How to make a nourishing homemade goat milk baby formula that mimics human breastmilk as closely as possible.
I nursed all 3 of my children exclusively until they started solid foods. In addition, I practiced extended breastfeeding, nursing each of my first two children for 2 years and the youngest for 4 years. I only used homemade formula occasionally such as after surgery.
I adored every. single. minute.
Nursing my children was a glorious experience the memories of which I will cherish forever! I’m sure most breastfeeding mothers would report the same.
The topic of homemade formula, even the more widely accepted goats milk formula, is a highly charged and controversial subject. In reality, it is a very important option for women to consider and have available who are not able to have a breastfeeding relationship with their baby.
This is because unpasteurized, donor breastmilk is not always available from reputable sources and in sufficient quantities to meet a baby’s growing appetite. A friend of mine is dealing with this very situation right now with her adopted daughter.
While she does her best to secure quality donor milk, the truth is that it isn’t enough, and she must supplement. Her first choice depending on local farm availability is formula made with raw goats milk as it seems to be digested a bit better by her baby.
Of course, all brands of commercial formula even if organic are best avoided if at all possible. The graphic above summarizes the problems with commercial formula quite succinctly.
Why Goat Milk is Healthy for Baby Formula
With commercial formula best avoided and relying solely on donor breastmilk a risky proposition, the homemade formula becomes an option well worth consideration.
But why goats milk formula in particular?
The reasons could be as simple as the availability of goat milk versus cow milk. The homemade formula is best made with a clean source of raw milk and some parts of the country have raw goat milk far more readily available than raw cow milk.
Another reason could be the digestibility of the formula. The natural homogenization of the fat globules and different structures of the goat milk proteins do make it easier to digest for some babies.
If a baby has trouble with a homemade formula made from raw grass-fed cow milk, for instance, then the next best option would indeed be goats milk formula.
I always suggest to mothers to try homemade formula made with cow milk first.
This is because although goat milk is wonderfully rich in brain-building fats, it must be used with caution in infant feeding.
Unlike cow milk, goat milk lacks folic acid and is low in the nutrient vitamin B12 both of which are critical to the proper growth and development of a baby.
Fortunately, if goats milk formula does indeed become the necessary choice, the inclusion of small amounts of nutritional yeast and organic grated or desiccated liver in the formula easily remedies this dilemma.
Infant Formula?
Below is the recommended recipe for goats milk formula as published by the Weston A. Price Foundation and originally published in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions in 1996.
I personally know at least a dozen women who have used this recipe with great success when raw grass-fed cow milk was either unavailable or did not digest well for their baby.
*You can order all of the required ingredients for the homemade baby formula in one easy package from Radiant Life by clicking here.
Because the goat formula contains liver powder, be sure to use bottle nipples that are designed for thicker flowing liquids. You can get them here.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe
A nourishing homemade goat milk formula made from goat milk, yogurt or kefir devised and tested by Dr. Mary Enig that matches the nutritional profile of breastmilk as closely as possible.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw goat milk OR whole goat milk yogurt
- 1 7/8 cup filtered water
- 1/4 cup liquid whey
- 4 Tbl goat lactose
- 1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis powder
- 2 Tbl raw or pasteurized cream
- 1/2 tsp cod liver oil unflavored
- 1/4 tsp butter oil unflavored
- 1 tsp sunflower oil preferably organic
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp virgin coconut oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp raw chicken liver OR 1/4 tsp desiccated liver powder
- 2 tsp gelatin
- 1/4 tsp acerola powder
- 1 tsp molasses optional
Instructions
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Fill a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup with filtered water and remove 2 tablespoons (this will give you 1 7/8 cup water).
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Pour about half the water into a pan and turn burner on medium.
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Add the gelatin and lactose and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
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When gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove pan from heat and add the rest of the water to cool.
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Stir in the coconut oil and butter oil until melted.
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Put remaining ingredients in a glass blender. Be sure to use only liquid whey and never powdered whey from making cheese as it will curdle the goat milk formula.
