Last week’s video covered how to make homemade milk based baby formula for your child if breastfeeding is not an option.
This week’s e-class covers how to make a homemade, hypoallergenic baby formula if your child cannot tolerate milk based formula even if it is made with fresh, clean, grassfed, organic milk.
The following formula is based on homemade broth and a small amount of cooked, organic grassfed liver instead of milk as the source of protein. Traditional cultures sometimes used liver pre-chewed by the Mother as a baby’s first food. Liver is very easily digested and full of nutrition and cholesterol for baby’s rapidly developing brain.
Commercial hypoallergenic formulas rely on soy as the protein source. Soy formula is a devastating food for babies as it is loaded with plant estrogens which wreak havoc with the baby’s developing hormonal system. In addition, soy contains some of the highest levels of phytic acid found in any food. Phytic acid contributes to poorly developed, cavity prone baby teeth and poor bone structure (i.e., turned in feet, flat feet, sunken chest etc) as it blocks mineral absorption.
Whatever you do, if your child cannot drink a milk based formula, DO NOT go for the soy!
What a relief for a concerned parent that a safe, healthy hypoallergenic formula can be made at home with nutrient dense, whole food ingredients.
Most babies who cannot drink the homemade milk based formula THRIVE on this hypoallergenic formula. You will immediately notice that whey and lactose are used in this hypoallergenic recipe. The vast majority of babies will do fine with these milk derived ingredients as it is the milk protein (casein), not the lactose or whey that was causing the problems with the milk based formula. In the rare case that baby is not thriving on this formula, remove the whey and substitute dextrose
Homemade Hypoallergenic Baby Formula
Makes about 36 ounces
* To order all the ingredients such as gelatin, lactose, and acerola powder etc. as one package, click here.
Ingredients
3 3/4 cups homemade beef, chicken, buffalo, turkey, duck, goose, or lamb stock
2 oz organic, grassfed liver (beef, buffalo, or lamb) cut into small pieces
1/4 cup liquid whey. Do not use if baby shows signs of whey intolerance. DO NOT use powdered whey from the store or whey from making cheese.
5 TBL Lactose (substitute Dextrose
1/4 tsp Bifidobacterium Infantis Powder
1/2 tsp unflavored, fermented cod liver oil (“salty cod” or “antioxidant free” are the flavors to choose from)
1 tsp expeller pressed, organic sunflower oil
2 tsp organic, extra virgin olive oil (in a dark bottle)
1 TBL virgin coconut oil
1/4 tsp acerola powder
Instructions
Simmer the liver pieces gently in the homemade broth until cooked through.
Liquify the liver in the broth using a hand held blender or a food processor.
Let the broth cool, then stir in the remaining ingredients or blend for a few seconds in a blender.
Store formula in glass jars in the refrigerator.
To serve, pour into glass baby bottles and warm in a baby bottle warmer or in a pan of hot water.
NEVER microwave baby bottles!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
* This post is shared at Pennywise Platter and Fight Back Friday.
|
|
{ 141 comments… read them below or add one }
I am wondering if this could be made in batches for several days ahead and frozen in individual portions? I am trying to be prepared for a baby that we are hoping to adopt. I am worried that I will have some crazy days and rely on commercial formula too much if I am constantly having to prepare this formula. I have had some of my own health issues and have had to relearn to cook things in order for me to eat!
Sarah, off topic but just to let you know, you can induce lactation for adoption. I JUST DID IT!! we adopted on January 29th. Blessings to you during your adoption
I forgot to ask this: If our source for raw milk is not stable, could we just start with and rely on this one instead?
Hi Sarah, yes this formula can be made ahead and frozen until ready to use much like you can freeze breastmilk.
Sarah, you can switch back and forth between the milk based and hypoallergenic baby formulas depending on whether or not you can get access to clean, organic raw milk.
Thank you for sharing this! Making homemade formula always seemed so complicated on paper, but seeing it done is so informative! I'm going to share these with my readers on FB. (Nourishing Creations!)
Thank you Elizabeth .. I am so glad the videos make it seem easy. That is the ultimate purpose of me doing them, so that is a wonderful encouraging comment to me!
I've requested Google to block baby formula ads from Enfamilk, parentschoiceformula and planningfamily.com If you see any other stupid commercial baby formula ads, please email me the URL at thehealthyhomeeconomist AT gmail.com and I will block them too.
Is there a substitution for the liquid whey? It is against the law to buy raw cow's milk in my state.
Hi Sarah Jane, you can make the liquid whey with plain organic yogurt from the store. You don't have to make it with clabbered raw milk. It is the same process as shown in my "how to make whey" video which is linked in with the whey ingredient in the above recipe.
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to ask you if you knew of a formula that was not beef based. Could I substitute homegrown chicken livers? My 18 month old is allergic to "the whole cow". So that means for him, nothing beef, nothing from a cow (lactose or whey even!) period.
He is allergic to soy as well but has been drinking almond milk. He has extreme reflux and I am having to watch everything that goes into his body at this point even. I was just wanting to change things up a bit to ensure he doesn't become allergic to the almond milk. He gets gas with rice milk but I can cook with it for him and my 4 yo who is also allergic to milk but can eat beef.
Anyway, he is my tenth child and my most allergic one as well.
Thanks!
Dear MamaAnt,
I would love to talk to you! My 4th baby is showing the worst allergy symprtoms too. Would you mind if we emailed back & forth!?
Theresa
Hi MamaAnt, you can also use lamb liver or buffalo liver and turkey, lamb, or buffalo stock as well. I know a lady that has the same issue with her infant and has been using lamb broth and lamb liver with great success.
Yay! That is good to know!
Thanks
Hi Sarah,
I'm a new Mom, and so far just breastfeeding and starting to feed egg yolks to my daughter. I was thinking of making this or the milk-based formula as a back-up in case of emergency, and freezing it. Then I got to thinking about when my daughter sits up in her highchair to eat. What do you think of making this as a drink for a baby/toddler to sip with meals, or to use as the liquid base in pureed homemade foods for baby? Thanks!!
Shannon
Hi Shannon, I would stick to just introducing foods as you are doing and use breastfeeding as the primary source of liquid for your child. Breastmilk from a well nourished Mom is always the best. I breastfed my children for 2 years each (the last one for 3 1/2 years until self weaning as she was my last child) and always used breastmilk as the primary liquid unless they just needed some water for thirst or whatever. If you use the homemade formula at mealtimes this will reduce the breastfeeding which is not the best choice unless of course you simply can't nurse in which case this is the next best alternative!
Is sucrose and sucanat the same thing? I use sucanat already and wondered if I could use this in the formula recipe.
Hi Sarah Jane, no it is organic sugar which is sucanat with the molasses removed. See down below in the Amazon store for a brand suggestion. This is not a great alternative by any stretch, but if the baby can't do lactose, dextrose or sucrose are really the only viable alternatives.
I am making this recipe for an infant that may have issues with corn and I cannot find the acerola powder without maltodextrin (corn). Is there a good substitute for this? Is it added for the Vitamin C only?
Hi Sarah Jane, I do not know of any substitutes for the acerola powder with the maltodextrin. Yes, it is added for the whole foods based vitamin C only. You can leave it out if you can't find anything else that the infant can tolerate.
I have been making this formula for a friend with a 13 month old who has been on nutramagin (sp?) — yuck!!! I am making it for him to hopefully help some of his problems. I am learning how to do it now so when my husband and I adopt an infant (hopefully within a year) I will be a pro.
The only problem I am having is that the liver clogs the bottle. Since he is 13 month old it is not too much trouble, but with a newborn it would be a problem. For one the whole in the nipple would be too small and would it cause them to choke if a chunk did get through the nipple. I tried straining the liver and broth before mixing the other ingredients in, but it seemed as though I strained out ALL the liver. I don't want to sacrifice the nutrition if there is a better way.
