Mothers often wonder: is it possible to introduce infants into complementary feeding? goat milk? It happens that without consulting a pediatrician, they start feeding it to the baby from 3 months of age.
Naturally, nothing can replace the real thing breast-feeding, but due to some factors (stress, C-section, illness, etc.), when the mother’s lactation disappears or decreases, parents have to look for alternative options feeding an 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 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, since the small size of the 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.
Harm of goat milk
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 that contains heavy metals, or dead 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, which can cause discomfort in the baby. 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 great importance. But you can introduce it only when you have your own goat, and there is no opportunity to buy a high-quality 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 dishes, but in no case in metal.
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 of 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
Pediatricians do not recommend giving goat's milk in pure form up to a year. At first, it is advisable to feed the baby only breast milk. However, if this is not possible, mothers switch to mixed or artificial feeding.
In this case, it is better to use special adapted milk formulas. Goat milk formulas are an excellent solution if a child is allergic to cow protein. However, only a doctor can prescribe such nutrition. Let's find out in more detail whether it is possible to feed children goat's milk and from how many months it can be given.
Features of goat milk
The main advantage of goat's milk is that it almost never causes food allergies. Therefore, it and mixtures based on it become a real salvation for children with allergies. What to do if your baby has a food allergy, see.
Goat's milk contains less casein than cow's milk. Casein forms a dense clot in the stomach, which is difficult and long to digest. And goat milk is a more homogeneous and soft mixture, which is easily and quickly digested and absorbed 100%. In the stomach it turns into a tender, loose clot that does not irritate digestion. Goat's milk is closer in composition to breast milk than cow's milk. This also simplifies the adaptation of the child’s digestion to a new product.
Goat's milk does not contain dangerous cow's protein, which often causes atopic dermatitis in infants. The composition of the product includes a large number of vitamins and calcium, which provides normal development and infant growth. In addition, it improves digestion and restores intestinal microflora, helps with constipation and frequent regurgitation.
Despite its beneficial properties and composition, goat milk also carries dangers. First of all, it is much fattier than cow's milk. Moreover, the product does not contain lipase, which breaks down fats. This composition causes problems in the baby’s digestion and greatly strengthens the stomach, so for children under one year of age, goat’s milk must be diluted with water.
When and how to give goat milk
Goat's milk is unacceptable in the diet of babies in the first six months; formulas with goat's milk at this age are allowed only according to the indications of a pediatrician. A newborn and an infant up to six months simply cannot cope with the high fat content of goat's milk, since the baby's body is not yet adapted to such food. In addition, folic acid and vitamin D are very important for children in the first months of life, which are not enough in goat milk.
Infants should not be given this product until 9-12 months of age. At nine months you can cook porridge and cottage cheese with goat milk. For kids on artificial feeding You can start giving such products as early as 6-7 months. How to give goat milk to a baby is also of great importance.
To avoid a negative reaction, be sure to dilute the product with water for at least the first month. It is better to start the introduction with goat cottage cheese. Follow the rules for including new products in your baby’s diet, recommendations for choosing and storing milk, and for preparing dishes with this component.
Rules for introducing into the diet
- Take only natural fresh goat milk, preferably a homemade product;
- If you use a purchased product, be sure to check the composition, expiration date, and integrity of the packaging;
- Before introducing the product, it is better to consult a pediatrician;
- At first, dilute the milk with boiled water (three parts water to one part milk);
- For the first time, give your baby a teaspoon of cottage cheese prepared with diluted milk. Observe the child’s reaction in two days. If there is no negative reaction, you can give products with goat's milk. If stool worsens and stomach problems, delay administration for at least a month;
- At first, give the diluted product as a component of porridge or cottage cheese;
- Be sure to boil the milk before serving or preparing food!;
- When the child gets a little used to the new product, the amount of water during dilution is gradually reduced. After 4-5 weeks, you can switch to pure milk, but pediatricians do not recommend doing this before a year;
- Milk can be stored in glass, enamel or ceramic containers for no more than two days at room temperature and up to one week in the refrigerator.
