One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you have your baby is whether to bottle feed or breastfeed. There are pros and cons to both methods, but the bottom line is that what works best for you and your little one is ultimately the best choice for you. If you choose to bottle feed, your next decision is to pick out the best baby formula to offer your infant. An allergy or sensitivity to cow’s milk means you may have to opt for the best goat milk formula.
While it’s not as easy to find as traditional formulas, goat milk infant formula is definitely a healthy and viable alternative that you may want to explore. Here’s everything you need to know.
What to Look for In a Goat’s Milk Formula
The most important thing to do before making the switch to goat milk baby formula, is to talk with your doctor’s pediatrician beforehand. That way you know it’s the best option for your infant. Once you decide to move ahead, the best goat milk formula is one that has organic and natural ingredients so you know it’s safe. Also make sure it’s designed for babies 12 months and younger so that you know it’s meeting your little one’s nutritional needs. At the same time, make sure the formula hasn’t gone past its expiration date.
“Organic standards in America are completely different than organic standards in Europe. For example, the EU has completely banned synthetic ingredients in their organic formulas, whereas lab-made nutrients and synthetics are not excluded from USDA policy. For parents that want to ensure their baby is getting the healthiest and absolute best formula for their baby, considering the source is essential.”
Says Cecilia Magana of My Organic Company, which is a great place to find safe organic baby formula options for your child.
You might also want to experiment with a couple of different brands of goat milk infant formula. That way you can find the one that your baby likes and tolerates best. You might also want to consider trying out organic goat milk formula, which offers additional benefits that you may want to take advantage of.
Take advantage of Kabrita’s free trial of goat milk foods (includes formula, porridge and cheese), and see if your little one likes it.
Are Goat Milk Formulas Better for Babies with Milk Protein Intolerance?
If your baby is extraordinarily fussy, you might find that he or she has an intolerance to the protein in cow’s milk. More dangerously, your baby may have an allergy to cow’s milk, which can be life threatening. In either case, you will need to find an alternative formula to feed your little one. While there is still much research needed on goat’s milk formulas, preliminary findings suggest that it might be easier on a baby’s digestive system. On the other hand, some infants with an intolerance to cow’s milk might also have an intolerance to goat’s milk so be sure to check with your child’s pediatrician.
Protein in Goat’s Milk Formula
The best goat milk formula is one that satisfies your baby’s unique nutritional needs. That includes protein, which is vital for growth and development. The protein comes from the whey in the milk and goat’s milk whey is digested differently than cow’s milk whey. For many infants, the higher whey content helps him or her tolerate the formula more easily.
Fat Molecules
Fat is vital to a baby’s development and helps supply the calories he or she needs to grow. Goat’s milk formula contains essential fats that mimic the balance in breastmilk and that are much smaller than those in cow’s milk. For this reason, the fat molecules are more easily absorbed so they can be efficiently used in your baby’s body.
Homogenization
Unlike cow’s milk, goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, which is better from a health standpoint because it means the fat molecules in the milk aren’t as disrupted. Not only does this make digesting the formula easier for your infant, but it also provides other health benefits later in life.
Lactose
While goat’s milk formula might be easier on your baby’s digestive system, it’s not lactose free. If your infant has a lactose allergy, goat’s milk is not a safe alternative. However, with lactose intolerance, it may be a choice that works better for your little one. Talk to your pediatrician before trying it.
Digestion
As mentioned above, many babies digest goat’s milk formula, including organic goat milk formula, much easier due to the smaller fat molecules and larger percentage of whey protein it contains. This might not be true for all babies, so be sure to work with your pediatrician to ensure it works for you.
Goat Milk Formula vs. Cow Milk Formula
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing formula for your baby, other than making sure it’s safe and is designed for your infant’s age and nutrient needs. The choice to offer cow’s milk formula or goat’s milk formula is your decision to make, as parents. If your baby can’t tolerate cow’s milk and you have chosen not to breastfeed, or are unable to, goat’s milk formula is a great alternative to explore. If you’re co-sleeping with your infant, having formula on hand may be a great back-up for those night-time feeds, especially if you have trouble breastfeeding.
