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FAQs on Homemade Baby Formula

By Marie Bishop, Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD

The advice to make homemade baby formula as an alternative to commercial formula has been one of the most controversial positions taken by the Weston A. Price Foundation—and also one that has elicited the most grateful praise. While government officials and orthodox pediatricians are often appalled at the thought of a parent mixing up baby formula—and one based on raw milk, no less—the feedback we have received from parents has been extremely positive.

Some breastfeeding advocates have also criticized our stance, claiming that by providing a more healthy alternative to commercial formulas, we are discouraging breastfeeding. Make no mistake: the best food for baby is breastmilk from a healthy mother. However, many situations call out for a good substitute: adopted and orphaned babies, babies born to mothers with serious health problems, and babies whose mothers do not have enough milk (a situation that does happen occasionally) deserve to receive something better than commercial formula.

The following questions have been compiled by the authors over a period of several years and should cover most situations encountered by parents giving homemade formula to their babies.

Iron Supplementation?

Q: Does there need to be iron supplementation with cow's milk formula? My son's pediatrician freaked out when I told him I had my son on homemade formula (I didn't tell him it was raw milk however to avoid another discussion). He told me my son needed to be on iron supplements because he wasn't on commercial iron fortified formula. There is no mention of needed iron supplementation with the cow's milk formula only the goat formula. Also reading I have read that iron from cow's milk is not easily digestible for infants. I did notice there is 4% iron in the
nutritional yeast.

A: Mother's milk is low in iron for a reason--iron competes with zinc, which is needed for neurological development. However, the lacto-ferrin in raw milk helps the baby absorb all the iron that is there in the milk. If you will look at the nutrient charts for our formula recipes (see below) you will see that there is actually more iron in the homemade formulas than there is in breastmilk, so there is no need whatsoever to add additional sources of iron up to the age of six months. At that time, the baby does need additional iron. This should be given in the form of egg yolks and liver--liver is the first weaning food in traditional cultures for this very reason--because at the age of six months, the baby does need additional iron.

Mixing the Formula

Q: When I give the formula to my baby, the oils float to the top and the baby ends up getting a lot of oil that makes him gag. So he ends up not getting all the oil in the formula.
A: Try this: gently warm the amount of formula you are going to give the baby, and then blend in the blender. The baby most likely will finish taking the formula before the oils separate. You can also give the cod liver oil separately, with an eye dropper, to ensure he is getting all he needs.

Using the Lact-Aid

Q: In order to continue to nurse while I am giving formula to my baby, I am trying to use the Lact-Aid device (which carries the formula through a small tube that the baby takes in his mouth while also suckling on the breast). But the formula is too thick and keeps clogging up the tube.
A: Be sure that the formula is well blended (in a blender) before putting it in the Lact-Aid and also that it is warm enough. It is best to use the Lact-Aid with raw milk, not cultured milk, as the latter tends to be thicker. You may also try leaving out the gelatin. One other option is to add about 1/4 cup more water to the formula. The nutrients will be less concentrated, but he is also getting your breast milk.

ADDITIVE IN ACEROLA POWDER

Q: I notice that the NOW brand acerola powder for the formula contains maltodextrin. I am concerned about giving any additives to my baby, especially one derived from corn.
A: At the moment, the only acerola powder available to us is the NOW brand, which contains maltodextrin as a flowing agent. Acerola powder really does get caked up without some kind of agent. So, until we find a brand with a better flowing agent, this is the best we can do. Baby really does need vitamin C and the amount of maltodextrin is very small.

REACTION TO THE FORMULA

Q: My baby threw up repeatedly from the formula. Through a process of elimination, I found that my baby was having a severe reaction to the added nutritional yeast. My baby was born with a very weak system and we, her parents, are very sensitive also. What does a parent do for what’s missing without the nutritional yeast? 
A: The yeast is not absolutely necessary in the cows milk formula but it is in the goat milk formula. If goat milk is the only milk available to you, then switch to the liver-based formula (see the next question).

SPITTING UP

Q: What modifications do I make if my baby is spitting up frequently?
A: If you are using the cows milk formula, first try eliminating the nutritional yeast, which may be causing the problem. If that does not work, then switch to the goat milk formula; if the problem persists, try the liver-based formula. We can cite several examples of babies who had extreme reactions to any milk-based formula (including projectile vomiting) who did beautifully on the liver-based formula.

COMMERCIAL FORMULA BRANDS

Q: Is it possible to use other commercial brands of formula when making the Fortified Commercial Formula recipe? I’ve seen other suggestions made on mercola.com.
A: The only formula brand we recommend is the one made by Mead Johnson. It is the only commercial formula that we know of that uses lactose and it also contains coconut oil. The recipe should be made up for one day only.  The Mead Johnson formula is only a stop gap formula to be used in emergencies or when the ingredients for homemade formula are temporarily unavailable.