How to make cottage cheese from goat milk
The cottage cheese recipe for feeding infants includes a liter of goat's milk and 700 grams of natural low-fat yogurt. Milk is poured into a saucepan and heated to 40 degrees. Then pour in the yogurt and mix the mass thoroughly. You can dilute the yogurt in advance a small amount milk to make the cottage cheese soft and tender.
Wrap the pan in something warm and leave the mixture overnight. In the morning, stir the mixture and cook over low heat, stirring regularly. Bring the mass to 80 degrees and cool by placing in a large container with cold water. Renew the cold water until the curd mixture has cooled. Transfer the mixture into a colander with gauze. Tie the gauze and put the cottage cheese together with a colander in the refrigerator for a day. The drained serum can be poured out or used as a face mask.
Goat milk mixtures
This is an alternative adapted nutrition for babies with allergies to cow protein and problems with digestion. This mixture is given according to the doctor’s indications. It can be prescribed for food allergies, lactose intolerance, constipation and frequent regurgitation, dysbacteriosis.
Since goat milk is not entirely suitable for feeding children under one year old, the product contains only 45-46% of this component. The rest of the composition includes additives and components, including probiotics and nucleotides, vitamins and minerals. The food contains half as much lactose as standard infant formula. It does not cause allergies and performs a number of important functions:
- Reduces the burden on digestion;
- Improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Reduces regurgitation;
- Relieves constipation;
- Strengthens and develops the bone skeleton;
- Increases immunity;
- Prevents recruitment extra pounds and childhood obesity.
There are many stories and myths about the benefits and harms of goat's milk for infants. On the relevant sites you can find many examples of personal experience, which young mothers generously share. However, how to distinguish truth from fiction? How healthy is goat milk for newborns?
Arguments
Doctors usually say that this animal drink is harmful to babies and should not be given to them. infants up to a year. Majority artificial mixtures prepared on the basis of cow's milk with biological additives that minimize possible bloating and constipation. It is this fact that the emphasis is placed on.
Despite modern possibilities, some parents prefer to feed their infants goat milk. The following arguments are given in its favor:
- cow's milk, used in mixtures, unfortunately, is genetically modified. Most farmers feed their cows feed with chemical additives to increase milk production. Consequently, the quality suffers greatly from this.
- The soy used in the mixtures is also GMO. Therefore, you should not trust manufacturers.
- Artificial formulas with goat's milk are expensive, which means they are beyond the means of most young families.
- The immunity of a child fed on such milk is unusually strong, although doctors say the opposite.
Goats, unlike cows, eat anything, therefore, the diet of the milk “supplier” is of great importance
What Science Says
Of course, mother's milk, real milk, is best for children. breastfeeding. However, due to its absence, as often happens, parents are forced to look for alternative options. This phenomenon is caused by stress, caesarean section during childbirth, bad habits, occupation, etc. Alas, there are now few healthy mothers who are able to breastfeed. So, a look from a scientific point of view.
Any milk consists of small balls that have different sizes and consistencies. The smallest swim in human milk, the medium ones in goat's milk, and the largest in cow's milk.
The child’s body assimilates the first ones without problems, but the biggest difficulties arise with the cow product. In this regard, goat milk occupies the golden mean.
Also a clear example This table can serve as a guide.
If we consider the benefits of goat milk from a scientific point of view, it will look something like this:
- it contains a large amount of vitamins and beneficial potassium;
- it rarely provokes allergic reactions, as is the case with breast milk;
- a small amount of lactose, therefore, milk is well absorbed by children with lactose enzyme deficiency;
- the fat contained in this product is more easily absorbed by infants than its analogue;
- Goat milk contains the amino acid taurine, which has a beneficial effect on the development of babies.
