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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Anyone had any experience with nanny goat formula for a baby?

36 replies

MacMac123 · 14/01/2009 19:13

Hi, just posted about Neocate, am exploring all options with my 3.5 month old who is covered in eczema and my GP has referred to an allergy clinic but we can't get an appointment. He meanwhile is scratching himself until he bleeds.
I'm considering trying nanny goat formula. As a child, i had eczema and had to have goats milk (when I was 6 or 7). I know all the stuff about the labelling/EU legistlation with this nanny care nanny goat formula from new zealand, which is why its an 'unoffical' alternative here.

Has anyone actually used it with a young baby? It says on the packet it is nutritionally complete but my GP who is stuck in the dark age anyway seems to think I might as well be giving the baby diet coke from her reaction to that suggestion!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 14/01/2009 19:16

I agree with your GP. it isn't recommended. however your GP can prescribe something like nutrimagen or neocate if necessary.

AccidentalMum · 14/01/2009 19:18

I used it as an occasional supplement to BFing with DD1 from about 4/5 months before the labelling changed (quite recently, don't know if you knew that?). Why isn't it allowed here? Would you consider relactation?

cocolepew · 14/01/2009 19:19

I used it for my DD and it was fine.

Drusilla · 14/01/2009 19:25

We used it at 6 months+ as his eczema was getting awful, and it really did the trick. At 1yr we went on to normal goats milk. It seemed to me at the time that the only reasons for it being unapproved in this country were labelling technicalities, rather then there actually being anything wroing with it. I tried it because nothing else was working and my eczema has always been exacerbated by cows milk, it turned out he was the same.

Original poster
MacMac123 · 14/01/2009 19:30

It is labelling issues as to why its not available here officially, I phoned the company that make it. We've got Neocate at the moment but my LO is refusing it, even mixed in with his normal formula.
There is no chance of relactation for me, breastfeeding never really worked out for me unfortunately.

OP posts:
cocolepew · 14/01/2009 19:32

I was able to get it through Boots, they used to order it for me. I didn't know there was a problem getting it. Mind you this was 7 years ago.

scifinerd · 14/01/2009 19:34

what are the labelling issues MacMac and co? I find it all so confusing

thisisyesterday · 14/01/2009 19:35

oh and wanted to add that if he is intolerant to cow's milk then it's highly likely that he'll be unable to have goat milk either as the proteins in them are very similar

in your situation i would try gradually switching to neocate by mixing with his regular formula and gradually increasing the amount of neocate.

and get some hope's relief cream for his skin

AccidentalMum · 14/01/2009 19:37

You don't live inManchester do you?

thisisyesterday · 14/01/2009 19:37

have you read this? it explains why it is no longer for sale in the uk

AccidentalMum · 14/01/2009 19:38

MacMac, that is

Drusilla · 14/01/2009 19:39

I used to buy it online. This was about 3 years ago - I remember it being about twice the price of SMA et al.

Salleroo · 14/01/2009 19:53

I used it and yes it is good. You can get it in Waitrose or Fresh & Wild. I would think most independant health food shops stock it. I know H&B dont.

CrushWithEyeliner · 14/01/2009 19:57

I used it and found it really good for excema - you can get from waitrose

Clarissimo · 14/01/2009 19:58

In fairness he might be able to drn goats milk- many cannot but I can, as can my ds's 1, 3 and 4 (ds2 is fine on milk).

It isn't recommended though at this age, you would be better on neocate or even a soy formula (but I'd choose neocate every time myself).

My GP has suggested I give up BF mmy 9 month old put him on goats milk as his main drink to get my freedom . I feel quite free, thank you very much you silly man!

pamplemousse · 14/01/2009 20:12

I used it with dd occasionally (along with bf) from day one, she's fine and still on goats milk. Cow's milk makes her mucusy.
Tis expensive but imo worth it, Susannah Olivier rates it quite well, I know no one who has had a prob with it.
My independent health food co op stock it, sometimes you just have to ask them to buy it in I reckon as its expensive and as not many use it they don't want it sitting around with no guaranteed customers.

Original poster
MacMac123 · 14/01/2009 20:32

Hello - no I'm in London not Manchester, why!?

OP posts:
Original poster
MacMac123 · 14/01/2009 20:39

My local health food shop sells it so there is no problem getting it. Althoug it is expensive it is nowhere near as expensive as Neocate, which is £30 a small tub and I am paying for it myself as my GP is stuck in the dark ages or simply mean, I can't work it out.

OP posts:
simpson · 14/01/2009 22:22

My GP said that if a child is intolerant to cows milk then the chances are they won't tolerate goats milk either as the enzymes are very similar...

Clarissimo · 14/01/2009 22:47

Similar yes, but not identical. It really does vary but ds4 won't be going anywhere near it until he is 3 (for scare stories look up allergy induced autism)- not aranoid, have 2 autistic kids already.

pamplemousse · 14/01/2009 22:48

Your GP sounds like they are guessing...
Tis the fact that goats milk coagulates into smaller easier digetable lumps in the stomach for a start.
Its not the enzymes, milk doesn't have enzymes afaik, enzymes break things down, we have them in our stomach etc.
Its the proteins; proteins in cows milk can in certain people irratate the gut and cause responses such as mucus production, ezcema, goats milk does not contain these certain proteins, one is called gamma casein, I can't recall the other.
HTH

chipmonkey · 14/01/2009 23:32

ds2 got eczema after his first bottle of formula which resolved completely when fully bf.
He didn't get it with Nanny but having said that, didn't have Nanny very often!

Clarissimo · 15/01/2009 09:47

PMSL CM

Could well be

Never had a CS but that might be the parallel divide- spoooooky

loobeylou · 15/01/2009 20:29

My friends DD was born 7 weeks prem and needed stomach surgery within days to correct a genetic malformation which meant her stomach and bowel were not connected. After several ops and a lengthy stay in hospital in london, she came home only to suffer projective vomiting on regular formula. With little luck seeing Gp and after severaL RE-ADMISSIONS TO HOSP BECAUSE OF SEVERE VOMITTING MY FRIEND SWITCHED TO THE nz NANNY (whoop just realised caps lock, sorry!) goat formula which she gets in H&B or somewhere like that, very expensive. This was greeted by a sharp intake of breath from the HV who said "its not recommended you know" . But sometimes you just have to trust your instinct. She never looked back and her DD is thriving and healthy 10 months on!

I don't get the article saying its not for sale in UK, must have changed the regs or summat?

williamsmummy · 20/01/2009 10:54

from what I know about goats formla , it was removed from the prescription list because it failed on health and safety grounds.

So Gps are not allowed to prescribe this and its not recommeded for young infants because of failing the health and safety regs.
Some peads are fighting to get it removed from the shelves they are so concerned about it.

As for milk INTOLERANCE, or mild ezcema it may help SOME.

For IGE milk allergy, it is still milk. and will still cause a reaction.
neocate is milk, but has completely changed protein chains, so does not start a IGE reaction off in a body.

Your reasons for changing formulas depend on what type of allergy or atopic disease you are dealing with, and its questionable if goats milk is the answer.

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