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As a parent, you want the best nutrition for your baby. It’s your job to equip them with everything they need to thrive. However, finding the right formula can be a difficult task because there are so many options available to you.
Not only that but there are a lot of bad options out there, so it can be hard to find a formula that has everything you want, without everything you don’t. Thankfully, the European Union requires formula manufacturers to adhere to stricter standards than in the United States, to make sure these formulas don’t have any dangerous artificial ingredients.
There are plenty of foreign formula brands that are a lot healthier than US brands, and Holle is one of them. Both Holle Cow milk formula and goat milk formula are entirely organic. They don’t have any of the potentially harmful ingredients that formula manufacturers in the United States use.
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Main Differences Between Holle Cow Milk Formula and Goat Milk Formula
The main differences between Holle cow milk formula vs goat milk are:
- Holle goat milk formula uses goat milk as the primary ingredient, whereas Holle cow milk formula uses cow milk.
- Holle goat milk formula has more probiotics, whereas Holle cow milk formula tends to be better tolerated by newborns.
- Holle goat milk formula comes in 3 stages, whereas Holle cow milk formula comes in 4 stages.
- Holle goat milk formula contains a far greater concentration of probiotics, whereas Holle cow milk formula contains a casein to whey ratio that mimics breast milk.
- Holle goat milk formula contains tryptophan, which could help your baby sleep better, whereas Holle cow milk formula contains starch, which is a great source of carbohydrates.
- Holle goat milk formula contains amino acids, whereas Holle cow milk formula contains acids from vegetable oils and organic corn.
Holle Goat Milk Formula
Hopefully, it’s obvious that goat milk is different than cow milk. However, it may not be obvious how it’s different. One of the most important things to understand is that the majority of the proteins in cow milk and goat milk are the same, so if your baby has been diagnosed with an allergy to cow’s milk, you can’t substitute for goat milk formula. The chances of them reacting to it as well are very high.
On the other hand, if your baby has a sensitivity to cow milk, you may want to give goat milk formula a try. While the proteins are the same, some are different. Goat milk also contains significantly less of some of the same proteins as cow milk, so it’s likely that the reduced volume could alleviate some of your issues.
How it’s made
Holle goat milk formula is certified organic by the European Union, which has much stricter standards for infant formula creation than the United States. They also adhere to very high animal-care standards, which we’ll talk more about later.
Holle goat milk formula is also pretty cool because they use a fat blend that includes goat milk cream. The animals are so well cared for that this cream has a healthy amount of fatty acids and natural cholesterol, much like breast milk.
Because the primary ingredient in Holle goat milk formula is – you guessed it – goat milk, it can be easier for your baby to digest. As goat milk enters your child’s stomach, it produces softer, smaller curds than cow milk.
It’s much more like breast milk than cow milk formula. This is an amazing feat, given that Holle cow milk formula is about as close to breast milk as you can get.
The curds you see in spit-up are what gets created in the stomach, so it’s easy to understand why smaller, softer curds would be easier on the digestive tract. In fact, the baby’s digestive system can digest goat milk much more quickly than cow milk.
For those of you who are interested, it’s also cool to know that the timing of goat milk protein digestion and absorption is closer to breast milk. Better digestion and absorption can lead to less discomfort including less gas, constipation, or cramping.
Stages
Holle goat milk formula comes in three stages: Organic Infant Goat Milk Formula 1, Organic Infant Goat Milk Follow-On Formula 2, and Organic Infant Goat Milk Follow-On Formula 3.
You can use Stage 1 immediately at birth. Stage 2 is meant for infants 6 months and older, while Stage 3 is for 12 months and beyond.
Each has the nutrients your child needs during that stage of growth.
Pros:
- Made with goat milk for easier digestion
- 99% organic
- Certified by the EU
- Adheres to high animal care standards
- Uses a goat milk cream blend for better fatty acids and natural cholesterol
- Closer to breast milk than cow milk
Cons:
- Not available in the United States
- Expensive
Holle Cow Milk Formula
Like all Holle baby formulas, their cow milk formula is 99% organic and biodynamic. It’s made from real milk and made to mimic breastmilk, with nutrients that are the closest you’ll get in a powder.
You can use it immediately at birth, meaning if you’re having trouble breastfeeding or you’ve already decided to formula-feed, you can use it right away.
How it’s made
You can give your baby all of the vitamins and minerals they need from the start for healthy growth and development. It doesn’t have any added wheat, gluten, or sugar, which gives you the confidence to make the right decision. It is also gentle enough on your baby’s stomach.