POWDERED WHEY

Q: Can I use dry milk powders from high quality sources like Garden of Life’s Goatein, if I can’t find a good source of raw or organic milk?
A: We do not recommend powdered goat whey—it is lacking in casein. And no matter how carefully it is processed, whey proteins are very fragile and the proteins are going to be altered in processing—that is why scientists do not use whey-based feed in animal experiments. Instead, they use dried casein, which is a much less fragile protein. We heard from one parent in California who was using Goatein, when she could have gone out to the store and bought raw milk.  If you can’t get raw milk, you should make the meat-based formula. Powdered whey is not appropriate—this is a whole foods formula.

MAKING WHEY

Q: I’m having trouble getting raw milk to separate to make fresh whey. Basically it sours but never separates.  One recipe for whey calls for bringing milk with added salt to a boil, adding 2 tablespoons lemon juice and stirring until it is curdled. Is it OK to make whey this way.
A: It takes longer to make fresh whey from raw milk than it does from yoghurt, sometimes up to 5-6 days for the milk to really separate, especially in cooler weather. Set raw milk on the counter in an airtight glass container. When the milk looks really awful, then you know that it has separated. If you are still having trouble, make whey out of already cultured milk (yoghurt or kefir) or with a top brand of commercial whole milk yoghurt, such as Seven Stars Farm or Brown Cow. With yoghurt you can make whey overnight. Making whey by adding lemon juice to boiled milk negates all the good things about your raw milk, and you will not be putting back any good enzymes or bacteria which is what happens in yoghurt making.

FREEZING THE FORMULA

Q:  Can I freeze the formula?  What is the best method to thaw?  I am guessing warm water.  I would freeze the formula in mason freezer jars that are 8-ounce capacity. 
A: We recommend making the formula fresh daily—this is part of your new baby routine. The exception might be when you are traveling and yes, you can set the jars in warm water to thaw. However, raw milk may be frozen with no ill effects. Many parents must drive long distances to pick up their raw milk, and the solution to this is to obtain it in large quantities and freeze it. When the raw milk thaws, there will be small clumps of cream that can be smoothed out with a whisk or by putting the milk in a blender.

MODIFYING THE FORMULA

Q: My daughter has 5-month-old twins and we’re in the process of weaning them off of infant formula. I have ordered milk from one of the dairy farmers mentioned on the Weston A. Price Foundation’s website. This particular farmer does pasteurize his milk but only to a degree that does not destroy the enzymes in the milk. My question to you is what variations can be made in the formula that would make this affordable as well as a good formula for the twins. My daughter and her husband are on a budget that won’t allow a large monthly expense for the ingredients. Is there some way that the formula can be varied so that it won’t cost that much for them? Also, I know my daughter won’t have the time to make the easy whey recipe. Please give suggestions as to how to make this work affordably for them. My daughter is on the WIC program and the ONLY formula approved is the Similac (which is what the twins are on now).
A: We do not recommend altering the formula to save money. You could be compromising a child. The recipe was formulated to exact specifications to mimic nutrient-rich human mother’s milk. If you find that raw milk with shipping is too expensive, then do the meat-based formula, which is less expensive.

The homemade formula ingredients cost just under $4 per day, through mail order with shipping charges, or when purchased locally with sales tax. This does not include the cost of the milk and cream, which varies widely. Similac costs around $4 per day, including average local sales tax. So while the initial homemade formula cost including milk and cream will be higher, over the long run it is much cheaper considering the typical health challenges and costs that come with conventional formula. This, of course, says nothing about creating a superior foundation for your child’s optimal development and lifelong health.

If your daughter must rely on the only formula that WIC allows, she should use the fortified formula recipe. Unfortunately, from reports we receive from parents, Similac is one of the most problematic formulas for babies. In fact, virtually every parent we’ve heard from, who has had their baby on commercial formula before using the homemade formula, reports very unfortunate stories. We recommend fortifying commercial formula only as an emergency back up. We have hundreds of customers report to us that when they get their babies off commercial formula, their health issues disappear and the babies thrive. They become radiant babies with vibrant health and beautiful dispositions.

I can really appreciate the circumstances of your daughter, and not with just one baby, but two! As far as the quick way to make whey, if she doesn’t have time to take a container of yogurt, pour it into a strainer lined with cheese cloth and collect the liquid after it drains, she really doesn’t have time to be doing any part of this recipe. Once you get into the routine, it is very easy. Parents report that it’s very fast and easy to make up the formula. Just think of how time-consuming it will be when these twins are age 2 and eat solid food and meals have to be prepared for them! Draining whey from yogurt will look easy!

REFRIGERATED INGREDIENTS

Q: Which of the added ingredients should be refrigerated?
A: Sunflower oil and bifidum; keep the cod liver oil in a cool, dark place.

IS BIFIDUM INFANTIS NECESSARY?

Q: Would you need to put bifidus in the formula if you were using cultured milk? Wouldn’t cultured milk contain bifidus?
A: No, bifidum infantis is a beneficial gut flora that predominates in the infant until age 7. Infants can’t get it except from the mother in the birth canal, and then it’s still helpful to get more.

