Is it safe to offer my 6mth old goats milk?

Question

my 6mth old has terrible eczema all over his body, He's drinking Cow and Gate formula milk but i have been told by some relatives to gradually introduce goats milk, not sure if i should.

Answer 1

my children have suffered with eczema as well. i found that moving them on to a soya based formula was extremely succesful, you can get this off the shlef at most supermarkets / chemists. you can also get a goat milk formula suitable from birth as well, which may be worth a try but if it is a true dairy allergy will prbably not help much.

Answer 2

I agree with Cornish Granny, ask a doctor, they'll know what they are talking about, people on here probably don't.

Answer 3

baby should have ONLY formula or breast milk for the first year, ask you doc about getting a prescription for eledel for the eczema.

Answer 4

Speak to your GP or Health Visitor. I weaned my son on Goats Milk at 2 after a year on Cows Milk. I noticed a massive difference in his sleeping and general behaviour.

However, I think that the same applies to children under 1 as cows milk so I wouldnt do anything without consulting your GP.

Answer 5

Check with your HV, but i think i'd try switching to a soya formula till he's a year old, then try goat's milk.

Oh, btw, if you try to warm goat's milk up it turns into cheese and won't come out of his bottle. Is very strange.

Answer 6

Be careful as Type 1 diabetes has been linked to mothers giving babies animal milk.

Stick to breast milk if poss.

Answer 7

No, Formula or breast milk for the first year ! no other milk!  

Answer 8

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/m...

"Using goat's milk before 6 months or regular use between 6 and 12 months is not recommended. Goat's milk is no more appropriate to give baby than cow's milk. If you need to supplement and breastmilk is not available, formulas are a more nutritionally complete product. There are several comparisons of goat vs. cow vs. human milk in the links below. Using this information, goat milk is much closer in composition to cow milk than human milk. Goat's milk is high in sodium (like cow's milk) and is very high in chloride and potassium, which makes the renal solute load too high for babies. This can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and can result in anemia and poor growth (these problems are usually undetected until months later). Goat milk is also deficient in folic acid, which can lead to megaloblastic anemia. Also, infants who are allergic to cow's milk protein are often allergic to goat's milk too.

While it's true that whole goats milk (and whole cow's milk) was commonly used prior to the advent of infant formulas it is also true that the infant mortality and morbidity rate during the times of such substitutions was very high."

Answer 9

Don't take advice about your babies health from here, talk to your Doctor or health visitor, thats what they are there for.

Answer 10

I imagine they should not have it until at least a year old same as cow's milk.

Answer 11

If you cannot breast-feed offering a baby Goat-Milk is the next BEST thing...Processed Baby Formula is full of undigestable garbage (vomiting,Allergies,skin rashes,irritability etc...) all indications that formula isn't working...if you decide to feed your baby G/M, you will see an improvement in your childs skin. Your relatives are correct.

Answer 12

My mom changed 2 of us to can milk at 6 months and 3 of us to goat milk....we all turned out fine just fine....one of my sisters had eczema as well but it cleared with goats milk as well....but then again my sister is 51 years old and we in our 40's.

Answer 13

He should have formula until he's at least one.  Besides that, a lot of people allergic to cow's milk have a cross reaction to goat's milk because the proteins are so similar.  

Answer 14

I think I can help you!  My son has struggled with severe eczema since he was 3 months old.  I breast feed him until he was 3 months old and he isn't able to have any cows milk so he has been on Similac Soy Formula.  I have heard that eczema can be caused by a milk allergy, but in my case even though my son IS allergic to milk I found switching to soy milk or rice milk didn't help his eczema at all and even trying the expencive hypoallergenic formula Nutramigen (spelling) didn't make any changes either.  So for one: you need to keep him on formula  until he is at least one (try soy formula) and then I would take him to the dermatologist for his eczema.  Trust me! I thought I could figure out what would help my sons eczema. I tried EVERYTHING under the sun as far as creams, oils, and foods go. And the only cream I found to help a little was called ProEcza, which you have to order, but I eventually took him to the dermatologist and he has been better ever since. Good luck!