Hi Sarah Jane, the liver really needs to be as close to liquified as possible. Perhaps your need to try a more powerful blender/food processor?
I tried twice now, to liquify the liver. I used a cheap blender the first time and a Bosch blender the 2nd. Both times, there were still chunks. What brand do you use to liquify the liver? Is it possible that I have overcooked the liver? Could you give some details as to how long you cook the liver?
It is amazing at how well the baby that is now on this formula is doing!! In spite of the chunks!!!
I appreciate your blog so much!!!
Hi Sarah Jane, try a food processor. This should work fine if you are having blender troubles.
Oh, and I cook the liver until it is just done. Not a minute longer.
What brand of immersion blender do you use?
Hello there,
I'm a Canadian reader, having a heck of a time getting the lactose milk sugar. Amazon won't ship it to Canada, and through radiant life, it's $5 for the product, and $25 to get it here. Any Canadian readers out there who have sourced this domestically?
Thanks!
Shannon
Hi Shannon,
I live in Toronto and have been ordering lactose from bulkfoods.com. You can buy it in 5lb bags. The shipping is more than the product though.
Shannon,
Try iherb.com. I think they ship to Canada.
Hi Sarah Jane,
Thank you sooooo much – I tried iherb and my lactose is on its way for under $8. So grateful for the tip!!
Shannon
I just wanted to tell you Sarah that what you are doing is a wonderful thing! Spreading this formula and others like it from the Weston A. Price Foundation is doing such a service to those of us who are sick and tired of mega-corporations telling us that the chemicals they put in their products are just the same as those vitamins found in food. I can personally say that these Home made formulas work great! My Daughter(now 2 years old) thrived on it. She is healthy and vibrant and a curious bright little girl. My 2 month old is doing wonderfully as well because of the home made formula. I only wish I knew of this recipe sooner so my 4 year old son could have also been fortunate enough to get such great nutrition. He was raised on Enfamil sadly and I regret it to this day.
I strongly suggest anyone considering this formula to go ahead and do it! Don’t have a second thought! It is so worth your time and effort(which isn’t as much as it seems) and you are investing in the health of your children which is invaluable. My kids don’t get sick that often and I often attribute it to a healthy start in life(and continuing good nutrition).
Making this formula will be one of the best decisions you could ever make as a parent of an infant, I promise you that!
Thanks Colin for taking the time to post your positive experience using this formula! I’m sure it will prove very beneficial to others.
Hi Colin!
Would you be able to connect with me via email? I have some questions for you! Sarah has helped me a lot so far in my quest to find a healthy formula for our daughter. Awesome to hear you had success with this recipe!
Dear Sarah,
Thanks again for your wonderful resource. Being a health-freak makes me feel like such a cantankerous minority sometimes when I interact with the rest of the world. I appreciate your rigor and commitment to being healthy and helping others make good decisions. I have several questions about the ingredients used in this formula. I appreciate your patience in answering these questions:
Would it be alright to use a product called coconut nectar by coconut secret instead of the lactose? So far, my baby has taken to it well. It is supposed to be very high in inulin and has a fairly low glycemic index. If you think it is okay to use, what amount would you recommend?
Would you say that “Bifidobacterium Infantis Powder” is the only probiotic we could use or could we use other strains?
Why is fermented cod liver oil used? Why not plain? Also, if I can find the amount of vitamin A and D levels, can I use krill oil? Or give the krill/cod liver oil separately through a dropper?
I have read and heard that sunflower oil and olive oil are higher in omega-6′s so is there a reason to give the baby these oils or can they be excluded from the recipe? Do you know the omega 3 to omega 6 ratio of coconut oil?
Since liver contains a lot of vitamin C, I am wondering about the purpose of using acerola powder.
How do you know when the liver is cooked through? Is there a test I can do?
Can the whey liquid come from organic pasturized cow yoghurt? We are having a lot of trouble finding raw milk.
Peace,
Ranjani.
Hi Ranjani, I would stick with the lactose .. there is lactose in human breastmilk. Best to stick with nature’s prescription. As for the omega 6 oils .. please remember that omega 6 fats are ESSENTIAL fats. The body cannot make them and so MUST be included in the diet for health. The problem with them ONLY comes in when folks overconsume them in the form of rancid vegetable oils in processed foods. The fermented cod liver oil is a much better choice than the krill oil, which is highly processed at obscenely high temperatures. Adding the acerola powder, is again, to mimic the nutrients in human breastmilk. Using whey from store yogurt is absolutely fine, although raw whey would be best. The liver is cooked through when there is no more pink in the center.
Hope that helps and the best to you and your baby!!
Oh, and coconut oil does not have omega 3 and omega 6 fats in it and neither does olive oil (which is an omega 9 oil). Coconut oil is a medium chain saturated fat.
Hi Sarah,
I have two questions:
How long can the formula be kept in the fridge, and also, can the cow’s livers be frozen, or must they be fresh?
Thanks,
Maryellen
Hi Maryellen, the cow liver can be frozen .. that is fine.
The formula is good for about 1 week. Feel free to freeze it in 4 or 9 oz servings just like you would human breastmilk.
Nice! Wish I’d known about this months ago when I had to stop breastfeeding my son at 8 months old. For a kidney problem I have, I had to take maintenance antibiotics every day, and it seemed to really affect his poor digestive tract. He did so much better when I weaned him. But if I had known you could make your own hypoallergenic formula, I would not have had to even try the Nutramigen or Alimentum or any of those. I hate how the first ingredient is corn syrup solids (are you KIDDING me???), and Lord knows what else. Plus the mix just SMELLS awful, and my son hated it too. He was drinking just barely enough to stay hydrated. Fortunately I ignored my pedi’s advice and went with my Mommy instincts, and gave him Oat Milk. He sucked down a full bottle and then promptly slept for 5 hours straight ( way longer than I had ever had him sleep before without waking).
Anywho, he’s just doing regular cow’s milk now, and is healthy as can be. We’re still working on the sleeping issues, but they are much improved.
Now I know where to look if I need this for another baby down the line!
Thanks~
What is Oat Milk???? Do you mean Goat Milk?? I am very interested in another hypoallergenic formula!
Hi Sarah,
Would this formula be good for a toddler (almost 19 months) or do you know of any other home made recepie for formular for toddlers. My son is almost 19 months old and has been breastfed since his birth. He is very picky eater and very slow to gain weight (currently 20lbs and 6 oz). His GI doctor put him on appeatite medication, which did help, but I would like to take him off of it. My biggest challenge to get my son to eat protein. He is still breastfed before naptime, bedtime and at night and drinks only water. He doesn’t drink milk or eat yogurt. Also, how palatable is this formular?
Thank you so much
Tatyana
Hi Tatyana, typically the toddlers transition to regular fresh milk from the farm (raw) at one year.
Hello Sarah, I am so glad to have found your website. I have a s month old and I was told she has eczema and I was told to take out all sugars and milk from her diet. Is there anything I may use to repalce sugar in the hypoallergenic formula. I know you use lactose in this formula and its sugar, would this work or is there something else. Thank you so much.
Bernease,
Hi Bernease,
The lactose should really be fine .. there is lactose in large amounts in human breastmilk after all. Give it a try. I really do think you will be delighted at how your baby thrives. Welcome to the blog, by the way!
Hi Sarah,
This formula interest me but i have a few questions. Firstly, where is the calcium in this formula? Is that not important for a growing baby? Also, everyone tells me that liver is high in Vitamin A and along with the cod liver oil it will be toxic for a baby. Thanks for your help , your website is awesome and life changing.
Hi Nolvia, the calcium is in the homemade broth – plenty of it!
Liver is indeed high in vitamin A but in amounts that are necessary for the growing baby. The fermented cod liver oil recommended in this recipe is not toxic in the least. Some of the industrialized cod liver oils on the market are to be avoided but this particular brand is safe and nutritious as it is made the traditional way which most on the market are not. Most women have little vitamin A in their breastmilk as they don’t eat enough and plant based sources such as carrots do not convert well to true vitamin A in the gut which is why it is best to get it from a nutrient dense source such as liver.