IS RAW MILK SAFE?

Q: If I’m not comfortable using the raw milk in the formula because the woman at the farm I spoke to did not recommend giving their raw milk to infants; she said that not every single container could be tested, so there was no guarantee that every container was bacteria-free. What could be some acceptable substitutes? I would think that if I cultured the raw milk with kefir powder or kefir grains, then the beneficial bacteria would kill any bad bacteria that might be in the milk. Another alternative that I thought of was to pasteurize the milk from the farm myself and then culture it. My only concern is that what if I don’t pasteurize properly, will the beneficial bacteria from the kefir powder take care of any mistakes I made. (I already experimented with this and it was difficult, even with constant stirring, to keep the top layer of milk at the right temperature.) A third alternative that I thought of is to use some good quality yogurt from the health food store. What do you think of these ideas? Can you help alleviate any of my fears about bad bacteria? I don’t want to take any unnecessary chances with my child.
A: Farmers need to be careful when speaking to the public, but you can be assured that if basic sanitation measures are followed, raw milk is completely safe, in fact, safer than pasteurized milk. Raw milk contains many bioactive components that get rid of bad bacteria. When bad bacteria such as E. coli are added to raw milk, these components get rid of them.

Of course, this marvelous system for getting rid of pathogens can be overwhelmed if the cows are very unhealthy and the milk gets dirty. Basic sanitation measures include testing of the cows to make sure they are disease free; washing the teats with iodine solution before milking; using a milking machine; and storing the milk in a stainless steel bulk tank, glass bottles or hard plastic bottles at a cool temperature.

Most important, the cows should be on pasture as much as possible, and in the winter, in a well ventilated barn fed mostly hay. We do not recommend using any kind of milk, even raw milk, from cows kept in confinement, especially when the diet is based on grain and includes such additives as citrus peel cake and bakery waste.

We recommend using cultured pasteurized milk only when raw milk is unavailable and in this case, the meat-based formula is probably preferable, given the way milk is processed today. We do not recommend pasteurizing your own milk, it is too risky.

PASTEURIZED COWS MILK OR RAW GOAT MILK?

Q: If you have a choice of cow’s organic, pasteurized unhomogenized milk that you have cultured or raw goat’s milk supplemented with raw liver, which would you choose? We do not have access to organic liver.
A: Use the raw goat milk plus liver recipe. Just use the best that you can find. Probably in this case, you should use calves liver or lambs liver, which would be a cleaner product than chicken. Another solution is to use desiccated liver (Carlson’s brand is good).

SAFETY OF RAW LIVER

Q: I am afraid to use the raw liver, as called for in the raw goat milk formula.
A: As long as you freeze the liver for 14 days, it is safe; however if you are concerned, you can simmer the liver before adding it. An alternative is the liver-based formula which calls for simmering the liver in broth.

DRY KEFIR CULTURE

Q: Is Body Ecology’s dry kefir culture just as acceptable as the piima culture or culturing with kefir grains?  GEM cultures has been a real problem for people—sometimes it takes six weeks to get their cultures.  Do you like the powdered kefir culture?  
A: We hear that the powdered kefir gets really thick—like yoghurt—so it does not work very well in the formula. GEM cultures was initially overwhelmed by orders, but has now caught up and is shipping as soon as people order.

TAXING THE KIDNEYS

Q: I’ve read that the high solute load in goats milk results in a taxing of the kidneys.  Can you explain this to me?  What can I do to avoid this?  Is just diluting the goats milk enough?
A: Yes, this is why we dilute both the cow and goat formula with water.

CREAM IN THE LIVER FORMULA

Q: Why is there no need for cream (or nutrients thereof) in the liver formula? Does the liver take care of what the other oils don’t?
A: This is supposed to be a casein-free formula.  The coconut oil supplies the saturated fats. Coconut oil is essential in this formula.

MAXIMUM STORAGE TIME

Q: Is 24 hours the maximum you would consider storing mixed formula in the refrigerator?
A: Yes, to be safe, you should mix up the formula fresh every morning.

BEEF OR CHICKEN LIVER

Q: Is there a preference for beef or chicken liver?  The goat formula recommends chicken liver but the meat formula just states “liver.”
A: We used chicken liver for the goat milk formula because that gave us the best equivalent to the nutrients in mother’s milk. For the liver formula, beef or lamb liver give the best equivalents. However, for babies older than six months, you can use chicken, beef or lamb in either formula.

SOY FEEDING OF ANIMALS

Q: If a cow or chicken is eating soy, is there a concern for that with the liver?  
A: Of course, it would be better if the chickens were completely pastured and not getting soy but this is very rare.  However, the estrogens would be stored mostly in the chicken fat and not in the liver.  Beef is not fed much soy so the beef liver is also OK.

