Goat or cow's milk for babies. When can goat milk be introduced into infant feeding and how to give it

13.11.2019 -

In the diet of a newborn today, in addition to the mother's breast milk, infant formula is used based on the usual cow's milk, as well as goat's milk. In addition, products used as complementary foods are prepared from goat milk. However, it is very important to know at what age you can safely use such milk as food for infants.

Beneficial features

Mother's milk is the best nutrition for a baby, so pediatricians around the world recommend breastfeeding a baby from the first years of life, thereby fully satisfying his physiological and psychological needs. But there are often cases when this feeding option becomes impossible. In such situations, questions quite often arise regarding a worthy alternative, where goat milk is one of the options for feeding infants.

Undoubtedly, this product has unique properties, since the risk of allergies to it is minimal, so goat milk acts as a basis for preparing infant formula for children prone to allergic reactions.

In addition, it contains much less casein compared to a product from a cow. It is this substance that forms a dense clot in the baby’s stomach, which cannot be easily digested. fragile body It is very difficult for a newborn, which causes some discomfort and problems.

Goat milk is a softer product, which has a positive effect on digestion; as a result, the milk is absorbed almost 100%.

It has been established that goat's milk is closer in chemical composition to breast milk, which has a beneficial effect on the introduction of new foods to the baby's menu. Among the other positive features of milk, one can highlight the fact that it does not contain cow protein, which, in most cases, provokes such a reaction as atopic dermatitis in infants.

Concerning chemical composition goat milk, it is worth noting the presence of vitamin A, B vitamins, as well as calcium and vitamin PP. Due to the complete absorption of goat's milk, its consumption minimizes the risk of developing rickets. In addition, the drink promotes rapid regeneration of bone tissue. Due to the low level of lactose present, the goat product is allowed for feeding children with lactose intolerance.

Linolenic acid has a beneficial effect on immune system newborn, and lysozyme has bactericidal properties. Goat's milk has a beneficial effect on intestinal function, reduces the likelihood of constipation, and the potassium and magnesium it contains strengthens the baby's heart.

The benefit of the product is due to its ability to neutralize hydrochloric acid, which is released along with gastric juice, which is important for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Maximum concentration useful substances accounts for fresh products, however, goat’s milk is not suitable as a product to be introduced into the infant’s diet as the main food. Usually, complementary feeding dishes are prepared on its basis, but for older children the product must be diluted and boiled. Such changes in consistency and heat treatment change the composition of milk, but it still does not lose its main benefits.

Contraindications and harm

Despite the above positive features of goat milk, the product may cause negative reaction baby if it is used illiterately or hastily as food. The product rarely causes allergies, but such reactions do occur in newborns. Signs of an allergy include skin rashes, runny nose, colic and regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea and difficulty breathing.

If any of these signs appear, it is necessary to completely exclude milk from the child’s diet. However, according to reviews from parents who have encountered similar situations, when the child reaches the age of three, the allergy to the drink in children goes away on its own, without additional treatment and drug intervention.

Due to the presence of mineral salts in goat milk, its consumption can cause excessive stress on the kidneys of a newborn, so the product should be administered with extreme caution, following the recommendations of pediatricians and the dosage according to age.

It is worth noting the presence of a minimal amount of iron in milk, which is important for a growing organism, as well as for infants with low level hemoglobin. Goat milk is not rich in vitamin D, so the product is not good option as the main complementary food. The drink contains a high fat content, which indicates its nutritional value, but in light low content lipases, it will be problematic for a child’s body to break them down for complete digestion.

In practice, there have been situations where children were infected with brucellosis, so milk in mandatory must be boiled before use.

Taking into account the huge number of opinions regarding the exceptional benefits of goat's milk for infants, the decision to switch to such a diet must be made together with a pediatrician who is able to give recommendations for each child individually based on individual characteristics baby, in particular if we're talking about about infants up to one year old.

At what age can it be given?

The introduction of goat's milk into the baby's menu is limited by the age of the child. As for the opinion of experts, Dr. Komarovsky recommends starting to get acquainted with the drink or products based on it at 1 year. But in special cases, the baby’s consumption of milk is postponed until after 3 years of age, when the risk of an allergy to it will be minimal, and the child’s body will become stronger and more mature.

As for situations where earlier introduction into the diet becomes a necessary measure, the following cases can be distinguished:

intolerance to other infant formulas and the simultaneous lack of breast milk in the mother;
continuous long-term regurgitation one month old baby who is on artificial nutrition;
lack of baby weight;
general intolerance by the body milk sugar.