Hello!
I am having a terrible time feeding my daughter – 4 months old. I was unable to breastfeed due to medical reasons – I SOO wish I could breastfeed!
Anyway, she cannot tolerate dairy based formula, nor soy. Her pediatrician has her on “neocate”, an elemental baby formula. It has been 8 days and she isn’t doing well. Nightwakings, constant moaning from gas and a tummy ache, and is super irritable and almost hyper I would say. I’m so scared that the first ingredient is corn syrup. My husband and I even steer clear of it and here I’m giving it to my infant as her source of nutrition!
I KNOW my ped wouldn’t go for a homemade formula, but obviously nothing he has suggested is working. Is my wee one too young to try this? I need a nutritionist to help me and guide me through this as I’m scared to try anything at this point b/c she has reacted to everything it seems. I just don’t know where to turn anymore…we need some sleep after 4 months of a colicky unhappy little girl. I long for peace for her…and my hubby and I!
Any thoughts? Thank you so much for your time and advice!
Angie
Angie, your child is not too young to use this formula. This recipe is fine to use for a baby this young. Please make some as soon as you can and let me know how your DD is doing.
Hi Sarah,
I finally was able to find a farmer that sells grass fed beef and I have the liver to make the formula with. However, he only sells it by the pound but comes frozen. Can I cook all the liver at once and separate it into 2 ounce portions and freeze them ? Would this undermine the nutritional value of liver ? Any suggestions would help. Thanks.
Hi Nolvia, yes that is fine. Cook it all up and freeze in 2 oz portions is a great idea.
This is so awesome! Our adopted dd was born 6 weeks premature on 1-28-11. Trying to feed her processed formula has been a constipation nightmare, which has her sleep-deprived parents frantically searching for an alternative solution. Thanks for giving us hope! We’re going to give the milk-based formula a try, even though I do have some apprehension about how she will do with it.
In case she has trouble, I’ve been looking at the possibility of making this hypoallergenic recipe. I have some chicken and beef livers (naturally raised) that I’ve had in the freezer for probably close to 5 years. Is there a “freezer life” for food?
Secondly, I was looking for your recipe for homemade broth and I couldn’t find it. Thanks for pouring yourself out that we might learn to better nourish ourselves and our families! God bless you and this ministry!
Hi Sarah,
I noticed that you can use broths made from a variety of meats. Is there a reason pork is excluded? Thanks.
Thank you, Sarah!
I haven’t prepared it yet. I’ve also been calling our local goat farm and looking into that option as well. I guess I’m just not sure what DD is not able to tolerate – other than commercial dairy formula. I’m not sure how she would do w/ whey or lactose….or perhaps it was just the casein.
Anyway…I will let you know if we go this route. I am SOO ready to feel good about what I’m feeding her!!
Hi Angie, can’t wait for you to report back on how your daughter is doing!
HI Sarah!
Well, we’ve been trialing raw goat milk this week. I’ve just given her an ounce here and there. Sadly, I’m suspecting her tummy being pretty upset. So, I think I will move to this version of homemade formula? For some reason, it doesn’t seem as ‘trusting’ b/c how do we really know how many minerals/vitamins are being extracted from the broth? I’m going to give it a go, though! I’ve just got to get her off of this neocate. She is doing better than the last time I wrote, though, but still not thriving on ‘goodness’ from nature!
I’m going to go w/ chicken broth, I believe. Just cover a whole chicken w/ water…add some vinegar, and simmer for 48 hours is my plan. I need to research what you have on here for homemade broths for babes. If I’m missing something…can you let me know?
Thank you so much again, Sarah. SO ready for a healthy feeding rhythm!
Hi Angie, chicken broth should work fine. Let me know how it goes!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist\’s last post: Video- How to Make Ghee Butter Oil
Ok, thank you, Sarah! I’m going to make it this weekend.
Curious Angie, how did it go? Does your daughter like it? How long did you simmer the liver in the broth? Thanks for any feedback.
Hi Sarah – My granddaughter has been put on Nutrimigen because ped thinks she has protein allergies. Her skin is very, very dry and her cheeks are bright red on other formulas. She constantly spits up even on the Nutrimigen. Her skin appears better but still not great. She is almost 8 months old. Would your homemade formula help her?
Thanks!
Cindi, please do try this formula with your granddaughter! This recipe is for babies with situations just as you describe! Please do get her off that horrible Nutrimigen!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist\’s last post: There is Nothing Smart About Smart Balance
It has been a rough 4 months for my baby girl. I began the elimination diet of dairy & nuts in january after her non stop crying & dark black in her stools. We saw an improvement but she was not gaining weight. I really tried to assure that I was getting enough calories / good foods- avocado ect but it just didn’t seem to help her weight, crawling up only a couple of ounces at a time. So I began supplementing from dr request, alimentum. We saw much improvement and she began actually sleeping for us. But then it seemed I either needed to eliminate more( taking out soy seemed to help) from my diet or what I now believe was/ is the formula causing dry patchy textured skin. Then she was in the hospital of RSV for 5 days so I think the stress of everything didn’t help my milk supply. So here we are trying to figure out what type of formula will be best with these protein sensitivities. All that to say, to you recommend we go with this meat based formula? Or I also heard good things about a goat milk formula. It is a modification from the one in the norishing traditions book. I just cringe on the idea of giving her alimentum or neocate full time. Thank you for your help!
Hi Laura!
We have similar stories as far as our protein sensitive babies go. Such a rough road, isn’t it?
Our daughter has been on neocate for 6 weeks and I’ve been trying homemade formula here and there but haven’t had complete success yet. I’m determined to, however. Anyway, we trialed raw goat milk and I know it works for some but our daughter couldn’t handle it. So, we tried this formula and I thought she reacted to the coconut oil – but I really want to trial it again. No tummy trouble – just rash.
If you have access to a reliable farm – you could try a touch of the raw goat milk for her to see if she does ok? That is what we did but it was a day of ouchy colic ( we only tried 1-2 ounces!). If you don’t have a nearby farm – go for it and try this meat based version. I froze mine in cubes. I struggled with her taking it – but – if our wee ones are became used to neocate/alimentum – then surely this would taste delicious after a few days!
Good luck – my heart goes out to you. If you want to email me – I’m all ears. We’ve had a very rough start as well and it sounds like we have the same goals – that there has to be a better option. I’m also looking into a rice milk based option – but I’m not sure on that one as it isn’t as widely known as the WAP versions and I’m not sure it’s 100% complete.
Hi Angie
Thanks for posting back to me! I actually just tried the cow milk recipe to rule it out. We had the muscle testing (applied kinesiology ) done and it didn’t reveal a cow milk allergy. So she just had 2 ounces this morning.. praying it works!! She LOVED the taste of it!!! Possibly the way it is processed was causing the specs of blood in her stool.. i guess i just have to wait & see!
When you did the goat milk trial did you give her just a taste of the milk or did you do the nourishing traditions formula version? The gelatin really helps aid in digestion so I just wanted to mention it to you! Have you had any success with this formula without the coconut oil?
I agree with you statement about the rice milk.. but I haven’t researched it enough. Let me know what you find out!!!
Hi Laura!
I always forget to check back here. Pardon my delay!
You know, we only trialed the goats milk as is and I totally wondered if making the whole formula would have made a difference? I just know she has such a terrible dairy intolerance as it is…i wondered if it would have really made that much difference? I don’t know?
