Switching from Toddler Formula to Goat's Milk?

My daughter started on goats milk and goat dairy when she was 18 months. She was diagnosed with a cows milk protein allergy (which at 4.5 years, she has still not outgrown... Yep, her dairy needs are still met with goat butter, yogurt, cheese... I do a lot of homecooking.) She was on a milk-based toddler formula until the switch, because the milk allergy had interfered with weight gain (which we didnt know and our pedi wanted her to stay on formula until her weight increased).

However, your post confused me in that you mentioned she was on lactose free formula. Goat milk still has lactose. Being lactose intolerant and having a cows milk protein allergy are two different dietary issues. Do you know which your daughter is? Lactose intolerance refers to a life long allergy, where the person's body doesn't make the enzyme to breakdown lactose (the sugar in milk). A cows milk protein allergy, on the otherhand, is an allergic reaction to the protein in cows milk; most children outgrow it between age 3-6, although others may not until 10-12.

Lactose-free foods still have cows milk protein, while a diet free of cows milk ingredients may incorporate other dairy sources that have lactose.

I don't take a cooler of milk with me, even when she was little. She drank her 16 oz of dairy at home (She never was a good drinker of straight goat milk. Instead, I would make a simple goat yogurt & goat milk smoothie--basically diluted yogurt with milk-- for her; 8oz in the morning, 8 oz in the afternoon/evening. Nutritional guidelines are for 16 oz a day once over 12 months). While out, she would have water (she actually prefers water instead of juice). However, I do have to pack snacks and lunch items for her when were headed out, because she can't eat most menu items (for example, most bread is made with milk; that limits your restaurant choices). Feel free to message me if you have questions or need on-the-go food suggestions.

I don't have any experience with starting a kid on goats milk, but my own mom had me on goats milk to supplement breastmilk 29 years ago. I turned out GREAT if I do say so myself :-P

At her age, I wouldn't worry about having to bring a cooler all the time because she won't be drinking THAT much milk as time goes on. She's probably ready to transition to a cup pretty soon, so you could just get one of those insulated sippy cups or a kids thermos (my son did better with a regular cup than a sippy at that age) with some goats milk.

Be aware, goats milk is more expensive than cows milk so just prepare yourself for the sticker shock.

HTH
T.

I'm a huge advocate for goat's milk! You can actually buy goat's milk in powder form (in a can) at a health food store (we have Whole Foods grocery markets near us). All you have to do is mix with water...great for travelling!

Feel free to message me if you want to chat further about switching to goat's milk. I basically raised my first 2 children on it when I was unable to breastfeed successfully (luckily, I am currently breastfeeding my son and it's going extremely well! ... but if that should take a turn for the worse, he will be transitioned to goat's milk as well.)

Hi TL---As I understand it, goat's milk proteins are more similar in nature to human milk proteins so might be a bit more easy to tolerate. I agree with much of what Karen shares...lactose is a sugar and most humans lack the enzyme necessary to digest it. I also second the idea that your daughter just drink water when you are out and about. It is best and we usually do not drink enough of it on a daily basis.

I am taking a series of classes taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. She advises, based on long term research, that the proteins in cows milk cause problems for humans. It is highly allergenic, and most symptoms of cows milk allergies are subtle, such as post nasal drip. But, more seriously, cows milk is one of the biggest risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes. The proteins resemble the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and since they are allergenic, the body often attacks the pancreas as a result of the sensitivity to the cows milk protein. Cows milk also contains high levels of insulin like growth factors, which increase the risk of hormone dependent cancers. Please explore the following websites and decide what is best for your family: www.strongbones.org, www.pcrm.org and www.notmilk.com. I have many reports that Dr. Pam has reviewed on word documents, based on long-term research. Another resource that I highly recommend is to read The China Study by T Colin Campbell. It seems that animal proteins in general increase the risk of degenerative disease, if we eat too much...and in the US, we eat WAY too much. Makes you wonder, doesn't it.

So, the more important question is why you feel your daughter needs to to drink milk of any sort, unless it is a plant milk? Are you concerned about calcium? If so, plants are a far better source of absorbable calcium. There is nothing in animal proteins that can't be consumed more safely be eating plants. I am open to discuss these points with you at any time. Feel free to contact me at any time. Hope that this helps in some small way. Good luck. D.