And should you switch your baby???
If you have a baby that has struggled with formula at all – you have likely had someone recommend goat milk formula. It’s all the rage in certain circles. Some of this reputation is well-earned… some is, well … hype.
Goat milk is not a magic pill, but it can be incredibly helpful for specific issues. In this article, I’m going to explain to you what makes goat milk “special” (ie: different) so you know what types of little ones may benefit.
And THEN, I’ll break down the differences in your goat milk formula options (Holle vs Kabrita vs Nanny Care) so that you know which one would be the BEST goat milk formula to start with for your unique baby. .
If it’s easier for you to listen to a video on this topic while you simultaneously bounce your baby, make dinner and fold laundry – here is the link to a Happy Hour I did on this very topic – listen away!
Protein:
First (and fairly obviously) goat milk is different than cow’s milk. When it comes to the proteins in each milk – the majority of the proteins are the same. So, if your little one has been diagnosed with a cow’s milk allergy, they CANNOT have goat milk formula either since the chances of them reacting to goat milk protein is crazy high.
However, if your little one’s issues are stemming from a sensitivity to a protein in cow’s milk, then goat milk formula might help. This is because some of the proteins in cow’s milk are unique to cow’s and are not present in goat’s milk (and vice versa). So you may always get lucky and the individual protein in cow’s milk that is making your angel uncomfortable could be missing in goat milk. More likely, there may just be less of it in goat milk so the exposure to the culprit protein is reduced.
Digestion:
This is where the bulk of goat milk “benefits” come from. When goat milk proteins hit the stomach, they produce a smaller and softer curd than cow’s milk proteins, which is more like breast milk curds (1, 2). The curd results from the casein proteins – these are the white chunks that come up in spit up. It’s not hard to imagine how smaller softer “chunks” may move out of the stomach and into those tiny intestines more comfortably.
In addition to this, the digestive system can digest goat milk proteins more quickly, and more completely than cow’s milk proteins (3, 4, 5).
And finally, there was a really cool recent study that showed that the timing of both protein digestion and protein absorption of goat milk infant formula was much closer to breast milk than how cow’s milk infant formula was digested (6).
In all honesty, this body of research doesn’t tell you if more efficient or appropriately-timed digestion results in less discomfort – but we practitioners make that leap for ourselves. It makes sense to me that “better” digestion and absorption may help with less cramping, less gas, and less constipation. If you want to nerd out even more about the biochemical differences between cow vs goat milk, here’s a video that goes into more detail. Your inner nerdling can thank me later.
What Babies May Benefit?
So, now that you know what makes goat vs cow’s milk formulas different – you have an idea of what type of baby issues might be helped by a switch to a goat milk formula.
If your baby has a cow’s milk allergy – goat milk formula will NOT help you.
If you are dealing with more general discomfort that seems to be stemming from digestive issues – maybe all those differences in how goat milk is digested will help your baby feel better after eating. Ask your doc.
What is the BEST Goat Milk Formula out there?
Come on – you know I’m not going to just drop a single brand and say it’s the best. That would be way too easy. There are 3 great options available and they each have special characteristics that would be helpful for specific babies.
But the BAD NEWS first:
There are NO US INFANT GOAT MILK FORMULAS on the market. That makes me 55% exasperated and 55% infuriated (yes, I know that adds up to more than 100%. I am a very emotional person!). Sooooo …. If you want to use a goat milk formula, you and your pediatrician have to be willing to use non-conventional options. Your choices are a US toddler formula (Kabrita) or a European infant formula (Nanny Care and Holle).
Toddler formulas can really vary in nutrient composition, so it’s important to do your research and have a long talk with your doctor before using a Toddler formula with a baby younger than 12 months. Here is a video I made about the most important things you need to look for in a toddler formula if considering it for your younger baby. I talk about Kabrita in that video, but Kabrita changed it’s formulation since making that video (to actually look more like an infant formula), so be sure to watch this video about their updated recipe too. Then you HAVE to clear it with your pediatrician too.