In addition, not every family where breast-feeding For one reason or another, it is not possible; the financial situation allows the purchase of expensive infant formula. But you have your own farm and a goat, in which case choosing animal milk becomes the most acceptable option. In addition, there is no doubt about the quality of the product, which alleviates some concerns.

In the form of complementary foods, cottage cheese or kefir are prepared from goat milk for children. After consultation with a pediatrician, the child is introduced to the first dish upon reaching 7 months; from 9 months, cottage cheese or milk can be introduced into the menu, but it is correct and safe to drink even one year old child It can only be used in a diluted state.

Rules for introducing into the diet

In order to avoid mistakes when providing the baby with the correct and balanced nutrition when getting acquainted with goat milk, Parents should adhere to the following recommendations.

It is best to opt for a homemade product from a trusted supplier. It is important that the animals are healthy, and that there are only positive reviews about the products sold.
If it is not possible to purchase homemade products, you can find a factory-made product in the assortment of modern stores. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the composition and deadlines for its implementation.
Consulting a doctor before adding milk and milk-based dishes to your baby’s menu should be mandatory.

The use of the product in its pure form for children after one year and 2 years is not allowed. The drink must be diluted with water. You can start getting acquainted with it by using milk as a base for making porridge or cottage cheese. However, milk must always be boiled before consumption. After the baby adapts to the product, the amount of added water can be gradually reduced, and after a few months you can switch to the usual pure goat milk composition.

Breakfast is considered the optimal time during the day for a child to drink this drink, since it will take a lot of effort for the child’s body to digest it.

How to breed goat milk for infants?

The first time the product must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 4, the amount of drink for the first acquaintance should be no more than 2 teaspoons. Afterwards, you need to observe the reaction of the child’s body, paying attention to skin and baby's chair.

In the absence of any negative manifestations the influence of milk on the baby, the daily norm is gradually increased. The recommended dose for a child under one year of age per day is no more than 75 ml, once the child reaches 3 years of age, daily norm doubles. And the amount of water in the drink, on the contrary, gradually decreases over time. For infants, it is gradually brought to a ratio of 1: 3, and from 3 years of age, milk can be diluted 1: 1.

For introduction into the drink, only warm boiled water should be used. However, the diet infant should not consist entirely of animal milk and products made from it; for full development in the first years of life, the baby needs mother’s breast milk.

How to store it correctly?

The established shelf life of fresh goat milk is no more than 3 days; these requirements also apply to the product stored in the refrigerator. To avoid premature spoilage of milk purchased for feeding a child, the product is boiled by heating the drink to a temperature of +72C. A similar technology is used in the production of dairy products, which are sold in supermarkets, and it is called pasteurization.

Foreign manufacturers prepare products from goat milk using a slightly different technology, using heating of the product only to +56C.

Boiled milk must be stored in a glass or enamel container with a closed lid. The best place for this is the refrigerator or any other cool place in the house.

Experience shows that pasteurization completely destroys the microflora in the drink, as a result of which the product can be used as food for 10 days.

An alternative to refrigerated storage is the freezer. You can freeze products purchased in large quantities in the same glass container, and if necessary, remove the bottle or can of the drink, defrost it and use fresh and natural product. After defrosting, in order for the drink to acquire a uniform consistency, it must be shaken. Goat milk can also be stored in ceramic containers.

For more information about goat milk for babies, watch the following video.

Goat's milk and cottage cheese in Lately have become very popular products, which is associated with increased demand for products, healing qualities and nutritional value which have been proven using scientific research and many years of experience in use.

About the product properties

In order for children to have strong health and full development, it is necessary to provide the child with comprehensive and healthy nutrition. And if there is no way to feed the children breast milk, you can choose the most optimal analogue. Among them is goat milk. For infants and children under one year old, it is considered the best, because the tiny organism is able to easily and quickly perceive its composition.

It contains all the necessary elements and vitamins necessary for normal growth and development:

vitamin B12, which promotes hematopoiesis;
vitamins A, C, D;
scanty lactose content, which is important for lactase deficiency and for children who may be allergic to cow's milk;
sialic acid, warning, etc.

At the same time, such a goat product is characterized by a high percentage of fat content, which the baby’s body may not be able to cope with. As a result, symptoms such as constipation may occur. In addition, a composition oversaturated with minerals can cause kidney problems. Due to insufficiency of iron and folic acid in goat milk, anemia may occur.

Therefore, if you have to introduce an analogue of breast milk into your child’s diet, first make sure that the mixture meets the needs and physiological characteristics small organism so that symptoms are not provoked pathological conditions(allergies, constipation, etc.).

