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A nourishing, hypoallergenic homemade baby formula using safe, whole ingredients. This recipe was developed and tested by Dr. Mary Enig, a PhD Nutritionist and originally published in Nourishing Traditions cookbook in 1996. Source: Weston A. Price Foundation
Many health-conscious parents first try a homemade milk-based baby formula when it becomes apparent that breastfeeding is not an option. If baby demonstrates an intolerance even when using fresh, grass-fed whole milk or yogurt, the non-dairy homemade formula recipe is an excellent alternative to use instead. A detailed how-to video tutorial is also provided.
This dairy-free DIY formula is based on homemade broth and a small amount of cooked, organic grass-fed liver instead of milk as the source of protein.
The recipe was originally published in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions in 1996 and developed by Dr. Mary Enig.
Traditional cultures sometimes used liver pre-chewed by the Mother as a baby first food. Liver is very easily digested and full of nutrition and cholesterol for the baby’s rapidly developing brain.
Commercial nondairy 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, crowded teeth, sunken chest, etc) as it blocks mineral absorption.
Whatever you do, if your child cannot drink a milk-based formula, DO NOT use soy! Other types of plant-based DIY baby formula can cause growth problems as well.
What a relief for a concerned parent that a safe, healthy, non-dairy homemade 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 homemade 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 the infant is not thriving on this homemade dairy-free formula, remove the whey and substitute GMO-free dextrose or sucrose for the lactose.
Nondairy Homemade Formula
Click here for where to source all the ingredients for the dairy-free homemade formula such as gelatin, lactose, and acerola powder, etc. See the dairy-free baby formula video below for visual details.
One batch of 36 ounces takes about 10 minutes to make.
Be sure to use bottle nipples designed for thicker flowing liquids when feeding this formula to your baby. Get them here.
If your baby is only allergic to cow milk, but not other types of dairy, this article provides a how-to for making homemade goats milk formula if you would like to try that first. A sheep milk formula is an option too. Or, if you cannot get goat milk in your area, you can make homemade formula with camel milk.
Dairy-Free Homemade Formula Recipe
A nourishing, dairy-free homemade baby formula that uses bone broth as the base instead of raw milk that was developed and tested by Dr. Mary Enig to match breastmilk as closely as possible.
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups bone broth
- 2 oz grassfed liver beef, bison, or lamb
- 1/4 cup liquid whey leave out if baby cannot tolerate
- 5 Tbl goat lactose OR nonGMO dextrose if baby cannot tolerate
- 1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis powder
- 1/2 tsp cod liver oil unflavored
- 1 tsp sunflower oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil preferably organic
- 1 Tbl virgin coconut oil preferably organic
- 1/4 tsp acerola powder
Instructions
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Simmer liver cut up into small pieces gently in the homemade broth until just cooked through.
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Liquefy the liver in the broth using a handheld blender or a food processor.
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Let the broth cool to room temperature, then stir in the remaining ingredients or blend for a few seconds in a blender.
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Store formula in glass jars in the refrigerator.
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To serve the homemade formula, pour into glass baby bottles and warm in a baby bottle warmer or in a pan of hot water. Never microwave baby bottles!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
You may make bone broth yourself (most budget-friendly) or buy it. Be aware that almost all bone broth on the market is not good quality. Even if it is quality bone broth, it comes in toxic packaging. Watch out! The only brand I have found as of this writing that is worth purchasing is bone broth packaged in shelf stable glass jars.
Most babies allergic to milk formula are allergic to the milk proteins, so liquid whey is tolerated well. If baby shows signs of intolerance try using goat whey (strained from goat yogurt or goat kefir). Leave out only as a last resort. DO NOT use powdered whey from the store or whey from making cheese.
Substitute nonGMO dextrose or sucrose
If your baby has a true dairy allergy and is not just dairy sensitive, this infant probiotic is dairy free to use as a substitute.
**Do not use krill oil as a substitute for the cod liver oil. It contains no Vitamin D and very little Vitamin A.
the link for the non dairy infant probiotic is broken – what brand/type do you recommend?
