I never intended to use baby formula, but breastfeeding did NOT go as planned.
If you are in a similar situation, OR baby formula scarcity has hit far too close to home, fear not!
Here is a homemade formula I used with fantastic success for my own daughter, with FULL support of her pediatrician.
If you want the recipe NOW, skip to here.
If you want to know how I came up with this recipe and why it IS safe and nutritious, keep reading.
Ack! Baby Formula Research, STAT!
I was a first time mama with severe postpartum anxiety.
I was also unable to produce enough breastmilk to feed my newborn daughter. This was NOT helping with my anxiety issue.
How do I deal with anxiety? Knowledge. Getting all the information and options I can to feel more in control of a situation.
So, being a trained researcher, I skimmed everything I could find about the best alternatives to breastfeeding. The typical, the atypical, and everything in between. It’s like a good brainstorming session: even the ‘crazy’ ideas get put on the list. NO preliminary editing.
Baby Formula Limitations
Once I found some viable avenues, I focused on feasible alternatives that would be safe and healthy for my daughter, which limited my options in two ways: 1. NO dairy and 2. as natural as possible.
1. NO Dairy
Why no dairy? Because I developed lactose intolerance as a young girl and my husband’s family had some history of intolerance to milk.
So, husband and I had already agreed to keep dairy out of her diet until she was old enough to tell us if her tummy hurt, because if you’ve ever had one of those stomach aches, they are killer. I wouldn’t take the chance of her being in such pain and not able to tell me.
2. Natural-Ish
Yes, I am a proponent of a natural diet as early as possible. Why? Because, well, duh…but also, both my mother and myself are very sensitive to preservatives and chemical flavorings and such.
Also, I am addicted to sugar. Yes, addicted. Not the ‘haha, I’m addicted to chocolate’, but the ‘honestly, it’s a problem’ addicted. Processed sugar IS a drug to my body.
Thus, I was determined to keep processed sugars and other preservatives out of my daughter’s system for as long as possible. (And I did for 3 years! Post for another time.)
Hoooowever, I was also dealing with severe postpartum anxiety. My well prepared cloth diaper plan flew out the window the day we brought my daughter home because it was an additional new task I couldn’t handle. So whatever baby formula option I found had to be fairly easy AND affordable (as we were also now a one income household).
Taste Testing
As I was researching baby formula options, I read more than once that powdered baby formula often tastes gross. Huh. I had never thought about how it tasted.
Alright, so now I would have to taste test any options we tried before I had my daughter test them. Because I mean really, if it was horrid to me I couldn’t expert her to love it. And this girl loved to eat, so whatever I found would need to taste good. Lol.
The Verdict?
I ordered a few dairy-free powdered formulas from Amazon and gave them a try.
Oh. My. Gravy. Yuuuuck. Lol. How did I not know how gross baby formula tasted? And WHY did it taste so bad? Yeesh. There was one or two that weren’t AS bad, but when I let Willa try them, Ms. Eating Machine wanted none of it.
Right. So…pre-made formula was out.
And, yes, I did look into buying another mother’s extra breastmilk, but it wasn’t easy to come by AND I had no control over what the mother ate. I couldn’t be sure the Mom was eating dairy-free. So that option was out as well.
Homemade It Is
I don’t know about you, but somehow I had the innate fear of knowing what to feed my baby if it wasn’t breastmilk.
What does she need? How do I KNOW what she needs? How do I really know that the baby formula companies are even truly providing what she needs?
When in doubt, research. So, Google and I had a LOT of long sessions together looking into the makeup of breastmilk, the ingredients in store-bought formula, etc. (One benefit to not sleeping for a year, thanks to my postpartum anxiety, was time to research.)
Then I started searching for ‘baby formula recipes’. And wow. That’s an interesting Google search.
Generally it fell into two categories: the surprising but plausible and the downright off-putting:
Homemade liquid whey? Um…I just can’t figure that out right now.
Pureed cow liver? Nope, nope, can’t do it, nope.
Raw milk? My anxiety could NOT deal with the possible consequences of contamination.
Using pots and pans, blenders, and multiple other devices just to make one batch of milk?
I. Just. Can’t.
Then, my friends, I found it. A recipe I could work with! *cue hallelujiah chorus*
Voila! Goat Milk Latte
In my research, a mere week or so after my daughter was born, I came across the blog of a Dad (I call him Mt. Capra Joe) who developed an infant formula for his daughter, who was showing an allergy to dairy.
He decided to use goat milk and add extra ingredients to make up for the nutrients that goat milk lacks (as compared to breastmilk). He happened to have a Masters degree in human nutrition, so he calculated various combinations of ingredients to come up with a nutritional balance appropriate for his infant daughter.
Tweaking What I Found
The original post and recipe I used back in 2015 has since been changed, but you can get the gist of how Mt. Capra Joe developed his recipe in this updated post on his website.
I made a few changes to his original recipe anyway, but since my use of it, Mt. Capra Joe has notably changed the recipe to include ingredients he can sell through his goat milk company, Mt. Capra.
