Today, commercial baby formula is none other than toxic!
And because the first five years of a child’s life are the most important to the future of their health, do you really want to begin a child’s life with this:
I mean…what the HELL are those words?!
Well, those are the ingredients of Similac Sensitive Powdered Formula for infants. Similac is the number one commercial baby formula brand that US hospitals use…and this absolutely sickens me.
I actually don’t get fired up about too many things, but the health of an infant/toddler…ohhhh! Seriously, picture a kung-fu-fighter on crack that has the munchies and finds out someone stole their Doritos!
Yes…that is ME when it comes to the health of babies.
Studies have even shown that infants who are fed formula in the first year of life have a significantly higher level of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGES). AGES are sugar molecules that attach to and damage proteins in the body, and according to Dr. Mercola,
“Not only do they build up in your body over time, leading to oxidation and speeding up the aging process, but they also lead to inflammation, which in turn is linked to a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.”
But, here’s the good news…this is completely preventable! Even if a person is unable to breastfeed, there is a nutrient-dense and healthy option for your precious baby!
When my husband and I found out we were adopting my sweet baby girl, I didn’t know too much about the importance of nutrition and health at that point. However, I was blessed with a sister and a mentor/friend who educated me on the dietary needs of a developing brain and body.
You see…my daughter, Selah, was born with compromised health.
And as any parent would feel, I wanted to do whatever it took to ensure that she was healthy, strong and vibrant. So, despite what our doctors told us and unpopular among every other parent I knew at the time, I said “NO” to commercial baby formula and put her on a homemade, raw milk formula instead.
At her 6-week appointment, doctors were absolutely blown away at her health and developmental progress, and by her 6 month appointment, the pediatrician who delivered her said, “Season, her health is nothing but a miracle.”
Today, she is a very healthy, vibrant and intelligent child. In fact, she never went back to the doctor for another well-baby check up, and she has only had a few fevers and illnesses in her life, which have all been fought on her own, using natural remedies.
Selah’s health is truly a miracle, and her life is a blessing that we give God the glory for!
We are so grateful to have been able to feed our baby this incredible homemade formula from her fourth day of life until she was 20 months old.
So here it is…the below recipe is a milk-based formula.
When compared to cow’s milk, this recipe takes into account the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids but also leaner in casein, which is milk protein. The addition of gelatin to cow’s milk formula will also make it more digestible for the infant. And, it is important to only use true expeller-expressed oils in any formula recipes. Otherwise, it may lack vitamin E.
Also, please know that the ideal milk for any baby that is unable to breastfeed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease and that feed on green pastures. For sources of good quality milk, visit this site or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
However, if the only choice available is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and non-homogenized. Then, culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes. You can find this available from G.E.M. Cultures.
Raw Baby Milk Formula
Yield 36 ounces
Recipe by: Sally Fallon, WAPF
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole raw cow's milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
- 1/4 cup homemade liquid whey - see recipe below. Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese. This will cause the formula to curdle. Only use homemade whey made from yogurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
- 4 tablespoons lactose
- 1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
- 2 or more tablespoons of raw cream, more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
- 1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil
- 1 teaspoon organic expeller-expressed sunflower oil
- 2 teaspoons organic extra virgin, cold pressed coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon organic extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 teaspoons grassfed beef gelatin
- 1-7/8 cups filtered water
- 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups filtered water into a pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tablespoons. This will give you the needed 1-7/8 cups of water.
- Pour about half of the water into a pan and place over a medium flame.
- Add the gelatin, lactose and coconut oil to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
- When the gelatin, lactose and coconut oil are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture.
- Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients into a blender - no particular order is necessary.
- Add the water mixture and blend for about ten seconds or until throughly combined.
- 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. NEVER warm bottles in a microwave oven.
- A batch of homemade formula will last for about 3-4 days in the fridge.
Notes
- If you are still unsure about using raw milk, read THIS!
- You can order the entire kit through Radiant Life Company, with exception of the milk, cream and whey.
- Helpful Hints:
- When I buy raw cream, I measure out 2 tablespoons, pour it into individual baby food containers and freeze. This will allow the cream to last much longer, and you will only need to pull out a prepared frozen serving on the days a new batch of formula is made. Plus, this will save you money and ensure that the cream doesn't expire before you have the chance to use it all!
