>on a cultural issue, *why* is there a belief that
> goat's milk is in any way superior to cow's milk when
> it comes to feeding babies?

I once had a client who finger-fed expressed milk to her severely
neurologically impaired infant for many months past the point when it
was clear he was never going to nurse (he ultimately died),  even
though he could bottle-feed.  I always figured she did it to show the
world (and probably herself) that she had gone to extra thought and
effort on his behalf.  Any old mom and baby can use a bottle.  *Her*
baby required this particular procedure that his mom had had to
discover and that most people weren't even aware of.  I'd probably
have done the same, for the same reasons.

Same with goat's milk.  I've always assumed parents want to use it
because it's different.  It shows that they've reviewed the standard
options and found them wanting.  *Their* baby is above ordinary
no-thought formulas.  I'll bet if there were a commercial goat milk
formula (as I understand there is in Australia) it'd sell well.
Goodness knows the parents of cow milk allergic babies would welcome
it.

Diane  Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLL  Ithaca, NY

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