One reason why goat's milk is not recommended for EXCLUSIVE feeding in infants less than 12 months of age- in addition to having a lot of protein- is that it is deficient in folic acid. Exclusive use of goat's milk can lead to megaloblastic anemia from folate deficiency. This can be a life-threatening illness. 

Regarding honey and the very real risk of infantile botulism, the recipe on the small measures web site states that it is only for infants over 1 year but it doesn't say WHY which means that people are likely going to try to use this for infants less than 1 year. My question is, "why are we messing with 'formula' for infants over 1 year?" Surely with a varied diet, most kids don't really need fancy mixes at over 1 year. I know that some kids don't eat much but there are ways around this too without messing with "formula" recipes. It seems like a lot of sugar too even if it is in an "organic" form.

Just out of interest, this is why the AAP took it's stand on honey: The pathophysiology of infantile botulism is different from adult botulism. Adult botulism usually results from direct ingestion of the toxin produced by the bacteria. Inadequately canned foods can allow multiplication of the bacteria who then make toxin. Adults usually open a can of spoiled food and then eat the toxin directly. Infantile botulism is usually caused by ingestion of the spore (the "dormant" form of the bacteria). The spores do not affect the adult intestinal tract but in the intestines of infants less than 1 year, they can survive and become active bacteria which then colonize the intestinal tract and start to produce toxin. That toxin causes a slow but progressive weakness and paralysis in the infant which can be fatal. Honey is the major carrier of botulism although there is also a theoretical risk from corn syrup (and from all these recipes for constipation involving Karo syrup...hmm...)  

Hope this isn't too boring!
Kate

Kate McIntosh MD FAAP
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