And if you decide to go with one of the European brands, you MUST be sure that you are getting it from a reputable source that can ensure you that the formula has been stored appropriately. I like Bottles and Burps, and My Organic Company, but there are other US suppliers that have good import practices. Just do your research. And lastly, when choosing any European formula, there is always a risk that you will face a shortage at some point, so weigh your options. (And if you want to nerd out on other regulatory differences between US vs European formulas, I break those all down for you here).
Then – make your choice based on the ingredients. Kabrita vs Holle vs Nanny Care each have some special characteristics that make them pretty cool. Here is a summary of the differences in the major ingredients for quick reference.
| Brand | Whey to Casein | Carbohydrate | Fat | Non-Required Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kabrita |
50/50 | 100% Lactose | 40% High 2-Palmitic Acid Oil, 27% Soybean oil, 19% Palm kernel oil, 14% Sunflower oil |
DHA GOS* (a prebiotic) |
|
Holle Stage 1 |
20/80 | 52% Maltodextrin, 48% Lactose | Goat Cream, Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil | L-tryptophan, L-cystine, L-isoleucine |
 Holle Stage 2 |
20/80 | 47.5% Maltodextrin, 46.2% Lactose, 6.3% Starch | Goat Cream, Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil | L-tryptophan, L-cystine, L-methionine, L-isoleucine |
Nanny Care – Stage 1 |
20/80 | 100% Lactose | Goat Cream, High Oleic Sunflower oil, Rapeseed oil, Sunflower oil | L-tryptophan, L-isoleucine, Taurine, L-carnitine |
Nanny Care – Stage 2 |
20/80 | 100% Lactose | Goat Cream, High Oleic Sunflower oil, Rapeseed oil, Sunflower oil | L-tryptophan, L-isoleucine, Taurine |
*Galacto-oligosaccharides
Here are some summary points about each brand:
Kabrita:
This formula is not organic but does meet EU non-GMO standards and their goats are treated very well (in my opinion) which always makes me feel good. The carbohydrate is 100% lactose. Kabrita is different from Holle and Nanny Care in 3 big ways.
1) Kabrita adds extra whey (goat milk whey) to the formula so you can see the whey/casein ratio is closer to the whey/casein ratio in breast milk. Now almost all the research on whey and casein and digestion is done on cow’s milk, which makes it easy to say that extra whey is better in cow’s milk formula. There is just WAY less research in goat milk formulas, but given the chemical differences between whey and casein, it does make sense to me that extra whey in goat milk formula will be helpful for certain babies.
2) Kabrita uses a special type of palm oil that basically avoids all the negatives of palm oil. This means, no calcium soaps formed in the intestines, and softer stools. So this type of fat blend may be super beneficial and comforting for babies suffering from constipation.
3) Kabrita is the ONLY of the 3 formulas that has DHA.
Holle:
This formula is EU organic, and has some really high animal-care standards. Awesome. This is a lactose-reduced formula with roughly 50% of the carbs coming from lactose. So, if you have a gut-feeling that your baby is having trouble with a 100% lactose load, then this may be a good choice. (“gut feeling” … hahaha!)
The other super-cool thing about Holle is that the fat blend includes some goat milk cream. Because the animals are likely better cared for than me on the average Tuesday, this cream will have a very healthy fatty acid composition and natural cholesterol (just like breast milk!). I think this is awesome and can’t wait to see more formulas using high quality cream in their fat blend.
Nanny Care:
Nanny Care (as a company) has been around for ages, and they’re actually the company that invested in the clinical trials necessary to establish the safety of goat milk formula (7, 8), so I give them big kudos for investing in research.
Similar to Kabrita, this formula uses 100% lactose as the carbohydrate. This formula is not organic, but they do take the care and happiness of their goats really seriously. Not only does this make me feel warm and fuzzy, but it’s really critical because they also use some of the goat milk cream in their fat blend. Since the animals are so well fed and cared for, their cream should have the benefits that the Holle cream does.
Lastly, Nanny Care avoids palm oil altogether, which is a big bonus if your baby is suffering from hard stools.
That’s it – super simple, right? (*to be said dripping with sarcasm*). It’s not simple.