Well…I don’t think it was the coconut oil as I first suspected. I’ve actually been adding a drizzle in her morning egg yolk every other day now and she is fine. Her bottom was bright red the same day i first fed her this formula – and being a first time mom, I didn’t know that can be the result of teething:) So…I’ve been giving her Sarah’s/WAP’s liver based formula a bit more. The biggest issue is she doesn’t love it. She sort of holds the bottle in her mouth and plays around with it. But, I know she will eventually take to it – it’s just full of goodness – SOO much better than the neocate. She LOVES plain bone broth, though.
I also made homemade rice milk this week and made the formula I found online – as stated above I’m not sold on it b/c of it not being as widely known. I think it’s a great option for perhaps a 1 year old who still can’t have cow’s milk and is on more solids? It’s super easy and it would be nice if I had more confidence in it.
How is the cow’s milk formula going? OHHH I hope it works for you! SOO anxious to here!! That was my number 1 choice for sure (well second, actually as breastfeeding was first!). Ahhh – this little babe of ours has been such a mystery! Are you still able to breastfeed her? If that is the case, I would think the rice milk based formula would be fine if you wouldn’t need too much of it.
Sorry so long:)
Angie! I’m guilty of the same thing.. not checking the site posts! Sorry!!
Okay so this Saturday will be one whole week solely on the cow milk formula.( I mixed it w/ alimentum for 3 days) Her skin has improved but the eczema has not completely gone away ;( She did however go through a cleanse during the transition. It is a natural process that is flushing the body of the irritants and impurities from the commercial formula. We had a rough week 3-5 days.. extremely leaky diapers. Now it looks more like a breastfed baby stool. (BTW- i nursed until 4 mon… she’s 5 mon now- supply issues
.. ) I would be curious to know how your daughter would be on the complete goat milk formula… after you hang in there for a few days (unless she is unbearable, of course!!) to see if she detoxes. The ingredients work together to help with the digestion. I actually would be afraid to just give my daughter just cow milk… just a thought!
We are still battling with wheezing issues. She was in the hospital in feb with RSV and since then when she gets a simple cold she wheezes
I have questioned the cow milk and I am thinking of switching to goat for this reason… you are right.. such mystery babies! ah!
thanks for listening!
Laura – how is your baby doing?
Callie is taking to the liver formula!! It has taken FOREVER to get going w/ it but we are having success. We have many trips to her hematologist and have a bone marrow scheduled this week. Such a rough start for our little girl – but we are getting through and hope she just outgrows her issues. Anxious to get this week over with and hope for a benign result.
Sarah – the liver formula is totally complete sans the whey and lactose. This question is forever looming w/ folks making this formula, I’m sure. I know it’s so rare to have issue here: I see the sub for lactose. Is there one for whey in case she doesn’t take it well?
Hooray!! Will increase each day this week and hope to report 100% success very soon.
Angie
Hi Angie, no sub for the whey. Leave it out if she does not tolerate. She has the best chance of tolerating raw whey from a grassfed dairy source as opposed to liquid whey from pasteurized yogurt or kefir at the store. So glad things are progressing well for Callie!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist\’s last post: Weight Gain in Menopause- Aging or Lifestyle
Hi Angie! sorry I haven’t been on for awhile and just was curious if you wrote back and you did!! My baby girl is doing wonderfully!!!!! cubby and all! No reflux no and diapers are normal. I am still doing the cow milk formula and she loves it! Glad you were able to get callie talking the liver formula! hope she is doing well now
Ok, awesome. So it sounds like it isn’t super crucial. She is tolerating a nice array of solids now as well. I know….so so happy as well! I’ll report back when we are at 100% homemade. Almost there!
Hello,
I’m a Breastfeeding Councelor and so pleased to see a safer alternative to formula but I do suggest getting some help from LLL or a local breastfeeding expert first and only use this mix for emergencies. Donated breastmilk should be the first choice if after counceling and help the mother cannot effectively breastfeed her baby to survive. There is a great group called Human Milk 4 Human Babies on facebook and you can find a chapter in your area/country.
can bone broth substitute the stocks?
Hi Areej, bone broths and homemade stock are interchangeable terms … at least to me!
How long is the liver cooked and what should the texture be like?
Hi Sarah, I have not ever made beef broth. How many bones to water ratio do I need to make the same amount of broth shown in your turkey broth video? Also I have a Pur water filter. Do you think I should purchase water at the store to make the broth? I am reluctant because it all comes in plastic containers.
Thank You so much for posting this recipe. My son has been breast fed for 5 months but I just am not producing enough milk for him now. I plan to make this very soon and I really hope he takes to it because he has had reactions to cow and goat milk formulas.
Hi Natalie just use enough filtered water to just cover the beef bones. It is best to roast the beef bones 20 min on each side before starting the broth as well. Is there flouride in your water? Then perhaps buy spring water from the store. You can sometimes find it in glass bottles. If you have well water, a simple filter will do.
Thank You Sarah for getting back with me! I have a question about the whey. The protein in the whey is different than the protein from the milk itself right? I don’t really understand why that is. If for some reason my son has a reaction to the whey would coconut milk work to possibly make whey? And if I have to leave the whey out altogether is there enough protein in the formula for him from the stock?
Hi Natalie, no you can’t make whey from coconut milk. Leave out the whey if your son has a reaction to it.
In your opinion would switching between chicken and beef stock be hard on my infants digestion? Once I begin with the chicken should I stay with that? Also I want to tell you how much the videos help me! I am a visual learner and they have encouraged me to feel like this is definitely something I can do! I am so thankful for this recipe because the only other alternative for my baby is nutramingen.
Hi, I love your website. I have a 9 mo. old and I’ve been giving him breastmilk plus organic formula made by earths best. I started giving him formula when I went back to work and I’m not making as much breastmilk as before so I supplement with that. I was just wondering if you think this is a good formula? I chose it because it was one of the few organic ones I could find. Do you know of a better organic formula other than your homemade one? I do want to try making yours and freezing it to use. What do you think some of the best first foods are to feed him because he has been eating food now also since he has 8 teeth now and loves it
Hi Sarah! I wish I had known about this formula when my daughter was an infant. She’s 3.5 now and still drinking Similac Alimentum RTF(the liquid one in a bottle). She’s very small for her age and has food allergies and I’ll have to find substitutes for the dextrose/sugar/whey. We’re avoiding sugar too. Would honey work you think? And do you think this will be a good replacement to the ones she’s drinking right now? I’m willing to try, anything to get her off this formula that has tons of sugar and soy oil. It’s the only one she’s tolerated. Thoughts? Advice? I hope she will drink this. Also what can I use to sub for sunflower oil? She’s sensitive to sunflower too. Would safflower oil work?
Can I leave out the whey? She’s very sensitive to dairy as well. Sorry for all my questions.
Thanks so much!
Sarah, thank you so much for helping other mothers to feed their families well. Obviously, God is blessing your work. Please forgive me, I wasn’t sure whether to post this question in your section with coconut milk tonic or in this non-dairy baby formula section. We are missionaries living on the American side of the border with Mexico. We have only been here for 2 months, and have been giving my 8 month old the raw cows milk formula since her birth. We have raised our previous 5 children on the same formula (we had a family cow for several years, and sold cultured dairy products), and they have thrived beautifully on it! During the first 5 weeks of being here, I used frozen raw milk from California while we searched for a farmer here. We looked and looked, and could not find anything within 4 hours of here, except for tainted milk over the border in Mexico. Shipping milk is not going to be affordable. And I dont currently have access to any good quality meats on a regular basis to make the hypoallergenic formula. So I’d really like to make formula with coconut milk- our family does well on all forms of coconut- but Im not sure about how much to use to parallel the cows milk in the formula recipe. We are big on superfoods, so anything that is desperately lacking in the coconut milk, I feel confident I can make up somehow. She is very happy with egg yolks and with other nutrient-dense foods, when they are available, and likes nutritional yeast. I want to make sure she is getting as much nutrition as she can, but not to overload her system. We will continue to search for cows milk, as the whole family needs it fresh and kefir-ed, but if you have any suggestions on how much canned coconut milk to use in the recipe, and secondly, how much if I can make homemade coconut milk with shredded coconut, as you demonstrate, as well as on the Tropical Traditions web site- I would very much appreciate that. I know the homemade should have a much better nutritional profile, I just have no idea how much, and several hours of research into nutrition facts have turned up little information, especially concerning the homemade version. I thank you in advance for your time considering this; I will anxiously await your reply! Thank you!
Hi Sarah! My 7 month old has been suffering from eczema for the past 4 months, and after trying various natural treatments and making extreme dietary changes, it looks like she might be having a reaction to the casein in my breastmilk, so I’m going to try this formula.
How long will this formula keep in the fridge and freezer?
Also, we’ve had trouble offering her a bottle before, so if she takes just a little, but doesn’t finish the entire bottle, can I store the leftover formula and offer it again at a later time? Or should I dispose of any leftover formula since her saliva would’ve already come in contact with it?
Thanks so much for the video!
Hi Sarah – don’t think I saw this question addressed. I want to start feeding my 3 month old the liver based formula but am concerned about the high level of Vitamin A (as per the Weston A. Price web site – 20,000 IU vs. 946 IU in breasmilk). Is this a concern and if not, why?
Thanks in advance for you help. This is a great site!
PLEEEEASE help me! All of this confusion is making me literally sick. I can’t eat or sleep. I have tried 5 different commercial baby formulas on my 2nd son who is now 1 month old (our first son is 4 & 1/2 years old and was bottle fed Soy based commercial formula, which I am now scared to death that I did an awful terrible thing by doing that). We’ve tried 3 different Similac formulas (One specifically for sensitive tummies, and one called Alimentum Expert Care that I swore my baby was going to choke to death on, we actually had paramedics out to our house one morning because I couldn’t get his airways cleared of this thick sludge that was coming out of his nose and mouth
,and the original milk based one) none worked. So we tried 2 Enfamil formulas, newborn and ProSobee, the ProSobee is what he’s on now. It’s soy based. It’s the only thing that he is actually a happy baby on. I tried a goats milk formula and all he did was scream. He seemed to be in pain and he wanted to eat and eat annnnd EAT! But yet when he would eat he would pull away from the bottle and scream. It was horrific to go thru. It was not a regular cry, he was screaming in pain, grabbing my face and shirt, and unable to stop squirming 
I am soooo utterly confused at this point. I am TERRIFIED to try something else, we’ve already tried 6 things, one was completely organic (I made it myself at home, the goats milk one) and supposed to be hypoallergenic as well and it didn’t work. I don’t want my son to have health issues, but I also don’t want to put him thru anymore pain like with the first 4 commercial formulas and the goats milk one. Please help me figure out what to do!!!
Another concern I have is that, if I start him on this liver formula, how much does it cost to make? I d on’t want to get him started on it and then run into more financial struggles and not be able to purchase what is needed for it. Can you please tell me an estimate of how much it costs to make??
I’m sorry this post is so long, I’m desperate for help with this subject. Ugh
Thank you soooo much for taking the time to read this and I VERY much look forward to hearing from you!………..Stephanie
This isn’t a lot of answers for you, but you’re not alone. I too am heart broken, and my husband thinks I’m nuts of how upset I get for my baby’s eating needs. He doesn’t understand that the mom, no matter how she feeds her baby, holds a huge responsibility. Our baby’s have a gut problem, and should have never had dairy. I found this out late. My daughter is 9 months old, and struggling. She kind of likes the liver-based, but not quite. Today I just bought a Digestive Tonic for her to add in with the liver-based formula. The Liver based formula should aid her in healing, which may very well take a long time. I’ve just read moms had to give this tonic with slippery elm bark for 3-4 months until the child was fine without it for every meal! My daughter also has a cold, which complicates things. I just have to remind myself, it will take some time for healing to take place. My current problem is that she gets loose stools from this, in which I’m waiting for an answer. I know when I introduce solids, this will change. Anyways, you’re not alone, you’re an awesome mom putting forth so much effort for her baby, and it will pay off.
The fermented cod liver oil link no longer works. Green Pasture Products does not carry “salty cod” or “antioxidant free.” Which supplier are you referencing? Thanks
Hello. My first and only son is 2 months old. I was only able to breastfeed him for 2 weeks. The pediatrician had us switch from regular formula to soy then to hypoallergenic to help him not spit up so much. I’m interested in making my own hypoallergenic formula but my husband is still on the border about it. Do you have any recommended readings to help him make a decision. Another important factor to me is the fact that we are not going to vaccinate him, would you suggest supplementing anything to help build his immunity?
Hi Sarah, I’ve tried a number of different formula for my daughter after she had problems with breast milk. We’ve gone from an elemental formula to raw milk formula (constipated her) to raw milk formula with a kefir base (still constipated her) and now to liver formula which is causing eczema and loose/frequent stools. I am suspecting that I need to take out the whey and the lactose. Given the fact that she most likely has yeast overgrowth (we’re working on it!) I was wondering whether the dextrose or the sucrose would be the better option for her.
Thank you!
Sarah, I see a light at the end of my tunnel. I wish I would have found this blog sooner. My daughter has had quite the time! I’ve discovered she can have nothing from the cow. She isn’t a huge fan of the broth, but I’ll keep trying it. Her stools are very loose though, and she seems to get gassy here and there. My questions:
1. Should I go to a dairy free probiotic?
2. I tried her on a lactose free formula, and she threw it up each time, so should I not consider lactose a problem?
3. She had very slow weight gain so far on this formula, I’m nervous to give her solids if her digestive tract is weak. Plus, the only solid she will eat is a dippy egg, minus the whites. I was told to include a raw egg in the formula, and a major butt rash happened.
Thank for your help in advance!
p.s. My daughter also seems to get quite gassy on the liver based formula. What could be causing the gas?
Hi, is there a way to make the formula not so gritty? It instantly settles and clogs the nipple of the bottle. Not sure if I’m doing something wrong. I am using the new desiccated liver from Radiant Life.
Thanks if anyone can help!
Sarah F.
I strained it through cheese cloth and that worked perfectly.
Hi! My son was in the hospital and they took him off breast milk since they found he had allergies, they said he could go back on breast milk within a few weeks and by then I couldn’t keep it in. They put him on a formula because he has a soy and casein allergy. He is now 14 months old, refuses to eat any solids, and has high liver enzymes. Corn syrup goes through the liver (no one can figure out what he has and they just keep testing him) and I believe the formula is causing the issues. I have been trying almond milk a couple times a day and he seems to be feeling better. Since he has a casein allergy, the lactose should be fine, correct? Thank you!
Sarah – thank you for your blog, I read it every day! I am making both the milk and liver formulas for my newborn as I am not yet producing enough milk and she needs to gain weight. On days when I just do the liver, she doesn’t seem to have gained as much weight on the following morning as on days when I give her the milk formula. Is there any harm in increasing the amount of oils a bit? Do you have any general guidance on that? Also, for the milk formula, you mention 2 or more T of cream. Is 4 T too many?
- Rebecca
Sarah,
I really need your help, I have my second malabsorber she is 6 1/2 months old and not doing well (better than brother as we have avoided all corn syrup sources) She cannot tolerate corn in the slightest, the only corn product (other than possible vitamin sources) in her formula is maltodextrin, and as a nursing mom I am giving her “empty” milk by cutting my diet down to white rice potatoes and meats, I cannot even take a vitamin supplement without her tummy aches. I am ordering the required supplies for the liver based and have found a different form of acreola powder without corn listed here, but I cannot find the nutrient info to see if its is the same as the concentrated now brand, heres the link http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/acerola.php I cannot find pasture fed animals in my area as of yet (we live in corn country) until I find true pasture fed is it at least ok to use partally grain fed liver? have tons of other questions but cannot type as baby is upset as usual those will at least help me get started.