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Add the water mixture and blend for about 3 seconds.
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Pour goats milk formula into glass baby bottles or a large glass jar and refrigerate.
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Before giving to baby, warm glass bottle in a pan of hot water or a bottle warmer (I like these). Never microwave baby bottles!
Recipe Notes
Do not substitute pasteurized milk or goat milk powder as these are heavily processed, denatured and allergenic foods. You may use plain, whole milk goat kefir or homemade goat yogurt in place of the milk portion of the milk if raw goat milk is not available in your area. Whole Foods has a quality brand of goat milk kefir available.
Cow lactose may be substituted for the goat lactose.
Do NOT use ultrapasteurized (UHT) cream. It is highly allergenic. Raw or pasteurized cream is acceptable.
Use only organic, unrefined, low oleic, cold pressed sunflower oil for this recipe. The brand linked to in the ingredients list is recommended.
The raw chicken liver should be frozen for 14 days or longer as recommended by the USDA for safe consumption. It is easiest to grate raw liver when it is frozen! Alternatively, 1/4 tsp of raw, desiccated liver powder may be substituted (find it here).
Collagen powder may be substituted for the gelatin in a pinch (more on peptides in baby formula in this article).
Use the optional molasses only if baby has issues with constipation. Only use as needed.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Video
Below is an instructional video I filmed for the Weston A. Price Foundation on how to prepare a homemade formula yourself. Enjoy!
More Information
Homemade Nondairy Baby Formula
Why Soy Formula Even if Organic is So Dangerous for Babies
Traveling with Homemade Baby Formula
Feeding an Adopted Baby Without Commercial Formula
State Threatens to Take Baby Over Homemade Goat Milk Formula
Goat Milk Versus Cow Milk
Hi Sarah, I have been giving the raw cow’s milk formula to my baby girl since she was 5 months old. now that she is 13 months old, I have switched to making goats milk formula. my daughter is refusing solid food, and i have tried many recipes, both simple foods and some with great flavours, both which she would only eat about two spoonful. she loved avocado mash and also carrot & sweet potato mash for a little while. i am still giving her solid food although its just a couple of spoonfuls everyday per meal. my question to you, (and if there’s any other moms here who are with the same problem as well) do i still need to dilute the goats milk for her at this age, and do i need to increase the amounts of oils. in simple, what is your recommendation for a formula, for a toddler who is not getting nutrients from solid food. is this formula enough or do i need to make adjustment. thanks!
Why is sunflower oil needed? I would think it is better to leave that one out..?
It is a good source of EFA omega 6 fats. Omega 6 fats are demonized as Westerners get far too much, but some is needed for healthy and normal growth of the baby and it is in breastmilk.
I need some help here. I too am getting that this is super pricey if I give my daughter 4.5 oz per feeding of formula about 7-8 times a day. The goat milk version that is since dairy is an issue. It looks like I would use 1 container of the goat milk lactose alone from amazon every 2 days. At $15 a pop that is crazy expensive. Are there any other alternatives? My daughter is only 5 months and we have so much longer to go 🙁
Thank you for this wonderful post, my partner and I are trying to conceive this year and I’ve been researching everything to do with breastfeeding/home-made formula and this recipe and your additional resources listed are essential reading 🙂
I was so happy to see this on here.
I am all done with nursing my 3 munchkins but when my supply ran low with my 3rd,
as it did all 3x, I gave her goat milk formula milk which we mixed up regularly.
I felt SO much better giving this to her than regular formula.
I just couldn’t get past the fact that a lot of the ingredients in regular formula I couldn’t
even pronounce. : /
Pam
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your raw milk formula videos. They helped me during a very difficult time when I lost my milk supply for about a week.
Get familiar with the recipe and source the ingredients before you have the baby just in case. I had to supplement due to ftt and wish I was familiar with the recipe before!
I’m due with my third in December…my worst nightmare would be not being able to breastfeed! Thanks for the info!
