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.Â
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. Â 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).Â
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. Â 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
My 5 month old has been on Babys Only Organic Dairy formula since he was 1 month old. I feel like hes constantly congested…could it be the formula? Is that a good enough reason to switch? Thinking of trying Kabrita Goat Milk Formula…any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated!
One more question Sarah — I’ve compared the recipes for goats milk formula and cows milk formula, and they seem identical, with the exception of the ½-â…” tsp of liver powder I see in the goat recipe. I know goat milk lacks the folic acid and B12 that cow milk has, but also is easier to digest than cow milk. It seems like if the deficit of folic acid and B12 can be remedied, goat milk would be superior due to the digestibility? You describe using yeast and liver to make up for FA and B12, yet the quantity of fermented yeast is identical in both recipes (2 tsp)? I thought the yeast helped with FA and the liver helped to add B12. Are these deficits fully remedied if the goats milk formula recipe is followed exactly? thanks so much again!
Also – I watched a video online of a “natural cesarean” delivery — was that you, Sarah??
It wasn’t me. My three children were born naturally, no C-section.
My breastmilk supply has decreased, so I am going to try to begin supplementing with goats milk formula for my 5 month old son. For my breastmilk, I have used the 6-6-6 rule for freshness safety — 6 hours room temperature, 6 days in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer. Does the same apply to raw milk formula, once made? Are there any benefits lost to freezing? thanks Sarah!
If 1 year olds are able to have straight goat’s milk, then should we gradually reduce the dilution of the baby formula? Commercial formulas are made according to the baby’s age, so I assume that the nutrient profile is different/the nutrient needs are different as the baby grows. I found this website: mtcapra.com/goat-milk-infant-formula-frequently-asked-questions/ (the vest last FAQ) that addresses altering the formula starting when the baby is 9 months old. What are your thoughts on this? (I use the WAPF recipe for my 4 month old baby.)
Keep the formula exactly the same until the child turns 1 year old. Then you can gradually transition to straight goat milk.
Hi my 1 year old baby don’t eat and he doesn’t gain weight is it ok to give him goats milk will he gain weight
Hi, I had a question about the cream. If we are doing the goats milk formula because baby has a problem with cows milk what kind of cream do you get and from where? Wouldn’t cream from cows milk be bad to give a baby with a sensitivity to cows milk?
Goat milk cream would be best, but if you can’t get goat cream, note that the allergenic properties of cow milk aren’t usually from the cream (it’s from the proteins), so using cow cream probably would be fine too.
I’m confused about how much desiccated liver to add for the goat’s milk formula. Your site says 1/2 t. but realmilk.com (realmilk.com/how-to/recipes-for-whole-foods-baby-formula/) says 1/4 t. Which is correct?
Substituting a dried food for its fresh counterpart is generally accepted by chefs to be a 1:3 ratio. So, 2 tsp of fresh liver would be 2/3 tsp dried … 1/2 tsp is conservative.
My baby is almost 5 months old now and has been on this recipe since 2 weeks. For the past week she has been so hungry that she wants a bottle all the time. She’s even waking up in the middle of the night much more to have more milk. It’s like she never gets satisfied. At what point can I decrease the water that’s added for dilution? Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much.
Are you adding the extra cream and all the additional oil ingredients?
If we are using raw cows milk – can we sub the same amount as the raw goats milk?
Yes, but the quantities for other ingredients are slightly different. Please use this recipe for raw cow milk: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-homemade-milk-based-baby-formula/
Hi there! Thanks so much for this recipe. I have a question and was wondering if you had any input. My husband and I are taking a short trip for a conference and my third child strictly nurses, other than a small amount of food I’ve started to implement recently. Because I strictly nurse it’s hard for me to have a huge supply of pumped milk. I have what I feel will be “enough,” but Thought about making this recipe if he needs a little more milk. My question is: if I’m not using this as the main source of milk (because he still will have my milk), do you think I could do he goats milk alone with a few ingredients or should I do the whole recipe?
Always make the whole recipe unless the child is over a year old in which case plain raw goat milk is fine.