Doctors' opinions

In order to properly introduce another product, you will need to consult your pediatrician. A doctor’s opinion will help you understand whether it is possible and worthwhile to feed a baby goat products (milk, ready-made formulas and cereals, cottage cheese), and at what age such complementary foods can be given to children.

Breastfeeding from birth to the first year of life is the main component of the diet of children. But now there are more and more cases when this food option is not suitable. When a child is diagnosed with lactase deficiency, this leads many parents to a dead end, and they refuse breastfeeding, offering the child artificial formula instead. But such a diagnosis is not a reason to stop giving milk to the baby. In case of lactase deficiency, you should choose the most optimal composition natural mixture - goat or cow's milk, if allergies or constipation do not occur in response to them.

When it comes to complementary foods (or the main food product) for infants, expert opinions differ. For example, medical consultant Komarovsky does not recommend giving it to infants under 1 year old, but advises using special mixtures/porridges adapted to the needs of the body of children of this age. Other doctors admit that such a product can be given to a baby when he reaches 6-9 months of age.

Rules for introducing complementary foods

Like any other food product, you can start giving goat milk with small portions, gradually increasing the volume. In this way, it will be possible to promptly identify symptoms of inappropriate formula (for example, allergies or constipation).

At what age can such a food product become an addition to a baby’s diet, we have already figured it out. In general, such milk can be introduced from 8-10 months (cottage cheese - from 6-6.5), and in case of maternal deficiency or cow allergy - earlier. Now you can administer the drink correctly.

Approximate schedule

As we indicated above, Komarovsky believes that it is undesirable to give goat milk to infants until they reach the age of 1 year (more on this in the video). At the same time, if necessary, such a product can be introduced from 6 months, but only before boiling and diluting.

The initial dose of goat's milk for a child should be 2.5 grams. However, it must first be boiled and diluted with boiled water. To obtain the mixture, it is necessary to take into account the primary dilution proportions - 1:5 or 1:4 (where 5 and 4 are water). After about a month, if allergies do not occur, symptoms of lactase deficiency or constipation do not appear, the ratio can be changed to 1:3 and so on. The reaction of the children’s body to such a composition should be observed. Next, if everything is fine, you can give a portion of 2.5-4 grams of milk in its pure form. In response to the introduction too fatty product, the baby’s body may experience difficulty defecating (constipation). If symptoms that the composition of the mixture is not suitable are not observed, it will be possible to gradually increase the serving size.

Everyone knows that any product of goat origin has a specific smell. Therefore, in order to accustom your baby, you can offer him complementary foods in the form of porridge cooked in milk. Cottage cheese, if given in tiny portions, can also be used for feeding. Goat milk cottage cheese is suitable as complementary food for children who are allergic to cow milk. You can do it yourself:

Take 1 liter. whole milk and pour into a saucepan, heat to 40 degrees (do not boil).
To make the cottage cheese tender, it must be diluted with 700 g of low-fat yogurt.
The warm mixture should be wrapped in a blanket and left for 12 hours, or overnight.
In the morning, the saucepan is again placed on low heat and its contents are constantly stirred during the heating process.
The mass should be heated to 80 degrees, then place the pan in a larger vessel with cold water.
After the mass has cooled, everything is filtered and cottage cheese is obtained. It is advisable to store it in the refrigerator throughout the day and constantly drain the whey.

Nuances of use

When deciding to give infants food products based on goat's milk, you should take into account the nuances of using the product. Due to its fat content, the following may occur:

constipation;
symptoms of exacerbation in children with disorders of the pancreas;
cholesterol deposition;
allergies due to individual intolerance.

The benefits of goat milk are legendary. However, whether it is possible and necessary to introduce it into the diet of children under one year old should be taken very seriously. You should learn how to properly give goat milk (porridge, cottage cheese) so as not to provoke symptoms of pathological abnormalities.

I found an interesting article. I was just thinking about starting to give my daughter goat’s milk a little at a time, but now I’ll probably hold off :)

Goat's milk is sufficient good product, which can be included in your child’s diet. It contains vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, manganese. If you are going to use goat milk for infants, then you need to pay attention to the quality of the product, as well as the preliminary preparation of the milk for use.