Arguments against
In addition to prejudices and preconceived opinions, there are the following arguments against giving goat's milk to infants:
- failure folic acid, necessary for normal operation hematopoietic organs;
- high content of mineral salts, which negatively affects the kidneys;
- casein protein content, which has a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- lack of vitamin D and iron;
- content of acids harmful to the tiny organism;
- There is too much fat in milk, which makes it too rich and difficult for children to digest.
Also, what goats eat is not in favor of the goat product. If a cow eats only fresh green grass or dried hay, then a goat can chew anything. For example, bushes of unknown origin growing near a highway, or withered leaves containing many harmful toxins. That is why it is strictly not recommended to use this product.
Compromise solution
Of course, nothing can replace mother’s milk for children, but we have to look for options in case of its absence. The vast majority of young families resort to cow products. However, sometimes babies become allergic to it. What to do in such a situation?
Plain goat milk should not be given to newborn children. This can cause indigestion and worsen the baby’s well-being. You can find reviews on the Internet experienced mothers who fed the children with goat product from birth, but it should be understood that they do not have medical education, which means they cannot know how such milk actually affects the child.
Recipe
The product should be given to children who are at least six months old. First, mix milk and water in 1:1 proportions and mix thoroughly. Then heat to a boil and skim off the foam. Next, we pass the product through gauze three times and feed the baby. Milk should be used within 24 hours. Also, do not experiment with unboiled milk.
At what age should goat product be given? The fact is that the enzyme system of babies at this age is still very weak, and you can easily cause constipation, diarrhea or vomiting. Raw milk It can be given to a child over the age of one year, when the immune system becomes stronger.
The issue of goat milk product is very acute now. There are always heated debates online between his supporters and opponents. How many people claim the benefits of a product for newborns, so many people claim the opposite, citing scientific facts to confirm your words. You should exercise prudence and come to a compromise solution. If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, goat's milk will certainly be your salvation, but you should not risk the baby's health without good reason.
Our article is devoted to goat milk and its properties. And it answers questions about how to give it correctly and whether it is allowed for children under one year old.
Positive properties of goat milk
At a time when formulas were not so widespread on the market, our grandmothers most often fed their children with goat milk. The benefits of such milk are obvious:
- Milk is rich in minerals and vitamins. Its composition is similar to cow's, but it is much richer in calcium, iron, magnesium, proteins and fats.
- There is much less lactase in it. Thanks to this quality, goat milk can be given to children with digestive problems.
Thanks to the experiments of US scientists, it was found that it meets physiological needs better than cow's milk. For allergic tendencies, goat's milk is the best option for feeding infant.
- Goat milk is hypoallergenic. This is achieved by the fact that the protein casein, which provokes allergies, is in small quantities.
Special advantages:
- Thanks to linolenic acid, it promotes immune growth;
- serves as a prevention of rickets;
- has, thanks to lysozyme, bactericidal properties;
- normalizes intestinal function;
- due to the presence of potassium and magnesium, it improves the functioning of the conduction system of the children's heart.
According to myths, the Greek god Zeus was fed goat's milk. That's why he was so militant.
Pradeus A., immunologist: “It should be remembered that animal milk is created for young mammals and it is not advisable to transfer a baby to such milk.”
- Lack of folic derivatives. Hence the risk of anemia in the child.
- More phosphorus, which gives additional work to the kidneys.
- High fat content.
Of course, goat milk for infants has a greater advantage over cow milk. But you should not violate age criteria when introducing this product.
Contraindications to drinking goat milk
Unfortunately, there are some limitations to drinking goat milk for infants. Among them:
- individual intolerance;
- age under 9 months;
- raw milk from a sick animal.
Goat milk for newborns
It is very important to determine the age range for introducing this product into the menu. You can give goat's milk in its pure form only from 9 months, when the digestive system, and its enzymes are ready to digest goat milk.
Newborn babies do not need such supplementary feeding.
This puts a lot of stress on the kidneys and digestive tract baby.
