Is cow or goat milk formula better for your baby?

If you were fed with formula as a baby, it was almost certainly a cow’s milk formula. But in recent years, especially in Europe, there’s been an explosion in the popularity of goat’s milk formula. 

But why? After all, most of us don’t put goat’s milk on our cereal or in our coffee…so why would we feed it to our babies?

Goat’s milk formula might sound like an unusual choice, but for many babies, it’s the best option thanks to its gentler, more digestible proteins. The same is true of A2 formula – a type of cow’s milk formula with the same gentle proteins as goat’s milk. 

In this blog, we’ll go into all the reasons many parents have turned to goat’s milk, so you can see if it might be the best choice for your baby, too. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• About A1 vs A2 proteins and how they’re different

• Fat globule sizes in goats milk vs cow’s milk (and why they matter)

• Lactose content, and whether goat’s milk is good for babies with cow’s milk allergies

• Whether goat’s milk tastes different to cow’s milk

• Whether you should switch to goat’s milk or A2 formula

About A1 vs A2 proteins and how they’re different

Regular cow's milk contains two types of protein: A1 and A2. But cow’s milk is unique in containing both these proteins. Human breastmilk, goat’s milk and all other mammal milk contains only the A2 protein. This is because selective breeding in dairy cows over generations led to the emergence of the A1 protein. 

Some cow’s milk (and some cow’s milk formula) does contain only the A2 protein, just like goat’s milk. But unless a cow’s milk product specifically says on the label that it contains only A2, then you can assume it contains A1 as well. 

For many babies, this isn’t in any way a problem. If your baby is currently fed using a standard cow’s milk formula, and they don’t show any signs of digestive discomfort, then you don’t need to worry. There’s no need to switch to a goat’s milk formula unless you want to. 

But if your baby seems to struggle with digestion, or they’re assy or unsettled after feeds, then it could be that they’re struggling to digest the A1 protein. In that case, it’s definitely worth considering switching to a goat’s milk or A2 cow’s milk formula. 

Fat globule sizes in goats milk vs cow’s milk (and why they matter)

Another key difference between goat’s milk and cow’s milk is the size of the fat globules. This affects how easily your baby can digest and absorb nutrients. 

Goat's milk has naturally smaller fat globules than cow's milk. This means your baby’s digestive enzymes have an easier job at breaking them down, which in turn makes absorbing nutrients easier. In fact, goat’s milk is quite similar to breastmilk in terms of fat globule size, so babies’ stomachs are naturally primed to find it easy to digest. 

Cow's milk (both regular and A2 cow’s milk) has larger fat globules, which can be more difficult to break down and digest. For many babies, this isn’t a problem, but those with sensitive tummies can struggle. 

Lactose content, and whether goat’s milk is good for babies with intolerances and allergies

If your baby has struggled with digestion, you might have wondered whether they could have a lactose intolerance. You might also be wondering whether goat’s milk could help them. 

The most important thing to know here is that all milk contains lactose, including goat’s milk. Though the percentage of lactose in goat’s milk is a little lower than in cow’s milk, it’s not low enough that it’s safe for lactose intolerant babies. 

The second thing to note is that lactose intolerance is quite rare in babies, even though it’s common in adults. The vast majority of babies are born with the ability to digest lactose easily, and breastmilk contains it in high amounts. If you think your baby is lactose intolerant, you should seek a diagnosis from a pediatrician, and get a prescription for a specialist, lactose-free formula. 

Goat’s milk is also not usually suitable for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy (or CMPA). Though there are (as we’ve already laid out) differences in the proteins, they’re similar enough that babies who are allergic to cow’s milk will usually be allergic to goat’s milk too. Again, you’re likely to need a specialist prescription formula if your baby has a diagnosed allergy.

Does goat’s milk formula taste different to cow’s milk?

Many parents worry that if they switch to a goat’s milk formula, their baby will reject it. If you’ve ever eaten goat’s milk cheese, you’ll know that it does have a distinctive taste that’s pretty different to cow’s milk. But what about formula?

Regular cow's milk formula and A2 cow’s milk formula both taste pretty much the same. So if your baby is already on standard cow’s milk formula, they might not even notice if you switch to A2. 

Goat’s milk formula can taste different, though not in a bad way. Some parents say that it seems creamier and milder in taste to cow’s milk, and so it might be that if you switch, your baby will actually end up preferring it. 

Should you switch to goat’s milk formula? 

The "best" formula is the one your baby thrives on. If your baby is thriving on their current cow’s milk formula, there’s no reason to switch. 

But if you find that they:

• Show signs of digestive discomfort like fussiness, gas and bloating after feeds

• Are struggling to transition from breastmilk to formula 

• Suffer from constipation or hard stools

Then either goat’s milk or A2 formula might be the better option. It is worth remembering that there’s no guarantee switching milk will help – it could be that they need a specialist formula or simply need time for their digestive system to mature. But many parents have told us that switching to goat’s milk formula made a huge difference for their baby. 

Options include:

• Jovie – rich, nutritious organic formula made by goat’s milk experts. 

• Kabrita – starch-free, gut-healthy formula from a specialist, goats milk only brand.

• Nannycare – one of the first goat’s milk brands, rich in antioxidants. 

• Kendamil Goat – UK-made, vegetarian formula that’s just as good as their cow’s milk options. 

• Holle Goat – vegetarian, climate-positive formula from one of Europe’s best known brands.

• HiPP Goat – a great, organic option with natural prebiotics for lifelong gut health.

• Holle A2 – the ideal choice if you want a gentler option, but don’t want to switch to goat’s milk. 

If you’re not sure, you can take advantage of our Happy Baby Guarantee to try a new formula risk-free. This means that we’ll provide a store credit for you to try another formula if your baby doesn’t like the one you choose.  

Plus of course, we’re always here to advise before you buy – do get in touch if you’d like some help.