When you become a new parent, you want what’s best for your baby’s health, development, and safety. You thoroughly research the best methods of care, which development toys have the highest quality, and the best approach to keep your newborn healthy. Wanting what’s best for your baby is especially true when researching the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly.
There are various situations where your baby has to switch to baby formula—such as allergies, needing higher amounts of vitamins and minerals, or experiencing bouts of diarrhea. However, if you tried a cow milk-based formula, found it didn’t work for your baby, and you’re at your wit’s end as to how to help them, perhaps a goat-milk formula is right for your baby? Below, we review everything you need to know about goat milk formula so you can determine if it’s suitable for your baby.
What is Goat Milk?
Due to the high number of goats being bred worldwide, goat milk has become the most consumed type of dairy globally. Goat milk carries a variety of health benefits, including a valuable source of proteins, fats, and calories to keep consumers satiated. Along with its digestion benefits and ability to improve heart health, goat milk is also creamier and thicker than cow’s or plant-based milk.
Additionally, it’s a helpful way for newborns and babies to put on healthy weight. However, it isn’t lactose-free and contains more calories than plant-based and cow’s milk. Despite the few downsides, there are many goat milk baby formula products you can choose from to benefit your baby’s needs.
Is It Safe for Babies and Toddlers?
Many parents wonder if goat milk is safe for their newborns, babies, and toddlers to consume. In short, yes. However, it’s essential for newborns not to drink fresh goat’s milk in the first 12 months of their life. Fresh goat milk doesn’t provide newborns the nutritional support to grow correctly. Instead, ensure that the goat milk is in a baby formula mixture.
While goat milk formula is safe for babies and toddlers, nutritional content varies from brand to brand. So, ensure you speak to your pediatrician before introducing your child to goat milk formula.
Cow vs. Goat Milk
When you compare the nutrition of cow’s milk and goat milk, goat milk tends to have a higher fat and calorie count while containing more vitamins, protein, and minerals than cow’s milk. Additionally, cow’s milk has a more neutral flavor profile, while goat milk provides a more farm-raised flavor that a consumer may need to adjust to.
While cow’s milk contains higher amounts of folate and vitamin B12, goat milk contains more vitamin A and potassium. Moreover, goat milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk, creating fewer instances of lactose intolerance. Lastly, you’ll find more copper, calcium, and other beneficial vitamins in goat milk.
Benefits of Goat Milk for Babies
Something you need to know about goat milk formula is the benefits that it provides for newborns and babies. From fewer allergen risks to bone development, your baby will enjoy the complete delivery of vitamins and minerals goat milk formula brings.
Fewer Allergen Risks
When looking into dairy nutrition, most dairy products carry an ingredient called casein. In many instances, people have a hard time digesting casein from cow’s milk, including babies. Babies can exhibit cases of diarrhea, coughing, and other health ailments.
Goat milk has a significantly lower amount of Alpha S1 casein and mainly consists of Alpha S2 casein, which is easier for lactose intolerant consumers to digest. Most notably, its nutritional makeup has a closer resemblance to the nutrition of human breast milk.
Easier Digestion for Babies
Another benefit of goat milk formula is that it contains more prebiotics than standard formula products. These prebiotics help fight against harmful bacteria in a baby’s stomach by helping to naturally establish microflora in the stomach and develop long-term immunity as they grow.
Additionally, the prebiotics in goat milk formula can help with water absorption and result in smoother bowel movements. Along with prebiotics, goat milk contains anti-inflammatory properties due to its enzyme makeup.
Helps with Bone Development
Like cow’s milk, goat milk is also incredibly rich in calcium and helps reduce the development of osteoporosis. While your baby grows, goat milk gives your child the bone support they need for solid and stable bodies. It offers bone support for your baby’s nutritional needs without the dangerous side effects, unlike cow’s milk.
Improve Nutrient Uptake
The purpose of baby formula is to maximize the goat’s milk with many nutritional benefits, including high levels of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein. Additionally, goat milk offers fewer milk allergens and helps support heart health.
Another benefit to goat milk is that it contains medium-chain fatty acids, making for quicker and easier digestion. As a result, rapid digestion provides a quick boost of energy for the body and supports against harmful bacteria.
Goat Milk Formula Considerations
Despite all the benefits that goat milk offers, there are a few considerations to know before purchasing goat milk formula for your baby. Firstly, goat milk isn’t entirely lactose-free and doesn’t protect against allergic reactions.
While it’s easier to digest than cow’s milk, reactions come down to individual tolerances. So, there’s a chance of a new parent needing to find a different alternative that will better suit their baby’s needs.
Goat Milk Formula Safety
Before you introduce goat milk formula to your baby, ensure that it isn’t fresh goat milk, as it won’t deliver the proper nutrients you child will need to grow. Finding the proper producers of goat milk formula matters significantly, and they must follow specific rules and regulations.
Your pediatrician will most likely suggest a goat milk formula containing vitamin D and iron in its nutrition label. Along with fortified vitamins and minerals, goat milk must be pasteurized to prevent illnesses and harmful bacteria. Many brands of goat milk formula vary in nutritional content, so ensure you find one that works best for your baby.
When you’re thinking of switching to a goat milk formula for your baby, consider Formuland. Our European goat milk formula products help your baby’s development through a stage-by-stage process. We carry various European brands, including HiPP, Holle, Nannycare, and many more. We understand new parents’ needs and want to help your child grow, so contact us today if you have any questions about our products.
