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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 Sarah, I have a 20 months old baby with allergic proctocolitis, he was on neocate elemental formula for 14 months until I found your website. I started him on chicken broth because he can’t tolerate beef. My problem is when I tried him on lactose and dextrose, his tummy becomes bloated and his stool has mucus. Is the sugar really necessary? He is very intolerant to many types of food including banana, grapes and wheat. Also I find that he drinks more soup if I add lots of chicken liver and additional 2 pcs of egg yolks, I think he consumes about 5 ounces of chicken liver everyday with his soup. Is this ok? thank you so much for your website..
I remember reading under the link to the whey that you can keep it in the fridge for up to 6 months, but from my experience making this, I go through it so fast it doesn’t have time to reach the spoiling point. As far as freezing it, I keep a few quarts frozen as a back up, and I would say maybe 6 months? It’s not going to go bad, but you would risk freezer burn etc.
can anybody tell me how long can you keep whey in the refrigerator ? how long can you keep homemade formula in the freezer ?
thank you very mcuh –
can anybody tell me how long can you keep whey in the refrigerator ? how long can you keep homemade formula in the freezer ?
thank you very mcuh
Hi Sarah,
I have been feeding my 5 month old baby the cow formula for the past 3 months and he is thriving. However I just noticed that you mention NOT to use whey from cheese. I have been ordering my whey from a local farm and just found out that it is made from cottage cheese. Is this ok? Why not cheese whey? What is the difference?
My son is 17 months and he has allergy in soy,wheat and dairy (he gets hives) Can I remove the whey? I am wanting to try this on him because he also needs to gain weight. I realized that ELLACARE JR. has aspartame and the NEOCATE JR has aspartate.
Can anyone who makes this comment on the flavor please.
Quick Question
Can i make liquid whey from pasteurized milk?
can i omit liquid whey completely?
Hi Sarah, I have a tough question for you. I exclusively pump breast milk for my baby because he never learned to latch properly. He is 9 months old now and as of a few weeks ago my milk supply dropped several ounces. I now produce 16-18oz of breast milk a day which isn’t enough for him (he typically consumes 22-24oz a day). I started making the milk-based formula to supplement him with but it turns out he’s allergic to cow’s milk. So, I made this liver-based formula yesterday and he hates it. He took one sip and completely refused it after that. I don’t know what to do. I refuse to give him commercial soy formula or nutramigen (which lists corn syrup solids as the first ingredient, how terrible).
Do you have any suggestions? Since he is getting some breast milk I’m tempted to try supplementing him with coconut milk and just mix in the vitamins and good oils and maybe some egg yolk for protein, but I don’t want to do anything that’s going to compromise his health and nutrition. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Maggie!
My son was on the meat based formula from 7 or 8 months until 12 months. My little mister didn’t like the formula at first either so I mixed it 1/3 homemade formula to the rest store bought (we were no longer nursing at that point). Within 4-5 days I was making up each bottle with more than half homemade formula and the rest storebought. By the week’s end he was totally on the homemade formula, and LOVED it! (He is also allergic to cow’s milk, however I made my own whey and he could tolerate it in the formula, so you might try it?)
Now, if you try an alternative to the meatbased formula, we like the coconut milk tonic from Eat Fat Lose Fat, but my little guy is 13 months old. I am not a nutritionist or anything, but I would think the ingredients would be fine for a younger baby (everything is natural), but you should probably read and research about it, and ask your doctor first.
Here is my blog post about what we have done:
I hope this helps you out. I am NOT a professional by any means, but if you want to email me, you can at megs501 at gmail.com Good luck!
Thanks so much for your reply Meghan. Your idea to mix the liver-based formula with commercial plus the link you posted to your recipe recipe sparked an idea for me to replace a few ounces of broth with coconut milk and it worked! Turns out he loves coconut milk :). I really didn’t want to give him any of the commercial formula again because he started gettig terrible diaper rashes from it and mucousy stool, but luckily the coconut milk makes the formula enticing enough for him and I’m okay with compromising some of the broth in the recipe and substituting with coconut milk, I’m confident that he’s still getting all the nurtients he needs especially because he started eating a good amount of solids as well. Thanks again! I really appreciate it.
Yay! I am go glad he is taking it. :). Hope he is 100% better soon.