How to give your baby goat's milk for the first time. Goat milk for babies: benefits, harms, rules for use

Without a doubt, milk from the mother's breast is the most useful and valuable for any baby, but sometimes there is a situation when breastfeeding is not possible. In this case, the mother thinks about an alternative, for example, goat's milk. Is it possible to drink them to a child after birth? At what age is it permissible to introduce it into complementary foods and how to do it correctly? Let's figure it out.

What is useful?

• The proteins in the composition contain all the amino acids important for the growth of the child's body.
• The child receives vitamins, magnesium, calcium and other useful substances.
• It is absorbed in the children's intestines more easily than from a cow, since its proteins are lighter and the size of fat molecules is smaller.
• In the stomach, it coagulates with the formation of small balls, and the process itself resembles the digestion of breast milk.
• Allergy to it appears much less frequently than to cow's milk, which allows us to recommend it for allergy sufferers with intolerance to cow's milk proteins and atopic dermatitis.
• Fresh goat milk has antibacterial properties.
• The use of such a dairy product helps to eliminate dysbacteriosis.
• Due to the presence of taurine, such a product is useful for immunity and helps to resist colds.
• Since the lactose content is very low, this product is approved for feeding babies with lactase deficiency.

You will learn even more about the benefits by watching the program “About the most important thing”.

From how many months can children be given?

Most pediatricians do not advise introducing goat's milk into the diet of children earlier than 1 year. This product is unacceptable in the nutrition of an infant for the first 6 months, therefore, even in a diluted state, it should not be given to either a one-month-old baby or a two-month-old baby. These young children should only be breastfed.

If at an early age there is a need to replace human milk, it is best to choose an adapted formula. Moreover, if the crumbs are allergic to cow protein, the mother can pick up a mixture based on goat's milk. Such a product contains it in a dry form, which has been purified and balanced taking into account the needs of infants up to a year.

From the age of 9 months, breastfed babies can include goat's milk in the diet as one of the components of porridge. For artificial children, porridge on it can be offered a little earlier - from 7-8 months. Also, babies of this age can be given products on such milk, for example, cottage cheese.

The age of 12 months is called by most doctors the minimum when you can give both goat's and cow's milk instead of a mixture. So it should not be introduced into the children's diet before a year, and in order to give it to a one-year-old child, you first need to figure out how to dilute such a product with water, since under the age of 3 years, whole goat milk is not recommended.

Calculate your feeding schedule

Why should not be given to children under one year old?

Goat's milk, introduced into the baby's diet too early, can adversely affect his health for the following reasons:

• This product contains much more protein than breast milk. Excess casein, although it is easier to digest than from cow's milk, still puts a great strain on the intestines of infants in the first year of life.
• Fat content significantly exceeds the allowable at an early age, and there is no lipase in its composition. For this reason, it needs to be diluted, but even diluted it can cause digestive problems, since the gastrointestinal tract of children under one year old is not yet developed enough to digest animal milk. In addition, after breeding, valuable qualities are partially lost.
• The excess content of calcium and phosphorus in such a product provokes the development of rickets in babies. Phosphorus is absorbed by the child's body in an increased amount, which makes the baby's kidneys work in an enhanced mode. As a result, the calcium needed by the child is excreted along with excess phosphorus. At the same time, the baby loses other useful substances, and also runs the risk of getting dehydrated.
• It contains very little vitamins A and D, almost no iron and folic acid, because of which the development of an infant transferred to such a diet instead of mother's milk or a mixture suitable for his age may be delayed. These children develop anemia and some other diseases.

Contraindications

The use of milk from goats is not recommended for individual intolerance to such a product. Allergic reactions are rare, but still possible. In addition, its use should be avoided in diseases of the pancreas.

Komarovsky's opinion

A well-known doctor believes that goat milk is undeservedly given great importance, but in fact the benefits and harms of such a product are comparable to the properties of cow's. It also contains too much phosphorus and lacks many vitamins. The only difference is the process of curdling in the stomach, making it suitable for feeding children with frequent spitting up.

Komarovsky allows feeding children with goat's milk in a situation where there is no money for a good milk formula, and there is a goat in the household. At the same time, a popular pediatrician advises giving it only to diluted ones, so that the fat content of the final product is not higher than 2%.

You can listen to Dr. Komarovsky's commentary in the video below.

How to choose and buy?

Babies should be given only high-quality milk, so the best option is a product from your own goat or a goat of close friends. If the product is purchased on the market, ask for a veterinary certificate. If you buy it in a store, carefully study the shelf life of the product.