Properties of goat milk

The absorption of protein and fat from goat's milk is much easier than from cow's milk. This is due to the fact that in goat milk the protein is in a finely dispersed form and a more delicate and easily digestible clot is formed from it under the influence of gastric juice. Consequently, the body spends less vitality and energy to absorb this valuable milk protein. Therefore, goat milk is recommended for children, sick and elderly people. In addition, goat milk proteins do not cause an allergic reaction, since they do not pass through the wall undigested. digestive tract. Goat milk is characterized by having pronounced antimicrobial properties, as well as antihemorrhagic and antianemic properties. Goat milk has a beneficial effect on the human body in case of disorders, diseases thyroid gland. It is useful in the presence of diseases respiratory tract, eczema, tuberculosis and even in the case of radioactive radiation. In addition, goat milk helps in the fight against insomnia.

Recommendations for consuming goat milk can be boiled down to two points. It must be consumed pasteurized or fresh. The packaging must indicate a sell-by date, which is no more than 10 days; if its shelf life is longer, then it is not recommended to take this product. It is recommended to drink goat milk slowly, in small sips.

Feeding an infant goat milk

Fresh goat milk is characterized by having bactericidal properties that prevent microorganisms from developing. It contains immunoglobulin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase. Goat's milk contains a lot of enzymes, it doesn't even have a large number of steroid and peptide hormones.

Goat's milk is generally not used to feed newborns.

How to give goat milk to a baby

It is recommended to start feeding goat milk at 9 months of age;
goat milk for infants should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1;
Before giving goat milk to a child, it must be boiled. The water should also be boiled;
It is recommended to consume no more than 50 grams of milk per day, i.e. 100 grams of milk diluted with water.

In addition, it is recommended to monitor the condition and well-being of the child after he was given goat milk for the first time. For the first time, it is recommended to give slightly less milk, it is better to start with 20 grams, diluted 40 grams of milk. If you notice a positive effect from drinking goat milk for a child under one year old, then you can increase the amount of goat milk to 50 grams.

It is good when a child receives mother's breast milk from birth. But what about those who various reasons can't breastfeed your baby? Many parents believe that better food for infants - cow's or goat's milk.

Which is better: cow's or goat's milk?

Cons of goat milk

Goat's milk has always been considered a healing product among the people. But is it as similar in composition to human breast milk as they say? The qualitative composition of these products has significant differences in both fat content and protein and fat content. Let's list negative sides goat milk, which doctors write about.

It is much fattier;
It lacks the enzyme lipase, which promotes the breakdown of fats;
Goat's milk contains a lot of phosphorus, which creates additional work for the newborn's fragile kidneys;
This type of milk does not contain folic acid, this can trigger the development of anemia.

Pros of goat milk

If the choice is between cow's milk () and goat's milk, the doctors' opinion is clear - goat's milk is much preferable to cow's milk. Why?

Note to moms!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me too, and I’ll also write about it))) But there’s nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too...

Cow's milk contains a lot of casein. Casein turns into a dense clot in the baby’s ventricle and is processed for a long time and is difficult. Goat milk contains much less casein, so it is absorbed much better and more completely;
Goat milk is richer in vitamins of different groups;
Contains a lot of calcium, which is perfectly absorbed by the growing child's body. Therefore, the teeth of babies receiving goat's milk begin to grow earlier and stronger;
Goat milk is especially recommended for babies prone to regurgitation. After all, it contains milk balls in a homogenized form (i.e., smaller), which means they are better absorbed by the child’s body;
In the baby’s ventricle, milk turns into small curdled balls, almost like women’s milk;
Another useful property of goat milk is that it practically does not cause allergies. This quality is important for children prone to allergic reactions and patients with atopic dermatitis.

When can you give goat milk to your baby?

Doctors recommend giving goat milk to babies from 9 months, and before that, feeding them with an adapted milk formula. Nowadays milk formulas made from goat's milk are produced. It’s a pity that they don’t have the beneficial properties of natural goat’s milk. If formula is not suitable for your baby and he often spits up, then you can use goat’s milk almost from birth.

How to properly include it in your diet

If you nevertheless decide to feed your newborn goat's milk from the first days, then you must follow some rules.

Try to take milk from friends and neighbors.
Look at how the goat is kept, don’t be too lazy to come for milking.
If you buy at the market, ask for a certificate from a veterinarian (is the goat healthy).
When buying milk in a store, carefully study the production date and expiration date. Children should not use products with an expiration date.
Try the milk yourself to see if there is any unpleasant aftertaste.
It is necessary to dilute goat milk with boiled water for the first time. For a newborn, take 3 parts water to one part milk. If you don’t do this, your baby may get sick from being too fat.
The milk itself must be boiled. It is not recommended to use metal containers for boiling.
It is advisable to store milk in glass, enamel or ceramic containers.
When the baby gets used to it, you can dilute it in a 1:2 ratio, after a month you can already give undiluted milk.