But I hope that understanding these differences will help you make the best first choice for your baby.
It’s actually quite nice to have a couple options to discuss with your doctor, and some legitimate reasons why you may choose one over the other.
Was goat milk formula that elusive “magic potion” for your baby? Tell us all in the comments!
You are doing a great job!
Happy digestion to all,
Dr Young
References
- Park YW. Hypo-allergenic and therapeutic significance of goat milk. Small Rumin. Res. 1994 ;14,151–161.
- Ceballos LS, et al. Utilization of nitrogen and energy from diets containing protein and fat derived from either goat milk or cow milk. J Dairy Res. 2009;4:497-504.
- Almaas H, et al. In vitro digestion of bovine and caprine milk by human gastric and duodenal enzymes. Int Dairy J. 2006;16:961–68.
- Pintado ME, et al. Hydrolysis of ovine, caprine and bovine whey proteins by trypsin and pepsin. Bioprocess Engineering 2000;23:275-282.
- Hodgkinson et al. Gastric digestion of cow and goat milk: Impact of infant and young child in vitro digestion conditions Food Chemistry. 2018; 245: 275-281.
- Maathius et al. Protein digestion and quality of goat and cow milk infant formula and human milk under simulated infant conditions. J Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2017; 6: 661-686.
- Grant et al. Randomized double-blind comparison of growth in infants receiving goat milk formula versus cow milk infant formula. J Paediatr. Child Health. 2005; 41:564-568
- Zhou et al. Nutritional adequacy of goat milk infant formulas for term infants: a double-blind randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition. 2014; 111:1641-1651.
Hi Dr. Bridget!
Thank you for the podcast, so very informative and well presented!
I have a EBF 7.5 month old baby boy who has never really taken a bottle at all, breast milk or formula. We’ve only been through 1 tub of SMA in that time, most of which went down the sink! We believe he is reacting to diary in his food and to the SMA formula. Most recently we tried him on 2 ounces last last and he came out in a rash around his mouth and neck, vomited and also struggles with Eczema flare ups all over. All of these symptoms are a regular occurrence.
I’m hoping to encourage him onto formula bottles but even 1-2 ounces results in his face flaring and leaves him scratching to the point of cutting himself – he constantly has mittens / socks on his hands 🙈 it’s awful seeing him so uncomfortable. He has also vomited after having SMA formula / diary in his food and reacted similarly to egg when we tried him at weening at 6 months or so.
I’m unsure if it’s a lactose issue or a full on diary issue? Do you think goats milk would help him and if so which brand? Our Doc/GP hasn’t had much guidance to date!
Thank you for your help!
Linda
Based in Dublin, Ireland
Hey Linda
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. I am so sorry to hear about the issues with your little one! I know that must be hard to watch and worry what is going on. Since Dr. Young only works with US and some EU formulas we can’t speak specifically to the formula but this article and video on the same page may help you. This is also an excellent playlist of all the Goat Milk Formula videos Dr. Young has done.
As always check with your doctor, take changes slowly and you are doing a great job! And 7.5 months of EBF! Way to go mama.
What are your thoughts on Designed by Nature goat milk formula? Is this appropriate for a baby or only toddlers?
Hey May
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. While Dr. Young has not reviewed that formula in particular this video on Toddler formulas would be a great resource for you. This is also a playlist of all of Dr. Young’s Goat Milk Formula videos currently.
As always, check with your doctor, take changes slowly and love on that little one!
Emily
Hey just wanted let you know that your Holle information (and possibly others) is outdated! They now add DHA and no longer use palm oil. Just a friendly heads up!
Brittany,
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. Thank you so much for your head’s up. I am going to link a video that Dr. Young has on her YouTube channel discussing recipe changes in European Formula and adding DHA in case anyone else comes across this and has a question before we can update this page! Thanks for being on top of it!
Emily
The link to her updated Kabrita video doesn’t work and it says private – can you update? I’m using Kabrita for my infant and would love to see her updates on the new formula please!!