Before offering milk to a child, be sure to try it yourself. If the product has an extraneous taste or smell, it is better not to offer it to children. You can store fresh goat milk in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Pasteurized or home-boiled goat's milk is well stored in a ceramic or glass container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It can also be boiled and stored in enameled dishes, while metal ones are not suitable for these purposes. To keep the product for a longer period without boiling, milk can be frozen. After thawing and thorough shaking, the product will be almost as fresh.

How to enter into the diet

If the baby is one year old and the mother is interested in how to transfer the child to goat's milk, then it is important to remember the following basic nuances:

• The product should be introduced gradually, starting with one spoonful.
• At first, it is diluted 1 to 3, and then the amount of water added is gradually reduced.
• The recommended amount of consumption per day for a child aged 1-3 years is 200 ml.
• Boiling is a must. It is permissible to give it without heat treatment in a small amount only when the parents themselves take care of the goat and are confident in its health.

Note that many children do not like this type of milk because of its specific smell. Forcing a child to try a product that is unpleasant for him should not be. If the baby categorically refuses to drink it, offer the product a little later or mix it with a product that has long been familiar and beloved for the baby.

How to cook cottage cheese

Cottage cheese made at home from goat's milk is very healthy and is not inferior to traditional cottage cheese from cow's milk.

To prepare it, take 1 liter of goat's milk and proceed as follows:

1. After pouring the milk into an enamel bowl, heat it up to about +40°C.
2. Gently add 700 grams of low-fat yogurt and mix.
3. Remove the container from the heat and wrap in a blanket.
4. Leave the product to curdle overnight.
5. In the morning, mix the compacted mass and put on fire.
6. When the mixture is heated over low heat for 20 minutes, stir it again. If you stir the curd gently and slowly from the bottom up, you will get large flakes. If you stir the mass quickly in a circular motion, the consistency of the curd will become fine-grained.
7. Heat the product to +80°C, and then transfer the bowl to a large container filled with cool water.
8. Wait for the mixture to cool, then pour it into a colander, in which you first need to put a dense cloth that can pass liquid.
9. Tie off the cloth and then refrigerate the colander by placing it in a whey collection bowl.
10. Drain regularly the whey that will drain from the colander.
11. In a day, delicious fresh cottage cheese will be ready.

Comparison of the benefits of cow's and goat's milk, see the program "Live Healthy".

The best and only right nutrition for a newly born baby is mother's milk. But what to do if such a natural product of infant nutrition is not enough or it is not at all? Properly processed and diluted goat's milk for babies can help in these cases.

What is useful

From the point of view of fullness of useful substances, goat's milk for babies is almost ideal. It contains:

• vitamins A, C, D;
• B vitamins;
• proteins (albumin), amino acids (taurine);
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• copper;
• magnesium;
• manganese.

The benefits of goat's milk for babies are obvious: thanks to the elements contained in it, the children's digestive system is properly formed and developed, growing bones are strengthened, teeth erupt and grow faster. This product does not cause allergies in babies, it is easily digested, being as close as possible to the human in its composition, thanks to it the baby's body absorbs iron well.

Also, a mixture on a goat product for infants can be shown to increase immunity, correct, healthy weight gain, for development in full accordance with medical standards.

Apply with caution!

The benefits that goat's milk brings are great, but for complementary foods it should be used with extreme caution.

Firstly, whole goat milk for babies is strictly prohibited, it can only act as the basis for cereals and complementary foods. For infants, it can be added to the diet only from the age of 6-9 months.

Secondly, boiled goat milk and diluted with boiled water should be used for complementary foods (starting from a concentration of 1:5). If the baby's well-being has not worsened over several feedings, you can try a 1: 1 mixture, gradually moving to whole milk (by the age of 1.5 years).

Thirdly, the daily portion of complementary foods in goat's milk for starters should be no more than 40-50 grams. diluted product.

Young mothers planning to introduce goat's milk into the diet of their babies should remember: its benefits are undeniable, but you need to consult a pediatrician. It is the doctor who will determine the appropriateness of using this product, in what quantities the mixture will not harm, how often it can be given to the child. For all its usefulness, goat's milk should not act as the basis of nutrition, but as a supplement or complementary food (baby formula with porridge).

The benefits of goat's milk are even more significant when children are diagnosed with lactose intolerance. It becomes indispensable, as it performs all the functions of a breast without the danger of provoking an allergic reaction. Microelements and useful substances contained in goat milk nutrition strengthen the developing children's body and contribute to its normal development.

It is important to remind once again: newborn children, even with lactose intolerance, are allowed to give goat's milk only as a base mixture for porridge in very small diluted portions!