However, I did not buy his products for two reasons:
1. Buying his products was not going to work for our budget.
2. I wanted to use fresh goat milk from a local farmer, instead of powdered.
Finally…The Recipe Is Made
The recipe I am sharing is what I used, based on the original post by Mt. Capra Joe. It is considered appropriate for newborns through 12 months. **I got the blessing of Willa’s pediatrician before starting this formula and kept her in the loop at all times.**
My daughter happily drank her ‘goat milk lattes’ until she was 2 years old, when she had basically switched to purely solid foods. She LOVED her goat milk lattes.
In fact, my husband and my mother both tasted them and liked them as well. Hilariously, I had to keep my father from trying to drink them himself! lol.
(*We called them goat milk lattes because the ingredients mixed up to be the perfect color of a latte with extra cream. Yum!)
Willa Tested, Mom & Doctor Approved
Now a very healthy 7-year-old, my daughter did in fact develop a milk intolerance shortly after we started adding dairy into her diet around age 4. So phew, thank goodness we used this formula!
Below is the exact recipe chart I used for my daughter.
Again, this is verified by Mt. Capra Joe as appropriate for newborns up to 12 months, and was okayed by Willa’s pediatrician as such.
I generally used a Vitamix to make 2 quarts at a time (filling bottles and then storing the rest in a big glass jar), but any blender that can handle hot water will work. Then, the recipe amount you use will simply depend on the capacity of your blender.
(This image is for use with fresh milk. Below are two editable Word docs of this recipe chart: one for use with fresh goat milk and one for use with powdered goat milk.)
Goat Milk Baby Formula Ingredients
As you’ll notice, it is not just fresh goat milk and water in the recipe.
(Why water? Because goat milk has a higher concentration of proteins than cow milk. So, goat milk needs to be diluted until babies’ kidneys have developed enough to handle all those proteins. I started slowly decreasing the dilution when Willa was 10 months old…see below.)
Fresh goat milk is great, but it does lack some nutritional needs that babies get from breastmilk. Because, well, goats and humans are different, even though our babies actually require very similar milk!
Here are the exact products I used in the above recipe and where I found them:
Fresh Goat Milk – Local Farmer
We ultimately found a local farmer to provide our goat milk (he even pasteurized it for us). How? Word of mouth. I posted a query on Facebook, put an add on some local Facebook groups, mentioned it to some of our medical providers, and voila…my chiropractor knew someone who sold goat milk.
Goat milk itself is simply remarkable! It more closely resembles the protein, fat, and carbohydrate structure of breast milk than any other ingredient available, and has a very similar DNA structure to that of breast milk.
BTW, a local farmer will generally be FAR cheaper, and of course fresher, then store bought goat milk options.
Organic Coconut OIl – Sam’s Club
Saturated fat is extremely important for brain development and overall health of growing bodies. We need healthy fats so our nervous system can properly function and also because the human brain is mostly fat.
Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that break down as ketones in the blood. These ketones fuel our brain cells, which promotes brain health and mental clarity.
This coconut oil I found at Sam’s Club (no Costco nearby), and was easily the cheapest organic option I could find.
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Amazon
Olive oil delivers more healthy fats, this time in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids (some of which are also found in breast milk, including oleic acid and linoleic acid).
Healthy fats are an essential fuel for babies’ growing brains, as it helps form the protective myelin coating that surrounds neurons (brain cells), and promotes the absorption of other essential vitamins and minerals found in food.
Along with fats, olive oil contains vitamin E and vitamin K. It also contains polyphenol antioxidant compounds that promote overall health, reduce inflammation, and combat oxidative stress. Olive oil is also useful to help prevent constipation.
This olive oil I found on Amazon, and when added to a Subscribe and Save option, was easily the cheapest organic option I could find.
Organic Pure Maple Syrup – Sam’s Club
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for babies. Maple syrup is a natural carbohydrate option with other known benefits.
Pure maple syrup is a good source of antioxidants and micronutrients that can fight internal damage and inflammation. Maple syrup also contains a good amount of manganese, iron, calcium, zinc, and potassium. (Zinc helps increase our natural resistance to illness.)
This maple syrup is from Sam’s Club (again, no Costco nearby) and was the cheapest organic option I found.
Organic Unsulphered Blackstrap Molasses – Amazon
This thick black syrup is high in B vitamins, minerals, and is a natural source of iron.
Blackstrap molasses will also help babies from getting constipated. (In fact, if baby is having issues with constipation, Mt. Capra Joe explained that you can safely increase this ingredient as a natural laxative.)
Blackstrap molasses also lends a nice sweet flavor to the ‘latte’, along with the maple syrup.
Make sure you get the unsulphured variety as it is far less processed.
I ordered this exact brand from Amazon, where it was easily the cheapest organic unsulphered variety I found, when added to a Subscribe and Save option.
Vitamin D Drops – Amazon
Vitamin D is also in the multivitamin powder and the Baby DHA in this recipe. However, at the suggestion of Willa’s pediatrician, we also supplemented with these D3 drops for a couple of reasons:
First, Willa was born in the middle of winter, when my own vitamin D levels would have been lower.
