I understand the care and thought that goes into every choice you make for your baby. I know that all you want as a parent is the very best for your little one, and that includes the right follow on formula. While all formulas must meet strict guidelines, the sources of fats and protein can differ between brands. I hope this article helps to explain some of these differences.

At Nannycare, we are committed to starting with the highest-quality goat milk as our foundation. Our focus is on maximising the levels of fresh, whole goat milk in our recipe while carefully preserving its natural properties. By minimising heat and processing, we aim to protect the qualities inherent in fresh milk. The result? A formula thoughtfully crafted to be as naturally based as possible.

When it comes to follow on formula, we know you want to feel confident about what you’re giving your baby—and we’re here to support you on that journey.

Why We Only Make Goat Milk Formula

Goat milk is an excellent base for formula, offering certain natural properties that more closely resemble breast milk¹—the gold standard—than cow’s milk. For instance, goat milk naturally forms softer curds², contains higher levels of oligosaccharides³, and provides more medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) than cow’s milk³. These distinctive qualities are why we choose to exclusively craft our follow on formula from goat milk, and why we have been specialists in goat milk formula for 30 years!

What Sets Nannycare Apart

1. The Unique Source of Our Whole A2 Goat Milk

Not all goat milk is created equal!

Most goat milk is produced for cheese-making, where firmer curds are preferred. At Nannycare, we take a different approach. Our milk comes from a dedicated Co-Operative of family-run farms that specialise in producing milk specifically for formula. Our farmers carefully select goats and nourish them with a natural diet of pasture grasses and wild forages. This approach, combined with gentle milk handling, ensures the highest quality whole A2 goat milk, which naturally forms soft, gentle curds² that are ideal for delicate little tummies.

2. We Maximise Whole Milk in Our Recipes

At Nannycare, we prioritise using as much fresh whole milk as possible in our follow on recipes. In fact, 100% of the protein comes from whole milk—compared to just 50% for our closest competitor^†. Whole milk naturally contains milk fat, an integral component of our recipe.

In contrast, follow on formulas made with skimmed milk and whey use only parts of the milk, removing the natural milk fat. To meet regulatory requirements, this fat is replaced with vegetable oils, often resulting in higher levels of added oils⁶. While vegetable oils provide important fatty acids, our focus on maximising whole milk helps us create a thoughtfully balanced formula that retains more of the natural qualities of milk.

3. Twice the Milk Fat & less Vegetable Oils

Using twice the amount of whole milk means twice the natural milk fat—and because we include more milk fat, we need less vegetable oil. In fact, our formula contains 30% less vegetable oil than our closest competitor^†.

Natural MFGM: More milk fat also means more natural Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM)—twice as much^†—offering a formula that stays closer to the natural composition of milk.

What Does This Mean for Your Baby?

More of the natural qualities found in milk and natural milk fat, with fewer synthetic additives.

The result is a carefully considered and gentle goat milk follow on formula, crafted with your baby’s satisfaction in mind. It also has a creamy, delicious taste your baby will love!

4. Minimal Processing to Preserve Natural Qualities

At Nannycare, we understand how much parents care about the ingredients in their baby’s formula. That’s why we start with the highest quality fresh whole goat milk and focus on preserving its natural qualities through minimal processing. By reducing processing steps and minimising heat treatment, we help retain the components from milk in their original form as much as possible.

Additionally, we avoid adding whey—a highly processed ingredient commonly used in formulas.

Why Nannycare Doesn’t Use Whey

What is Whey?

Whey is a safe and widely used ingredient in formula but is a by-product of cheese production. Its processing involves multiple refining steps, making it less similar to the natural structure of milk. Further, because whey is a protein, its inclusion limits the amount of whole milk that can be used due to regulatory protein level maximums. This is why Nannycare follow on has 100% of its protein derived from whole milk. By contrast, whey-adjusted goat milk formulas can derive only up to 50% of their protein from whole milk.

Why is Whey Added—and Why Nannycare Doesn’t Need It

1.    To Soften Curds: In cow milk formulas, whey is added to soften curds in a baby’s tummy because cow milk curds are naturally firmer and tend to clump together more⁷. Goat milk, unlike cow’s milk, naturally forms soft, gentle curds², so Nannycare does not require added whey for this purpose.

2.    To Adjust the Whey-to-Casein Ratio: The second reason that whey is often added is to modify the natural whey-to-casein ratio in formula, aiming to align it more closely with the 60:40 ratio found in breast milk. While this adjustment technically achieves a closer ratio, it also increases levels of proteins not found in breast milk, such as beta-lactoglobulin—a whey protein absent from breast milk and recognised as a potential allergen⁸.

Proven by High-Quality Clinical Trials

Overall we have found no reason to add whey. In further support, a high-quality clinical trial demonstrated that our Nannycare formula supports babies’ growth without the need for added whey⁹. This trial played a pivotal role in amending regulations to recognise goat milk formula in Europe and the UK.

By avoiding whey¹⁰, we stay true to our commitment to minimal processing and carefully selected ingredients. This allows us to offer parents a thoughtful option they can feel confident choosing for their little ones.

And most importantly, satisfied and content babies bring smiles and joy to the whole family!

Who Are Nannycare?

Uniquely Goat Milk Formula Specialists and Experts

Nannycare specialises exclusively in goat milk formula, making us unique in the UK market. We’ve been passionate about and specialised in goat milk formula for decades. A pivotal trial using Nannycare formula paved the way for changes in EU and UK regulations⁹, making goat milk formula available to parents today. Without our clinical trials and perseverance, no goat milk formula could be sold in the UK or Europe today. We are proud to be the true experts!

Sustainability at Heart

We are proud to be the only goat milk formula in the UK certified by ClimatePartner. This certification reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability, ensuring we actively measure, reduce, and offset our carbon footprint.

But it doesn’t stop there — our certification is reviewed annually, holding us accountable to our climate action goals and driving us to improve year after year. Sustainability isn’t a one-time effort for us — it’s a continuous journey to contribute towards a greener, brighter future for families everywhere.🌍💚

Proud to Raise the Bar for Natural Ingredients!

Our deep understanding of goat milk and goat milk formula science informs every aspect of our Nannycare recipes. Whether it’s our commitment to using fresh whole milk, minimising processing, or ensuring a creamy taste that babies love, we’re proud to raise the bar for higher levels of natural ingredients!

Important Notice:

Breastfeeding is best. Follow on Milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet from 6 months. Not suitable for cow’s milk protein allergy. Talk to a healthcare professional.

References:

1. Storry et al., 1983; Ambrosoli et al., 1988; Remeuf et al., 1989; Park 2007; Mestawet et al., 2014; Ye et al., 2016, 2. Clark et al, 2000; Park et al.,2007; Ye et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2019, 3. Thum et al., 2015; Martinez-Ferez et al., 2006; Meyrand et al., 2013; Kiskini and Difilippo, 2013; van Leeuwen et al., 2020, 4. Prosser et al., 2018; Gallier et al., 2020, 5. Grant et al., 2005; Han et al., 2011; Zhou, et al., 2014; Jung et al., 2023, 6. Delplanque et al., 2015, 7. Janas et al. 1987; Lönnerdal and Chen, 1990; Karlsland Åkesson et al, 1998, 8. Savilahti & Kuitunen, 1992, 9. Zhou et al., 2014, 10. Rutherfurd et al., 2006; Rutherfurd et al., 2008; EFSA 2012.

†. Independent testing September 2024. Full report available at compare.nannycare.co.uk.