Lindsay
So sorry about that try this: **Since making this video, Kabrita has made some changes to their recipe – so be sure to check out that update here! https://youtu.be/kDJZ0Sw1PgM time stamp around 12:45 minutes.**
Emily
Do you recommend a good website for purchasing nanny care formula?
Hey Jessica
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant again. I just noticed your next question and didn’t have a chance to include it in my previous response. As far as suppliers, unfortunately Dr. Young doesn’t have an affiliate on her site that sells Nanny Care but she does offer some advice on what to look for on this blog post. Scroll down until you see the heading: What To Look For in A European Formula Supplier for best practices!
Good Luck
Emily
Hi!
What is kendamil formula? Is that part of holle?
Hey Jessica
Thanks for your questions. This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. Dr. Young has a great video on Kendamil that compares it to Holle Pre and Loulouka. As always check with your child’s doctor first, take any changes slowly if you are considering a switch and you are doing a great job taking care of that baby!!
Emily
hi there, just thought you should know there is a Kabrita infant formula (from birth) that is now available in the US through organic baby shop’s website (see link below). However it is not advertised or available on Kabrita USA’s website. Wondering if you could compare the new Kabrita infant formula to the Kabrita USA toddler formula. Thanks!
https://organicbabyshop.com/products/kabrita-infant-formula-goat-milk-based?variant=3448344969256¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8fr7BRDSARIsAK0Qqr4L2Wzy7uma5_TVFFfjue6OeH-89ecwj_jGSvk9tIDrYfMgzSBuCwAaAkgKEALw_wcB
Hey Nathalie,
Thanks for reaching out! This is Bri, Dr.Young’s assistant. Unfortunately, the formula reviews you see on her website and her Youtube channel are the only formulas she has reviewed to date. If at any time she does do a new formula review she will post it to her social media and let you know via email list so make sure you are subscribed. I can direct you to a video where Dr. Young covers Kabrita’s goatmilk toddler formula along with “Goat Milk Formulas, Who should be using it?” on her Youtube channel. As always, research the ingredients on the label, talk to your pediatrician before any changes, and if you should decide to switch take the switch very slowly to minimize any negative reaction. You got this!
Hi Dr. Young!
Thank you so much for this informative post! I’m trying to decide between Kabrita and Holle for my 4 month old. I wanted to know if you had any information on the new infant formula Kabrita released (versus only the toddler version) and a trusted site where it can be purchased. I looked at the sites you provided but they do not sell Kabrita. Any help on your thoughts of their infant formula would be so helpful. Thanks again for keeping mamas informed with your expertise!
Hey Stephanie
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. Thank you so much for your comment and questions. I am so glad you found the website helpful for your feeding journey. Kabrita does not have an infant formula on the market in the US. If you want more info on all the goat milk formulas available Dr. Young has an extensive collection of YouTube videos. There is a goat milk playlist that has all her current videos.
As far as purchasing Kabrita, I believe you can purchase it directly from Kabrita USA.
As always check with your doctor first, take any transition slowly with your little on and you are doing an amazing job mama! Thank you for letting us be a part of this journey!
Emily
Hi Dr. Young,
I tried the link to watch your video on Kabrita’s updated recipe to look more link infant formula, but the link says the video is private. Would you please either fix the link or give a quick update as a reply to this comment?
I watched the first video and it seems like the main concerns were that it’s high calorie and has a lot of calcium (also that the batches will never get tested, but a recipe update alone won’t change that).
Thank you,
Jamie
Jamie
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. Thanks so much for the catch! She has a more recent video here at around 12:50 time stamp she begins to discuss Kabrita. She also has a Goat Milk Formula playlist on her youtube channel where all the videos on that topic are available.
Hope this helps
Emily
Hi Dr. Young, Holle recently updated their Goat Stage 1 formula (per new EU standards) to include DHA, and has removed the palm oil; among a few other minor adjustments. Will you be updating this article to reflect these changes? I’d be curious if the differences are vast enough from the original formula to be able to see the difference in our baby. I will say he no longer smells like goat cheese! (win!) We’ve tried both, and our baby seemed to spit up less on the original formula, but hard to tell as we just started the new version. Hoping the firmer yellow poops were only a symptom of the original formula (fingers crossed).