- You can freeze this formula for up to 6 months. Simply thaw it out in the refrigerator and heat up in a bottle warmer on the stove top. Once defrosted, the formula will be a chunky consistency. However, do not worry. This is due to the cream and oils binding together during the freezing process. Once heated, it will return to its smooth texture.
- This travel insulated carrier is great for keeping the bottles cool when on the go.
- When switching an infant or toddler to this formula, there may be a change in stool patterns and consistency. This is simply a sign that their little bodies are adjusting to the nutrients and ridding the body of any toxins.
Whey
Ingredients
- 2 32oz cartons of organic whole milk plain yogurt
- Cheese Cloth
- Strainer
- Large Stock Pot with lid
Instructions
- Line the strainer with cheese cloth and place over a large stock pot.
- Pour all contents of both yogurt containers into the strainer.
- Cover strainer and pot. Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, pour the whey into a glass jar and keep refrigerated in a tightly sealed glass jar or container.
- The whey should keep for up to 6 months.
- Please Note: Depending on how much your baby is eating, this recipe will make enough for 2 months worth of whey.
Notes
- For more information on REAL (RAW) MILK, click here.
- If your baby cannot tolerate any milk based formulas, click here.
- To learn about the importance of avoiding any Soy Milk based commercial baby formula, click here
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This seems like a lot to do the formula, but it is very nutrient dense. If one can not do all this just giving plain raw milk (cow or preferably goat) is way better than any formula . Or also if by a chance one cannot tolerate dairy , making your own almond milk or nut milk with some dha added , and coconut oil would be better too and its simple. Please avoid those terrible formulas
I haven’t seen anyone say even plain raw goat’s milk or cow’s milk would be way better than any formula but gotta say, it would have to be IMO too. Do you know what age sources we both would follow would say raw goat or cow milk would be ok in place of breast milk (if unavailable) or making own formula? Is it 6 mos? One year? I know goat’s milk is suppose to be more easily digested for a baby. Do you know at what age they say Cow’s milk is easily digestible for a baby?
I am about to try this with my little man. He has had some health challenges this year and is delayed but doing very well. He is 13 months but still takes a bottle many times through the day and is eating additional purées. I have three questions:
1.) Does the cod liver oil make it smell fishy?
2.) Once made, do I place the whey in a jar in the fridge?
3.) My baby is older but still very small. Is there any modification I should make or just this? He is currently taking breastmilk but I’d like to transition him over to this.
Hi Holly – I don’t think it smells fishy in this…but that may be a matter of opinion. 🙂 And yes, place the why in the fridge, and no, you should have to make any modifications. Thanks!
What if we cant find raw milk? I can make kefir. Do i replace all 2 cups of milk with it? Or just some?
Have you tried this website: https://www.realmilk.com/ or reaching to a local Weston A. Price chapter for suggestions/sources of raw milk? Those are usually pretty helpful in finding farms where you can get raw milk. Hope that helps your search.
Thank you Season. Does the whey really last up to 6 months? I have it in glass jars in the fridge.
Hi Holly! It should last that long. 🙂
Once I warm a bottle for my baby, how long is the milk good for at room temperature?
Hey, we tried this a few times with (separately) raw cow and buffalo milk, but unfortunately it seems the boy is intolerant as his stools became infrequent, very hard and uncomfortable to pass (like bullets!). Consequently back on powder formula for now. Any advice? Best regards.
Hey Matt – Try the meat based formula from Nourishing Traditions. Here’s the link…and it’s listed as “Liver-Based Formula.” https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/childrens-health/formula-homemade-baby-formula/
Hello.
I am unable to find bifidobacterium infantis in my country.
Is it ok to use the infant probiotics instead which contain different strains of bacteria such as b.lactis, b.breve, L. rhamnosus, L.fermentum etc including b. infantis?
Thank you.
Yes, it’s ok. 🙂
Thank you.
You’re so welcome!
Just wondering, when time for feeding, would it be ok to put the required amount of milk into a pan and heat on the stove for a few seconds until it gets lukewarm? Would be quicker. The bottle warmer currently takes around 15-20 minutes which is quite long when baby is fussy. Thanks.
No problem. 🙂
Hi Season
Thanks so much for this post! It’s so encouraging to hear from other mothers who have gone down this route. God bless you!
