Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
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
-
Simmer liver cut up into small pieces gently in the homemade broth until just cooked through.
-
Liquefy the liver in the broth using a handheld blender or a food processor.
-
Let the broth cool to room temperature, then stir in the remaining ingredients or blend for a few seconds in a blender.
-
Store formula in glass jars in the refrigerator.
-
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.
How long is the shelf life after we’ve heated the formula for a feeding
Less than 3 hours.
He cannot use any tropical oils. I remember reading somewhere on the Weston Price Foundation website that the coconut oil was used as a hypoallergenic substitute for saturated fat. I didn’t realize it had to contain lauric acid. My son cannot drink the cow or goat milk formula and cannot have coconut oil in the liver formula. Is there any other fats other than tropical oils?
Leave it out if he can’t take the tropical oils. I would suggest adding 1/4 tsp of butter oil as an ingredient instead. All the milk proteins are removed from butter oil, so hopefully he can tolerate it.
https://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/high-vitamin-butter-oil/superfoods-supplements/?a=58537
Hello Sarah. My son does not tolerate coconut oil and cannot have it in this formula. Is there any substitution for the coconut oil? Perhaps an animal fat such as tallow or chicken fat.
Is he allergic to palm kernel oil (not palm oil)? That would be the only substitute that contains lauric acid like coconut oil.
I need to substitute Dextrose for Lactose. However, a quick bit of research online reveals that dextrose is much sweeter than lactose (I guess lactose is the least sweet of all the sweetners out there). How do I know how much dextrose to use?
The calories are the same per serving, so you can substitute 1:1. Be certain that the dextrose you buy is organic and nonGMO.
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for your recipe! My question is regarding freezing. After making a batch is it ok to freeze and if so for how long. I’ve also noticed that it gels in the fridge and when reblended is thicker in consistency. Is it ok to add some filtered water to dilute it a little? Thank you so much.
Do not dilute it … it gets thicker in the fridge due to the gelatin thickening up when it gets cold. It will re-liquefy when you warm for a bottle.
Yes, you can freeze individual servings in breastmilk bags for several months.
I am having a hard time purchasing grass fed liver regularly, I am able to get liver pills or desiccated liver. How much of the powder do I need to use. Please
Using desiccated liver for this formula is not recommended. You can ship in grassfed liver from this farm. https://grasslandbeef.com/organs-fats-bones-broth/?affId=201888
Thanks so much for your replies! Is a lot of gas a sign of anything? My daughter has started paying really smelly gas. We’re at a half homemade/half commercial formula ratio, and the smelly gas started at to days into that ratio.
Perhaps back off a bit. Sometimes the probiotics in the homemade formula can trigger some gas.
Thank you! I started my daughter on this yesterday – 1oz homemade, 2oz commercial formula each feeding and she’s constipated this morning (unusual for her). How would you suggest determining if she’s sensitive to something in the homemade formula or just adjusting to it? Also, what does the whey contribute to the formula? Thanks!
Whey is in breastmilk which is why it’s in the homemade formula. Yes, the constipation could be because she is adjusting. It takes a couple of weeks. I would back off and do a smaller proportion of homemade (try 1:4) and see how she does on that.
Here are some suggestions for alleviating baby constipation during the transition. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/relieving-baby-constipation-naturally/
Do you rewarm the entire jar? Or only rewarm what is needed for each feeding? If it is what is needed for each feeding should it just be stirred and not shaken?
You only warm what is needed for each feeding. You can mix however you like … stirring or shaking.
I made this formula and it seems the livers separates to the top… or maybe it was some fat from the broth (I tried to separate it out) so do I need to blend it every time to make sure the ingredients Aren’t separated?
The fats come to the top when the formula is chilled … rewarming and briefly reblending will fix that as you prepare each bottle.