Great idea and information. If unable to breastfeed, I just don’t see how I can manage to have the time to make this. Anyone know if there is a way to purchase something similar, in Ontario?
Not only the time, but the COST!! Oye ve. $175 per month plus the cost of the goat’s milk. No way can we afford this. Hmmm, shall I pay the electric bill, starve my other 2 kids for a month, or shell out $125 more per month for fancy formula?
Where did you come up with $175/month??? This formula is far from expensive!
The link to Radiant Life states $174 for a 37 day supply of 36 ounce batches. My babies ate as much as 48oz+ per day, so the supply would likely last less than the stated 37 days. Goat milk is anywhere from $6 to $16 per gallon which would last about 4-5 days. Not avaialble at stores around here, so I’d have to drive to a farm 2 hours away and burn gas money too.
The generic store brand formula I used was about $20 a week.
Clarification: one large can of powder lasted about a week, generic was about $12 per can, name brand $20-25 per can. Bought name brand if I had coupons, otherwise generic. Hubby is unemployed and I am the sole “breadwinner” right now working 2 jobs. It is all about whatever is cheapest right now.
My story: Had babies to regular whole cow’s milk and table foods by 1 year old. BF 2 of the 3 for about 6 weeks before my milk supply went away completely, started supplementing with formula at 4 weeks due to weight loss/failure to thrive/dehydration. 1 was not BF at all due to late prematurity, poor feeing and no milk output with pumping. All 3 kids are completely healthy, rarely sick, IQ’s in the 140’s, and no allergies to anything.:)
I made a similar formula with raw Jersey cow’s milk for my child for almost a year. It is NOT expensive! Many of the ingredients, once purchased, last for months. It might be $175 upfront cost to purchase everything (not sure, I didn’t do the math), but then you’re good to go for several months, except purchasing the milk. Unfortunately, I was less informed about real food with my first child, and when breastfeeding failed after a few months, we fed him conventional baby formula. It was MUCH more expensive than feeding our second child the homemade formula.
I think you need to look at the recipe again, and notice that the ingredient amounts vary from 1/4 teaspoon to a few tablespoons. If I remember correctly, I only needed to re-order a few ingredients to get through the entire year.
I HIGHLY recommend this formula!!! My 29 week preemie absolutely thrived on this formula, and at almost 4 years old, you would never know he was a preemie. He was never sick, and had no health issues whatsoever after his release from the NICU.
Thank you for sharing your experience!!
I used a similar formula for my son for a year. It is a bit time consuming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it only takes about 15 minutes a day. It is worth every minute of time you spend doing it!
I am very grateful for this post. I am very blessed that my 3 year old still wants to and is able to nurse. 7 months ago it was 9x a day and I am glad though that is is about 3 now. She is allergic to cow’s milk and we just tried her on some goat’s milk only to find that it is the same thing (Hives fives minutes after contact and a stomach ache for 1/2 an hour when it was just a sip.) I did not know there was a dairy free recipe for formula!! I am so glad to know so I can direct people to that recipe when it is needed. Thank you
I have been making the dairy free baby formula for my two children for almost two years. I was not able to nurse and my daughter developed internal bleeding within two months of her life from the commercial formula I first fed to her as she was allergic to whey and casein (which is found in commerical formula). Additionally, soy formula was not an option I wanted to consider. I found the dairy free baby formula recipe on the Weston A. Price Foundation website and made it myself. I had reservations about making it at first as I could find no one to talk to personally about it over the internet. I just didn’t know if it was going to be the right thing to do. My family was cautious and my pediatrician was completely unsupportive. On a wing and a prayer I gave it to my daughter and never looked back. Today, both of my children are healthy, thriving and off the pediatric growth charts for weight and height. I highly recommend the homemade baby formula that Weston A. Price supports, whether it is milk based or not. PS. My two year old daughter still takes her fermented cod liver oil every day chased by dark chocolate!
All the best,
Cristina (Albany, NY)