Nutritionist-Approved Homemade Baby Formula Recipe
I’ve had so many people reaching out due to the current baby food shortage, and I’ve told them all the same thing: MAKE. YOUR. OWN!
I know! Homemade baby formula? Am I nuts?
Well, how do you think everyone used to get along before the big corporations convinced you that their processed gunk was the only way to go?
Baby formula (as well as baby food) is so simple to make and homemade formulas (from reliable sources) are so much more nutritious and less toxic than store-bought, garbage. Once you get a hang of it, it only takes about 10 minutes a day.
If your baby is only consuming the formula, it is best to make it fresh every day. If you are alternating with breastmilk or solid foods, you can make a fresh batch every few days, but it also freezes well for convenience or in case of emergencies.
Although it may seem a little overwhelming at first because there are a lot of ingredients, once you make it once, you’ll see just how easy and quick it is (about 10 minutes). And again… SOOOO much better for your baby!
DISCLAIMER
Please note that nothing in this post should be misconstrued as medical advice. Please speak with your pediatrician before starting your baby on anything new and make sure that your baby doesn’t have any allergies or sensitivities to any of the ingredients in the formulas below.
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Cow’s Milk Baby Formula RECIPE
Human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow’s milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to this cow’s milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Note: use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.
There is no question that the ideal food for babies is their mother’s breastmilk. However, when it is not available, clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture is second best. For sources of good quality milk, check out www.realmilk.com. (Additional reading: Is Raw Milk Safe for Babies?)
If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 253-588-2922).
Cow’s Milk Baby Formula
Please keep in mind that oils and supplements are not created equal, so try to stick to the recommended brands by clicking on the red links. I’ve done a lot of research to come up with the very best ingredients for your baby.
Makes 36 ounces
Ingredients
2 cups whole cow’s milk, preferably raw from pasture-fed cows (For sources of good quality milk, check out www.realmilk.com.)
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (<— Click link for recipe) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese. It will cause the formula to curdle. ONLY USE homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
4 TBS lactose
1 capsule bifidobacterium infantis - open the capsule and put it inside the mixture
2 or more TBS good quality organic cream (preferably NOT ultra-pasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1 tsp regular cod liver oil
1/4 tsp high-vitamin butter oil (optional)
1 tsp expeller-expressed sunflower oil
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp coconut oil
2 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
2 tsp gelatin
1-7/8 cups filtered water (preferably 7.0 Kangen water, but spring water is good too)
1/4 tsp acerola powder
Directions
Put 2 cups filtered water into a Pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tablespoons (that will give you 1-7/8 cups water).
Pour about half of the water into a pan and place on a medium flame.
Add the gelatin and lactose to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
When the gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture.
Stir in the coconut oil and optional high-vitamin butter oil and stir until melted.
Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients into a blender.
Add the water mixture and blend about three seconds.
Place in glass bottles or a glass jar and refrigerate.
Before giving to baby, warm bottles by placing in hot water or a bottle warmer. Note: NEVER warm bottles in a microwave oven!
CLICK HERE TO SEE TIPS to simplify the process .
homemade whey
Don’t get scared. Homemade whey is super easy to make.
homemaded whey
Makes about 5 cups
Ingredients
High quality plain, raw or cultured milk, whole-milk yogurt from pasture-fed cows
Directions
First, rest a large strainer over a bowl and line it with an organic cotton tea towel.
If you’re using yogurt or kefir:
place 2 quarts in the organic cotton tea towel.
Cover with a plate (or any cover that fits snugly) and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl.
In the morning, squeeze the tea towel to get out all the whey and transfer to clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.
If you are using raw or cultured milk:
place 2 quarts of the milk in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days until the milk separates into curds and whey.
Pour the curds and whey into the organic cotton tea towel over the bowl.
Cover with a plate (or any cover that fits snugly) and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl.
In the morning, squeeze the tea towel to get out all the whey and transfer to clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.
Source: The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care by Sally Fallon Morell
GOAT MILK FORMULA
Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding.
Goat milk lacks folate and is low in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of your baby. The inclusion of nutritional yeast, which provides folate is key.
To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the Milk-Based Formula (above) with goat’s milk, add 2 teaspoons organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of formula. And be sure to begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.
LIVER-BASED FORMULA
This liver-based formula also mimics the nutrient profile of mother’s milk. As you know, liver is likely one of the most nutritious foods on Earth! After breastfeeding for 5 months, I started to supplement my daughter with this formula.