CONSTIPATION

Q:   My baby has become constipated on the goat milk formula.
A: Goat milk is more likely to be constipating than cows milk, which is one reason we recommend a formula based on cows milk as the first choice. A small amount of diluted prune juice may help and one parent had good luck adding a little warmed molasses to the formula. The Digestive Tea in Nourishing Traditions is also a good remedy. It is very important that baby’s stool not become impacted. A baby suppository should help him evacuate his bowels if the other methods do not work.

Q: I have been making the milk-based formula for 10 days and realize that it makes the baby constipated and she only has 1-2 bowel movements per day as opposed to the regular 4-6 she had on formula and they are more solid than liquid.
A: Actually 4-6 liquid bowel movements per day is not normal and the 1-2 more solid bowel movements per day is appropriate. The stool should be firm enough to be shaped, but not hard.

FEEDING JUICE

Q: A popular juice book recommends giving juices to a baby after 5 months. What do you think of this idea?
A: It’s a terrible idea! Apart from a little prune juice in cases of constipation, babies should not be given juice. There is no real nourishment for babies in juice—the vegetable juices are difficult for babies to digest and many contain a variety of anti-nutrients; and the fruit juices will be too sweet. And this rule applies right through the growing years. Do not get your child in the juice habit—these juices are very high in sugar and difficult-to-digest carbohydrates and can take away their appetite for nourishing foods.

LOST WEIGHT ON THE FORMULA

Q: My 6-month-old baby was doing fine on the cows milk formula but suddenly broke out in a rash and lost 3 pounds. Should I switch to the liver-based formula?
A: Whenever there is a sudden weight loss after doing well on the formula, parents should look for other causes. In this case, with questioning, it emerged that the weight loss occurred after the baby had been given 4 vaccinations in one day! Exposure to pesticides or toxins is another culprit. If a cause like this can be pinpointed, then it would be best to stay on the formula that is working for the child. If no other cause can be determined, then try switching to another formula.

WHEN TO SWITCH TO PLAIN RAW MILK

Q: At what age can we switch from formula to plain raw milk?
A: The answer to this depends on the age, weight and maturity of the child. A child that was premature, very small or delayed in development may benefit from taking the formula in a bottle well past the first year. But a child who is growing well, sitting up, eating solid foods and able to sip from a cup can probably transition to raw milk sometime after the 8th month.

FORMULA FOR OLDER CHILDREN

Q:  I have a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old who suffer from asthma, bronchitis, eczema and other chronic issues. Can I use the formula as a supplement?  I want a way to get really good nutrition into my kids. 
A: This is worth a try. You may want to give the cod liver oil separately. (You can do this with an eye dropper.)

FEEDING TUBE

Q: We have a child who is being fed with a feeding tube. Can we use the formula in this case?
A: Yes, the formula would be very appropriate and would supply the child with good whole nutrition while he heals.

YAHOO GROUP FOR PARENTS

Q: Where can I go to get advice and communicate with other parents using the homemade formula?
A: A new Weston A. Price Healthy Babies Yahoo Group has been formed. Subjects will include preconception diets, pregnancy diets, breastfeeding, health issues and homemade formula. Anyone is welcome. To register, go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/waphb.

THE HOMEMADE FORMULA RECIPES

MILK-BASED FORMULA

Makes 36 ounces
Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow’s milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow’s milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 707-964-2922).

2 cups whole milk, preferably unprocessed milk from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use whey from making cheese--it will cause the formula to curdle. Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
4 tablespoons lactose*
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis**
2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1 teaspoon regular dose cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon high-vitamin cod liver oil*
1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil*
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil*
2 teaspoons coconut oil*
2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes*
2 teaspoons gelatin*
1 7/8 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder*

*Available from Radiant Life (888) 593-8333
**Available from Natren (800) 992-3323 or Radiant Life (888) 593-8333. Also, please note earlier versions of this web page called for 1 tsp of bifidobacterium infantis--this was a typo.

Add gelatin to water and heat gently until gelatin is dissolved. Place all ingredients in a very clean glass or stainless steel container and mix well. To serve, pour 6 to 8 ounces into a very clean glass bottle*, attach nipple and set in a pan of simmering water. Heat until warm but not hot to the touch, shake bottle well and feed baby. (Never, never heat formula in a microwave oven!) Note: If you are using the Lact-Aid, mix all ingredients well in a blender.

Variation: Goat Milk Formula

Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding as it lacks folic acid and is low in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of the infant. Inclusion of nutritional yeast to provide folic acid is essential. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the Milk-Based Formula (above) with goat’s milk, add 2 teaspoons organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of formula. Be sure to begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.

LIVER-BASED FORMULA

Makes about 36 ounces
Our liver-based formula also mimics the nutrient profile of mother’s milk. It is extremely important to include coconut oil in this formula as it is the only ingredient that provides the special medium-chain saturated fats found in mother’s milk. As with the milk-based formula, all oils should be truly expeller-expressed.