Lyudmila Sergeevna Sokolova

Reading time: 4 minutes

A A

Article last updated: 05/01/2019

Can infants have goat milk?

Mothers often wonder: is it possible to introduce goat’s milk into complementary feeding for a baby? It happens that without consulting a pediatrician, they start feeding it to the baby from 3 months of age.

Naturally, nothing can replace real breastfeeding, but due to certain factors (stress, C-section, illness, etc.), when the mother’s lactation disappears or decreases, parents have to look for alternative options feeding infant.

Benefits of goat milk for children

According to research by specialists, it is goat milk that is closest in composition to the mother’s milk.

It is known that milk consists of tiny balls, which, depending on the type, have different size and consistency. Human contains the smallest, goat - medium, cow - the largest.

Children's intestines perfectly absorb the first, the largest balls most often cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. But goat's milk is a kind of golden mean; it can be given to the baby much earlier than whole cow's milk.

This product contains: beneficial features:

includes a large number of useful minerals of groups A, C and D;
it contains vitamins such as: B12, which improves the process of hematopoiesis in the human body, and magnesium, which helps remove heavy metals from the body and strengthens nervous system child;
silica helps in the prevention of rickets in infants;
fatty acids are easily broken down in the child’s body;
indispensable for babies prone to constant regurgitation, as small size milk balls allows it to be completely absorbed;
practically does not contain milk sugar (lactose), therefore, it can be safely given to all children with lactose intolerance.

Can goat milk be harmful?

Despite the fact that this milk is healthy and nutritious, it is better not to completely consider it as the only product for feeding:

it contains casein protein, which is difficult for a child to digest and often leads to intestinal colic in children under one year of age;
it contains a lot of mineral salts, which increase the load on tiny kidneys;
contains virtually no iron, so children who drink goat milk exclusively are often diagnosed with anemia;
it also contains insufficient amounts of vitamin D3, so necessary for the child infancy;
A large percentage of fat content makes goat milk not only nutritious, but also not entirely suitable for complete digestion.

It is known that the milk of any animal is what it eats. And if a cow eats exclusively fresh grass or hay, then goats can chew anything, for example, grass contained heavy metals, or withered plants that contain various toxins. Therefore, it is important: in what conditions the goat is kept, how and what it eats.

When can you start giving goat milk to infants?

Before feeding your baby goat milk, any mother should consult a competent pediatrician, since for any organism there are characteristics and intolerance to a particular product.

Many doctors agree that for children aged three years and older, this milk is very useful, but for infants there are many restrictions. Firstly, each child may have an individual intolerance to one of the components in milk. Secondly, this product has a specific taste that may cause discomfort at the baby's. And lastly, goat milk cannot be a source of all useful substances, which means that this product should be given exclusively infant it is forbidden.

The well-known pediatrician Komarovsky believes that goat's milk can be given to children from the age of one year, and in some cases, it is better to wait until the age of three to introduce this complementary food. According to the doctor, goat milk in general is given too much importance. But you can introduce it only when you have your own goat, and there is no opportunity to buy a quality one. adapted mixture. And if the parents have already decided to feed the baby this product, then it must be diluted to 2% fat content.

How to properly introduce goat's milk into a children's menu?

To correctly introduce goat milk product In your baby's diet, you must follow some rules.

Fresh goat milk must be boiled. As mentioned above, if you are purchasing a product from someone, it is important to know what conditions the animal is kept in and what it eats. If the purchase was made in a store, you need to contact Special attention for the expiration date.

Since goat milk has a very high fat content, one-year-old children need to dilute it with boiled water in a ratio of 1:4, gradually reducing this ratio. Children after three years of age can be given it undiluted.

Boiled milk cannot be heated or boiled a second time; due to excessive heat treatment, beneficial properties are lost, so it must be consumed immediately after cooling during the first boiling.

This product should be stored in glass or ceramic containers, but under no circumstances in metal containers.

It is necessary to start complementary feeding when the child is completely healthy, with 10 milliliters diluted with 40 milliliters of boiled water. After the first time, you need to wait for some time and monitor the baby’s reaction: does he have bowel movements, allergic reactions or intestinal colic. If there are Negative consequences, then you need to immediately stop introducing this product. Although allergies to goat's milk are rare in children.

Basic rules for choosing goat milk

If parents have decided to give goat milk product to their child, then there are a few things you need to know: simple rules for choosing quality milk:

buy only from familiar and trusted people;
clarify the conditions for keeping the animal;
if milk is purchased on the market, be sure to ask the seller for the necessary documentation;
If you buy it in a store, make sure that it does not contain any additives.

Video: goat milk for feeding a baby

Read further: