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Goat milk in the children's diet: what are the benefits and when to give. Is it possible to give goat's milk to children under one year old

Can a baby be fed goat's milk? This question is asked by many mothers who do not have breast milk, consider what are the disadvantages of such feeding and what are the advantages.

Cons of goat milk

In the people, goat's milk is considered a healing product. Is it similar in composition to breast milk? According to doctors, it is more fatty, which will lead to its longer digestion and load on the digestive tract, in addition, it lacks the so-called lipase enzyme, which is involved in the process of splitting fats.

In addition, goat's milk contains a lot of the mineral component of phosphorus, which creates an additional burden on the baby's body, which is not yet strong, in particular on the kidneys of a newborn.

In addition, the milk obtained from a goat lacks an important folic acid, which can provoke the development of anemia in a baby. Can a baby be fed to them? The answer suggests itself that no, but not everything is so simple ...

Benefits of goat milk

If there is a choice between cow or goat milk, then, according to doctors, it is better to give preference to a goat drink, since it contains less casein, and it is known to be digested for a long time and turns into a dense clot in the child’s stomach.

In addition, goat's milk contains more different vitamins, in addition, it contains a lot of such a mineral component as calcium, it is perfectly absorbed by the baby's body, as a result, the child's teeth begin to grow earlier.

It is shown to take goat's milk for babies prone to the so-called regurgitation, since this product is better absorbed, unlike cow's. It is worth noting that goat milk practically does not cause allergies in children, that is, it belongs to a hypoallergenic drink, which is important for children who have, for example, atopic dermatitis or other allergic reactions. As you can see, in some cases it is not only possible, but also necessary, to give goat milk to an infant.

When can you give your baby goat's milk?

How to introduce this product into the child's diet?

If you decide to introduce goat milk into the diet of a newborn, then you should first consult with a pediatrician, after which it is important to follow some rules.

Try to buy goat milk from friends or on the recommendation. It is worth seeing in what form the animal is kept, in addition, do not be too lazy to come at least once to the so-called milking.

If milk is planned to be purchased on the market, then it is recommended to ask the seller for a special certificate from the veterinarian, which will indicate the state of health of the goat.

If milk will be purchased in a store, it is important to carefully examine the date of manufacture of the dairy product on the seam of the package, as well as its expiration date. If it is expired, in no case should it be bought and given to a child.

When feeding a child with such milk, it is recommended to first dilute it with boiled water so that it is less concentrated, while three parts of water should be used for one part of the product. Such a procedure must be carried out, since milk is quite fatty and can provoke problems with stools, in particular, constipation is not ruled out in a child, respectively, it is better to add water.

It is worth remembering that milk must first be boiled, as heat treatment will contribute to the death of possible bacteria. It is desirable to store it in glassware, and ceramic or enameled containers are also suitable.

When the child is somewhat accustomed to the use of a new product, you can dilute milk in a ratio of 1 to 2, and after one month you can start using undiluted milk.

As you can see, the benefits of goat milk still exceed its shortcomings. Of course, for a nursing baby, the use of mother's milk is optimal, but in the absence of such, goat's milk may well become its replacement. When transferring a baby to artificial feeding, it is recommended to consult with a pediatrician.

Of course, nothing can replace mother's milk for a child, but sometimes, in its absence, one has to look for options to replenish it. Many young families use cow milk, but a child may be allergic to it. In such a situation, pediatricians recommend using mixtures based on a goat product, they are as close as possible to mother's milk.

It is worth remembering that before using goat milk, you should consult a pediatrician, maybe for a baby, the doctor will first recommend any mixtures, and then, depending on the age of the child, this milk can also be used, only it is important to boil it first . After that, it is filtered through a strainer, cooled and given to the child.

It is important to use milk during the day, the remaining product is recommended to be disposed of. In no case do not experiment and do not give the child raw milk, as this can lead to negative phenomena from the digestive tract, in particular, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain in the abdomen is possible, in addition, constipation is possible.

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 (albumins), 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 may cause problems with hematopoiesis 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 abundance of substances that are important for the newly 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.

The best food for a newborn is mother's milk, which can fully satisfy children's needs. However, natural feeding is sometimes impossible for various reasons, so parents face the question: “Give goat milk for babies, buy an adapted formula, or try to feed cow milk?” And how does this affect the health of the baby up to a year?

Benefits of goat milk

The newborn does not yet have a perfect digestive system, so there are not enough important enzymes to digest the food received. According to the recommendations of pediatricians, if natural feeding is not established, a child under 6 months old should be given an adapted milk formula. If parents do not trust the basis of the artificial mixture, then mother's milk is replaced with goat's milk for a number of reasons:

  1. From whatever age goat's milk was introduced, babies practically do not have allergies to it.
  2. The composition includes potassium, calcium, vitamins B6 and A, folic acid.
  3. Goat milk to infants will bring undoubted benefits, since calcium is completely absorbed from it, which is an effective prevention of the development of rickets.
  4. The minimum content of lactose allows you to feed babies with lactose deficiency.
  5. The fatty acids contained in the product are better absorbed by the child's body.
  6. The composition of goat is similar to that of the mother due to the content of taurine, thanks to which the child receives all the necessary substances that strengthen the immune system.
  7. Goat's milk is indispensable for newborns prone to frequent regurgitation. The homogenized appearance of milk balls allows you to fully assimilate the product and establish good nutrition.

Cons of goat milk

Compared to cow's milk, goat's milk is much healthier and more nutritious, but it is undesirable to consider it as a separate product:

  1. The composition includes casein protein, which is poorly digested by the baby's body. In the stomach, the protein turns into a dense clot resembling cottage cheese, which leads to colic and whims of a baby up to a year old.
  2. The high content of mineral salts puts an increased burden on the kidneys, which is not easy for a child to cope with.
  3. For good hematopoiesis, an infant up to a year old will need iron, and there is practically no iron in goat's milk, so parents will have to get to know the child personally with a diagnosis of anemia.
  4. Also, goat's milk for newborns is undesirable as the main food due to the reduced content of vitamin D.
  5. The product is based on a lot of fat, which makes it nutritious and at the same time unsuitable for full digestion.
  6. The absence of the lipase enzyme minimizes the breakdown of fats.

There are many supporters of such a diet, who have a lot of stories that infant nutrition should include this product from the first days. But the final decision is made only by a pediatrician who, after weighing all the pros and cons, for each specific child, will prescribe this product or not.

The benefits of goat's milk have been proven for children up to a year old, when cereals based on it and cottage cheese made from this product are introduced into complementary foods. However, it is extremely dangerous to completely transfer a month-old baby to feeding with unadapted whole goat milk!

The well-known pediatrician Komarovsky believes that goat's milk should be introduced into the children's menu from the age of 1 year. And in some cases, it is better to wait until 3 years with an acquaintance.

Goat milk mixtures

Infant formula is produced according to the latest technologies and is an alternative nutrition in the absence of breast milk. According to the formula and composition of the mixture, they are as close as possible to women's milk, so they can be given to a child from birth. Benefits of the mixture:

  1. Reducing the load on the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys of the baby, which contributes to the timely development of the musculoskeletal system.
  2. The addition of nucleotides to the mixture helps the full maturation of immunity.
  3. All productions are certified and strictly controlled.
  4. The product is easily digested, and all the nutrients are absorbed by the child up to a year.
  5. No matter how many months the mixture has been introduced into the diet, it is an excellent prevention of childhood obesity.
  6. Baby formula based on goat's milk has a positive effect on the digestive tract, reducing the risk of colic, stool disorders and regurgitation.
  7. The addition of prebiotics to the mixture allows parents to improve the digestion of the baby. Goat's milk based formula is recommended for children prone to constipation.

If breastfeeding is not possible, and you are trying to feed your baby with goat milk, then the safest and most correct solution would be to buy an infant formula based on goat milk!

  1. as a complete diet for a healthy baby
  2. with digestive disorders
  3. to prevent allergic reactions
  4. children under one year in case of intolerance to soy and milk protein
  5. often ill and weakened babies
  6. underweight babies

Complementary feeding period

For the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, pediatricians recommend introducing fermented milk products into the diet of crumbs so that the food remains complete and does not cause problems with the stool. Giving cottage cheese is important for the formation of beneficial microflora in the intestines, but this is not always possible with an allergy to cow's milk.

But cottage cheese made from goat is in no way inferior to its usual “brother”, and even better in some respects.

Many children do not like the rough texture of cottage cheese. Moms have to grind it to achieve uniformity. All this can be avoided by making goat's milk curd at home.

Recipe for cottage cheese from goat milk for the first complementary foods

  1. Pour 1 liter of milk into an enamel pan and heat over a fire to 40 C.
  2. Carefully place 700 g of low-fat yogurt in a saucepan, mix thoroughly. To make the cottage cheese tender, it is advisable to dilute the yogurt with a small amount of milk in advance.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat, wrap in a blanket and leave overnight. By morning, the milk mass will thicken, it should be stirred and heated over low heat. After 20 minutes, the mixture should be stirred. The intensity of mixing depends on what composition it is planned to obtain curd. For large curd flakes, gentle movements from the bottom up will be required, and for fine-grained ones, solid circular ones.
  4. Bring the mass to 80 ° C and rearrange it in a volumetric container with cold water until it cools completely. Frequent water changes may be needed.
  5. Pour the mixture into a deep colander lined with a dense cloth that passes the liquid well.
  6. Tie the fabric on top and place the colander, in which the future cottage cheese is located, in the refrigerator for a day. Serum secreted should be drained regularly.

Rules for introducing goat's milk into the baby's diet

Whole goat milk is better not to offer children before six months. This product may have a specific taste and smell, which is not always liked by babies. On goat's milk, you can cook porridge, make cottage cheese, thereby accustoming the child to goat's milk.

Initially, for a one-year-old baby, you will have to dilute the milk with warm boiled water. At first the ratio is 1:3. Too much fatty food will cause constipation.

As soon as the baby gets used to the new food, the product is diluted in a ratio of 1: 2, and a month later it is given in its pure form.
Start with half a teaspoon. Watch the reaction of the child's body. If everything is in order, the amount of milk can be gradually increased.

Product selection rules

If parents and a pediatrician decided to give goat milk from the first months of life, it is important to follow the basic rules for choosing a product:

  1. Buy only from trusted people.
  2. Do not hesitate to check the conditions in which the animal is kept, since only a quality product will benefit. You can not be too lazy and come to the milking of a goat to make sure that all the necessary standards are met.
  3. When buying from the market, ask for a certificate from a veterinarian.
  4. The store-bought version also requires care, since any dairy product can cause severe food poisoning - even cottage cheese. Examine the composition for the presence of various unwanted additives.
  5. You should study the date of manufacture and do not purchase a product with an ending expiration date.
  6. Milk is subject to mandatory boiling, but the container must be taken not metal.
  7. Store in ceramic, enamel or glassware.
  8. The benefits of the product significantly exceed all the existing disadvantages if it is impossible to establish nutrition for the baby with mother's milk. However, before self-use, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician.

With the advent of a baby in the family, the mother seriously thinks about how to organize his nutrition in order to maximize health promotion and reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Such issues are especially acute in a situation where there are problems with breastfeeding, and you need to take extra care of the nutrition of the newborn.

Dairy products have a noticeable effect on the baby's body, and their introduction into complementary foods requires special care. Because cow protein is a fairly strong allergen, many moms choose to feed their babies goat milk first. What are its benefits and harms, and at what age is goat's milk safe for babies? This will be discussed further.

    Show all

    When to start feeding?

    There are cases when mothers, having problems with breastfeeding, began to give goat's milk to their babies almost from birth. But modern pediatricians approach the issue with caution and do not recommend including this product in the diet of children under 1 year old. It contains a large amount of protein (much more than breast milk), so drinking it too early can adversely affect the baby's digestive system.

    In the nutrition of formula-fed children, goat's milk can be carefully included from 9 months.

    First, it is diluted with water, carefully observing their reaction. Fermented milk products prepared on its basis are introduced a little earlier: cottage cheese - from 7 months, yogurt - from 8.

    How to introduce milk?

    The fat content of the product should be 3-4%. It must be boiled. It is better to use enamelware for this. First, it is recommended to dilute it with warm boiled water in a ratio of 1: 3 (in three parts of water). You should carefully monitor the reaction of the baby: has he become restless, are there any skin rashes, has the consistency of the stool changed? If no allergy symptoms are detected, then gradually the amount of diluted water decreases (to a ratio of 1: 2), then it is completely removed, and milk is given in its pure form.

    How to give goat's milk to a baby? Like any other complementary food, it should be started with ½ teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume every day. After about 3 weeks, it will be 100 ml. And at the age of 1 to 3 years, the norm is the use of 200 ml per day.

    It is advisable to start the introduction of the product by adding it to the porridge so that the child gradually gets used to its specific smell and taste. You can also make cottage cheese from it and feed in small portions.

    If the baby is breastfed, then the mother should also regularly include a goat product in the diet in order to enrich her milk with useful substances and enhance its beneficial effect on the health of the crumbs.

    Positive properties

    Goat milk for babies is useful because:

    • contains substances valuable for growth and development: vitamins (A, B6, B12), trace elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, copper);
    • is not an allergenic product;
    • the casein included in its composition is absorbed quite easily, since it does not form such a dense clot in the child's stomach, which is contained, for example, in cow's milk;
    • helps to strengthen bones, teeth and prevents the development of rickets;
    • favorably affects the process of hematopoiesis and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
    • well suited for children with lactase deficiency, because it contains very little lactose;
    • reduces the likelihood of regurgitation due to the complete breakdown in the body of fat globules contained in milk;
    • strengthens immunity with the help of taurine, the content of which is almost the same as in breast milk;
    • reduces the risk of diathesis and accelerates the healing process if it has already been identified.

    Bad influence

    Reasons why goat's milk is not recommended for infants:

    • it is quite fatty, and there is no lipase enzyme that breaks down fats;
    • it contains little iron and vitamin D, so goat's milk is not suitable as the main food;
    • the amount of folic acid necessary for the full development of the newborn is also small;
    • phosphorus contained in excess creates a high load on the kidneys of the baby.

    How to choose a quality product?

    1. 1. The best option is to get it from your own goat. But at present, only a few can boast of keeping such animals on the farm. Therefore, quite often the product is bought from friends, in a store, in the market, in villages or through advertisements.
    2. 2. When purchasing milk in a store or on the market, you must carefully study the information on the package or find it out from the seller. It is important to make sure that you have a veterinary certificate in order to prevent the risk of contracting the dangerous disease brucellosis. You also need to pay attention to the date of manufacture, expiration date and quality of packaging. If the term is about to end, then such a product should not be given to the child.
    3. 3. If possible, smell the milk. There should be no bad smell. If it is present, then this is evidence of improper storage or keeping the goat in not the best conditions.
    4. 4. Be sure to try the product yourself first. Do not give it to your baby if you find a foreign taste, rancidity, which indicate that the milk is spoiled.
    5. 5. Milk should be consumed immediately after boiling, having previously cooled it to the desired temperature. It is not reheated again so as not to lose the valuable substances contained in the product.
    6. 6. Milk is stored in the refrigerator for three days. After pasteurization, the shelf life increases to ten days. You can also freeze it. At the same time, it does not lose useful trace elements, and after defrosting it looks like fresh. Metal storage containers are not used. The most suitable would be glass, ceramic or enamelware.

    Goat milk mixes

    For babies who are on artificial or mixed nutrition, it is now easy to find a quality formula that is close in composition to mother's milk. Moreover, the choice is so great that you can easily buy a product made on the basis of goat's milk, for example, "Nanny" or "Cabrita". These mixtures are allowed from any age, it is only advisable to consult with a pediatrician who has a baby. To choose the most suitable mixture, it is necessary to carefully monitor the mood of the child during and after feeding, the condition of his skin, the nature of the stool.

