Baby formula is derived from milk that is then fortified with lots of wonderful nutrients, micronutrients, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, and all the good stuff. Breastfeeding is not always possible or the best fit for every family and that is okay. At the end of the day, all parents want what is best for their baby. The organic formula gives parents the option to feed their little ones the cleanest possible milk – free of antibiotic treatments, abuse, and GMO’s.
When you choose an organic baby formula, a whole new world of options begins to open up. You will start to encounter questions such as:
What are stages? What are the differences? And the one that caught my interest the most was the option for cow’s milk formula and goat’s milk formula.
The best way to measure the differences between goat milk formula and cow milk formula is to compare them in a fair comparison within the same brand:
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What you need to know: Ultimate Guide to Organic European Formula
What are Stages?
European baby formula is different from American baby formula in many aspects, but on the simple terms one of the most noticeable differences in addition to the higher quality is that it is broken down into stages. Each stage is carefully designed to meet the nutritional needs of your baby, classifying them into 3 stages all of which are exceptionally rich in all necessary nutrients with slight variations depending on that stages’ developmental needs.
Stage 1: Kendamil Stage 1 (0-6 Months) Organic Baby Formula
Kendamil stage 1 formula is the best starting point if you are weaning a breastfed baby to formula, as it is gentle and as close in composition to breastmilk as possible. The formulas are designed to be fattier and higher in calories to mimic the high colostrum volumes in mother’s milk in the first 6 months of infancy:
The main difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 is the whey:casein ratio, which changes from 60:40 to 40:60. This gradual change is designed to reflect the natural changes in breast milk and helps prepare your little one for weaning. Stage 2 milk also contains higher lactose and less fat.- Kendamil
Stage 2: Kendamil Stage 2 (6+ Months) Organic Baby Formula
This second stage is designed for babies who are 6 months and older. During months 6-12, many parents begin to introduce table food to their babies. Though they may be trying these new foods, their main source of nutrition is still milk. This stage is designed for infants who eat few or no solids and/or still need a supplement to breast milk.
The move from Stage 2 to Stage 3 is designed to support your little one’s transition from infant formula products towards cow’s milk. This means our Stage 3 formula contains more protein, calcium, and phosphorous than Stage 2 (like cow’s milk) and has a whey:casein ratio of 80:20 (like cow’s milk). —Kendamil
Stage 3: Kendamil Stage 3 (12+ Months) Organic Baby Formula
At 12 months and older, families may notice that the baby is no longer satisfied with their current baby formula. This is usually because at this point most families are trying to incorporate finger foods, along with purees: that way baby is getting used to an assortment of flavors and texture.
This stage offers higher calorie nutrition and has more vitamins and minerals that are appropriate for their growing body. At the toddler stage, table foods are now part of the nutrition although toddler formula is an excellent form of making sure the baby is getting all of their required nutrients and support.
Milk Source, where does the formula milk come from?
More specifically, which animal is making the milk – most American formulas only provide the option for cow’s milk formula for infants 12 months of age or younger. This can sometimes be a stifling option for babies with more sensitive tummies. EU formulas offer the option of fortified goat’s milk for all three stages acknowledging that not all digestive systems respond the same way to certain kinds of milk.
Cow’s Milk
Cow milk formula is the standard. Most cow milk formulas are derived from skimmed milk. This means all of the fat, or a lot of the natural fats from the milk, are removed before it is dehydrated and processed into the soft powdery substance mixed with all the power of nutrients. This is the standard for most cow milk formulas; though, there are some who believe in the wholesomeness of full cream milk.
Kendamil is a British brand that produces their cows’ milk formula as “full cream.” What that means is that instead of stripping the milk from its fats, they are incorporating the natural composition of the milk, including all of its rich fats. Their process is scientifically aligned with the fact that breastmilk is abundant in fat, making this whole milk composition most similar to a mother’s milk.
Goat’s Milk
Goat milk formula is an excellent option for a number of reasons; most specifically, if your baby is not reacting well and is showing digestive sensitivity to cow milk formulas. Goat’s milk naturally has slightly different proteins than cow’s milk, allowing for easier digestion.
The curds resulting from the casein proteins, or the white chunks that come up in spit up, are a sign of how the milk digests inside the baby’s belly. When goat milk proteins make their way into the stomach, they produce a smaller and softer curd than cow’s milk proteins that are most similar to how breast milk curds. These smaller softer “chunks” move from the stomach and into their intestines more comfortably and easily. Additionally, the digestive system can digest goat milk proteins more quickly, and more completely than cow’s milk proteins.
Kendamil recently updated their above standards, full-cream organic cow’s milk formula to be the first to contain HMO’s. During the process of updating their cow milk formula, they were finalizing their research to release a new goat milk formula. Kendamil Goat milk formula follows the same standard of excellence and cares that they have with their original cow milk formulas.
The best formula for babies with milk allergy symptoms tend to be sensitive formulas. If your baby is allergic to cow’s milk, it may help to use goat milk formula. Goat’s milk has a tenth less protein than cows, so it’s gentler on the stomach. Check out Kendamil Goat formula for mild and easy digestible milk for babies who tend to have sensitive digestive tracts.
Newborns (0-3 months) Kendamil Goat formula for stage 1
Babies 3 to 6 months and up to 12 months Kendamil Goat Formula for stage 2
For toddlers (12+ months) Kendamil Goat Formula for stage 3.
The complete take-away of using european Formula
Whether you are a first-time mommy, a pro, a first-time formula feeder, or a well versed long timer there is always new information and research happening in the formula industry to make sure your baby has the best possible nutrition. Although we are still waiting for some of our home-name brands to catch up to the quality of European baby formula, know that you have options. There is a stage to fit your baby’s needs, a source that suits better for your baby, and a lot of care and attention from the companies that make these options available to our families.
Related: Why you should choose a formula feed for your baby?