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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

7mo drinking goat's milk - yes or no

29 replies

HysterSister · 09/10/2007 20:21

I know that bm or formula should not be relpaced with ordinary milk at this stage. Is this because ordinary milk is actively harmful, or because it just doesn't have all the good stuff in it?

I would like to give my 7mo dd a small (4 oz?) drink of goat's milk at bedtime, after her b/f. I do NOT intend to cut out any b/f. It's just that she seems really frustrated at the amount of bm on offer at that stage of the day, and my supply doesn't seem to change. I don't want to give formula, because there is a great deal of athsma and excema in the family. So can a small, supplementary drink of goat's milk hurt?

OP posts:
MurderousMaveta · 09/10/2007 20:22

I´m sure I read something about not giving goat´s milk until after a year the other day.. it was on another thread. shall go and look...

MurderousMaveta · 09/10/2007 20:23

here it says not under 1 year, hth

moondog · 09/10/2007 20:23

I don;'t think it would (I think anything better than processed formula tbh) but you should know that the best way to boost supply is to feed more.

Trouble with giving an extra drink is that she will get used to it and breastfeed even less which will lead to less milk.

massivebigpumpkinface · 09/10/2007 20:25

i believe that with goats milk the same one year old rule (as in cows milk) applies to having it as a drink. However, it will be fine with cereal etc.
btw you can get goats milk based formula, its called nanny goat (i think) and they sell it in waitrose....

StrawberryMartini · 09/10/2007 20:26

Yes it's not recommended until 12 months. The only reason you can't give cow's milk (other than allergies) is that it's not as nutritious as bm or formula - so a bit is fine as long as it's not the only milk they are getting. And formula doesn't cause asthma and eczema it's just that bm has been linked to reducing those things (unless again there's a dairy intolerance / allergy - my ds reacted to formula).

PillockInThePumpkin · 09/10/2007 20:27

It's not because Cow's milk is harmful, but because it has less of the Iron and other Minerals, which I would think Goats Milk would be lacking in too?

massivebigpumpkinface · 09/10/2007 20:28

although tbh, if it is just a small amount, perhaps the equivalent of what you might add to cereal, i can't see what harm it would do...

canmummy · 09/10/2007 20:28

look here

This is the government's official advice and it is to avoid goats milk as a drink until 1 year.

milkshake · 10/10/2007 14:44

It wouldnt hurt, but it would be better to use a goats milk formula as it will contain all the extra iron etc that regular goats milk lacks.......

Also, my son was allergic to cows milk and goats milk formula,they contain basically the same protiens etc, but goats milk is easier to digest thats all.

Original poster
HysterSister · 10/10/2007 19:26

Thanks all. Didn't realise goat's milk formula was still available - thought the EU had banned it.

OP posts:
canmummy · 10/10/2007 22:56

EU did ban it but I found some in my local health store (was looking for something else and had to take a 2nd look!). It's very cleverly packaged as it looks just like a tin of formula but nowhere on the tin does it state that it's for babies

milkshake · 11/10/2007 12:59

heres a link to some

www.wheatanddairyfree.com/popboxes/bf00001.htm

the tin i bought didnt state it was for babies either, very clever way of getting round the ban me thinks

mears · 11/10/2007 13:05

HysterSister - if you add in some extra feeds during the day your supply will increase. If you really want to give a drink after the last breastfeed then I would express between feeds and give EBM.

How often are you breastfeeding?

Original poster
HysterSister · 11/10/2007 18:43

Once in the night and about 4 times during the day, Mears. Dare I add that the HV suggested I decrease bf because it was time dd was concentrating on 3 solids meals a day ?

OP posts:
mears · 12/10/2007 12:06

To be honest I would squeeze in a couple of more breast snacks during the day.

I was very rigid about solids and breastfeeds with my first DS but by the time I had baby number 4 I was much more laid back.

I always breast fed after solids, not before. Instead of giving drinks of juice or water between feeds I gave breastfeeds as a drink instead of viewing it as a meal IYSWIM?

To me it would be better to boost your own supply if you think there is an issue at night rather than resort to goats milk which is just another animal.

Or, as i said before, express milk and give EBM but that is a bit more of a faff.

You miht find that by giving more breast feeds during the day, she may mot look for a feed during the night (no promises mind)

mears · 12/10/2007 12:07

Forgot to say HV is talking pants at this age !!!

Original poster
HysterSister · 13/10/2007 17:50

Thanks Mears! The night feed is more of an early breakfast (5-5.30am) but she goes back to sleeep till 8 afterwards, so I am happy to oblige. I do give her bm whenever she wants.

OP posts:
Original poster
HysterSister · 13/10/2007 17:51

And I thought you would say that about the HV! She also said goat's milk (I give goat's milk yoghurt) had no calcium - is that true??

OP posts:
mears · 14/10/2007 17:18

Why give goats milk yogurt though - apparently it is no less allergenic than cow's milk. I would give ordinary yogurts myself - full fat (not baby ones).

There must be calcium in goats milk but I cannot see the advantage to it.

mears · 14/10/2007 17:25

have you seen this information?

From what I have read the calcium level in goats milk is the same as cow's milk.

Original poster
HysterSister · 14/10/2007 19:58

That was what I thought Mears - goat's milk formula no longer permitted.

Basically, I keep goat's milk and goat's yoghurt in the house because I have coeliac disease, and find it much easier to digest than cow's milk (so do many coeliacs - something to do with the fat particles beign smaller). We almost never have cow's stuff in the house. So where another mum would give her baby cow's milk on cornflakes or cow's milk yoghurt, I give the goat's equivalent and don't think it can possibly matter, esp. as you have confirmed what I believe about calcium levels. It has nothing to do with an allergy to milk protein, which would not be alleviated by goat's milk.

I really just wanted to give her a little top up drink, to see if she would settle better, and given that it would be little, and that her protein source is bm, wondered if i could go straight to milk rather than faff about with formula. She is obviously getting enough food during the day since she sleeps from 7 to about 5-6 am; she just seems to fuss at the breast a lot when I put her to bed, as if she is disappointed. I had it in mind as a comfort thing rather than a food thing, iyswim. Like my cocoa!

OP posts:
mears · 14/10/2007 23:42

Hystersister - from what you say I really don't think she needs anything else to be honest. Most babies fuss at the breast at this age and since she sleeps from 7pm till 5.30am, she is obviously getting enough.

Once my children were weaned they actually went to bed without a bedtime drink - it really isn't an essential. I like my hot chocolate but it is an indulgence!

Have faith that your breasts have got her this far and are more than meeting her needs. The best milk for her is your own. Cow's milk is fine in food but drinks are best met by you at the moment.

Original poster
HysterSister · 15/10/2007 19:29

Oh well, I'll save up the hot milk for another 6m or so then ... I just wish she would have a nice, cuddly relaxed bf at bedtime as she used to, instead of pulling off all the time. I think it must be a bedtime thing rather than a hunger thing, since she does sleep so well (7.15 this am ).

OP posts:
mears · 15/10/2007 20:58

Have you tried wearing a breastfeeing necklace for her to fiddle with?

mears · 15/10/2007 21:03

starter for 10

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