Can you substitute cow?

It is impossible to say with absolute certainty that goat's milk for a growing child's body is exclusively beneficial (it is known that this product contains little folic acid, which can cause problems with blood formation in babies). However, those for whom the benefits of products obtained from cows are unconditional are also wrong, and here is confirmation of this:

• cow's milk often provokes allergies, and there are no allergens in goat's milk;
• in cow the content of vitamins and minerals is less than in goat;
• goat milk formula is ideal for babies with poor lactose absorption;
• the benefit of goat's milk is that the fatty acids of its composition are absorbed faster and more fully by the child's body;
• "Cow" milk formulas contain a small amount of amino acids, so they are not as effective in boosting immunity.

The choice is obvious - the undoubted benefits and the abundance of substances that are important for the recently born organism contained in goat's milk make pediatricians (and young mothers with them) make a choice in his favor. The mixture on such a product is nutritious, it can be used for complementary foods with a further transition of babies to an "adult" diet.

Results

The numerous references to this amazing product in myths and legends testify to how great the benefits of feeding infants with goat's milk are.

• The ancient Greek god Zeus the Thunderer was fed by the goat Amalthea, whose name was immortalized in the name of one of the constellations (thanks to her, the expression "horn of plenty" appeared);
• The Persian physician Avicenna considered goat's milk a miraculous medicine;
• The great physician Hippocrates, a Greek colleague of Avicenna, also noted the benefits of this natural product as a medicine and a means of preventing many diseases.

Many generations of our ancestors considered a mixture of goat-based cereals to be the best food for children, and a whole product - a real panacea for the treatment of adult diseases. And in the modern world, the benefits of goat's milk have been proven by experts, so its use does not raise any doubts among young mothers. The main thing is that the baby likes such food and contributes to his mental and physical development.

There is nothing more important for a newborn than mother's breast milk.

However, very often women have problems with lactation, and they cannot provide for the needs of their baby. The question arises of what to feed your child.

Of course, now there is a huge selection of infant formula from various manufacturers. What is more useful - dry powder or goat's milk for babies?

It is important to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of this product, its effect on the body of a small child and the basic rules of feeding.

Benefits of goat milk for babies

The digestive system of a newborn is underdeveloped, it lacks the enzymes that help digest food. If the mother cannot provide the child with natural feeding, pediatricians recommend switching to adapted milk powder mixtures. However, in the event that parents do not trust the artificial product, you can resort to an alternative option - this is goat's milk.

What are the positive aspects of goat milk for babies

1. There is no allergy to this product.

2. The composition contains folic acid, vitamin A and B6, calcium and potassium, which is important for a small organism.

3. The use of goat's milk prevents the development of rickets, as calcium is very well absorbed.

4. Ideal for those children who are lactose intolerant, as it is practically lactose-free.

5. The product contains fatty acids, which are also important for the normal development of the child's body.

6. Helps to strengthen the immune system of the newborn.

7. Goat milk for babies is necessary if the baby often spits up food. The product is well absorbed and improves the digestive process.

Goat milk can be given to the baby, both in its pure form, and cook its cottage cheese, cook cereals based on the product.

What are the disadvantages of drinking goat milk

If we compare goat's milk with cow's, we can say that the first is much healthier. However, this product has some drawbacks that must be considered before introducing it into the diet of your child.

What are the disadvantages of goat milk for babies

1. The composition contains casein. When it enters the stomach, this substance turns protein and a dense lump, similar in texture to cottage cheese. In a child under the age of one year, this can provoke colic.

2. Mineral salts, of which there are quite a lot, load the kidneys, so the baby may experience too frequent urination.

3. Goat milk contains a lot of fats that slow down the digestion process.

There is a lot of controversy about whether goat's milk can be introduced into the diet of a newborn, or whether it should be done a little later. In any case, the final decision should be made by the pediatrician after examining the baby.

Dry mix based on goat's milk for babies

Milk formulas for small children are produced according to the latest technologies. For babies who are deprived of natural feeding, this is a great alternative. The composition of the product is very similar to human milk, so it is useful for newborns.

Benefits of goat milk powder

1. Helps strengthen bone tissue.

2. Well absorbed, does not burden the kidneys and organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

3. All dry mixes have a quality certificate, they are thoroughly tested.

4. It contains many important nutrients for the child's body.

5. Normalizes stool, reduces the risk of abdominal pain and the child.

6. The composition contains prebiotics that improve the functioning of the digestive system.

The introduction of mixtures made from goat's milk into the diet is recommended in several cases:

Disturbed work of the digestive system;

It is not possible to feed the baby with breast milk;

If small is gaining weight poorly;

With constipation;

In the presence of individual intolerance to milk protein.