- Before giving goat milk to a child, you need to find a quality supplier. This can be your own goat or a trusted store.
If you buy it in a store, be sure to look at the expiration date on the packaging - no more than ten days.
- To prevent infection with bacteria and viruses, it is necessary to boil goat milk.
It should be remembered that goat milk can transmit a number of infections. One of them is brucellosis.
- Be sure to evaluate the organoleptic properties yourself - smell, color, taste. Must not be foreign odors, sour taste.
- It is optimal to give your child goat milk diluted with water 1:4. A child needs no more than 50 grams of food at one meal, so when diluted with water, the resulting volume is 250 ml.
- For the first feedings, it is better to start with small portions of 20 ml.
Monitor the child’s condition and the absence of allergic reactions.
At positive effect You can increase the single volume up to 50 ml.
Goat milk should be introduced into the diet only as complementary foods.
Goat's milk in infant formula
Goat's milk can be given to infants as adapted formulas. Their big advantage is that their composition is close to mother's milk. And most importantly, this product is hypoallergenic and is well suited for children with manifestations of diathesis. Such mixtures can be given to a child from birth.
One of the brightest representatives of these mixtures is the Nanny mixture. The mixture is quite high in calories. It was the first one to go on sale in Russia. The Nanny mixture is rich in the protein casein, which helps relieve constipation. But its disadvantage is that it is not very similar to breast milk and other formulas.
Thanks to the research, it was found that the highest quality mixtures are “Kabrita” and “Mil Kozochka” based on goat milk.
Julia, 25 years old:“Since birth, I’ve been giving my daughter Kozochka, an excellent mixture. There are no tummy problems and it doesn’t put a strain on the kidneys.”
The opinion of Dr. E. O. Komarovsky regarding the introduction of goat’s milk into a child’s diet: “Goat’s milk is given unjustifiably great importance. It is not particularly valuable. I consider it inappropriate to transfer a child, especially a newborn, completely to feeding goat milk. Moreover, the lack of folic acid can have a detrimental effect on the hematopoietic system and cause anemia. You can use it if you live in a village and have a personal goat that can produce pure, uncontaminated goat milk. But you should still remember that even homemade goat’s milk should be diluted with water, thereby reducing its fat content.”
Of course, before giving goat milk to a baby, you should consult a doctor. Goat's milk has a number of advantages over cow's milk, but also a number of disadvantages over breast milk. Do not try to completely switch your infant to animal milk. For full development, in the absence of human milk, he needs adapted mixtures, and only one feeding can be replaced with goats.
If a woman, for any reason, has problems with lactation, then the question of feeding becomes quite acute. Often, on various forums on the Internet, it is recommended to use goat’s milk as food for a child. And today we will try to figure out whether such food is healthy for babies. We will also learn about the age at which it can be introduced into the diet of children.
Is milk really good for you?
First of all, it is worth noting the fact that the benefits of this product for children are greatly exaggerated. The disadvantage of this diet is that it does not contain lipase, the main function of which is to break down fats. As for the milk itself, it is quite fatty. So it turns out that the baby’s body is not able to efficiently process this product itself.
By the way, many supporters of this method of feeding argue that goat’s milk does not need to be diluted, since the fat molecules in it are much smaller in size than in cow’s milk. But the fact is that the overall fat content does not become less. It is also worth remembering that any type of complementary foods can cause allergic reactions.
It is for this reason that you need to start using such complementary foods very carefully. This product contains a huge amount of calcium and potassium, which benefits not only the baby’s body, but also an adult’s. But not everything is so rosy. Unfortunately, the child’s still fragile genitourinary system may not be able to withstand such a load. Therefore, it is still worth diluting whole milk with water.
Attention! This milk belongs to the casein group of products, which, when ingested, can form a rather dense clot. And the baby’s weak stomach is often unable to digest it.
Goat milk for infants: at what age can it be given?