3 3/4 cups homemade beef or chicken broth
2 ounces organic liver, cut into small pieces
5 tablespoons lactose*
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis**
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below)
1 tablespoon coconut oil*
1 teaspoon cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon high-vitamin cod liver oil*
1 teaspoon unrefined sunflower oil*
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon acerola powder*

*Available from Radiant Life (888) 593-8333
**Available from Natren (800) 992-3323 or Radiant Life (888) 593-8333. Also, please note earlier versions of this web page called for 1 tsp of bifidobacterium infantis--this was a typo.

Simmer liver gently in broth until the meat is cooked through. Liquefy using a handheld blender or in a food processor. When the liver broth has cooled, stir in remaining ingredients. Store in a very clean glass or stainless steel container. To serve, stir formula well and pour 6 to 8 ounces in a very clean glass bottle. Attach a clean nipple and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed to baby. (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)

FORTIFIED COMMERCIAL FORMULA

Makes about 35 ounces
This stopgap formula can be used in emergencies, or when the ingredients for homemade formula are unavailable.

1 cup Mead Johnson low-iron, milk-based powdered formula
29 ounces filtered water (3 5/8 cups)
1 large egg yolk from an organic egg, cooked 3 1/2 minutes (See recipe for egg yolk, below)
1 teaspoon cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon high-vitamin cod liver oil

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend thoroughly. Place 6-8 ounces in a very clean glass bottle. (Store the rest in a very clean glass jar in the refrigerator for the next feedings.) Attach a clean nipple to the bottle and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed to baby. (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)

EGG YOLK FOR BABY

Egg yolk should be baby’s first solid food, starting at 4 months, whether baby is breastfed or formula-fed. Egg yolks from pastured hens will contain the special long-chain fatty acids so critical for the optimal development of the brain and nervous system. The whites may cause an allergic reaction and should not be given to baby until he is at least one year old.

1 organic egg from a pasture-fed hen
1/2 teaspoon grated raw organic liver, frozen for 14 days Note: It is VERY important that the liver be frozen for 14 days before using.
pinch seasalt

Boil egg for 3 1/2 minutes. Place in a bowl and peel off shell. Remove egg white and discard. Yolk should be soft and warm, not hot, with its enzyme content intact. Sprinkle with salt.

If you wish to add liver, grate on the small holes of a grater while frozen. Allow to warm up and stir into egg yolk.

HOMEMADE WHEY

Makes about 5 cups
Homemade whey is easy to make from good quality plain yoghurt, or from raw or cultured milk. You will need a large strainer that rests over a bowl. Line the strainer with a clean linen kitchen towel or several layers of cheesecloth.
If you are using yoghurt, place 2 quarts in the strainer lined with a tea towel. Cover with a plate and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Place whey in clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.

If you are using raw or cultured milk, place 2 quarts of the milk in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days until the milk separates into curds and whey. Pour into the strainer lined with a tea towel and cover with a plate. Leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Store in clean glass jars in the refrigerator.

Source: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig, PhD.

ONCE SCRAWNY, NOW RIPPED

My son was born at 6 pounds, 4 ounces. By the time I got him home and weighed again, he was down to 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Scrawny! The first week of his life I attempted to nurse, but my milk never came in sufficiently enough to satisfy him. He was starving and got lighter before I got smarter. First I tried a store-bought organic powdered baby formula. It was thin and I felt terrible giving it to him. I tried adding oils, but felt terrible not knowing what was the best thing to add to help him grow. I had known about the baby formula recipe, but in rural Alaska could not get all the ingredients. Then I learned I could get them from Radiant Life.

At week three of Brody’s life he got his first shot of real, healthy, food. We noticed an immediate difference. He stopped fussing. He slept better. His color improved. His hair started coming in. He acted happy. He gained weight, not the doughy, rolly, fatty weight but a perfectly proportioned body with extra girth at the joints. When he was 3 1/2 months old we began giving Brody organic, 3-minute egg yolks.

Brody is a healthy, happy, smart, inquisitive little guy. He is cute and funny and has a natural charisma that draws people’s attention to him. Everyone always comments on how tall he is and how handsome.  Most people think he is at least 2 years old when he is barely a year. He has defined biceps and triceps.  His calf muscles are firm and long. Once when strolling him through the Anchorage airport a young man walked up to me and said to Brody “Hey, little man!” Then he turned to his 20-something buddies and said, “Dudes! Check him out. He’s one ripped up little dude.” They then all fussed over him and told him how buff he was. I can only attribute it to his wonderful nutrition.

Lynn Harris, Fairbanks, Alaska

HEALTHY AFTER A ROUGH START

The Weston A. Price Foundation teachings, my pregnancy and the birth of our son Seth are infinitely tied together. I had first learned about the principles from a chiropractor just weeks before I found out I was pregnant. I had been having abnormal paps that just wouldn’t clear up. I’m sure now the reason was due to the raw vegan-fruitarian diet I was eating at the time. After 4-5 months on a nourishing traditional diet my paps finally tested normal. However, being malnourished and pregnant before that time affected our unborn son; he was born with hypospadias. I later learned that the penis is formed around the 8th week of pregnancy and I was still eating a fruitarian diet at the point.