Optimal feeding time

In order for the child to properly develop the work of the digestive tract, pediatricians recommend introducing fermented milk products into his diet.

If there is an allergy to cow's milk, it is replaced with an alternative. It is permissible to give goat milk for babies from birth if the mother does not have the opportunity to provide natural feeding.

When the baby becomes a little older (3-4 months), you can try the cottage cheese. This product allows you to create a favorable microflora in the intestines and get rid of problems with the stool. Goat's milk cottage cheese turns out to be much more tender and tastier than usual, so the child will definitely like it.

Recipe for making delicious cottage cheese based on fresh goat's milk

It is not difficult to prepare cottage cheese from goat milk for babies. The presented recipe describes each step in detail. The reward for the mother will be the smile of her child when he tastes the treat. Delicious and healthy cottage cheese will not leave the baby indifferent.

Step by step recipe

1. Fresh goat's milk (1 liter) is poured into a deep enameled pan, it must be heated over medium heat to a temperature of 40 degrees.

2. Slowly, low-fat yogurt (about 700 grams) is laid out there, everything is mixed until a homogeneous consistency is formed.

3. The pan is removed from the heat, wrapped tightly in a warm towel and left to brew overnight.

4. In the morning, opening the lid, it will be possible to note that the mass has thickened a little. It will need to be mixed again and put on a slow fire.

5. After 20 minutes, the contents of the pan are stirred again. The intensity of the action depends on the desired consistency of the finished cottage cheese. The more you stir, the thinner it will turn out.

6. When the mass reaches a temperature of 80 degrees, the pan is removed from the gas and placed in a basin filled with cold water. It is advisable to replace it so that the contents cool quickly.

7. The colander is covered with a thick gauze cloth. The contents of the pan are poured into it. At night you need to put in the refrigerator.

8. Serum will stand out through a colander, and then ready-made cottage cheese will remain in a gauze napkin.

Of course, the procedure for preparing goat's milk cottage cheese for babies takes a lot of time, but the result is worth it. A home-cooked product will turn out incredibly tasty, most importantly, healthy.

Basic rules for introducing goat milk into the diet for babies

1. Whole goat milk may not appeal to children under 6 months of age. The fact is that it has a slightly specific smell and taste. To begin with, you can try to cook porridge based on the product in order to introduce your child to it, then give it to drink.

2. For the first few times, it is better to dilute goat milk for babies with warm water so that it is better absorbed and does not provoke constipation. For 1 part milk, 3 parts water.

3. When the baby gets used to the product, it will be possible to add less boiled water, and after some time to give the child undiluted goat's milk. By this period, the child will also appreciate the cottage cheese made from this product.

How to choose goat milk for babies: the rules you need to know

If it was decided that goat's milk will be given to the baby from birth due to the lack of lactation in the mother, you need to know how to choose the right product and what to look for when doing this.

1. You need to buy a product only from trusted people. Be sure to ask for a certificate from a veterinarian for a goat, because the condition of the baby will depend on this. There is no need to be shy, if the seller is sure, he will provide all the information.

2. Goat milk for babies should be boiled, but not in a metal pan. Store it preferably in a glass container in the refrigerator.

3. When purchasing goat milk in a store, the expiration date must be looked at in order to avoid food poisoning. You also need to study the composition so that it is as natural as possible and does not contain many chemical additives.

Goat milk is very beneficial for babies. However, you should not use it as a complete source of nutrition if the mother has the opportunity to feed her child naturally for several months. In order to avoid an unexpected reaction of the child's body to a new product, it is imperative to consult a pediatrician before introducing goat milk into the diet.

Advice on how to breed goat's milk for a child.

What are the benefits of goat milk

The fact that most people prefer to drink goat's milk instead of cow's milk has its own explanations:

Goat milk contains an order of magnitude less casein, which means it is easier to process;

The fat globules included in the composition are extremely small in size. This allows milk to be more easily absorbed by the body;

Goat milk practically does not cause allergic reactions. In addition, it reduces the likelihood of diathesis and atopic dermatitis;

Goat's milk contains more vitamins than cow's;

Goat milk is very rich in trace elements, including calcium.

Obviously, goat's milk is equally beneficial for both adults and babies due to its rich composition.

How to breed goat milk for a child and an adult

If an adult begins to consume milk, it is extremely important to start drinking it with a small amount. Take half a glass of milk on an empty stomach or before meals 1-2 times a day. After a week, the dose can be increased to one glass.