Goat’s milk formula may be a bit harder to find and often costs more than traditional formula, so weigh the pros and cons as you make your choice.
Best Goat Milk Formula for Babies in 2021
This goat’s milk formula is designed for babies from ages 12 to 24 months and is ideal for weaning your baby. It’s created to meet the nutritional needs of babies who have problems digesting cow’s milk, as well as those suffering from eczema. This formula is fortified with 22 vitamins and minerals, including DHA, ARA and iron, all of which a baby needs for healthy growth and development. It’s pesticide free and non-GMO. Your baby will enjoy the mild, creamy flavor and texture of this formula.
Additionally, they’re currently running a free trial of Kabrita’s goat milk foods (includes formula, porridge and cheese).
What I love about it:
- Mild taste
- Fortified with 22 vitamins and minerals
- Ideal for babies who are weaning at 12 to 24 months
- Easy to digest
Something to keep in mind:
- Not for use on babies under 12 months
- Might not be available in stores
Holle goat milk formula is one of the best goat milk formula brands out there and consistently gets top reviews. This formula is ideal for babies from birth to 6 months of age, contains no added sugar and is gluten free. It’s fortified with iron and calcium so it meets the needs of your growing infant. Holle goat milk formula contains no preservatives and is GMO free. This creamy formula optimizes protein and vitamin intake and is easy to digest.
As if that wasn’t great enough already, we’ve even got a voucher code for you. You can now get 5% off with the coupon code ‘thesafeparent‘ at check out.
What I love about it:
- Meets nutrient needs of babies birth to 6 months
- Gluten free
- Fortified with iron and vitamin D
- No added sugars
Something to keep in mind:
- More expensive than some other formulas
- May need to order online
Get 5% off with the coupon code ‘thesafeparent’ at check out.
This premier goat’s milk formula is perfect for babies between the ages of 1 and 3 years. It can be used as your infant weans and is an easy way to boost nutrient intake and ensure healthy growth and development. This “growing up milk” is the natural next step after goat’s milk formula designed for newborns to age 1. This formula is easy for babies to digest and contains a complete panel of essential vitamins and minerals, making it the ideal addition to your toddler’s meal plan.
What I love about it:
- Perfect for weaning babies
- Complements a toddler’s diet
- Easy to digest
- Mild taste and smooth texture
Something to keep in mind:
- Ships from the UK
- More expensive than some other goat milk formula options
No products found.
FAQs
-
What Goat Milk Formula is the Best?
The best goat milk formula for your baby might not be the same as it is for another baby. With that in mind, there are some brands that are more reputable than others. In addition to choosing one of them, make sure you take your pediatrician’s advice into account as you make the selection that’s best for your little one.
-
So How do the Other Formulas Measure Up?
Again, this will vary. Some babies may be able to tolerate a certain type and brand of formula that others aren’t as successful with. As long as your list of options contains safe and nutritious choices, you can give a few of them a try to find the best goat milk formula that suits your baby’s needs.
-
How to Switch to Goat Milk Formula for Babies
The best way to make the switch to goat’s milk formula is to do so gradually. Start by swapping out about ⅕ of your baby’s cow’s milk formula with the goat’s milk one. Each day make the amount a bit larger until he or she is eating only goat’s milk formula.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many reasons to try goat milk formula and many wonderful products to choose from. It’s something you should only offer under the advice of your infant’s pediatrician but could be just what you’re looking for if your little one has trouble digesting traditional kinds of formula.
Keep in mind that you will want to make the shift gradually if your baby is already used to cow’s milk formula and you might have to try a couple of different brands to find the best goat milk formula that your baby likes best. Don’t forget to take advantage of Kabrita’s free trial of goat milk foods if you’re still on the fence about goats milk. The bottom line is to keep your baby well fed and goat milk formula is one way to get the job done.