Seth was born via cesarean section after a failed water-birth at home. My C-section resulted in a punctured bladder and heavy blood loss requiring 6 units of blood and ending up in the ICU. I was in the hospital for almost a week before returning home. Needless to say, nursing didn’t get off to a good start and bottles were given. I continued to try breast feeding Seth, but between the pain from the cesarean, dealing with my bladder and the catheter I was sent home with, etc., I couldn’t handle nursing Seth on demand. He was a big boy, 9 pounds, 10 ounces at birth, and his weight bothered my tummy and aggravated my myofascial pain in my neck and shoulder region from an earlier accident.

In order for my family to help with the feedings we adopted the milk-based formula. Nursing fell off completely after 3 months, as Seth preferred the formula to me and the formula became his main-stay.

Seth is now 2 1/2 years old and has been extremely healthy. He was sick for the very first and only time this past winter with an ear infection. He never had so much as a sniffle when he was on the formula. I didn’t have to worry about him being well enough for his hypospadias surgery at 10 months old, because he was so strong and robust. We couldn’t be happier with the results that good nutrition has had on him, even though we had a rough start of it.

Robin Leuenberger, Michigan

Making Homemade Baby Formula

My adopted son Tate started on the homemade raw milk formula when he was three days old—and has thrived on it. Since I knew I would be making formula for my baby, I was able to prepare ahead of time. I love to cook, but like most people, I took one look at the raw milk formula in Nourishing Traditions and was a little apprehensive with the long list of ingredients. Actually, I added one other ingredient—1-2 tablespoons cow colostrum to each batch.

I knew that sleep deprivation was in my future! Nevertheless, I forged ahead with optimism, and to my great delight, after the first few times of making the formula, it became easy as baby-pie! It only takes 20 minutes to make from start to finish, including clean up!

Here are some of my tricks. First, before Tate arrived, I made ice-cube
portions of the whey, cream and colostrum. A typical cube section in a tray
equals two tablespoons. This is the perfect amount for the formula; four
tablespoons or two cubes for the whey and two tablespoons or one cube for
the cream and colostrum.

Here’s my early morning routine. First I rinse off everything with hot water to make sure there is nothing foreign on my utensils. I fill an 8-cup glass measuring bowl with a pour spout with 2 cups of filtered water, then scoop out 2 tablespoons to make 1 7/8 cups. I pour this into a stainless steel pot and add the gelatin. I turn the stove on between low and medium to just warm the ingredients, not boil. Then I add 2 frozen cubes of whey, and 1 each of cream and colostrum. I also add the coconut oil to the pot so that it melts sufficiently. In the same measuring bowl I used for the water, I add the milk and the rest of the oils and dry ingredients (which are available at most health food stores and/or www.radiantlifecatalog.com, (888) 593-8333). By the time I am done with that, the frozen ingredients are melted and I add them together in the big glass measuring bowl. At this point I blend the formula in the blender. I found when left unblended the oils in the formula do not combine well enough. Be sure not to blend for too long, as the cream may curdle.

Then I pour the formula back into the measuring bowl, divide it into glass baby bottles, add the nipples and tops, and that’s it! Even with sleep deprivation, I find this process to be easy and doable. For the actual feedings, I use a bottle warmer that heats with steam instead of going to the stove to boil water each time. When you have a hungry baby, as many of you know, warming a bottle is something you want to happen sooner rather than later.

Once you do it a few times, it’s easy. . . and our baby has thrived on the formula!

For those adoptive parents out there, please feel free to contact me for extra support and encouragement. ( ).

Jen Allbritton, CN, Evergreen, Colorado

Questions about mixing the formula:

Q: Once I heat the gelatin until it dissolves it's still hot and I mix it with the cold dairy ingredients and blend -- should I let it cool off before mixing it with the dairy products in the blender?

A: In my experience, the gelatin did not get hot enough for it to matter about adding it to the colder ingredients. In fact, I melted all the ingredients that I had previously frozen. Above is my process, which may offer a little help.

Q: After I've blended the ingredients I'm left with quite a bit of foam on top of the mixed formula. I've been tossing out the foam -- is that correct or should the foam settle to blend in with the liquified formula underneath?

A: About the foam, I do remember there being a little that formed after blending, but once I poured it into the bottles and let them sit for a little bit it seemed to dissolve back into the formula. I would try leaving it and see what happens, if anything it is one less step you have to do.

BREAST MILK AND HOMEMADE FORMULA NUTRIENT COMPARISON CHART

Based on 36 ounces

These nutrient comparison tables were derived from standard food nutrient tables and do not take into account the wide variation in nutrient levels that can occur in both human and animal milk, depending on diet and environment.