Babies can be given goat's milk no earlier than 9 months, and preferably after one year. Despite the fact that it is easily digested, the baby's digestive system is still not ready for it. In this case, milk must be diluted with boiled water.

For very young children, the recommended ratio of milk and water is 1:4; for older children, you can dilute it in a ratio of 1:3. If the child takes milk for a long time, then the ratio can be increased to 1:2. For the first time, it is better to give a child a few tablespoons of diluted milk and look at the reaction of his body. If the stomach responds well to the new product, then the dose of complementary foods after 2 weeks can be increased to 100 ml.

Giving undiluted milk to children is not recommended. It does not contain the enzyme lipase, which breaks down fat. However, the fat content of goat milk is quite high. Drinking undiluted milk can fix a baby's stool and cause other digestive problems.

Milk must be boiled. Some of the nutrients will be destroyed, but you will protect the child from various bacteria and microorganisms.

Now knowing how to dilute goat's milk and at what age you can give it to a child, you can start complementary foods. This product will strengthen the immune system.

Pediatricians do not recommend giving pure goat's milk for up to a year. At first, it is advisable to feed the baby only with 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 mixtures. 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 with goat's milk and from how many months you can give it.

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 allergic children. What to do if the baby has a food allergy, see.

Goat milk contains less casein than cow milk. Casein forms in the stomach into a dense clot, which is difficult to digest and takes a long time. And goat's milk is a more homogeneous and soft mixture, which is easily and quickly digested and absorbed by 100%. In the stomach, it turns into a tender loose clot that does not irritate digestion. Goat milk is closer in composition to breast milk than cow milk. This also simplifies the adaptation of the child's digestion to a new product.

Goat milk does not contain the dangerous cow protein that often causes atopic dermatitis in infants. The composition of the product includes a large number of vitamins and calcium, which ensures the normal development and growth of the baby. In addition, it improves digestion and restores the intestinal microflora, helps with constipation and.

Despite the beneficial properties and composition, goat's milk also carries a danger. First of all, it is much fatter than cow's. At the same time, the product does not contain lipase, which breaks down fats. Such a composition causes problems in the work of the baby's digestion and greatly strengthens the stomach, so for children under one year old, goat's milk must be diluted with water.

When and how to give goat milk

Goat milk is unacceptable in the nutrition of babies in the first six months, goat milk mixtures at this age are possible only according to the testimony of a pediatrician. A newborn and an infant up to six months old 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 is very important for children in the first months of life, and which are not enough in goat's 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's milk. Formula-fed babies can begin to give such products as early as 6-7 months. Of great importance is how to give goat's milk to babies.

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 cheese. Follow the rules for including new products in the diet of infants, recommendations for choosing and storing milk, and for preparing dishes with this component.

Rules for introducing into the diet

• Take only natural fresh goat's milk, it is desirable that it be a homemade product;
• If you use a purchased product, be sure to check the composition and expiration date, the integrity of the package;
• Before introducing the product, it is better to consult a pediatrician;
• At first, dilute the milk with boiled water (three parts of water to one part of milk);
• For the first time, give your baby a teaspoon of cottage cheese prepared with diluted milk. Observe the reaction of the child in two days. If there is no negative reaction, goat milk products can be given. If the stool worsens and problems with the stomach, postpone the introduction for at least a month;
• At first, give the diluted product as a component of porridge or cottage cheese;
• Be sure to boil milk before serving or cooking!;
• When the child gets used to the new product a little, the amount of water during breeding is gradually reduced. After 4-5 weeks, you can switch to pure milk, but pediatricians do not recommend doing this earlier than 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 goat milk curd

The recipe for cottage cheese for feeding babies 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 yogurt and mix thoroughly. You can dilute the yogurt with a little milk in advance to make the cottage cheese soft and tender.

Wrap the pan in something warm and leave the mass 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. Refresh cold water until the curd mixture cools down. Transfer the mass to a colander with gauze. Tie gauze and put the cottage cheese together with a colander for a day in the refrigerator. The drained serum can be poured out or used as a face mask.

Goat milk mixes

This is an alternative adapted food for babies with cow protein allergy and digestive problems. This mixture is given according to the testimony of a doctor. It can be prescribed for food allergies, lactose intolerance, constipation and frequent regurgitation,.

Since goat's 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 work of the digestive tract;
• Reduces regurgitation;
• Relieves constipation;
• Strengthens and develops the bone skeleton;
• Increases immunity;
• Prevents weight gain and childhood obesity.