Please note that it is extremely important to include coconut oil in this formula as it is the only ingredient that provides the special medium-chain saturated fats found in mother’s milk. As with the milk-based formula, all oils should be truly expeller-expressed.
Liver based formula
Makes about 36 ounces.
Ingredients
3-3/4 cups homemade beef or chicken broth
2 ounces organic liver, cut into small pieces
5 tablespoons lactose
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (<— Click link for recipe) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese. It will cause the formula to curdle. ONLY USE homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
1 TBS coconut oil
1 tsp cod liver oil
1 tsp unrefined sunflower oil
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder
Directions
Simmer liver gently in broth until the meat is cooked through.
Liquefy using a handheld blender or in a food processor.
When the liver broth has cooled, stir in remaining ingredients.
Store in a very clean glass container.
To serve, stir formula well and pour 6 to 8 ounces in a very clean glass bottle.
Attach a clean nipple and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed to baby. (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)
Fortifying Commercial Formulas
This stopgap formula can be used in emergencies or when the ingredients for homemade formula are not available.
Recipe for Fortifying Commercial Formulas
Makes about 35 ounces.
Ingredients
1 cup milk-based powdered formula* (the link is to one of the few store-bought formulas I recommend in the event you can’t make your own, but homemade is ALWAYS better!)
29 ounces (or 3 5/8 cups) filtered water (preferably 7.0 Kangen water, but spring water is good too)
1 large egg yolk from an organic egg, cooked 3 1/2 minutes (See recipe for egg yolk, below)
1 tsp cod liver oil
*The best choice for commercial formula today seems to be Baby’s Only Organic Dairy Formula. It contains iron but otherwise contains higher quality ingredients than any of the other commercial formulas. It is also the only brand on the market at this time without the Martek DHASCO and ARASCO additive. If you are forced to use commercial formula, make sure that baby is getting cod liver oil, either added to the formula or given with an eye dropper or syringe. As soon as possible, introduce solid foods like egg yolk, liver, meat and bone broths. Please only use my recommended brand of cod liver oil.
Directions
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend thoroughly.
Place 6-8 ounces in a very clean glass bottle. (Store the rest in a very clean glass jar in the refrigerator for the next feedings.)
Attach a clean nipple to the bottle and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed to baby. (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)
Egg Yolk at 4 months
Whether your baby is breastfed or formula fed, egg yolk should be baby’s first solid food. Egg yolks from pastured hens will contain the special long-chain fatty acids so critical for the optimal development of the brain and nervous system. The whites may cause an allergic reaction and should not be given to baby until he or she is at least one year old.
Ingredients:
1 organic egg from a pasture-fed hen
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon grated raw organic liver, frozen for 14 days NOTE: It is VERY important that the liver be frozen for 14 days before using.
Instructions:
Boil egg for 3 1/2 minutes.
Place in a bowl and peel off shell.
Remove egg white and discard.
Yolk should be soft and warm, not hot, with its enzyme content intact.
If you wish to add liver, grate on the small holes of a grater while frozen. Allow to warm up and stir into egg yolk.
Formula Making Tips
Here are some tips that will help you avoid making mistakes, especially when you’re sleep deprived:
Use a permanent marker to write the exact amount of each ingredient needed to make the recipe
On your printed recipe, make a list of things you’d need (e.g., blender, small saucepan, spatula, measuring spoons, 1/4 cup measure)
Add all the dry ingredients to the mixture first to keep the measuring spoons dry.
Add the oils last so you don’t have to worry about washing the measuring spoons/cups between each ingredient
Keep all refrigerated ingredients together in one compartment of the door and all the other ingredients together on one shelf in a cabinet. When it’s time to make formula, get all the ingredients out together and put each one away after it’s used to avoid accidental doubling
Mix in the cream after you’ve used the blender because it’s the cream that leaves the frothy bubbles on top that are difficult to mix in
Once you’ve made the recipe 1-2 times, it should take about 10 minutes to mix up a batch. Here’s how your basic routine should look:
Set all tools, ingredients, and recipe on counter
Measure 2 cups water, remove 2 tablespoons
Pour half of the water in small saucepan
Turn dial on stove to 3.5 (low heat)
Add gelatin and lactose and set coconut oil nearby
Stir with baking spatula
In a blender, add milk and whey (then put these back in the fridge)
Add all dry ingredients (then put them back in the cabinet or fridge).
Add all the oils (except coconut)
Stir water mixture
Take off heat and add coconut oil, stirring slowly until melted
Add the remaining water and pour into blender, then blend for 3 seconds
Add the cream and stir until thoroughly mixed
You can freeze leftovers in glass jars.