Sarah,
I apologize for my last post I was frantically trying to figure this all out as my daughter is 7 1/2 months old now and still cannot sleep day or night due to tummy troubles. I have located all ingreds and made my first batch today minus the whey as my milk was not spoiled and is taking a long time to seperate, but I have some questions for you.
1. My stock is no where near as clear and dark as yours in the video I used all organic grass fed bones and liver, and skimmed the fat. Is it ok to figure this will be different every batch?
2. How long is it safe to let your why and kurds seperate? Mine has been out for over 48 hrs, I tried to seperate thru a cloth this am and the “Kurd” part is quite solid but very little of it, and the whey portion is very yellowish in color not near as clear as yours so I put it all back in the container to try to seperate further. My concern is to not get any protien in the whey as she is definatly protien sensative.
3. what are we lacking leaving out the whey and should I put something in its place?
This first batch she will not get much of any way but I am hoping to know these answers for the 2nd or 3rd go round as I am hoping after letting her acclimate to it we will be able to go on full formula as I really need to treat my medical conditions that are untreatable safely while nursing:) Thank you so much for all your videos they have made this process a breeze!
Hi Sarah,
I put my 10 month old baby on Sally Fallon’s raw milk formula two weeks ago. Since then he has been having at least 4 very watery stools a day. He also has eczema on his face that I was hoping to clear up with this formula. The eczema is still flaring. Should I keep giving him the milk? Do you suggest removing any of the items to help stop the loose stools and to help heal the eczema? I am a first time mom and would love any guidance from you!
Thanks!
Lisa
Hi Sarah,
We are foster parents and are getting ready to pick up a premee baby from the hospital. He was born two and a half months ago and is just 5lbs. We are already using this formula for our 17 month Down Syndrome child and he is doing well on it.
Would you suggest using this formula for the premee? Do you think the milk based formula would be better? We do have goats, but our other child could not tolerate milk.
Also, we have lots of beef liver in the freezer. Do you just shred some liver off each time or thaw the liver? That seems to be the hardest part for me. I actually stopped using liver and started using farm fresh raw egg yolks in his formula. Please tell me if this is a bad idea. He seems to be doing good on it though. Everything else I fed him, including goats milk caused him to be constipated, refluxy and he did not gain weight very well.
I do appreciate your sight. I am sooooooo grateful for this formula too. It has been a lifesaver. And I can finally sleep at night.
Thanks so much!
Kerin
I have been using the liver formula for my 3 month old since he was born. (He is my third and after trying for months to breastfeed/pump for my first two babies, supplements, lact-aide, oral motor therapist etc etc… I never had more than about .75oz per feeding) I’ve always made homemade formula for my babies but I noticed my newest seems to have some issues. He seems to sleep better and be more comfortable when I eliminate the whey and I’m considering subbing the lactose but I really don’t want to. Something seems to bother him. I make him the digestive tea and give it to him all the time even though he hates it. He has never had a solid poo or even one with shape. It’s always runny. I’m concerned. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe something I’m doing wrong that I can fix? For my first two I made the raw milk formula but I have had some health issues and wanted to give him the broth based one because I felt it was more healing for his gut. Am I wrong? If he seems to do better without the whey I can’t imagine he’d do better on the raw milk one. What do you think? What should I do differently?
Hello,
I just came across your website as I was looking for a healthy way to start my baby on solids. He is 5 months old, and has been diagnosed with Galactosemia, so he cannot have any lactose or galactose, his DNA does not produce the enzimes to digest them. It broke my heart to have to feed him soy formula because I am aware of the effects on the body, but that was the only alternative I was presented by the geneticist caring for him. I breastfed him for several days, and partially for a few months, and even though my baby did not show any symptoms, I was told to stop because all his tests show he does have the disorder. He is a big boy, healthy, and developing and growing just fine, by God’s grace. He has been exclusively on soy formula (the organic one) for about a month, but I want to introduce solids so he does not have to consume so much soy. I like the idea of your meat-based formula, and I would like to try it for my baby (I suspect my doctors will not approve, though). But, are there any modifications I would need to make for my baby’s particular situation, as far as lactose or galactose? I would very much appreciate your knowledge and experience. I have struggled so much with the issue of my baby’s food, and I would like to be more proactive in this matter. Thank you so much!
Sarah, the babies have been throwing up on the milk based formula. I took out the yeast and one of them still threw up tonight. What do you suggest? Should I try this liver based or could it be the lactose? Please advise. I’m going crazy trying to figure this out!
Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for this video. I was wondering if I could use chicken livers instead. I have a bunch in my freezer that I don’t use often and I’d like to use them up with this. Is there any reason you didn’t list chicken livers as well?
Suzanne,
Yes, you can use chicken liver. I have emailed back and forth with Sally Fallon about this formula and chicken liver is wonderful to use.
I want to say thanks so much for all that you do. My baby has milk Protein allergy I knew there had to be something I could do. I breastfeed exclusively but almost everything has whey or something in it that causes him gas. So i am gonna substitute. Also can I buy any of the ingredients needed at Whole Foods or Treasure Island in Chicago?
Yesterday after I sent you the comment I talked to a friend of mine who also suggested I try Goya brand Coconut milk to supplement with the breastfeeding . I tried and he really liked it however the can doesn’t say BPA free and it looks to have no real nutritional value can you tell me if using it is safe.
I was wondering what I could substitute the whey with?I see the dextrose to replace the lactose but nothing said about the whey can it be replaced with coconut kefir. Also Bernard Jensen makes a powder whey , why shouldn’t it be used? Which Bifidobacterium Infantis Powder is recommended, I have a few different brands? Thanks again and I know you cannot get back to me personally, however if you can just answer these questions here I can read them and be blessed with that.
I love coming to your website for information, thank you for all the helpful tips. I have a 3 year old and a 5 month old. I gave my 5 month old bone broth today because shes not seeming to get enough breast milk. I was thinking of giving her some formula along side breastfeeding. I came across some organic formula that looks good and i just was curious what your opinion of the ingredients are
Ingredients
Skimmed milk** (Germany, Austria), sweet whey powder* partly demineralised, vegetable oils* (palm oil, rape oil, sunflower oil), maltodextrin*, calcium chlorid 414mg/100g, Vitamin C 85mg/100g, Vitamin E 9.5mg/100g, ferrous lactate, zinc sulphate 3.7mg/100g, niacin 3.7mg/100g, calcium-D-pantothenate, copper sulphate, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, manganese sulphate, vitamin B2, potassic iodate, folic acid, vitamin K1, sodium selenate, vitamin D
* organically grown
** organically grown to biodynamic standards
thanks in advance!
Can I make the liquid whey for this from my own breast milk? I plan to make the whey according to how you made it on your other whey making video, only using my breast milk rather than using raw milk which I cannot get in my Stste.
Did anyone have success with this formula? I can’t liquefy the liver any further and it stops up the nipple.
Jessica, we had great luck, just recently stopped using it at 13 mos when we finally found a substitute my daughter could tolerate. I will tell you my process, but keep in mind my daughter was older and eating meats etc so I was not worried about a small amount of liver pulp loss (and it was only a small amount) I would get my liver in large quantities and portion it out (I made double batches ever time if not more) in 4 oz portions. On a formula making day I would take the liver out first, it thaws really fast, once it was slightly softened, I sliced it into very thin and small chunks. I would then add it to the boiling broth, once cooked, I would pour the meat broth (I would make two batches so used one for just 4c broth then the other I would add all 4oz meat to) into my blender, use a screen (at the time I only had cheapo splatter screens) to pour half the liquid back into the pan. Then I would liquify the meat and remaining broth for a long time, I would usually start with chop for about 10 min and work up to the liquify, but I would usually leave it blending while I attacked other tasks out of the kitchen for a good 20 minutes. Then I would add the rest of that pan of liquid back, let it cool, and add my oils/lactose etc. sometimes in a crunch I would add all the ingreds to one batch but the lactose would not always dissolve so pour half off etc. most of the time I did per batch oils blending the cooled no meat broth to its own batch of ingreds. but when I pour the finished formula into my container ( I used a large pourable container, not individual bottles) I would again use the mesh screen to “catch” any unliquified liver, it usually only equated to a tablespoon or less left over pulp so I felt she was getting all the vitamins and enough of the liver, without this small amount. That is how I solved the clogged nipple problem, before I got wise to this trick, the playtex nurser bottles do have a Y cut nipple, that allows for the chunky stuff to go through with no choking hazard, but this is designed for an older baby as well as it would be waayy to fast for a small infant. Hope this helps!