    Among the positive nuances of the use of infant formula, the following can be noted:

    • easy assimilation of the nutrients that make up the mixture;
    • the quality of production is strictly controlled, undergo regular certification;
    • the mixture does not overload the work of the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract of the child;
    • helps to strengthen the immune system;
    • a mixture prepared on the basis of goat's milk helps to cope with constipation, improves digestion of the baby, reduces the likelihood of colic and frequent regurgitation;
    • mixtures are divided into several "steps", each of which corresponds to a certain age in composition: "0" - for premature babies and newborns with low weight, "1" - from birth to 6 months, "2" - from 6 months to 1 year , "3" - for babies older than 1 year.

    Curd preparation

    Many mothers prefer not to buy store-bought complementary foods for their children, but cook them themselves at home. For example, goat's milk cottage cheese is very useful and is perfect for feeding a baby from 7-8 months.

    To prepare cottage cheese, you need 1 liter of goat's milk and 700 g of yogurt (preferably low-fat).

    • Milk must be heated to 40 C.
    • Then add yogurt to it and mix.
    • Remove the resulting mass from the fire, wrap in a warm blanket (blanket), leave overnight.
    • In the morning, the container with a dense mass must again be put on fire, heated, stirring constantly for 20 minutes.
    • Then the container must be removed from the heat and placed in a larger bowl with cold water. The water will have to be changed several times until the mass has completely cooled.
    • The mass must be filtered through a colander lined with a cloth that can let the liquid through.
    • The tissue with the mass is tied and placed in a colander in the refrigerator on a dish to collect the whey.
    • During the day, it is necessary to regularly drain the separating serum.
    • The curd is ready to use. Enjoy your meal!

    The considered properties of goat's milk allow us to state that it can and should be included in the nutrition of children. The key point is the timeliness of this, because any food that the baby gets acquainted with should bring the necessary nutrients and contribute to its development, and not take away the body's strength to combat the unpleasant consequences of improperly introduced complementary foods.

    Therefore, for children who are breastfed, the first step in getting to know the goat product should be its inclusion in the mother's diet, and then its independent use from the age of 1. Artificial children must first be accustomed to a mixture based on goat's milk, then gradually introduce the product itself from 9 months. And, of course, the most important thing is to constantly monitor the reaction of a growing organism in order to take timely measures, prevent undesirable health consequences and adjust nutrition.

Many doctors confirm that goat's milk is much healthier for feeding young children than cow's milk, which is more familiar to us. Both goat milk itself and products made from it are desirable to introduce into the diet of pregnant women and already nursing mothers. They are also useful to add to the menu for formula-fed babies, preschoolers and even teenagers. Goat's milk is especially useful for babies, mixtures and cereals based on it are absorbed much better by a fragile body.

Goat milk contains many vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the baby.

According to its protein composition, goat's milk has a number of significant differences from cow's. Being heated to a temperature of 70 degrees and above, such a product is better absorbed by humans, moreover, it lacks most of the allergens present in cow's milk. Goat milk is useful for children and adults, it is especially recommended for people suffering from allergic reactions to cow's milk.

The following components, which are abundant in goat milk, will also be useful for the baby:

  • calcium - important for bone formation;
  • potassium - improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
  • vitamin B12 - used in the formation of blood;
  • magnesium - allows you to remove heavy metals and strengthens the nervous system.

In addition, this product has a beneficial effect on health with:

  • various ailments of the joints and skin;
  • cholelithiasis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • childhood epilepsy;
  • asthma and jaundice;
  • anemia;
  • elevated cholesterol.

Let's add to all of the above and the special attention paid to goat's milk by nutritionists. It is known that this product is absorbed by our body by 97 percent, while cow's milk is only 65 percent.

Goat milk on the menu of children with allergies

In folk medicine, goat's milk has long occupied a special place. It is strongly recommended to give it to weakened children, as well as to those babies who suffer from food allergies when fed with adapted mixtures based on cow's milk.

