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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 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.
HI SARA,
Is it safe to give your child raw milk? What about the bacteria in it. Isn’t that why they pasteurize it in the first place? I live in Florida and I don’t think is legal to drink that here what can I use instead? And last where can I get acerola powder? Sorry for all of the questions and thank you.
I just made up a batch of this formula for my 2 month old who I can’t breastfeed for medical reasons. I am wondering what to expect her stools to be like so that I can monitor those as well. The first few were quite runny – almost liquid stools. Is this normal? Thanks!
When I started my little ones on this formula, their stools were indeed very loose and a dark brown color, so it sounds pretty normal to me.
Hello Christie
How long did d runny stools last…. A lil worried abt it!
Thank you so much for this. My son had to be on Neutramigen due to my health reasons. I hated it! He was on it from 6-9 months and then I found this recipe. Amen!! We are making it and it is working great. Like another mom, we are also having problems with the nipple getting clogged. Any suggestions? Also, I know that with meat type products they should be reheated to 165 degrees before serving. Do you just heat this to room temperature or do you boil it again first? Just wanting to be cautious with food borne illness. Thanks.
Hello!
I was so thankful to find this recipe today! My son is 4 months old and we have been using commercial hypoallergenic baby formula for almost 2 months. We have struggled with digestive issues since his birth and as a first time mama who had planned to breastfeed, I never knew there was another alternative. We tried our best at breastfeeding but he spit all of it back up and wound up losing weight and becoming dangerously dehydrated. After a terrifying ambulance trip to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital he was diagnosed with allergies to everything and TERRIBLE reflux as his gut isn’t formed properly. So we have to thicken our formula with tons of rice cereal for it to be thick enough for him to keep down. He gets a tablespoon of rice cereal for every ounce of formula. So that comes to 24+ tablespoons of rice cereal each day!!
Does anyone know of a natural alternative to rice cereal to thicken the homemade formula with? I am desperate to get him off of all of this processed gunk.
Also, thank you for your posts about egg yolks for babies. I will soon be buying that book!!
Thank you for your time,
Francesca
Maybe gelatin would help to thicken it?
I know this is way too old of a comment to make any difference, but for others who are going through the thread.
We used NESTERGEL which is a formula thickener to help keep the milk down. I know formula is bad – we did this before we knew what else to do.
Also, I’m thinking the great lakes gelatin would work!
Hi Angie, it took 2 weeks for Isis’s stool to regulate after starting this formula. After the first 5 or so days her reflux started to subside and she finally got her appetite back so I also started giving her more solids as well, which helped solidify her stool. Good luck
My 5 week old baby is currently on Nutramigen and has a horrible diaper rash. I started giving him the goats milk formula but soon found out he has a milk and soy allergy. I’m considering making this liver formula for him now because I’m tired of him being in so much pain from the nutramigen diaper rash. My question for anyone who has tried this formula is if it gave your baby diarrhea or watery stools? My little guy currently has 8+ bm’s a day and I’m desperate to ease his burning bottom pain. Thank you for any replies.
I am feeding this formula to my twins as a supplement to breastfeeding, so I can’t say for sure how the poops are for babies exclusively fed this formula, but I know that it caused my little ones to have looser, darker stools. Not runny really, just not the thicker, cottage cheese looking breast milk stool that it was. I’ve never had any problems with diarrhea or diaper rash though.
I have a friend who has an abundance of rabbits on his farm which I use to make rabbit stew and was wondering if I can use rabbit liver for a substitute.
Hello! I am a breast feeding, working mom and I’m trying so hard to keep up with my four month old and it is difficult. I feel guilty giving her any store bought formula. I came across this and I have to thank you for such a great alternative to breast feeding and instructional videos as well. However, I am unfortunately located in a small town in Arizona. There are co-ops that, I believe, sell the raw milk, but I am nervous about using it. I cannot even find ‘Natural by Nature’ milk anywhere. Whole Foods in Tucson has non-homegenized milk, but I can’t seem to find low-temp. As for finding the yogurt to make liquid whey, I’m having trouble finding that too. Any one else know of places to find these ingredients with brand names as well? I live about an hour in a half away from Tucson, Arizona and would gladly travel to find things, I just don’t know if I’m looking in the right places.
Renae – Join this Yahoo group of parents that follow these feeding principles and you will tap into a whole community of people that will help you: [email protected]. They talk all about WAPF parenting, etc. Obviously I don’t know about your location, but most of the dry ingredients can be ordered on iherb.com. If you are worried about the milk – just ask which farm they get it from, go there, meet the farmer, etc. You can make whey from that milk if it checks out. When you make the whey you will get yogurt as a byproduct that you can also feed to your child.
Thanks Rebecca! I’ll definitely check it out.
My little guy is 9 months old. He has been on Nutramigen and nursed from 4-6 months. Then just Nutramigen (ick!)
I made this formula last night. We tried it today, and he isn’t crazy about it. We have only had one feeding so far, so maybe he will grow used to it. But has anyone had problems getting their babies to drink it? He was really frustrated after the first few ounces.
I should have added that i was using this recipe.