Every nursing mom worries about their baby getting enough to eat.  Do I have enough milk supply?  Are they gaining enough weight?  Are they hungry or satisfied?  I counted my blessings every day, but I still had those worries when my son was a baby.  It was a challenge for me because my son had an insatiable appetite and would get frustrated when I couldn’t produce milk around the clock!  I decided it would be smart to have an alternative to my milk for the in case. I hadn’t yet created my Amazing Homemade Baby Formula recipe and really only needed a simple compliment to my milk…

During pregnancy and the 18 months of nursing, I craved all goat products, especially yogurt, kefir and cheese.  When my son was just 4 months old, he began reaching for my plain goat yogurt sweetened with Stevia.  Of course I let him taste it and he got so excited and whined when I didn’t give him more.  After eating yogurt the first few times he actually waited a full 2 hours to nurse again, which was rare!  I then connected how easy it is for the human body to digest yogurt compared to milk.  At that time there were no recipes for goat yogurt-based formula so I decided to create a simple one. 

Since goat’s milk is the base for goat yogurt I decided to research it and compare it with other milks such as cow and soy.  Next to Young Coconut water, goat’s milk is the closest substance to mother’s milk–very similar in vitamin and mineral ratios, digestibility, and nutrients.  Goat’s milk is actually the easiest milk to digest compared to every other type of milk including cow, sheep and soy.  There is a lesser volume of fat molecules, and the molecules themselves are smaller.  A baby’s digestive system is extremely sensitive so the smaller the fat molecules, the easier it is on the baby’s stomach, causing less gas and bloating. Additionally, the lactose content in goat’s milk, (the protein that most people are allergic to), is very minimal compared to cow’s milk.  If your baby is still to sensitive to the lactose in goat’s milk try adding the lactase enzyme by Enzymedica to help absorption.

Before I talk further about goat’s milk and yogurt, keep in mind that at the time I had not made the young coconut pudding or realized how great young coconut water is for babies.  They would both be wonderful combined with goat yogurt in my original goat yogurt formula below so I will add in the options.  I think I first made the coconut pudding when my son was more like 6 months.  I have always recommended to give the young coconut pudding to babies as a first food even before cereal.

By comparison, I know that cow’s milk, in all its various forms is extremely difficult to digest for adults and babies.  The fat molecules are very large and difficult to break down; is high in lactose, and the ratio of vitamins and minerals in cow’s milk are opposite to what the body needs or can break down.  My only defense for cow’s milk is when it is consumed raw the body can at least break it down properly and absorb nutrients compared to most pasteurized brands on the market.  So, if you are set on cow’s milk I would only advise to give it to yourself or your children/baby in its organic raw unpasteurized state which is available at most health food stores.

In regards to soy milk it should have never been recommended in the first place as a formula base.  It is difficult for adults to digest, provides too many estrogen’s, and is hard on various organs, especially the filtering organs: liver and kidneys.  So just imagine how difficult a substance soy is for babies to digest.

It is important to note that mother’s milk provides less than 2 grams of protein where goat’s milk has about 7 grams per serving.  A baby’s system does not need that much protein, so you don’t want to give them full strength, which could create too much acid in their system.  So it is important to dilute the milk for easy digestibility.  Goat milk should be diluted with 30-50% water for babies under one. Goat yogurt is the optimal food for the base of a formula.  The culturing of goat milk into yogurt breaks down the lactose and predigests the nutrients making it very easy to assimilate.  This is especially true for colicky babies.  Goat yogurt formula would help their digestive tract and take very little work to digest, and will add extra probiotics for your babies’ tummy health as an added plus.

Here is my goat yogurt formula recipe which was the beginning for creating my more advanced formulate months later: 

•  In a bottle, mix 3/4 ounce of plain organic goat yogurt with 2 ounces of coconut water
• Add a Tbsp of coconut pudding for a creamy more filling option and extra nutrients
•  Add a squirt of raw yacon syrup or a few drops of stevia for sweetening.
•  Shake it well until the yogurt mixes with the water
•  Note: If you are able to pump some breast milk, it is optimal to substitute 1 oz. of the coconut water or more with your breast milk.

That is all there is to it!

Again, it is important to understand that mother’s milk is truly the best and is nature’s perfect food for your baby.  The function of this alternative formula is only an incremental supplement to mother’s milk.  If you were to schedule it as the primary source of food for your baby, you would have to add omegas, vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid and iron to mirror breast milk more closely. 

(!) Be sure to check with your pediatrician to make sure that goat milk/yogurt is ok for your baby before trying this or any alternative to breast milk for your baby.

To yours and your families’ health!

Rebekah Winquest 

Related posts:

1. Baby Got Backed Up
2. What is in Your Rice Milk
3. Amazing Homemade Baby Formula
4. Recipes, Menus and Meal Ideas for your Baby/Toddler
5. How to make Raw Young Coconut Milk