I just wondered if I could ask your advice as to whether it sounds as though my son, Jacob, has an intolerance to cows milk? I ask because we’d like to start him on the formula but are unable to get hold of even pasteurised goats milk, and I’m not so keen on the idea of the liver based formula.
I stopped breastfeeding him at 6 weeks due to extreme fussiness during feeds (pulling off constantly, crying etc) which made it near impossible to give full feeds and made the whole experience very stressful. After switching to bottle feeding he became constipated, refused to feed and failed to thrive. Since starting him on an 100% goats milk formula (and egg yolk etc!) he is doing so much better – but I’m still really keen to get him on the raw milk formula. I can get hold of raw cows milk, but not goats. Any wisdom or insight you might have would be so much appreciated 🙂
Hi Lorna – I would suggest starting with mixing half goat and half raw cows milk. Then, if he does well, you could switch to 100% raw milk. Thanks!
Hi, thank you so much for this information! We have attempted this receipt twice and both times it clumped after being in the fridge overnight. Are we doing something wrong?
Make sure you’re melting the gelatin well. I hope that helps!
My sister made this twice and both times it curdled right away upon mixing. Any ideas? She followed the recipe to a T.
Hmm…I didn’t have that happen. I did have times where I had to shake it well while in the bottle to loosen up some of the lumps, but I’m not sure what’s she doing. I’m sorry.
Hello! I have made this formula 5 times now to a T, and each time the mixture takes on some form of a gelatinous texture by the next day. I’m assuming this not the appropriate texture, but I’m also confused on how it wouldn’t turn to this texture when using gelatin. I am being very thorough when mixing the gelatin and ensuring the mixture cools before adding, but to no avail. Any suggestions for me? I’m fearful I may gave to have to give up completely, as I haven’t found another way to make the formula without gelatin. Any tips would be much appreciated!! Thank you for this.
When you reheat it, it should liquify again. You may have to shake it a bit to get rid of the remaining lumps, but the gelatin should liquify again. Also, you may want to check what gelatin you’re using. I hope this helps!!
YES! That’s great news & exactly what I needed to know, I actually found that in another article right after I asked you and just came back to let you know I figured it out 🙂 and thank you for such a quick response!
Oh perfect!! 🙂 And glad to help!!
Can you give plain raw cow’s milk to a baby? Would that be better than powdered formula? Would like to try making the raw milk formula but am not sure if I’ll be able to afford it.
He there 🙂 This recipe has raw milk in it, and yes, it’s much better than the powdered formula…be sure to read all of the details above! And you could try using a thermos or letting the bottle sit under warm running water to help warm it up. I hope that helps and clarifies the confusion.
Thank you so much! I’m going to give it a try!
Am I missing something? This recipe is drastically lacking in iron and anemia is a serious issue with babies.
Hi Trisha – When using raw milk that hasn’t been adulterated, all of the nutrients are bioavailable and easily absorbed. I would encourage you to look into the Weston A. Price Foundation and Real Milk Institute to learn more. Thanks!
Also, how do you use the raw milk formula when you’re away from home and can’t warm it up?
If you store the milk formula in one glass jar in the fridge after making it, are you able to pour the amount that you need out of the jar without reheating it or do you need to reheat the whole jar every single time? Does the formula separate in the fridge or get clumpy? I don’t have enough bottles to store the individual feeding amounts separately so I was going to put the whole batch in one or two mason jars but wasn’t sure if that would work.
I’d recommend heating it up first, and it can thicken/get clumpy but heating it up and shaking it in the bottle can help loosen it up. I hope that helps. 🙂
Does it harm the formula to be heated up multiple times?
If possible, it’s best to just reheat what you need, so I’d recommend just getting more jars. You can find them on Amazon and even Costco at a cheaper price.
Did you have problems with your baby throwing with this formula? Specifically spit up that came out kind of lumpy/clumps? My baby doesn’t throw up every single time but sometimes when he does it’s small clumps? It doesn’t seem to bother him particularly but I was wondering if that’s normal or if there’s something he’s reacting to in the he formula.
How is the best way to travel with homemade formula? I’m wanting to get away from store bought formula but I’m aways on the go.
Hi Shelby – Be sure to read my comments/directions on freezing it. That would be a way that you could travel with it a bit more easily. Thanks