Goat Milk Formula Is Growing in Popularity — Here's Why & the Best Ones to Buy
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Formula vs. breast milk: it’s an age-old debate and a very personal choice, albeit an often controversial one. Beyond social pressures and perhaps even disappointment — as breastfeeding is not always an option, even for those who choose it — some parents who’ve gone the formula route are often faced with an additional concern when they realize their baby is gassy, fussy, has reflux and diarrhea and/or just doesn’t seem to be tolerating their diet.
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That’s why goat milk is experiencing a spike in popularity, with both everyday and even celebrity moms like Kristin Cavallari and Khloe Kardashian proudly admitting to feeding their babies goat milk formula. Many parents are discovering this cow’s milk alternative is easier on tiny and still-developing digestive systems, and produces fewer allergic reactions — and science confirms it. So does my own family. My grandmother fed my mother goat milk as a child back in the 1950s to treat my mom’s milk sensitivity. So it’s nothing new, per se; goat milk is just experiencing a new golden age.
Cow vs Goat Milk Formula: What’s the Difference?
Believe it or not there are a lot of differences between cow milk and goat milk. For starters, goat milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk does, which explains why some babies’ digestive systems can break it down more easily. Goat milk also has more calcium, potassium and vitamin A, as well as less sodium and carbohydrates. However, goat milk may contain less vitamin D than cow milk, so it’s smart to ask your doctor whether you should consider a supplement. In fact it’s always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician before starting your baby on a goat milk diet.
Is Goat Milk Formula Good for Babies?
Goat milk formula seems to be well tolerated by most babies, but there’s always a small chance that someone can have an allergic reaction to goat milk too, which is why a doctor’s supervision is so necessary. That being said, experts warn to think twice before giving your baby pure goat milk. In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics says that goat milk alone can be unsafe — and in the worst case scenario, deadly — to infants under the age of one. Goat milk formula, on the other hand, is formulated to have just the right ratio of goat milk to other vitamins and nutrients essential to your baby’s health. When consumed properly, goat milk formula is usually perfectly safe and good for babies.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Aussie Bubs is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Aussie Bubs Goat Milk Formula
The number one goat milk formula for infants and toddlers in the US., Aussie Bubs, offers goat milk formula fortified with naturally occurring A2 goat protein as well as healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6, DHA and ARA for brain development, and prebiotics designed to live in perfect harmony with your baby’s gut microbiome — and it comes from healthy, well-cared for Australian goats. The brand sells goat milk formula for all ages and stages starting with newborn, or Stage 1. Aussie Bubs prides itself on being a clean brand as well, excluding GMOs, hormones, sweeteners and anything else potentially harmful. It’s even Clean Label certified. One parent reported, “No more eczema, stools are perfect, he is off reflux meds and finally is drinking the recommended amount for his age. We love Bubs!”
Bubs Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1, 28.2 oz
Kendamil Goat Powder Infant Formula
The most popular brand of goat milk formula on Target with an impressive 9.7 five-star rating, Kendamil Goat Powder Infant Formula comes from family farms in Europe and contains probiotics formulated to treat and prevent things like gassiness, reflux and constipation. Their goat milk formula also contains A2 beta-caseins, selenium, and natural prebiotics — these are all things found in human breast milk, making this one of the closest options out there to the genuine article.
Kendamil Goat Powder Infant Formula, 28.2 oz.
Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula
Kabrita goat milk formula contains all of the healthy milk proteins your child needs for proper growth and development. It also contains 22 additional vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, iron and the crucial hormone DHA. This one is formulated using Dutch goat milk, and it claims to be the only brand on the market that strictly prohibits residue from glyphosate, a common weed killer used on crops. “When my son’s pediatrician said ‘eczema is not something we treat, we just wait it out until age 1 or 2,’ I knew I was on my own,” wrote one concerned parent who tried Kabrita goat milk formula out of desperation. “Within two feedings, his temples and neck were clear of red scales. Within a day, his trunk was down to just dry scales, no redness/inflammation. Within 3 days, he was completely rid of ALL redness and most of the dry patches.”
Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula, 14 oz.
Holle Organic Infant Goat Milk Formula PRE
If you’re looking for an organic goat milk formula option, look no further than Holle Organic. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals and contains none of the harmful stuff, like GMOs, palm oil and corn syrup — and honestly, ew, who would ever want their baby consuming that stuff anyway? The company’s strong on ethics too: if the formula doesn’t agree with your baby, for instance, Holle will provide you with a credit to try another brand. They’ll also match the best price you can find online.
Holle Organic Infant Goat Milk Formula PRE, 14.2 oz.
Baby’s Only Goat Milk DHA/ARA Formula
Baby’s Only goat milk formula’s claim to fame is that it’s the only one on the market containing Organic egg lecithin, a source of DHA and ARA, which support brain development. It also leaves out icky ingredients like hexane-extracted oils or palm oil, which are known to impede digestion — defeating the whole purpose of goat milk formula. It’s produced in a facility in Ohio, where production is held to high organic standards. “My son was a completely different baby after starting this goat milk formula and adjusting! I can’t recommend it enough!” wrote a parent.
Baby’s Only Goat Milk DHA/ARA Formula 12.7 oz.
HiPP Dutch Goat Stage 2 Formula
Dutch brand HiPP produces goat milk formula for all the stages of your baby’s development. It has everything a great goat milk formula should, including prebiotics, Omega 3, DHA and ALA, and all the nutrients present in breast milk. It leaves out sugar, soy, corn syrup and other things you never want to see on an ingredients label, too. Their goat milk formula production undergoes a rigorous process in which it’s tested for over 1,000 toxic substances. Their formula is also produced using sustainable practices.
HiPP Dutch Goat Stage 2 Formula, 400 g
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