Hey Jennie
Thanks for your comment, this is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. She recently did a You Tube Happy Hour video to update these changes. I will include the link here.
I’m glad that your little one doesn’t smell like goat cheese anymore haha, but also I know you are doing a great job taking care of him, as always talk to your doctor first, take any changes slowly and keep being an awesome mom!
Emily
Hi Dr Young,
I wondered if I could ask your advice. My baby was impossible to breastfeed (fussy and crying at breast, pulling off frequently, hated feeding) so I switched to formula feeding at 6 weeks. As I had formula fed my first son who thrived I wasn’t anticipating any issues, however since starting on formula he has been suffering from constipation. I believe it’s a digestion issue as his weight gain has changed, too, since being breast fed. I’ve tried Holle cows milk formula, HiPP and brands here in New Zealand (a goat milk formula that contains lactose from cows milk and an organic cows milk formula similar to HiPP). Would you be able to shed any insight on common causes of constipation in babies? Or have any advice in general?
Fully appreciate you aren’t any doctor and so rest assured I won’t take what you say as ‘Gospel’, but would just really appreciate your insight as someone who truly knows about formula from experience! 🙂
Kind regards,
Lorna
Hi Lorna, Thanks for reaching out. My name is Bri, I’m Dr. Young’s assistant. I’m sorry your precious little one is having some tummy issues. Dr. Young specifically addresses constipation in her Baby Formula Course. The course provides you her step-by-step method on how to choose the perfect formula for your baby. We’ve had awesome feedback from parents and offer a 30-day money back guarantee if you find the course not helpful. You can learn more here. While you are considering the course, I recommend reading Dr. Young’s article on partially hydrolyzed formulas here to learn how they can help. I’ll provide you with the link to her article on fats in formula here also, pay specific attention to her discussion of palm oil. Remember to always consult with your pediatrician first and take any formula switch very slowly to minimize reaction. I hope this helps! You are doing a great job! -Bri
I absolutely love nannycare Goat milk formula! With proper chiropractic adjustments to fix reflux issue , nannycare made both of my babies happy!! No more screaming from tummy pain & no more projectile vomiting. It was a hard journey until I came across goat milk formula. So thankful!
Thanks so much for sharing Ali! I’m thrilled you and your doc found something that kept your babies happy!!
Hi, my baby started on neosure and it was horrible for him. He cried and strained daily
He also had bad reflux. We switched to similac Prosensitive and it helped a little bit no comstipation but still throwing up whenever moved. We finally switched to Kabrita it seemed ok when we were doing the transition phase things seem better. Then the throw up started back up. Next we are currently on holle stage 1 things were good for the first three days now it’s back to thick throw up. Please help
Oh dear – that is quite a journey! Neosure is a medical formula and if your doctor wanted you on it, there may be something going on. With all the switches, your baby has been through a big range in both protein size and carbohydrate source with the various formulas you have been on. I suggest starting off reading this article about protein size so you can compare how your baby was on each different formula. Also, this is a big question for your doctor. They will know your baby best and may have other approaches to help handle reflux. Good luck Mama!
I do not have medical study or report but breastfeeding is important for your child, you can always use baby formulas on the side as well and slowly shift him to the formula completely. There are lots of brands of baby formula brands out there that i believe are pretty good!
You’re right on all counts Katherine – breastfeeding is universally recommended when its possible. And for all the babies that need formula – there are lots of great options out there!
Thank you very much for sharing this informative blog. While doing the research,I appreciate your inputs because I got more clarity on the given topic and now i can get the best baby formula for my baby. Keep sharing such an informative blog in the future.
Dr.,
Thank you for this information! I’m currently using Holle Goat for my little one but he continues to spit up, it just so happens that it’s not painful anymore. He continues to have painful burps at times. Since Kabrita has a lower whey to casein ratio, could that possibly help? I’ve also heard that since Kabrita has soybean oil, this could be difficult on those who have a problem with soy; any validity to that?
