Basic Goat's Milk Baby Formula, yes breast is best, but sometimes...

A special offering from our home to yours. Basic Goat's Milk Baby Formula because yes we agree that breast is best, but sometimes life throws you a curveball...

PREFACE: I decided to write this as a means for folks to understand that making homemade baby formula is different from some of the discussion threads found on many social media sites. Making formula is not new, nor does it have to be a source of inferior nutrition for your baby. I have always encouraged solid investigation of any and all information found on the internet regarding anything you feed yourself, your family, and your baby. Including what I offer here. And now...

Making Baby Formula. 

Is homemade baby formula safe? Yes, when it is made right, and no when it is lacking in necessary nutrition. And that my friends cannot be contradicted. Why? Because commercial baby formula must meet nutritional requirements per the FDA or it cannot be offered for sale, legally. But who says you cannot meet the nutritional requirements at home? And when done with real food, why would your homemade formula be an inferior source of food for your infant?

This post is not intended to shift your thinking in any way. This post is not intended to sell you anything, as you will not find any affiliate links. This post is not intended to incite a verbal riot (and honestly all negative and hurtful comments will be deleted). And this post is not intended to swoon you with word crafting that is really political in nature while only seeming friendly on the surface. 

For Pete's sake, what is this post intended to offer? I am glad you asked!

This post offers a homemade baby formula that is goat's milk-based and was the compilation of three sources of information. This post offers information that is without bias, so you may choose how to feed your baby. Because I know the challenges of commercial baby formula, and that it does not work for all babies.  From all the tummy troubles of my own firstborn 47 years ago when I was unsuccessful in breastfeeding as a young, first-time mother. Fortunately, I was successful with my second baby, but you just never know how life will turn out. 

Three generations have come home in this blanket, myself, my children, and now my grandchildren. Needless to say, it took some mending to bring the grandson home!

But why offer a homemade formula now? 

Because my beautiful grandson who struggled with commercial formulas for the first month of his life will have his first birthday in just a few days. He has eaten this homemade goat's milk-based formula since he was one month old, all the while getting rave reviews from his Primary Care Provider at each and every check-up along the way! So you see this is not about the formula shortage, although our hearts go out to those struggling at this time, and definitely not about making money through affiliate sales. This post is about offering an alternative should you want or need one. Because while "breast is best", sometimes life throws you a curveball...often while you are still looking for your catcher's mitt. 

But first I should back up and give a little history. Because making baby formula at home is not new. 

I am currently 67 years old and remember standing at the counter in my family home at about age 7 and making homemade baby formula for my younger brother. I used a glass pitcher just like the one shown in the photo! It was made of heavy-weight glass and honestly a bit much for a 7-year-old to handle. The flat backside of this pitcher stayed in my memory since those days and it was very easy to find a photo of one, for this post. As it turns out, vintage kitchenware like this homemade baby formula measuring pitcher from Formulette (from the 50s) is quite popular with collectors right now. 

Photo courtesy of eBay sales. 

The recipe we used called for Carnation brand evaporated milk, real corn syrup (60 years ago it was NOT the HFCS we have today), and drops of vitamins from a small bottle of baby vitamins. After those ingredients were measured into the pitcher, the pitcher was filled with water to the quart line. My favorite part was the dropper of vitamins, I liked the "squishy" sound it made when the dropper was almost empty! Remember I was only 7 at the time and what kid doesn't find fun where they can? Even while doing chores. 

From there I poured the formula into glass bottles that had already been sterilized, capped them, and put them in the fridge. When it was time for a bottle, I was instructed to "heat a bottle". 

Heating a bottle included filling a small saucepan with water and bringing it to a boil (on a gas stove, that I lit with a match). The bottle was placed into the pan while the pan was still warming to avoid breakage. When the water boiled, the flame was turned off and the bottle was left to warm for a few minutes more. 

I then would test to see that it was not too hot and burn my little brother's mouth. For this I let a few drops of the formula fall on my inner wrist to make sure it was just right and took the bottle to my mom, who by now had changed my brother and was ready to feed him.

We were all bottle babies in my childhood home. 

My mother did not breastfeed. So all 5 of us ate that formula or a similar version suggested at the time. All 5 of us were healthy and all 5 of us are still alive and kicking today. Was this the best formula available? Yes, at the time. I believe the nutritional needs of infants far is better understood today. I believe that today's commercial formulas try to emulate breast milk for the best nutrition. Which would be a good thing! But just so you know, in 1980 Congress passed the Infant Formula Act.  

