Can Goat Milk Formula Help With Colic?
If you’ve experienced a baby with colic, you’ll know just how desperate parents with colicky babies are to solve the issue and Stop. The. Crying. That’s why we’re going to discuss whether you may be able to achieve some colic relief with goat’s milk formula.
Just like adults, babies have unique needs, preferences, and bodies. In some cases, switching to a more digestible formula like goat’s milk formula might help babies with colic. But it’s not a guarantee (sorry!).
Read on to learn more about what colic is, why it happens, and things you can try to help ease it, including trialling goat’s milk formula for colic.
What is colic?
Aside from a pain in the butt for YOU, colic is defined as crying and fussing for more than three hours at a time every day for no obvious physical reason. Some parents may describe it as ‘the baby screaming bloody murder non-stop for hours’.
It’s most commonly reported in babies from 2–16 weeks old, and is often at its worst between 6pm and midnight. Yep, right when you’re zonked and need to rest yourself.
Symptoms of colic
We’ve already mentioned the crying. Loud and long screaming fits may also be accompanied by symptoms like:
- A face rash
- Baby pulling their legs up
- Loud tummy rumblings.
You might notice other things your baby does too.
Distinct features of colic include lots of inconsolable crying, often at the same time each day, with no physical cause at all.
It sure gets old! Which is no doubt why you’re here researching whether goat’s milk formula can help with colic!
What causes colic?
Great question! We don’t really know what causes colic. Frustrating.
What we do know is that colic is often associated with intolerances.
- Some studies have found that when a breastfeeding mother eats certain foods including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chocolate, onions and cow’s milk, it can cause an attack of colic in her breastfed infant. Caffeine consumption can also increase colic symptoms in breastfed babies.
- Formula fed babies can also get colic. Conditions like cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI) could be at play, and switching to another type of formula such as goat’s milk formula may or may not help to ease colic.
It’s not a sure thing that a baby with colic has an intolerance. Some believe that excessive crying and swallowing air actually causes digestive issues rather than the other way around. Even still, if your baby does show signs of colic, it’s a good idea to get them checked out by a paediatrician to make sure there’s not something else at play, such as an allergy.
Other theories about what causes colic include:
- Small babies experience digestive discomfort and pain as their digestive systems get up to speed.
- Babies just have no idea what the heck is going on as they adjust to life outside the womb.
Most babies with colic continue to eat and gain weight normally.
How do you get a colic diagnosis?
A doctor should examine your baby to rule out health issues like allergies, reflux, infections or skin conditions. If nothing is detected you’ll likely be told it’s ‘just colic’.
It’s always good to get it checked out, though, for your peace of mind. Plus, your doctor just might offer some handy tips to help you manage the colic symptoms.
Okay, so now let’s look at the link between goat’s milk formula and colic relief.
Can goat’s milk formula help with colic?
Maybe!
While there’s no evidence that goat’s milk formula is the solution to colic, there are a few good reasons why it might help.
- Goat’s milk formula is easier to digest – Smaller fats and proteins form softer curds which are easier for little tummies to digest.
- Goat’s milk formula is naturally high in oligosaccharides – These are a type of milk sugar found in all mammalian milks. Of note, goat’s milk has a more similar balance of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) than cow’s milk does.
- Goat’s milk formula has been tried and approved by many parents – At Oli6, we often get feedback from parents saying that our gentle Goat Milk Formula helps settle their colicky baby.
If your little one is taking a standard cow’ milk formula, it can be interesting to consider the benefits of goat’s milk vs cow’s milk for colic.
How to safely trial goat’s milk formula for your colicky baby
We get it, you’re desperate to stop your baby wailing for hours on end. But switching formulas isn’t super straightforward and shouldn’t be done lightly.
If you want to try a different type of formula for colic, follow these steps to ensure you do it safely:
- See your GP to get your baby examined. Make sure it is ‘just colic’ and not something more dire. Explain your intention to try a new formula and discuss your different formula options, including the benefits of goat’s milk formula for colic.
- Select a high quality formula that contains all essential nutrients. Look out for added sugar (we don’t want that as it can make colic worse), and select something with gut-supporting probiotics.
- Follow the new formula’s transition guide to a tee, and carefully follow instructions to prepare it correctly.
- Unless you see an increase in symptoms (or other worse ones), try the new formula for a couple of weeks at least.
Other tips for managing colic
Changing formula isn’t necessarily the solution for a baby with colic. You might find colic relief with goat’s milk formula, or you might not. It’s up to you to try different techniques and find what your baby responds to.
Some things to try
- Different bottle feeding positions, and burping your baby thoroughly after every feed.
- Swaddling your baby up tight, rocking them gently, or using sound machines to soothe them.
- Dim lighting and a calm environment.
- Baby wearing.
- Taking your baby for a walk in the pram or a drive in the car (as daunting as that may seem!)
- Offering your baby a dummy to suck.
- Gentle massage techniques or a warm bath.
- Holding your baby curled in a ‘c’ position.
- Putting your baby down in a safe spot and seeing if they’ll settle themselves (perhaps you’re overdoing the rocking and shushing?).
Over the counter medications
You can purchase colic remedies like ‘gripe water’ from many pharmacies, but there’s no scientific evidence to prove that they work. Just like goat’s milk formula and colic, it may be that these solutions help some babies.
Colic formula
There are also different types of formula on the market specifically for babies with tummy sensitivities and colic. Take a look at how Oli6 Goat Milk Formula compares to some of these formulas. Just remember to always trial a new formula with the help of your doctor.
Look after yourself
We won’t lie to you and say all babies can be settled in one way or another. Sometimes colic is a matter of waiting it out and looking after your mental health as best you can during this time. Because it is HARD looking after a baby that screams all day. But this won’t last forever.
- Try and ‘take turns’ with the baby. Get your partner or a friend or family member to tap you out when you need a rest.
- Get fresh air and exercise.
- Remember to eat and drink water.
If you’re able to stay calm, you’re more likely to be able to calm your baby.
Whether you choose to try Oli6 Goat Milk Formula for colic, or you find another solution to settle your baby, we wish you the very best out there! Colic is tough work. But you’ve got this.
You can find Oli6 Goat Milk Formula at your local Coles, Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse, or shop online.
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