Breast Milk and Homemade Formula Comparison CharTS
These nutrient comparison tables were derived from standard food nutrient tables and do not take into account the wide variation in nutrient levels that can occur in both human and animal milk, depending on diet and environment. They are based on 36 ounces of milk.
Table 1 - Breast Milk and Homemade Formula Comparisons
* Vitamin A levels in human milk will depend on the diet of the mother. Nursing mothers eating vitamin A-rich foods such as cod liver oil will have much higher levels of vitamin A in their milk. Commercial formulas contain about 2400 IU vitamin A per 800 calories.
** Calcium and sodium values for homemade broth are not available.
*** Vitamin E values are derived from commercial vegetable oils. The vitamin E levels for homemade formulas will be higher if good quality, expeller-expressed oils are used.
And for those of you concerned about the dent this is going to make in your wallet, below is a cost comparison chart for your convenience. Although pricing may differ depending where you are in the country, homemade always trumps anything store bought in nutrition and cost.
Table 2 - Baby Formula Cost Comparisons
FAQ
Q. Is raw milk safe for babies?
The biggest concern parents have about making homemade formula is that it is based on raw milk which, according to medical orthodoxy, is a source of contamination and disease. The only possible way to protect our children, they say, is to be sure the milk is pasteurized.
Both raw and pasteurized milk harbor bacteria but the bacteria in raw milk is the healthy bacteria of lactic-acid fermentation while the bacteria in pasteurized milk is the bacteria of spoilage. And the overall bacteria count of milk produced under clean conditions is much lower than that of pasteurized milk. Both raw and pasteurized milk contain E. coli, normally a benign microorganism. The most likely source of the new strains of virulent E. coli is genetically engineered soy, fed to cows in large commercial dairies. If there is any type of milk likely to harbor these virulent breeds, it is commercial pasteurized milk.
Back in the days when scientists at our universities did real research, they compared the health of children fed raw or pasteurized milk. Children fed raw milk have more resistance to TB, scurvy, flu, diphtheria, pneumonia, asthma, allergic skin problems and tooth decay. In addition, their growth and calcium absorption was superior. (www.realmilk.com/abstractsmilk)
Of course, as with all foods, raw milk should be whole milk (because the butterfat contains important antimicrobial factors0, it must come from healthy cows, and it should be carefully handled and stored. The same technology that we use to pasteurize our milk also allows us to keep raw milk fresh and clean. If you are buying directly from a farmer, be sure that the cows are mostly on pasture and that the barn is kept clean. The milk should go directly from the milking machine into a stainless steel tank or clean containers and be kept chilled. It should be used within a period of one week, after which it will begin to go sour (although it is not dangerous when it does so). With these precautions, raw milk is not only healthy but a safe food for all members of the family, even babies. To find raw milk in your area, visit www.realmilk.com
CLICK HERE to learn more and see stats on reported outbreaks of food borne illness involving milk.
Q. Why does the infant formulas include lots of vegetable oils like sunflower and olive oil? These are very high in linoleic acid.
The amount of sunflower oil and olive oil in the infant formula recipe provides the amount of unsaturated fatty acids found in the milk of modern American mothers. I have found compelling evidence that arachidonic acid and DHA are necessary for infant development, but not linoleic acid. That said, linoleic acid serves as a precursor for arachidonic acid, so I think the formula should have some linoleic acid (mainly from the sunflower oil). However, it is likely that current linoleic acid levels in breast milk are higher than they otherwise would be, not because they are needed, but because they are present in excess as a result of the consumption of vegetable oils. So I think the amount of linoleic acid in the formula should be normalized to pre-1960 data for Americans, or, better, if they are available, to data from breast milk concentrations of mothers from traditionally living populations that had not yet encountered dietary vegetable oils at the time the data were collected. This would mean reducing the amount of sunflower oil by half.
Q. How much formula do I feed my baby?
Below feeding schedule referenced from Earth’s Best website.
This post has been adapted from Weston A. Price. See Original Post.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Victoria Gregory is an Integrative Nutritionist and founder of NEWTRITION NEWYOU. Her focus—whether with private clients, readers of her blog, or her followers on social media— is whole body wellness, incorporating whole-food nutrition, supplementation, exercise, toxin-free living, and mindset coaching. Victoria’s personal mission is to help make the world a healthier place, one person at a time, and she has helped thousands of people find joy and self-love through better eating habits and mindfulness. Learn more about Victoria.