Sarah, can I use desiccated liver from radiant life in place of fresh for this formula? I have read on your blog that it is ok to do with the goat milk formula but not sre about this. Thanks.
I would also like to know if you can use desiccated liver from Radiant Life. If so, what would the conversion be? Thank you,Jessica
I have been using 12.
I love you blog and videos, however, I recently went to see a pediatric nutritionist regarding your hypoallergenic forumla, and she looked into your recipe. I told her I know she can’t legally tell me to try something that is not FDA approved forumla, but she did try to discourage me from using this formula recipse, citing that there are large amounts of vitamin A from the liver, and in combination with the cod liver oil that are way to high for children, especially babies. Is there anything else I can use that is not so high in Vitamin A? I don’t want to use the Nutramigen anymore, as there are large amounds of glutamic acid in there, but I also don’t want to give my baby dangerous amounts of Vitamin A either. We store vitamin A, unlike other vitamins that just pass through our systems.
Klara, I had my pediatrician, who reviewed the formula and vitamins, and she verified her feelings about it with the pediatric nutritionist who also gave me the green light, My daughter used it from 5 months of age until 13 1/2 months due to reactions to all replacements. She is a very smart Healthy 15 month old now and had no ill effects, is it possible she is just not for a homemade version at all? I know I had many other docs (urgent care misc visits etc) balk at me for the fact I made it at home, not even looking into it or the fact that the doctor recommended it as our best option as my daughter cannot tolerate corn products, or the sweetener in organic formula, and we had tried multiple formulas to no avail, as well as a strict diet change for me as I was only supplementing until 11mos. I am not in any way challenging your doc, or saying theyre against it, just thought it strange that our doctors would say it was fine, but yours after reviewing the same info, said no way
is a second opinion available?
Klara,
I have three children. Sadly, I have never had breast milk. The first two babies I raised with the Weston Price raw milk formula. Sarah also talks about it on this blog. They did great on it. With my third I was concerned had more gut health issues due to a decline in my health before having him and other issues. So I opted for this formula in an effort to heal his gut from an early age. I am a big believer in liver and cod liver oil. My other boys ate it all the time. It is wonderful for you.
However, early on I noticed some huge differences in my third baby. Developmentally he was much slower… physically especially. I was a little nervous, but also thought maybe because I had had some antibiotics before having him and my health was not as good as I would have hoped before conceiving him (antibiotics, losing a pregnancy before him and not eating as well as I would have liked out of depression… not an excuse..) Around 3 months he got really sick and was sick for a whole month. Drs couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He was hospitalized and given just about every test. His head was hugely swollen and it turned out he had a serious double ear infection. My other kids have never had one ear infection. None of them are vaccinated nor do they eat eat pasteurized dairy. If you know anything about ear infections they have a lot to do with poor diet, vaccines, etc. His ear drum was perforated. Among other tests in the hospital they found out he had dangerously high levels of vitamin A, just like your nutritionist mentioned. If he wasn’t hospitalized I would have never known. His head was so swollen they did a CT scan and a spinal tap the second he was admitted. They thought he either had brain swelling or meningitis. It was very scary. I can’t tell you how sick he looked. I thought he was going to die. It was terrifying. I really hate to write this. I have been eating mostly Traditionally for almost ten years. I am much more strict with how I feed my children. I feed my children very strictly Weston Price nutrition. I believe in it strongly. I really believed in this formula. I was really excited about it because my family and I are on the GAPS diet and I wanted my youngest to begin gut healing right from the start. I made the formula exactly as stated.
I did email Sally Fallon about it immediately and she was wonderful. She said it has been wonderful for so many babies and even saved many babies’ lives but my baby might have a hard time digesting so much vitamin a. She also said that beef liver has more vitamin a than chicken liver and I was using mostly beef liver. I immediately switched him to the raw milk formula my other boys were on and he healed beautifully and has caught up remarkably fast. He is basically right on track with where my other boys were developmentally at this point. Raw milk is amazing. His Dr. also said that she really thinks the only reason he got an ear infection was because of the high doses of vitamin A because it made his head so swollen. He also had several other signs of vitamin A poisoning, skin peeling, among other signs…Not to mention the blood tests that pointed out his dangerously high vitamin A levels. He was of course retested after he went on the raw milk formula and his levels went down to normal almost immediately. He has been tested recently as well. I do give him cod liver oil in his raw milk formula. I do plan on giving him liver soon. (he is almost ten months,) I started earlier with my other boys, but given what he went through I am holding off. I still very much believe in eating liver. I have seen the benefits in my boys. The formula was just too much for him. My advice: try the Raw milk formula. It has been a huge blessing to my family and to me as I have been so heartbroken to not have milk to nourish my babies. Again, it makes me sad to write this because I was so excited about this formula and believed so strongly in it. I almost didn’t write it. But given what happened to my baby and your concern over the vitamin A I really felt like I needed to.
Can you substitute Sunflower oil for Safflower oil? What is the shelf life of this formula?
Thank you Beth for your response. I almost cried. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through. That’s just terrifying. I’m a little confused at what you are saying though. My baby girl has Allery Colitis. She can’t digest cow milk protein. So, I am assuming you mean the whey from the cow’s milk ? (when you suggest using the raw milk forumla) I don’t want to use raw milk. My father is an agricultural biologist, and has strongly advised me against this. I can make the whey from yogurt or kefir or buttermilk. But going back to what I was concered about initially, isn’t there something I can replace the liver with? Something that isn’t so vitamin A rich? And Adreanne.. Maybe you’re right. I should possibly get a second opinion. The thing is that in this town it’s soooo hard to get in to see anyone (soooo many babies) so, I would rather jsut use a substitute. Why does it have to be liver anyway…?
I have been feeding my adopted infant with Down Syndrome the raw milk formula for 3 months. She was thriving on it but is suddenly refluxing most of her feedings. She is on an NG tube and will be getting a G-tube soon. Anyway, I am going to try the hypoallergenic however I need to leave the liver out for now b/c it won’t go down the tube. As a matter of fact, it is a struggle to use this at all b/c as it cools, the gelatin gets thicker and also clogs the tube! Is there a powdered source of liver that I could substitute until she is on the G-tube which is a thicker tube? What is the liver providing nutritionally?
Thank you.
Liver is exceptionally high in Vitamins A, D, E, K and all B vitamins!
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin or niacinamide)
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine, or pyridoxine hydrochloride)
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
Vitamin B12 – Essential for making Hemoglobin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins
Forgot to add… Also high source of minerals: Iron, selenium, magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium in particular.
Also essential amino acids.
Dear Nora,
Hi. I just wanted to post because I also have a Down Syndrome toddler that we adopted, his name is Nathan. We have had him since he was 1 month old. He had an AV Canal defect and congestive heart failure. He was on a NG tube until he was about 6 months old. The hospital sent us home with a formula and the instructions to keep him on an incline because of his reflux. He was very weak and it was very hard to put weight on him. His reflux was very bad, we could hardly hold him without everything coming up.