CB,
This is Emily, Dr. Young’s assistant. I realize this response is long overdue but I wanted to touch base and provide a link that may still be helpful. Dr. Young did an entire happy hour video on Kabrita. I am posting the link here in the hopes that it can help you and other moms who may be dealing with the same thing. I hope the painful burps have subsided!
Emily
Hi Dr. Young, are there major differences in the essentials ingredients for the Kabrita INFANT formula vs. Kabrita TODDLER formula?
I wanted to give kabrita toddler formula to my baby girl who is 3 months old suffers extreme indigestion from most us formula brands (including hypoallergenic ones). I am greatly appreciate your input and feedback.
Hi Vivian, here is a video that goes over the nutrition But Kabrita toddler is still a toddler formula meaning it doesn’t go through FDA vetting so you really need to clear it with your doctor if you want to consider it for a baby under 12 months. I hope that helps Mama!
Hi Dr. Young,
My baby is now 4.5 months old. She has been on Emfamile gentlease which had always given her really bad wind/gas/cramps day and night. I decided to use goat milk stage 1 formula a few weeks ago. I started to mix 1 tea spoon in 24hr and went up to 20% to 30% into all feeds over 2 week period. As soon as I reached to 50%, my LO started having severe constipation. She will push really hard and the poop is more like a sponge, very dry. She gets cramps while pushing and cries alot. However, I see less gas and wind.
Do you know what may be causing the constipation and do you have any formula recommendation?
Ps: I tried HIPP stage 1 and gas and cramping increased. No constipation, but I tried a small amount only.
Thank you so much.
Hi Al-Al, congrats on your baby!! Honestly it sounds like your little one is having a hard time digesting the full size proteins in both goat milk formula and HiPP Stage 1. Gentlease is Partially hydrolyzed. You may be better with a different protein source in the partially hydrolyzed category. Gerber Gentle or Soothe fits that bill at 100% whey. If you are in Europe, then HiPP Comfort is also partially hydrolyzed 100% whey. Something tells me you are European since you use “wind” (which is just adorable). Run these suggestion by your doctor and see what they think is best.
Our preemie was having SO many problems Not only with reflux and constipation and gas, but also refusal to eat, with all the different commercial US pediatrician-recommended formulas (and we could not breastfeed for medical reasons), and using different concentration regimens. We switched to Holle Cow Stage 1 and things improved, but still had some issues with reflux, although it was better, and baby seemed to like it more as long as we didn’t concentrate it too much (For weight gain purposes per pediatrician). We switched to their goat formula and all those issues gradually faded away. Baby loves it, wants to take it even at higher concentrations…it seems to me that even at higher concentrations the Holle doesn’t increase in sweetness as much as the more glucose-based formulas. And his system tolerates it MUCH better than ANY we tried, and we tried a lot. We’re still using the Stage 2 while increasingly adding solid foods, and baby is doing great and adding weight much better and more naturally than before. Also, I’ll add he gets to sleep better on this, probably because of the added tryptophan. Anyway, even though our pediatrician said she could not “technically” recommend any EU formula, for our reflux-prone and constipation-prone preemie, Holle Goat has been a lifesaver for us.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! You certainly have been through a lot! I am so glad you found something that works for your angel. And fantastic job working so closely with your pediatrician – that partnership is so important! Thanks again for sharing your story.
Hi, i used nanny care too, but started pure goat, new brand, and missing biobim another brand with great products biologic, using them for 20 years already, check it out, greets
I am not familiar with Biobim but will definitely look it up! Thanks for the tip!
Thank You For this info. As parents we did alot of research as well when switching over to formula . For us We used Hipp German Version and it worked really well and never had to try Goats milk or any other.
Hello, I had severe stomach issues with my first born. Up to the point he would scream for hours and slept pretty badly. Never was diagnosed with anything, and it was never colic. We were told it was just digestion issues, and gas. I breastfed mostly but we supplemented with enfamil (which I now know was a mistake). We then switched him to goats milk and he finally outgrew it at 4 months, but I am now pregnant with my 2nd and I would like to avoid this happening again. I will be breastfeeding most of the time but would like to supplement with a goats milk formula. Which do you recommend best?
