There are many reasons that you may consider goat’s milk for your baby. One of the most common is that goat’s milk is more easily digested by many babies than a milk-based or soy formula is. However, it doesn’t come without possible reactions of its own and it’s important to speak with your pediatrician or family doctor about goats’ milk, whether it is a baby formula or as a consistent source of calcium for older children.
Why Would Goats’ Milk Be Used?
Goats’ milk is generally considered to be easier to digest than other milks. This is because it does not have the ingredient known as agglutinin, which means that the fat molecules do not cluster together. However, goats’ milk has slightly more fat than cows’ milk and it can be very difficult to find lower fat versions of goats’ milk. Fatty acids, which are necessary for a baby to grow and develop normally, are available in smaller amount in products made from goats’ milk. This will also make it easier for a sensitive system to break down and use goats’ milk.
Goats’ milk is also closer to the proteins found in human milk and in general, is often to be considered a more gentle type of nutrient. It’s often ideal for a child or infant who has had difficulty digesting food or who has been diagnosed with reflux. Because it’s easier to digest, it is not as likely to be spit up later and may not make the digestive problem worse, as might happen with cows’ milk or soy. Most of the nutrients found in goats’ milk are either equal to or greater than the nutrients found in cows’ milk.
Then Why Wouldn’t Everyone Use Goats’ Milk?
Goats’ milk can be very expensive and becomes more so when it is produced in a form for infants, as in baby formula. In some cases, it can be three or four times as expensive as milk based formulas and there are very few, if any, generic goats’ milk formulas available as of September 2012.
In addition, it has also been noted that goat’s milk has much smaller amounts of folic acid. Therefore, if your child consumes it, you should ask your pediatrician if it would be necessary to supplement your infant with folic acid. This continues to be true if you have an older child who uses it as a substitute for dairy products.
Can a Baby Just Drink Straight Goats’ Milk?
Although goats’ milk is excellent for children with allergies, sensitivities or reasons to avoid cows’ milk, it is important to understand that it will not provide everything that a baby under the age of 12 months needs. Although it is possible to find a recipe for goats’ milk formula, you should never offer it to your baby without speaking to your doctor. Always remember that just because it was the only option for many years, that doesn’t mean it’s the best option today.