We tried various commercial formulas, which I hate, but because he was a foster child we really had to do what the doctor told us. But finally, he did agree to allow us to put him on a goat milk formula. Unfortunately, he got so constipated on goats milk and he really stopped gaining weight. I was really frustrated because I wanted him to be on something that was good for his body. His reflux was still bad and I was getting less and less sleep trying to figure out what to do to help this little guy. We did start going to a chiropractor that had us pull his stomach down because she said the top of his stomach was above his diaphragm. She believed that is what caused the reflux. I pull his stomach down every morning. It might help some, but I did not see a drastic change at all in his reflux.
I did start learning about the GAPS diet from a friend and also remembered about this broth based hypoallergenic formula. I was a bit hesitant at first because I always believed that babies should be on milk, but after learning about the healing benefits of broth I decided to try it. Nathan, actually started gaining weight on this formula and he is even a bit chunky. His constipation is much better, although I have to make sure that he gets quite a bit of fruit and fiber during the day to keep things moving. I know that constipation is very common for babies with Down Syndrome. But, I do want to mention that his reflux never did go away. I am starting to be convinced that it is a mechanical problem caused by first his Down Syndrome, every thing moves slower down his esophagus, second the NG tube probably caused scar tissue on the flapper valves and they don’t close properly anymore. Unfortunately with the NG tube it does not allow those valves to close all the way and scar tissue starts to formulate making it harder for the flapper valve to close. I have a feeling that his reflux is going to be a lifelong problem.
Anyway, I wanted to write because I had so much trouble finding anyone who could help me with this problem. I will tell you that there are a number of internet sites that talk about reflux and the different techniques that will help your infant to keep her food down. We have wedges that Nathan sleeps on, bouncers and a gait trainer that he goes into after he eats, etc. If you every want to e-mail me to talk more about this I will give you my personal e-mail address.
In conclusion, I am very happy to be using the hypoallergenic formula for my guy. He is getting so strong and healthy on it. As for the liver, it is so good for babies. I cook mine very good in the broth and then blend it with the broth in my Vitamix until it sounds like all the chunks are chopped up. After I blend in all the other ingredients I strain the formula through a fine strainer. I think it should go through the feeding tube, as for the thick gelatin, I think if you warm it first that should help. I do remember how frustrating it was to get some things through that feeding tube, but I do think this formula will go through.
I pray for good results for you. My e-mail address is: rickmatthewsfamily@gmail.com.
Take care,
Kerin
Hi to all,
This is my first time trying this formula. I really hope I can take my daughter off the powder formula I have been using to supplement my breast milk.
I just made this formula and see there is a lot of white, oily foam on top. Is this normal?
Reading the previous posts, can’t this formula work by taking out either the cod oil or the liver? This way you only have one source of Vit A. What if you leave both, the cod oil and liver out, would the formula suffer too much from lack of nutritional factors?
Also, is Sara, the blog author, answering these latest posts? I used to see her name with her answers in the posts from 2010, but now, I don’t see any of the people’s questions being answered by Sara.
Yes…. why isn’t she responding? Sara, we would really love to hear from you. I NEED an answer to this (amoungst my other questions). What can I sibstitute the liver with? Other people above need answers too. Please help.
Her advice shows her ignorance. Consult with someone who actually understands Vitamin A … biodynamicwellness.com does Skype consults and helps folks with the homemade formula all the time. Kim Schuette and her staff are very helpful in this area.
On a side, note it seems to me the term “pediatric nutritionist” is an oxymoron.
Ok. Thank you for your advice.
I have been using this formula for a few days now to supplement breastfeeding my twins–their doctor said they weren’t gaining enough weight and sent me home with 4 cans of formula. I do not want to feed them that powdered crap though. But I digress…
The babies seem to be taking to it alright, but I am only giving them about 4 ounces each a day so far. I don’t want my milk production to drop. I have been using the dessicated liver capsules from Radiant Life rather than frozen liver, and I too had issues with the nipple getting clogged from particles. I have been filtering the formula once through cheese cloth, and then a second filtering through some milk filters that we have.
An issue I have been having however, is that since my homegrown chickens are so gelatinous, the formula is solidifying upon refrigeration; it turns into jelly. I have to scoop it out of the jar and try to get it into the bottle in this solid state, so it can be a bit messy. In addition, the fat is rising to the top, so I have a firm layer of fat on top of jelly. I try to stir the fat back in, but that makes quite a mess too. Any others using this formula have the same issue?
Kristie\’s last post: Homemade Orange-Vanilla Body Spray
Hi Kristie,
I do not use homegrown bones. I use grass fed and pasture raised beef bones. My formula also solidifies. Though it does not seem to be much of a problem. I just scoop it out, and when I warm the bottle it turns into liquid. It does not require much heat for my formula to liquify. As far as the liver, I use fresh liver and my blender is able to break it up enough. Though I am at a point where I am using level 3 nipples, so that may be a difference. Hope that helps.
Thank you! Yes, that does help. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t the only one with “formula jelly.”
Kristie\’s last post: Homemade Orange-Vanilla Body Spray
Okay, so I have gathered all the ingredients for this formula BUT… not only is my baby highly allergic to lactose but is also allergic to corn. So the dextrose I bought will not work and sucrose is supposed to be a NO NO. Not really sure what choice I have as far as a sweetener goes. I am currently giving her soy which she is also allergic to but mildly. Any thoughts?
How about beet sugar or agave nectar?
I used a cup of apple juice to sweeten this formula, hoping my baby would drink it and she downed it.
What about maple syrup or molasses?
Kristie\’s last post: Homemade "Fruit on the Bottom" Yogurt
I never thought of maple syrup Ill have to see whats in it, but I know for sure that molasses contains corn and sucrose.Thought probably not as sweet as with a sugar sweetener, my baby really likes the hint of apple in the formula, and it adds a natural sweetness.:)
Is it normal for babies to have watery poo when starting on this formula?
Hi! I have a 9 month old lil guy who has a very high intolerance of Caisen and is doing very well ( finally after tons of formula trials) on nutramigen AA. Since this Is a hypoallergenic Amino acid based formula, not the one on any drugstore shelf, it’s $65 a can and we are really struggling t ok pay for it since he goes through a can in 2 days. We are down to our last 3 cans and I’m desperately seeking an alternative. Do you think this would be ok to give him?? I can’t add the whey or lactose. But really would be a blessing if this would work! Would love to hear back!!!! Thank you!!!!
Isis has normalized after 9 days of this formula, I left out the whey and the lactose and added 1 cup of apple juice and she now thrives. Thank you so much.
Hi Sarah,
I came across your website after diving headfirst into the super nutrition book for babies I bought. My baby is on soy formula right now and I cant help to think that every time i feed her im giving her CRAP. I think about it constantly! five years ago with my son i didnt read labels, but working in the healthcare field has taught me ALOT. He was on Nutramigen. Can we say CORN SYRUP SOLIDS?! YUCK!!! Anyhow, I am going to try this formula out. I think im a little scared just because its so out of the ordinary (at least for me) to give her liver and soup at 6 months of age. What are your thought on cholesterol? We’re always taught about high cholesterol this and thats. This is good for you that is bad for you…Its all so overwhelming!! Im assuming babies thrive on it?
Hi!
I have a 4 month old with moderate eczema due to milk allergies and probably other unknown allergies. I stopped giving him commercial formula about a month ago and gave him goat’s milk but it was unsuccessful. Then, about 2 weeks ago I started the liver based formula and noticed it help clear up his eczema, not completely but it dried out his flare ups but gradually my son weaned himself from the liver based formula and has been reluctant to go back on it. Now he’s sticking to breast-milk but my problem is that I don’t have enough to give him. I started giving him almond milk and he’s taking it but I’d like to know if you’ve heard of any infants that have thrived on it? Would you happen to have a almond-milk baby formula I can use? I’ve tried this formula, but I feel like it’s lacking some ingredients.
Thanks,
Michelle
http://jennpike.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/home-made-rice-milk-based-infant-formula/ I should have added that i was using this recipe.
{ 2 trackbacks }