I breastfed my daughter for 14 months, including several months when she was exclusively breastfed. When it came time to start weaning, I found myself asking a question many parents eventually face: What should come next?
Like many moms, I assumed cow’s milk would be the obvious choice. But as I started researching toddler nutrition and talking with family members, I became curious about goat’s milk and how it compared.
After learning more about both options and discussing them as a family, my husband and I ultimately decided to give goat’s milk a try. Here’s what influenced our decision and what I learned along the way.
Why We Looked Beyond Cow’s Milk
As we researched different milk options, these were some of the factors that influenced our decision to explore alternatives to cow’s milk:
- Some children may find cow’s milk harder to digest than other options.7
- It contains high concentrations of proteins and minerals. This can stress a baby’s kidneys and even contribute to illnesses later in life.5
- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), cow’s milk lacks the proper amount of iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients that babies desperately need during their early development stages.2,8,9
- It can irritate their stomach lining and be especially upsetting for toddlers with lactose intolerance.9,10
- The AAP also states that cow’s milk doesn’t contain the healthiest form of fats that babies need to develop and grow.9
- When it’s not certified organic, it can contain harmful additives such as antibiotics and growth hormones.6
Related: How to Wean From Breastfeeding: A Step-by-Step Guide
Why We Chose Goat’s Milk Instead
Growing up, my mom gave my little brother goat’s milk. As a toddler, he had trouble keeping any kind of milk down and always got tummy aches and weird reactions when drinking it. It just so happened that one of our cousins is a goat farmer and passionate about healthy living. So, when my brother was experiencing these troubles, my mom gave him goat’s milk straight from our cousin’s farm instead. He loved it, and his tummy did, too!
When it came time to wean my daughter, I consulted my aunt about the benefits of goat’s milk for toddlers and did more research on my own. From what we learned, my husband and I agreed to give her goat’s milk instead.
Related: How To Recognize a Milk Allergy in Your Baby
Why Goat’s Milk Appealed to Us
Here’s why we decided to go the goat’s milk route:
- Goat’s milk can be easier to digest.1,4,11
- It contains fewer allergenic proteins than cow’s milk.4,11,12
- Goat’s milk contains higher levels of minerals, vitamin A, and vitamin C than cow’s milk.1,4,12,13
- It has a better protein makeup than cow’s milk, making it easier on toddlers’ tummies.1
- Goat’s milk is higher in calcium and magnesium and lower in cholesterol than cow’s milk.1,4,12,14
For our family, we preferred goat’s milk from sources we trusted and felt comfortable with after researching our options. Since my husband and I lived eight hours away from my cousin’s farm, we researched online and found a local farm that sold goat’s milk. They had a mom-and-pop store out in the country, adjacent to acres of land populated with healthy goats grazing a green pasture. This farm used no additives, hormones, or anything foreign with their herd. And every Tuesday, I would pick up a gallon for our family. Our daughter, just like my little brother, absolutely loved it, too!
Related: My Toddler Won’t Eat: Toddler Nutrition 101
Things Parents Should Know About Goat’s Milk
While goat’s milk worked well for our family, it may not be the right choice for every child. Every child is different, and what works well for one toddler may not be the best fit for another. If you’re considering making a change, it’s always a good idea to discuss your options with your child’s pediatrician.
The Bottom Line
Every child is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing milk for toddlers. For our family, goat’s milk ended up being a good fit, and we were happy with the choice we made.
If you’re weighing cow’s milk versus goat’s milk, talk with your child’s pediatrician and consider your child’s individual nutritional needs, preferences, and health history before making a decision.
