The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months of life and preferably until two years of life. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both infants and mothers, including reducing the risk of infections, eczema, asthma, and type 1 diabetes for infants, while reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes in mothers (1). Exclusive breastfeeding is not always feasible, and therefore families look for alternative sources of complete nutrition and turn to infant formula, which is designed to provide a similar nutritional profile of breast milk. Selecting an infant formula is a personalized decision that involves individual tolerance and family preferences, as well as medical guidance from a pediatrician.
Meets Nutritional Requirements
Goat milk-based infant formulas are emerging as a popular choice as parents explore alternatives to traditional cow milk-based formulas. In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their recommendations to include the use of goat milk-based infant formula as an acceptable source of nutrition for infants (2). Kabrita goat milk-based infant formula received the green light from the U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada in 2023 and 2024 respectively (2). When a formula has gone through the entire FDA review process, it means the formula meets strict government standards for nutrition and safety—so you can feel confident it's a healthy and safe choice for your baby.
Benefits to Digestive Health
Goat milk is considered easier to digest than cow’s milk. This is attributed to the different protein structure than cow’s milk. Specifically, goat milk contains lower levels of alpha-S1 casein protein – which is associated with a softer curd formation in the stomach. The softer and smaller curds are easier to break down in the stomach (3). A recent study by Knipping found that infants experienced fewer gastrointestinal symptoms—including less gas, skin irritation, diarrhea, constipation, and unexplained crying—after introduction of goat-milk based formulas (4).
Globally Recognized for Infant Nutrition
Although goat milk-based formulas are relatively new in the United States and Canada, they have long been used in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The top selling goat milk-based infant formula worldwide is Kabrita, a Dutch company that sources its milk from 100 family-run goat farms in the Netherlands. Kabrita ensures that their farmers adhere to strict European safety standards that limit the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, and pesticides, while also focusing on sustainability. After the goat milk is collected, it is processed in carbon-free facilities that follow strict European safety standards with numerous quality checks.
Research continues to grow around goat milk-based infant formula benefits and safety, and more pediatricians are becoming familiar with it as a go-to option whether a family is exclusively using formula, or combo-feeding their infant. When selecting a formula for your infant, it is essential to choose a properly regulated formula and always speak with your pediatrician before making a change in your infant’s diet.
References:
- CDC. Breastfeeding benefits both baby and mom. Breastfeeding. May 5, 2025.
- Fuchs GJ. Choosing a baby formula. HealthyChildren.org. September 16, 2020.
- Ye A, Cui J, Carpenter E, Prosser C, Singh H. Dynamic in vitro gastric digestion of infant formulae made with goat milk and cow milk: Influence of protein composition. International Dairy Journal. June 15, 2019.
- Knipping K, Böhme J, Goossens D, van Lee L, van der Zee L. Goat milk-based infant formula and the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in infants: A real-world-evidence study from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and the Netherlands. February 10, 2025.