Personally, I don't think I did as well on the homemade formula as my siblings. Why? Because later it was learned I was lactose intolerant (just like my Dad) and from then on we often had a goat in the backyard for milking. Lactose intolerance runs deep in my family. My Dad, myself, many of my brothers and sister, and my own children. And from that first month of his life, it is clear that my grandson has joined the group. I recall my grandmother telling me of a hard time for her when she had dried up and as a baby the only food my father could eat was boiled oat water until he was transitioned to table food. 

Homemade Baby Formula is not a money saver...

I would also like to add, do not decide to make your own homemade baby formula because you will save money, because honestly, you won't. It will most likely cost you more! All the ingredients are organic and whole food, and some of them have a hefty price tag. Also, you need to understand that making baby formula will take more of your time, create additional dishes for you to wash, and quite soon the batch you just made is gone and you need to start another batch. But first, you will need to wash the bottles... 

Much like laundry, baby formula is going to be on your task list repeatedly each week. However, if you are still reading along, I appreciate it. In addition, we are not going to offer sources or links for the products shown in the photos because once again this is not an affiliate link post and we all know that everyone can get anything they want and/or need at any of the online stores available to us all. 

And now let's get on to the photos and the recipe. 

Some thoughts on this recipe.

A "plunger" style pitcher works great for mixing up the recipe, especially once you are making a double or triple batch.

Remember, this is a concentrated product. It must be mixed with equal amounts of hot water before feeding it from a bottle.  

This recipe makes 2 cups (16 oz), and when mixed with water will provide 4 cups (32 oz) of formula.

Depending upon the needs of your baby you will make several batches each week. Once our grandson was eating more than a 4oz bottle, at each feeding, we simply doubled the recipe and reduced the number of batches made each week. And now at one year old, we triple the batch as his folks transition him to table food. 

Mixing the formula from the refrigerated concentrate to a warm and ready bottle is easiest with a "ready to use" hot water appliance/pitcher. See the photo above. 

Ingredients needed for this formula:

• organic gelatin
• organic coconut oil
• organic sunflower oil
• organic grapeseed oil
• organic nutritional yeast
• organic acerola powder
• organic molasses
• organic fermented cod liver oil with DHA
• whey from organic yogurt
• organic powdered goats milk
• organic Fish Oil DHA for infants

You will also need the following:

• plunger style pitcher for mixing multiple batches
• 2 c glass measuring cup for mixing a single batch
• measuring spoons
• measuring cups
• small 4oz containers with tight-fitting lids

Now we are ready to begin...

Basic Goat's Milk Baby Formula

adapted from: Wellness Mama, Nourishing Traditions, & Mt Capra 

1 1/2 c very hot water

3 T organic Turbinado sugar

2 t organic gelatin

2 t organic coconut oil

1 t organic sunflower oil

1/2 t organic grapeseed oil

1/2 t organic Nutritional Yeast

1/4 t organic Acerola power

1/2 t organic molasses

1/4 t organic fermented cod liver oil with DHA

2 T whey (strained from organic plain yogurt)

1/2 c dry goat milk powder - organic if possible

Place the Turbinado sugar through the whey in the bottom of the 2 cup measuring cup. Add 1 c hot water and stir well with a whisk. The sugar will dissolve and the coconut oil will melt. 

Add the dry goat's milk powder and continue to whisk to melt the dry milk solids. Add the remaining hot water and whisk until there are no lumps and the mixture is smooth. 

Divide into the small storage containers for the following bottle amounts based upon the age and food intake of your baby:

2 oz. concentrate for a 4 oz. bottle (this recipe will make 8 4oz bottles)

3 oz. concentrate for a 6 oz. bottle (this recipe will make 5 6oz bottles)

4 oz. concentrate for an 8 oz. bottle (this recipe will make 4 8oz bottles) 

Seal the containers with the lid, making sure it snaps into place. Then store them in the refrigerator until needed. 

To make a warm bottle of formula from a container of Basic Goat's Milk Baby Formula concentrate: 

Spoon the formula concentrate (it will be a soft solid mass from the gelatin used) into a clean bottle. Tip: to save time, you can place the formula concentrate into all the bottles you will need for the day and return them to the refrigerator for storage. 

Add the equivalent hot water needed, cap the bottle securely and shake vigorously! You will need to shake for approximately 30 seconds to melt and mix the ingredients together. You are now ready to feed your baby. 

And for one bottle each day!

Into one bottle each day, add the recommended dose of Omega 3 Infant DHA. Your baby may or may not like the flavor. We found it was best to add this to the middle of the night bottle when he was hungry and nursed the bottle quickly to return to sleep.  

And in close, all of us at Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household wish all a healthy, happy life, with many good times with family and friends! And thanks for visiting! Healthy children are our future.

#wholefoodingredients

#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily

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