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Goat Milk For Babies: When To Give And What Are Its Benefits
6 min read
Different people have different preferences on the type of milk to choose for their babies. Some parents have often wondered if it is safe to give goat milk for babies. Also, the use of goat milk or cow milk products is not recommended for infants as it can lead to anemia and intestinal irritation. So, always put your infants on goat’s milk only after consultation with a doctor. Below are all the answers to your questions which you often wondered before giving goat’s milk or products to your baby.
Goat Milk For Babies: When To Give And What Are Its Benefits
When Can I Start Giving By Baby Goat Milk?
You can start to give your baby goat milk after 1 year of age. Breast milk is the best thing for babies between 0-12 months. You can also give goat products to your baby after 6 months like cheese, yogurt, omelet, custard, etc. Just ensure that the pasteurized goat’s milk is used in these products.
What Are The Advantages Of Goat Milk For Babies?
There are many benefits of goat milk for babies. Goat milk is considered a very good option for babies due to various reasons.
- It is very easy for infants to digest as it is made up of short or medium fatty acid chains. Goat milk is considered stomach friendly. Products made from this milk are easier to digest and it has less allergic proteins.
- Babies who are lactose intolerant can handle goat milk easily as it has less lactose intolerance.
- It is very beneficial for the development of the child’s sight and vision as it contains vitamin A.
- It also contains magnesium, Vitamin C, calcium, etc. All these are very important for the infant’s growth. Vitamin C directly contributes to the good health of the child. Calcium is essential for the proper growth of bones and teeth.
All these benefits of goat’s milk cannot be underestimated.
How To select Goat Milk For A Baby?
Goat milk is highly suitable for babies after one year of age. However, you have to consider certain facts while selecting the goat milk for the baby. Just make sure :
- The goat milk is certified “free of BGH and antibiotics “.
- The goat milk is pasteurized.
- The goat milk is fortified with vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and folate. Remember folate, is very important for the baby and the goat milk lacks it.
Can I Give My Child Goat Milk Formula?
The benefits of goat’s milk are transferred to goat’s milk formula. It contains natural vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. Many parents have seen that goat’s formula is easy to digest for babies and this is the main reason why parents consider goat’s milk formula better for their child. Actually, this formula contains probiotic oligosaccharides which are excellent for digestion. It helps in promoting the growth of good bacteria like lactobacilli.
How To Make Goat Milk Formula?
Before giving goat milk formula to your child ensure to boil it so he/she does not fall sick. Preparing method is similar to other formulas – just mix the powder in warm water. You can also use it in cereal if your baby is old enough. We recommend going through the instruction on the packet before preparing the formula to understand the exact measurements of powder and water to be used.
Goat Milk or Cow’s Milk – Which One Is Healthier?
Goat milk is getting popular these days because of its immense benefits to babies. It is easier on the stomach if your child struggles with lactose intolerance. On the other hand, cow’s milk is also beneficial as it is considered as a good source of protein, vitamin D and other nutrients. Both cow and goat milk will impart their own benefits but in different ways. In short, we can say it’s a tie. Despite this fact, goat milk has unique properties when compared to cow milk. Goat milk has become the most consumed milk globally. Goat milk is less likely to cause respiratory, digestive or other symptoms as compared to cow milk.
Goat and cow milk both are rich in minerals. But the level of vitamin A and D, minerals, calcium are higher in goat milk. While in cow milk B12 and folic acid are found in greater amount. Cow milk is slightly acidic whereas goat milk is alkaline and thus prevents a number of diseases and results in higher health benefits, especially for children. Goat milk is an ideal choice for supporting digestion.
Are There Any Disadvantages Of Feeding Babies With Goat Milk?
Any Disadvantages Of Feeding Babies With Goat Milk
For infants under 1 year of age, goat milk is an unsafe choice because it is not nutritionally appropriate for infants. It contains a high amount of protein and the body must take a lot of urine to get rid of the extra nutrition. This can cause your child’s body to become dehydrated which could result in serious illness. Also, the minerals are found in excess amounts which may cause your infant body to become too acidic. This can also cause muscle spasms.
Can A Baby Be Allergic To Goat Milk?
Allergies are a very serious thing and must be handled carefully. And yes, the Goat milk can also trigger an allergic reaction in the baby. Therefore, watch out for allergic symptoms like vomiting, loose motion, skin hives, and stomach pain while introducing goat milk to your baby. If your child has a bad reaction to cow’s milk then it is also possible that goat’s milk may also cause the same reaction. Also, be cautious while giving goat milk to your child if he or she has any kind of food allergy.
Is It Possible To Give Goat Milk To A Baby Who Has Cow Milk Allergy?
Infants who are allergic to cow milk are often allergic to goat milk too. This is because both cow and goat milk contain more or less the same kind of protein. So, if your child has a cow milk allergy, please consult with your registered dietician before giving him or her goat milk. It may help you to find an appropriate formula alternative.
Can A Baby Have Goat Cheese And Yogurt?
Yes. It is perfectly safe to give the child cheese and yogurt once they pass the 1-year benchmark. However, it is important to make sure it is made from pasteurized milk as the cheese and yogurt made from unpasteurized milk may contain harmful bacteria.
Is Goat Milk Safe For Babies With Eczema?
Goat milk is definitely safe for babies with eczema. If your baby suffers from skin problems like itchy skin, dry skin, etc. you may use goat milk. It helps in improving the symptoms of eczema and has more skin healing properties. It is full of vitamins and minerals and acts as a natural moisturizer which is beneficial for young babies.
Can You Use Lactose-Free Goat Milk Formula?
Goat’s milk is not lactose-free and may not help babies with lactose intolerance. It contains less lactose than cow’s milk and may be used in the problem of lactose intolerance by some peoples. It contains less allergic protein and hence it is easily digested in baby’s tummy. Goat milk settles better in baby’s tummy.
Does Goat Milk Benefit Babies With Acid Reflux?
Goat milk is good for babies with acid reflux due to its fats. Reflux is a medical problem where the milk swallowed by the child comes back into the food pipe. It is a common problem among young children. In this case, the goat milk formula could be a better formula for babies suffering from this problem. In fact, is a good choice for children who experience digestive distress. To use the benefit of goat milk, it is recommended to use a natural goat milk formula.
Does Goat Milk Help Ease Constipation In Infants?
No medical research has yet proved this fact. However, a number of digestions related ailments are rectified with Goat’s milk. Therefore if you think your baby is constipated due to cow’s milk, just try out goats milk and make out if there is any improvement.
Does Goat Milk Benefit Babies With Colic?
Colic is the common condition that affects around one in five babies. It is the result of an allergy to milk protein. Goat milk may or may not be appropriate for a child having colic. It is only an alternative. Goat milk has some missing vital vitamins that are necessary for the healthy development of a child’s body. So before taking goat milk to take the advice of your pediatrician.
Wrapping Up
So, in short, goat’s milk is highly recommended for your children except for infants due to its various benefits. Babies can only have goat’s milk if they are one year or more and also after consulting with the pediatrician. It is very close to breast milk and can be considered as a replacement.
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