Unfortunately, doctors around the world state that over the past decades, the number of newborns suffering from intolerance to cow's milk proteins has increased significantly. This is connected both with modern ecology and with other, including social, factors. But for products prepared on the basis of goat's milk, which has proteins of other fractions, there is no mass rejection in society.

Being thermally processed, goat's milk also loses those allergenic proteins that are present in its composition. An acceptable temperature for heating is 68 - 70 degrees.

How to give

Kabrita goat milk supplement formula for children under one year of age

Of course, not in raw, but only in boiled. Thus, you completely get rid of such risks as infection of milk with encephalitis mites. The product should be boiled for about five minutes, and due to its high fat content, it must be diluted in a certain proportion, which depends on the age of your child.

However, pediatricians strongly do not recommend introducing goat's milk for cooking to children under the age of one year. As for the product itself, it would be desirable that the goat was your own or your good friends had it, so that there is a guarantee of 100% quality. But high-quality mixtures that are sold in baby food stores are still considered more preferable. And then what can we say about mother's breast milk, to which there is simply no alternative in nature!

The people dubbed goat's milk the "juice of life", very often the timely introduction of it into the diet made it possible to literally save fading children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. Given the high fat content of the product, if they still begin to give it to infants up to a year old, then it is advisable to dilute the first portions in the proportion of one and a half glasses of milk to three glasses of boiled water. Milk, as we have already mentioned, also needs to be boiled in advance.

The benefits of goat milk for children up to a year

If we compare goat's milk with dairy products of other animals in terms of similarity with breast milk, then it occupies an intermediate position between cow's and donkey's. Donkey milk is much more like breast milk and more suitable for a newborn, but it is very difficult to find it in our time. If the question is raised about feeding a baby who is barely a few months old, then goat is still preferable to cow.

The benefits of goat milk for babies who are not yet a year old are given by its following properties:

  • the presence in milk of vitamins and minerals that contribute to a more successful development of the child's body;
  • the presence of sialic acid, which strengthens the immune system;
  • fast absorption by the body;
  • low lactose content, which makes it possible to recommend it to children suffering from allergies to milk sugar.

It has been noticed that children who prepare dishes based on goat's milk are less susceptible to colds, they have a reduced risk of epileptic seizures, dermatitis and cholelithiasis.

And yet, if possible, a child up to a year should be fed with mother's milk. Goat should be considered only as an extreme substitute.

Negative impact on the child's body

Goat milk should be given with caution to a child under 2 years of age.

However, not all pediatricians share such an optimistic attitude towards goat milk. It can, like any product, have a negative impact. First of all, this applies to children under the age of one and a half years. The main negative factors of goat milk are due to the following reasons:

  • the product contains certain vitamins and trace elements that can harm a newborn baby in large quantities. The kidneys of a one-year-old child are not yet developed enough to remove high-concentration mineral salts, and therefore the load on the urinary system increases;
  • there is a risk of diapedetic bleeding from the intestine, which leads to iron deficiency anemia;
  • there is little folic acid in milk, which is fraught with folic acid deficiency anemia;
  • there is much more casein in goat's milk than in cow's milk, and such fatty acids are very toxic for the child's fragile body;
  • milk contains a lot of calcium, but little iron, vitamins A and D;
  • the fat content of milk is increased.

Do not forget that goat's milk has a specific taste and smell. Children may simply not like it, after which there will be a risk of the baby refusing the milk of other animals. But even if you still start to give it to your child to drink, it will not be called full feeding. You will have to supplement the diet of the crumbs with the same folic acid and iron, enrich it with other missing elements.

Goat milk, according to experts, will be more useful to drink for preschool children, as well as teenagers. If you dilute it too much to feed a one-year-old baby, then all the beneficial properties of milk will be lost.

At what age do they give goat milk

It is not necessary to give goat milk in its pure form - products based on it are also useful.

Many mothers are interested - from how many months can goat milk be introduced into the child's diet? Nothing definite can be said here. The main rule - in everything you need to observe the measure. Firstly, each newborn has its own individual characteristics, and secondly, a lot depends on the health of the child at the moment. Of course, you should start feeding with goat's milk only after consulting a pediatrician, nothing else.