Hi! congratulations on your baby! I am sorry your first baby had so many issues – that is so rough! There’s not guarantee that baby #2 will have the same issues, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed. As I mention above, goat milk formulas are not FDA approved these are all EU formulas so you REALLY need to be sure your pediatrician is fine with you using one. I can’t give you a personalized recommendation, but I will say, I never recommend Kabrita for newborn babies since it is NOT an infant formula (it’s a toddler formula). If your new baby does end up having sensitive intestines, you can also talk to your doc about a partially hydrolyzed formula. Based on how your baby is growing and digesting your doc should be able to help you make the best choice. Congrats again on your pregnancy!
Their is a US made goat milk formula called Sammy’s milk.
Hi! So, I do know about Sammy’s milk but left if off the list since it’s not an infant formula. It also uses lots of ingredients that haven’t gone through the testing and approval process for use in infant formulas. I do think it’s a great option for older babies over 12 months, but it hasn’t gone though safety testing for infants. Thanks for the note!
Hi Dr. Young -thanks so much for providing the information on your site, it’s so helpful! Do you know of any *reputable* retailers for NannyCare Stage 2 in the United States? I’m not finding any! Thank you.
I don’t 🙁 but I haven’t spent time looking!! Baby Kind Market recently stopped selling formula (a risk with using EU formulas) and I haven’t spent any time speaking with other suppliers that do offer it. I do have factors to consider when “vetting” a supplier listed here. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the information! I have a 10-month-old with dairy intolerance, and am ready to start transitioning from breastfeeding-only to something else. With my older kids I used soymilk at this stage, but I prefer to go another route this time. My pediatrician expressed concerns about goat’s milk not having enough of the right vitamins. Can you comment on that?
Hi! goat milk alone does NOT have enough nutrients for a baby (just like cow’s milk). Goat milk formula has lots of nutrients added to make it suitable for a baby. However, if your angel really has a dairy allergy then goat milk formula won’t be a good choice 🙁 and you’ll need a hypoallergenic formula.
If you aren’t sure, then ask your doc if you can test a little goat milk cheese or goat milk yogurt to see how he responds. If he does well, then you can feel safer trying a goat milk formula (assuming your pediatrician is OK with it, of course).
Great information Dr Young, I started supplementing my 6 mo old with Nanny Care goat formula and it has been a great alternative to cow’s milk to which he developed sensitivity. EU formulas are more strictly regulated and have higher standards than US formulas, which makes me feel more comfortable giving it to my baby.
Dear Dr. Young,
I am a baby formula practitioner in AU. I have read your articles on this website 2 years ago. Recently we have some doubts about goat milk formula so I check in the mailbox(subscribe 2 years ago) and have learnt a great deal in this one.
As you may know Australia brands export a great amount of baby formula to China. But their customers rarely have equal knowledge in this area. For example, is goat milk formula always better, frequently asked.
After reading your article we discuss the topic by bringing up your opinion. Although consumers in China may not understand until we try to explain the points of views. I wonder if we could quote your article (Author name,website links, etc.) and translate it into Chinese to share your views.
Kind regards,
Charles
Your recommendation of Holle is in direct violation of the AAP. https://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/05/11/nutrition051118
Each facility and formulation is reviewed by the AAP for proper quality and nutrition standards, but this one is not.
Thanks for the comment – That article is all 100% right – the FDA does not inspect or approve any EU formula manufacturers, and parents take on a risk using a European formula and trusting their supplier. But I think I am really clear (at least I sure try to be) that I do to “recommend” any of these formulas. When it comes to European formulas, I am very open about the risks, and the things parents need to consider along with their doctor, and I always always say that parents need to have their doctors support before using a European formula (or any formula switch for that matter!). The US is importing massive amounts of European (including goat milk) formula so parents are using these. My goal is to provide nutrition information so parents understand the differences and similarities between these and other options so they can make informed confident decisions along with their pediatrician about which to choose. Its a great point – thanks.