the new food. If these symptoms persist, seek advice from your doctor.

What should I look out for in a Goat Milk Formula?

As for all Formulas, make sure you have a very close look at what the ingredients are.

Avoid any formula that contains: Perchlorate, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Preservatives, Soy, Mineral oil, Gluten, Arsenic ( we are not kidding, some Formulas include Arsenic).

Or simply choose the best formula out there, Holle Goat Milk.

Remember at the Organic Baby Food Shop, we ship directly from our offices in Los Angeles, Austin and New Jersey / New York, for very fast delivery!