* Vitamin A levels in human milk will depend on the diet of the mother. Nursing mothers eating vitamin A-rich foods such as cod liver oil will have much higher
levels of vitamin A in their milk. Commerical formulas contain about 2400 IU vitamin A per 800 calories.

** Calcium and sodium values for homemade broth are not available.

*** Vitamin E values are derived from commercial vegetable oils. The vitamin E levels for homemade formulas will be higher if good quality, expeller-espressed
oils are used.

BRAINWASHED

"Breast milk is best." "Cow’s milk is for baby cows." "Breast milk boosts your baby’s immune system." "Formula can cause your baby to have allergies to food."

I was brainwashed (in a good way, mostly) by multiple sources, including my Lamaze teacher/lactation consultant, health articles, etc. I was so adamant that I would not use formula—until little Zachary at two months old was not thriving and almost admitted to the hospital because I did not have enough milk to feed him. When I realized this I went to the store and bought formula to save my baby’s life. At the same time, a friend ordered the ingredients for homemade formula for me from Radiant Life. Zachary took commercial formula while I got educated and brave enough to trust raw milk for my baby.  I started slowly, gradually increasing the ratio of the homemade formula and eliminating the commercial one.

It took about two months to have Zachary exclusively on the homemade formula. He loved it then and he loves it now! Just on the formula and an occasional raw egg yolk he reached 23 pounds at one year! I am so grateful to have witnessed this miracle. My baby was starving and now I can know that he not only made it to his year birthday, but he got such a wholesome formula that even when my other children got sick, he did not. If he did it was almost not noticeable.  

So maybe breast milk is best, but when it is not possible cow’s milk can be for babies if you apply it to the homemade formula using raw milk. This formula did boost my baby’s immune system and so far he has no allergies to any food we have given Zachary. I recommend this formula to anyone and for any baby. It is amazing!

Bernadette Gewondjan, Livermore, California

MEAT-BASED FORMULA

Having been a personal fitness trainer for a number of years I started on a paleolithic diet in 1999. I couldn’t find any conventional baby formula for my first child (a son) who is now six years old. We had to go with a lacto-free brand and did not get to start him on a totally paleo diet until he turned one year old. With my second son (who will be three in August) I made sure I was prepared. I used the meat-based baby formula in Nourishing Traditions. This was very easy to make and soon my wife and I had a great system worked out to stay stocked up.

My first son Jimmy has a fairly strong immune system, but my second Tyr has an even stronger immune system. Tyr used to love his meat-based formula, finishing a bottle in less than a minute sometimes. Tyr is a very healthy, energetic and loving little guy.

I just love the fact that there are alternatives to the unhealthy (and unnatural) products out there.

Jim Smith, Yorktown, Virginia

FEELS GOOD TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS

I needed to supplement my breastfed baby at about four months. My nutritionist showed me the homemade formulas in Nourishing Traditions. There was a concern in making my own baby formula for a variety of reasons including sterile conditions, proper measuring and vast uncertainty. I thought about it for a long time. In the end, I knew this was my decision to make. I realized that I have a hard time letting anyone take care of my child because I don’t think anyone will care for him like I do. It just took me a little bit longer to carry that thinking over to feeding my baby. 

My son is now 131/2 months old. At his 12-month check-up, the doctor said he was advanced to that of an 18-month-old. He already has about 15 different words that he says. Strangers tell me he’s a smart baby just by looking at him, as he’s alert and attentive to his surroundings. Everyone tells me what a good boy he is no matter where we go. After all that worry and uncertainty, making my own baby formula seems so natural, so normal. I can’t begin to tell you how good it feels to make my own decisions for my baby.

Allison, Annapolis, Maryland

SPECTACULAR RESULTS

With our first child we had every intention of breast-feeding our daughter but through a series of bad nurses, the difficulty of nursing, fatigue of my wife and the stubbornness of my daughter to not breast feed we had to find an alternative. Lucky for us we had a good source of raw milk and the recipe for an alternative formula.

Rachel will be three in June 2005 and for the first 18 months only had the milk formula. The results were spectacular, bordering on unbelievable. She was never sick, slept through the night starting at about eight weeks, ate well and had a happy disposition. We were warned about typical childhood problems; these problems never materialized. For example, we bought things to help with teething before she had teeth but we never used it because her teeth came in with no pain or disruption to her sleep patterns. We were excited about the results and shared it with the staff at the hospital and the pediatrician: our reward was a stern warning about the dangers of raw milk and we can no longer see either unless we stop feeding Rachel raw milk. What we have observed in the medical system in Canada is that no one wants to see a healthy little girl who drinks raw milk.

Patrick and Michelle, Toronto, Canada

ADOPTED CHILD

When my husband and I adopted our daughter Claire as a newborn, we were looking for a healthy alternative to nursing, as I was unable to do so. I felt very discouraged with what I was reading and hearing about in regards to commercial infant formula and was looking for something that would come as close to breast milk as possible. I was already familiar with the Weston A. Price Foundation and regarded it as a trusted resource.