Second, I deal with both seasonal affective disorder and bouts of depression, which vitamin D can lessen the effects of.
Considering I was Willa’s incubator, our pediatrician recommended more daily D for her.
I ordered these drops from Amazon, through the Subscribe and Save option, which saved on the price.
Multivitamin Powder – Amazon
In breastmilk, babies will get a lot of vitamins and minerals from what food and supplements Mom is ingesting. Obviously, goat milk doesn’t have that perk. Also, goat milk is naturally low in folate, B12 and iron, so an infant multivitamin powder will help remedy that issue.
This NutriStart powder was what Mt. Capra Joe specifically suggested when Willa was born, before he more recently started selling his own formulation. It is unflavored and does not contain any colors, preservatives, fillers or GMOs, though it is very slightly sweetened with fructose.
Note! These say for 6 months to 4 years. However, both Mt. Capra Joe and our pediatrician supported our use for an infant. Mt. Capra Joe even responded to an FAQ as follows: “Marketing anything for babies under 6 months carries a lot of liability for manufacturers and therefore they are often unwilling to place written recommendation on their labeling that recommends infants less than 6 months use the product. There isn’t any ingredients that would be dangerous for a baby less than 6 months therefore I have no problem giving baby the vitamin powder.”
I ordered these packets from Amazon through their Subscribe and Save program, which made it cheaper than I found elsewhere.
** This product has since disappeared, but I would highly recommend these multivitamin drops as a replacement. Just follow the dosage on the bottle and change the chart as needed for bigger batches.
Probiotics – Amazon
Probiotics are naturally present in breast milk and are the key to a healthy gut. There are a number of probiotics available for kids, but I chose this option for a few reasons:
First, this probiotic was guaranteed free of any milk or casein products, which would be awful if Willa was sensitive to cow milk.
Secondly, this probiotic was recommended by my own doctor, who is incredibly knowledgeable in the scientific research and clinical use of supplements, assuring me it was safe for babies of any age.
Thirdly, this probiotic has a LOT of servings in one small bottle and was formulated for kids up to 2 years old, so I wouldn’t have to buy it very often nor change formulations before Willa would probably be done with her ‘lattes’.
I ordered this from Amazon as well.
BAby DHA – Amazon
DHA, also known as Docosahexaenoic acid, is found in fish, algae and most importantly, breast milk. It is not found in goat milk, so it is a required addition to the baby formula for its content of DHA (an amazing Omega 3 fat), but also adds some additional Vitamin D and Vitamin A to the mix.
*This ingredient is dosed on the recipe, but is really based on the weight of your baby, so make sure to double check the bottle directions.
DHA is popping up more and more in research studies for its effects on brain health. My own brothers had some amazing results with DHA when my mother gave them supplemental DHA as kids/teens.
This too I found cheapest on Amazon as part of a Subscribe and Save program.
Carrot Juice – Sam’s Club
I don’t recall the exact reason I added carrot juice to this recipe (Mt. Capra Joe doesn’t use it). I think it had to do with constipation issues…because at one point we had an x-ray done on Willa and the poor thing was all clogged up.
Somewhere amidst my own research, the specialist we saw for Willa’s constipation, and our pediatrician, carrot juice got added to the mix. Carrots are rich in fiber, so they help in digestion and clearing up constipation, but they also have iron, calcium, and beta-carotene (which turns into Vitamin A in the body).
Note on carrot juice. Using this recipe, Willa started getting a slight yellow hue to her skin. Lol. If our pediatrician hadn’t been totally in the loop she would have tested her for jaundice…but it was just carrots. The yellow went away, of course, as we started adapting the formula for her toddler years and adding solid foods into the mix.
I generally bought this from Sam’s Club as well, though sometimes Gerbes/Kroger would have a jug or three of the Naked brand on clearance and I’d stock up.
Toddler Formula – Adapt As They Grow
The original recipe chart was what I used to make Willa’s formula until she was 10 months old.
At 10 months, I started increasing the amount of goat milk and decreasing both the water and the amount of carbohydrates, to adapt to her growing needs.
The appropriate changes were made via Mt. Capra Joe again, in one of the FAQ comments on his formula post. And once again, I discussed the changes with Willa’s pediatrician before I implemented them, just to be sure.
10 Month Baby Formula REcipe
11 Month Baby Formula recipe
**Notice her slightly yellow/orange skin? Just the carrot juice. She was quite a healthy baby. 🙂
12 Month Baby Formula recipe
**By this time I had started supplementing with super healthy homemade squeeze pouches that Willa loved. I’ll share the details in an upcoming post.
18+ Month Baby Formula recipe
Confudled? Confounded? I’m Here!
Please leave a comment below or use the contact form if you have ANY questions or I can help in ANY way.
I get NO commissions or affiliate revenues, etc. from any of this.
I’m simply sharing in hopes to help at least one parent or caregiver feel a little calmer and/or empowered in such a crazy time.
Love and hugs!! 💚💚