It is necessary to start feeding children up to a year old with goat's milk in small doses, however, the same applies to any other product. It is desirable that at this moment the child is already 9-10 months old, but if you are forced by a lack of mother's milk, then you can give it much earlier.

  • often sick (weak immunity);
  • there is a risk of developing rickets.

Thanks to goat's milk, in such cases it is possible to accelerate the growth of the baby, thereby saving him from negative developmental deviations.

Proper dietary intake

This product can be used in different ways - both for cooking baby porridge and for adapted milk formulas. When preparing any dish, it is important to observe the following rules.

  1. When using a dry formula purchased at a baby food store, it must be diluted correctly, as indicated on the package. You do not need to add anything extra to it, only water, everything you need is already in its composition.
  2. If you purchased fresh goat's milk, then before cooking it must be boiled for at least five minutes. You can only buy fresh milk, and always ask the sellers in what conditions the goat was kept and what it was fed with. It will be better if the seller has a certificate that the goat is not infected. And it is better to drink the first batch to the parents themselves to make sure that they are not allergic to it.
  3. After boiling, the milk is diluted with cold boiled water. When the temperature of the product becomes acceptable, it can be given to the child to drink. Remember that it is hardly worth boiling milk again: there will be practically no useful properties left in it.
  4. It is advisable to store milk, as well as give it to the baby to drink from glass or ceramic dishes. It is better not to use metal containers.

In what proportion should be diluted

Breeding fresh boiled milk for babies up to 12 months is possible only in a ratio of 1 to 3 in order to reduce its fat content. If after a couple of doses you notice that the baby has begun to strengthen, reduce the concentration, dilute 1 to 4.

When the baby gradually gets used to it, or he will be older, in the second year of life, this ratio can be reduced, take two servings of water for one serving of milk. After two years, the child can be given to drink and undiluted product.

Do not experiment too much and increase the concentration ahead of time. Even if your baby will normally tolerate large portions of milk at first, this does not mean at all that it does not harm him. Negativity in a child's body tends to accumulate slowly, and when this cup suddenly overflows, sores can climb immediately and from all sides. And this can happen by the age of 5, and even by 20.

How to start feeding

Start, as we have already mentioned, with small portions. Start with 25 milliliters, diluting them with the same amount of boiled water. After feeding the baby for the first time, take a break for a day and observe his reaction during the day. You should not continue if:

  • you will notice a rash on the skin of the baby;
  • the baby's tummy will swell;
  • the chair is broken;
  • there will be other negative consequences.

But this does not mean that goat milk should be completely abandoned - try again in three to four weeks or a couple of months. After a secondary test, problems usually do not arise, but if an allergic reaction still appears, then it is better to refuse milk.

If the baby tolerated the first complementary foods without problems, then the next feeding can be doubled. In the future, gradually increase the volume of milk so that by the age of one and a half the baby is already drinking 500 milliliters, by two - up to 700.

How to cook porridge

To make the porridge very tasty, cook it according to this recipe.

  1. Groats need to be boiled only on water. They cook according to the chosen product: it will take 10 minutes for oatmeal, about 20 for semolina, and corn grits will have to be cooked for three hours, no less.
  2. Add a little warm goat's milk, diluted to the desired proportion, into the boiled cereals, and boil again until boiling.
  3. Remove the ladle, put a teaspoon of butter or vegetable oil into the porridge, then mix, scooping from below.
  4. The finished mass for babies needs to be crushed. To do this, grind it through a sieve or use a blender.

conclusions

No matter how useful goat's milk is, you should not regard it as a source of good nutrition for a child if he is not yet a year old. Yes, there are a lot of useful substances in milk, it is much more preferable than cow's milk, but it lacks many important components. Therefore, it should be used only as a supplement, diluted with water in the right doses and gradually increasing portions.

After two years, children can be fed fearlessly with goat's milk, their nutrition will no longer be limited only to them, all the missing children will receive with other products. Yes, and their immunity to this age is much higher.