It’s working for me. https://radiantlifecatalog.com/life-start-infant-bifidum/?a=58537
I have a question about the nutrient profiles of these formulas. On the Weston Price website they have a nutrient comparison chart that shows per 36 ounces the protein of breast milk is 11.3g, cows milk formula is 18g and liver formula is 15g. However, after running the numbers myself, the liver based formula is actually much higher than this. Just the 2 ounces of liver alone is over 16 grams of protein. And with the 3.75 cups of broth on top of that(which can maybe range between 20-30g of protein), that could potentially be over 40 grams of protein. This is 4 times as much as regular breast milk. My 3 month old has had severe diarrhea after putting him on this recipe and i’m wondering if its because of the high protein? I also have concerns about his kidney health. Could you please shed some light on this? Thank you
My 3 month old baby has pretty bad eczema that started maybe a month ago. We had him on the raw milk recipe but then switched him to the liver broth recipe about 2-3 weeks ago in an attempt to heal it. We also removed the whey from the recipe. His eczema has not been getting better, some days i feel like it’s worse. Also, after switching to the liver formula he’s had bad diarrhea which hasn’t gotten better, so he’s had consistent diarrhea for over 2 weeks now. Could you please help advise me on what to do? Thank you
Transitioning formulas very slowly can help avoid this.
Eczema usually clears if you use the raw milk formula recipe and substitute the milk portion of the recipe with homemade 24 hour kefir or 24 hour yogurt (NOT store bought yogurt or kefir). Recipes for both of these are on this blog.
Hey! What formula did you end up doing for your baby with the eczema? We are running into similar issues.
Hi Sarah,
I started giving my baby this formula yesterday and she loves it. I’m so relieved to find something dairy free that she can tolerate along with my breastmilk. I only need about 8oz a day of this to supplement along with my breastmilk.
How long is the formula good for in the refrigerator?
What if the baby has fpies? He reacts to everything except neocate but the ingredients are terrible I hate using it.
Can this formula be frozen once made?
Yes, I would suggest breastmilk bags as they are sized perfectly.
Hi Sarah,
My little one is 4 months old. I am unable to breastfeed him and he has a Dairy intolerance. We are in Australia, he is on an allergy formula and it worries me how it will hinder his development. I have a couple of questions, would I just offer him a bottle until he is full? Also how long does this last in the fridge?
I’m so grateful for my friend who sent me this link in an email.
Jess
Hi Jess, you feed this formula the same as you would the allergy formula you are currently using. You need to take care to transition slowly though. This article at the end talks about slow transition approach. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-homemade-milk-based-baby-formula/#h-how-to-transition-to-diy-formula
Hi Sarah, I’m wondering if this can be made and freeze dried into a powder?
No, it absolutely cannot. This would denature it. This is one of the (many) reasons commercial baby formula is so toxic. Convenience has a terrible price when it comes to feeding babies.
Thank you so much for this!!! My baby has been on Prosobee due to outbreaks from dairy based formula and he was still spitting up half of his bottles. He held this formula day! Minimal spit up for an entire day of using your recipe!!!
I was just curious how long can it be stored? I was wondering if I could store a week’s worth.
Hi Sarah, I’m so grateful to have found this recipe! My daughter is highly sensitive to all forms of dairy so this recipe gives me hope.
She is 14 months old and I just tried this formula for the first time with her today, and she does not like the taste at all. She is completely refusing her bottle now. She’s a pretty picky eater and doesn’t eat enough solid food to cover her nutritional needs, so I really need her to like this!
Do you have any suggestions for what I could do to help her enjoy this formula? Is there anything I could add to make it taste better?
Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
I appreciate you sharing this on the net, as I was determined to find something I could give to my son other than commercial formulas. He has digestive issues even on lactose free formula and probiotics.
He’s been on your dairy-free formula (with dextrose and no whey) for a few days now. I started with a slow transition, 1 part broth formula to 3 parts costco sensitive formula. His bowel movements have become darker and are completely liquid. I am now doing a 1:5 or 1:7 ratio to ease up a bit and see if his bowel movements go back to normal.
Is this the right approach? I am also wondering, the nutritional facts on the vitamins provided? I choose to give more than recommended amount of vitamin d, so I’d like to know for that reason. And the amounts provided by each ingredient. Perhaps lessening the amount of cod liver oil would help with the diarrhea, and gradually increasing it over time.
Also I am using Flora’s Toddler probiotic. I put it in the bottle at the time of feeding, once a day usually every morning, rather than into the formula recipe itself.
Thank you for your help