We started Claire on the milk-based formula as soon as we brought her home from the hospital and have never looked back. She is now one year old, and a strong, healthy toddler. We had her on the formula for one full year, and she never had one ear infection, flu, fever, allergic reaction or colic. She had three minor colds the whole year, less than most babies from my observations. She has been in the 95th percentile for length and weight and has rosy cheeks and sparkly eyes. Her pediatrician has commented on how strong and healthy she is. She has a pleasant, calm disposition and is rarely fussy. One of the most amazing things has been that she has slept soundly through the night, consistently, since her third week. We have never experienced sleep deprivation.

We are planning to adopt another baby soon, and will be making the NT formula again, since our experience and Claire’s health outcome has been so positive. We are so grateful this information was made available to us.

The Ellingtons, Wilson, North Carolina

FEEDING TWINS

Five years after my son was born I gave birth to boy-girl twins, via Cesarean section. Even though my twins were seven weeks premature, they each weighed over five pounds and were sent home from the hospital after one week. The hospital gave them soy formula a few minutes after they were born, which they quite understandably threw up. This caused the staff to believe the twins needed to be immediately attached to feeding tubes.

I was very upset that they had been given soy and arranged to have them given a milk-based hypoallergenic formula instead, which I purchased outside the hospital and delivered to the NICU. This hospital was very unfavorable to breastfeeding. (Perhaps they believed it was impossible with twins.) When the babies came home after one week, it became evident to me that I would not be able to breastfeed them exclusively. However, I took measures to increase my supply and was eventually able to provide about half of their needs with breast milk, and the rest with hypoallergenic formula.

When the babies were six months old, I took them off commercial formula and switched to the raw milk formula provided in Nourishing Traditions. They are now three years, nine months old and still drinking a modified version of the formula, along with plain raw milk and a variety of whole foods. My boy twin self-weaned from the breast at 10 and a half months, but my girl twin still nurses a couple of times a day.

The twins took to the raw milk formula immediately and had no digestive distress. They seem to have no allergies of any kind. My girl twin is the healthiest of the three and very rarely gets a cold. My boy twin is not quite as healthy. In his early months, he breastfed quite a bit less than his sister did, and received more commercial formula. However, he is very strong and well built, with exceptionally beautiful white teeth.

There are severe problems with all other formulas, in my view. Standard dairy-based formulas are too difficult for children to digest and can cause allergies to develop. Soy formula is terrible in every way. Apart from concerns over long-term damage, this formula smells and tastes awful and causes otherwise healthy children to smell terrible as well. It causes intestinal distress and is generally very bad news. I found that the hypoallergenic milk-based formulas were the least harmful of the commercial formulas, but there are serious problems with them as well. They are horrendously expensive and not available in many hospitals and pharmacies. Furthermore, they are also full of MSG-like neurotoxins.

I put off giving my twins home-made formula for six months, because of all the dire warnings I had seen against giving unprocessed cow’s milk to infants. The medical establishment now warns against giving milk before one year, but I can no longer accept that idea. My mother was switched from breast milk to raw cow’s milk at three months and did not suffer any ill effects.

Above all, I believe that fresh raw cow’s milk is the best substitute for mother’s milk, because it is also a living food, full of enzymes and antibodies to disease. It is probably superior even to frozen mother’s milk from a breast milk bank, which these days is delivered after being pasteurized.

I wish I had been confident enough to give my twins the Fallon formula from the first day they were home. I also wish I had been able to breastfeed them exclusively, as I eventually did with my older son, but it simply wasn’t possible for me. However, I feel good knowing I did the best I could. My children are growing very well.

Another good thing about the homemade formula is that it caused me to overcome my fear of raw milk. I started to drink it myself, and it helped me to recover from a difficult pregnancy and delivery. Thank you for providing this wonderful information to mothers and their babies. Name Withheld, Los Angeles, California

NO MORE INFECTIONS

My son Joey was born December 15, 2002. I had planned to breastfeed exclusively and felt brokenhearted when I couldn’t produce enough milk to feed him. I didn’t know there were any alternatives so I had to give him commercial formula. He suffered from constipation and when he was three months old he came down with bronchitis and an ear infection. The doctor put him on antibiotics and we had to give him respiratory therapy twice a day for several weeks.

About this time my nutritionist suggested the homemade baby formula. I started making the formula immediately. The difference in Joey’s health has been like night and day! He has never had another ear infection or any more respiratory problems. No digestive problems either. He is happy, smart and physically active. He runs, jumps, climbs and turns a great somersault.

May God bless you for the work that you do!

Barbara Finn Figluilo, Frankfort, Illinois

Note: Space prevented us publishing all the formula testimonials we received. For more homemade formula testimonials, and for photographs of these beautiful babies, visit westonaprice.org and click on Children’s Health.

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