FirstNom
Dairy & eggs
Goat milk for babies
Goat milk is sometimes recommended as a gentler alternative to cow's milk. For a baby with a milk allergy it is not, and unfortified goat milk is low in folate.
When can babies have goat milk?
Small amounts in cooking from around 6 months, pasteurised. As a main drink from 12 months, as with cow's milk. Goat milk infant formula exists and is regulated; plain goat milk is not a substitute for formula at any point in the first year.
How do you serve goat milk to a baby?
The shape is what makes a food safe, and it changes as your baby’s grip and chewing change. Find your baby’s age band.
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6–8 months
Small amounts in cooking only, pasteurised.
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9–11 months
In cooking. Not as a drink.
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12–18 months
As a main drink from 12 months, pasteurised and full-fat, alongside a diet that covers folate.
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18–24 months
As the family drinks it.
Prep tip
If goat milk becomes the household milk, pay attention to folate sources elsewhere — lentils, leafy greens, beans and fortified cereal all help.
Storage
Refrigerate and use within the date. It sours faster than cow's milk.
Is goat milk a choking hazard for babies?
No choking risk.
Whatever you serve, stay within arm’s reach, keep your baby upright in a supportive seat, and never let them eat in a moving car, buggy or carrier. Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent.
Is goat milk a common allergen?
Goat's milk proteins are structurally similar to cow's milk proteins and cross-reactivity is very high — over 90% of children with cow's milk protein allergy also react to goat and sheep milk. Goat milk is not a safe substitute in milk allergy. Always use pasteurised goat milk for a child.
Is goat milk healthy for babies?
Nutritionally close to cow's milk on calcium, protein and fat. Its fat globules are smaller, which some people find easier to digest. Unfortified goat milk is notably low in folate and lower in B12 and vitamin D than cow's milk, so it is not a straight swap without attention to the rest of the diet.
| Calcium | Very high |
|---|---|
| Protein | High |
| Fat | High |
| Folate | Low |
| Vitamin B12 | Lower than cow's milk |
| Iron per serving | ~0.1 mg |
Common questions about goat milk
Is goat milk safe for a baby with cow's milk allergy?
No, in the great majority of cases. Cross-reactivity between goat and cow milk proteins is over 90%. Speak to your allergist rather than switching.
Is goat milk easier to digest?
Its fat globules are smaller and the curd it forms is softer, which some people find gentler. The evidence for a meaningful difference in babies is limited, and it does not help with allergy.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
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