All of the ingredients in Holle cow milk formula come from cows raised on biodynamic farms. These farms use organic farming and Holle sources these ingredients intentionally through relationships with individual farmers.
These farmers grass-feed their cows and treat them humanely, so you can take comfort in feeding your infant with something that originates from an environment of love.
It contains the essential fatty acids your child needs, but they derive them from maltodextrin, which comes from vegetable oils and organic corn rather than other dangerous or unhealthy sources.
There are no artificial additives or preservatives, but the shelf life is still long enough for you to stock up and use it before it goes back, which is convenient, given that you can’t buy it in stores in the United States just yet. You’ll have to order it online from various sources that ship overseas.
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Stages
Holle cow milk formula comes in a powder, so all you have to do is mix it with warm water and let it dissolve.
It comes in four stages: Organic Infant Formula PRE, Organic Infant Formula 1, Organic Infant Follow-On Formula 2, and Organic Growing Up Milk 3.
PRE and Stage 1 varieties can be used from birth, and are recommended up to 6 months unless you find that your child isn’t ready to advance to Stage 2. Stage 2 is recommended starting at 6 months, and Stage 3 is recommended for 12 months and beyond.
Each is designed for your baby’s developing tummy and has everything they need for that stage of life.
If you’re looking for something that mimics real breast milk, Holle is the closest, safest option to the real thing. If you’re supplementing, you can go back and forth between Holle cow milk formula and breast milk with no problems.
Pros:
- Easy to supplement
- 99% organic
- No additives or preservatives
- Ingredients sourced from organic farms and grass-fed cows treated humanely
- Certified by Biolands and the European Union
- Soy-free
Cons:
- Can only purchase online if you’re in the U.S.
- Does contain palm oil
- More expensive than other brands
FAQs about Holle Cow Milk Formula and Goat Milk Formula
If you’re on the fence about feeding your child goat milk or cow milk formula, or if you’re trying to decide which brand is best for you, here are some frequently asked questions to clear the air.
Goat milk is much easier to digest than cow milk. It mimics the same digestion timing as breast milk, which can make it easier on your child’s tummy. It also has more vitamins and minerals than cow milk. However, cow milk has more folic acid and B12. While the proteins are almost the same, the amount of each protein varies quite a bit, so it depends on how each individual baby responds to each formula.
Because the FDA hasn’t approved any goat milk formulas for sale in the United States, many people wonder if goat milk formula is safe. The truth is, the European Union has much stricter standards than the United States when it comes to formula production. If you’re looking for a certified organic goat milk formula to feed your child, you won’t find anything that compares to the quality of Holle. It’s one of the safest baby formulas you can get, so there’s no need to be concerned. The only thing you need to know is how your baby will respond to it. If feedings don’t go well, switch to Holle cow milk formula and you may do better.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with mixing goat milk and cow milk, you shouldn’t do it when feeding your infant. There are plenty of delicious cheeses that result from a mixture of goat milk and cow milk, like Feta and many Greek or Middle Eastern cheeses. However, because goat milk and cow milk are digested very differently, it takes a mature digestive tract to handle the combination. You cannot mix goat milk formula with cow-milk formula or it could be very difficult for your child to digest. Mixing them can lead to even more constipation, gas, cramping, and discomfort than one of these varieties alone. If you want to switch from one to the other, you can, but you should never mix them together in the same bottle.
Yes, but that doesn’t make it bad, and it certainly doesn’t rule it out as an acceptable source of nutrients for your child. Goat milk gets its flavor from short- and medium-chain fatty acids. While the fatty acids in cow milk also give it flavor, they’re much different than those found in goat milk. Goat milk has an earthy flavor that you may have noticed if you ever eat goat cheese. It’s unlikely that your child will notice a difference or demonstrate a preference, but if they do, feed them what they like.
Final Thoughts
Holle manufacturers excellent infant and toddler formulas, so as your child grows, keep an eye on development and adjust formula feeding as necessary. I highly recommend you try each of these varieties unless your child has specific dietary restrictions that rule them out.
Every baby will respond differently to different types of formula, and the great thing about Holle is that they’ve developed formulas for every stage of growth.
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Holle goat milk formula can aid digestion issues while Holle cow milk formula is specifically designed with nutrients in mind for the first few weeks of life. You’ll also find that Holle goat milk varieties will carry you through about three years of age, while Holle cow milk formulas are specifically designed for older toddlers.
Either way, you’ll find that your child will thrive much better on something like this than on the American-made formulas that contain unhealthy additives.
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