Children's doctors recommend using it as complementary food only from nine months. If you have problems with lactation, then until this time you can overcome the situation with the help of a milk formula adapted for newborns.
By the way, if you accidentally see baby food in a store, the jar of which says that it is made from goat’s milk, then you shouldn’t trust the manufacturers in this case.
Perhaps some part natural product is present there, but here nutrients definitely not in this mixture.
Goat's milk for children under one year of age: how to give it?
On most online forums you can find supporters of using this product in in kind. On the one hand, of course, they can be understood: any heat treatment destroys almost all useful substances. But on the other hand, an unboiled product can contain a huge amount of dangerous bacteria. And they, as you understand, will not bring anything good to your baby.
And one more thing: before you start introducing milk into your baby’s diet, be sure to consult your pediatrician. Because there are cases when the use of this product is strictly prohibited for a particular child.
Advantages and disadvantages of goat milk
After we have figured out when you can start giving your child goat milk, it is worth studying the disadvantages and advantages of this dairy product.
When compared with cow's milk, the advantages of goat's milk are the following:
- Significantly lower amount of casein. Yes, of course, it can form clots in the stomach. But the likelihood of such a clot appearing when drinking goat milk is much less;
- Contains more calcium, which promotes the formation of the baby's teeth and bones;
- Suitable for use by children with atopic dermatitis, since cow's milk, unlike goat's milk, is more allergenic.
The disadvantages of this product include the following indicators:
- High fat content;
- Lack of lipase, as a result of which the stomach’s ability to break down fats is reduced;
- A large amount of phosphorus, which can lead to additional stress on the baby’s kidneys;
- Lack of folic acid, a deficiency of which can cause anemia.
And remember one more thing: because this product It has a rather specific taste, which means that it is likely that your baby will simply refuse to eat it.
How to properly give goat milk to children?
In order for this dairy product to be better accepted by the child’s body, it is recommended to dilute it plain water. To minimize all risks, it is worth diluting the whole product by about four times.
Roughly speaking, if you have two hundred and fifty grams of whole goat milk, then diluting should give you a liter.
Of course, such dilution will significantly reduce the concentration of nutrients in the product. But, on the other hand, you will reduce the load on the baby’s body, in particular on the gastrointestinal tract.
And such a constant load can lead to a huge number of serious diseases.
How to properly introduce goat milk into your diet
To ensure that such food does not harm your baby’s body irreparable harm, when introducing it, you should follow some rules:
- The product is worth buying from friends or neighbors. At the same time, you should definitely make sure that the goat is kept clean and tidy;
- If you decide to buy a product in a store, carefully study the composition and expiration date. Remember that you can only give your baby the freshest things. Therefore, if the expiration date has not yet expired, but there is very little time left until this moment, then it is better to look for a fresher product;
- Before feeding your baby, be sure to try the milk yourself. If a strange taste is felt, then it is better not to give it to the child;
- Be sure to boil the milk. It is advisable not to use metal utensils.
Can a child with atopic dermatitis have goat milk?
First of all, it is worth understanding what atopic dermatitis is. Dermatitis itself means the appearance of inflammation on the skin due to the influence of certain allergens. As for atopic dermatitis, in this case all the allergens are inside the baby in the form of eaten foods.
With atopic dermatitis, parents need to be very careful with complementary foods. For example, vegetables and fruit mixtures It is better to start introducing it at seven to eight months. But in the first months it is better to focus on nutrition based on breast milk.
If you don’t have it or have too little, then you can use special hypoallergenic milk or soy mixtures. Goat's milk can also be used as an alternative.
The only thing worth remembering is boiling. If you have time, you can make your own pasteurized product. To do this, you need to place it in an enamel pan and place it in a water bath. You need to heat the milk slowly, constantly monitoring the temperature with a thermometer. 20 seconds after the temperature has reached 75 degrees, carefully remove the pan from the heat and place it in a bowl of cold water. This milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours.