Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe

One thing that I love and I am passionate about is empowering mom’s and dad’s with tools to raise healthy littles. From preconception, to pregnancy, to birth, to infants and up. The topic of babies and children are so important to me and I want to give tools to parents (YOU) that allow you to have the most information to make the best decision for your child.

I want to start this post out with letting you know that I believe that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your infant and allows the best God-made food for your child. But, being completely honest, not all mom’s are able to breastfeed.

• You may work full time and need to supplement breast milk
• Have a preemie that isn’t able to breastfeed or supply is low
• Not producing enough breastmilk for your baby and having a low supply
• Being sick and not able to produce enough milk
• Adopting a baby
• Your baby is on conventional formula now and you want to know a more natural and nutritious alternative

I always tell my mama’s, if they are noticing low production or are going on a trip and are worried about breast feeding supply, this recipe is one to keep in your back pocket.

Why to Say NO to Infant Formula

I wrote this post because I believe there are better options for infants and children other than traditional infant formula. Read below the ingredients found in common infant formulas. Most contain corn and corn syrups, partially hydrolyzed NONFAT milk, soybean oil, and synthetic vitamins mass produced in a factory. Outside of these questionable ingredients, the ingredients used are genetically modified (GMO with the cory and soy) and the milk is from conventionally raised animals that have an imbalanced fat ratio and are fed GMO products themselves. In addition to that, the cows are given hormones and antibiotics, which we ultimately consume too. The ingredients in the powdered formulas are not living foods. Using the goat milk formula you are getting a real formula with live foods and complex health-building nutrients.

A conventional Baby Formula Ingredient List:

Why goat milk and not cow milk? 

There are two main reasons. First, think about our cows and how they are raised. There is a lot of “junk” dairy in our world now. The reality is that many and most of our cows are not grass-fed and raised without hormones and antibiotics. Secondly, goat milk has the most similar protein size of any dairy product to breast milk. That means that babies have the easiest time digesting and processing goat’s milk. Goat milk is also easier to find raw and free from antibiotics and hormones. Goat milk is very easy  to digest and babies rarely have sensitivities to goat milk. And as they get older (over 14 months old) you can give them the raw goat milk instead of switching to whole cows milk.

Another thing to know is that goat milk has the Beta A2 protein, which is the casein that our bodies can digest and breakdown without a problem. 99.9% of cows dairy products from the US are Beat A1 casein protein and are very commonly inflammatory, addictive and people are intolerant to the protein. The Beta A1 protein is the main reason we have so many dairy allergies in our country. To me, that solidifies why goat milk is a superior choice for infants.

How much does homemade goat milk formula cost? 

This cost comparison will blow you away!

I have a patient who switched over to using goat milk formula and shared with me the difference between this recipe and conventional formula. She started out using store bought formula for her son not knowing there were other options. She bought her powdered formula from Costco and it was costing her an average of $70 per week to feed her son. Once she switched to making this goat milk formula she said the cost was $35 per week. That is a savings of 50%. And there’s a lot of peace of mind knowing that you can save money while giving your child the best formula option out there.

This recipe is adapted from Sally Fallon’s Cow’s Milk recipe from Nourishing Traditions

Goat Milk Formula

Makes 35-40 ounces

2 cups goat milk: Raw goats milk is the best option for your child. Raw milk provides the most enzymes, proteins and nutrients and they stay together. Raw is going to be the optimal choice and the best if you can find it. Try to find a farmer or a friend with goats and can purchase raw milk from them. The other option is purchasing goats milk in the grocery store and is found almost everywhere.

2 cups filtered water: Start at 2 cups of filtered water and as your child grows increase the amount of goats milk. I recommend starting around 8-10 months increasing the goats milk.

1/4 cup liquid whey: There are two options for whey. First, you can strain goat milk and they whey is the liquid that comes from goat yogurt (you get the why by straining the yogurt in cheesecloth in a strainer over a glass bowl). Secondly, and this is my favorite, purchase Suero Gold from Beyond Organic and use that in the formula. Using Suero Gold is also a little bit cheaper than buying all of the yogurt and is also a lot easier because the whey comes in a bottle and saves all of the straining time. Suero Gold is a cow dairy product but should be fine in 95% of children due to the Beta A2 protein which is similar to goats milk. (Sign Up for Beyond Organic Products Here)

If there is a severe milk intolerance, use goat yogurt for the whey. This is a tutorial to strain whey from yogurt.

1-2 teaspoon blackstrap molasses: start small, I prefer using 1 teaspoon and working up in quantity as your child gets older

4 Tablespoons lactose: (lactose found here and here)

1/2 dose liquid B vitamin: The B vitamins are a must when it comes to this recipe because goat milk doesn’t have high levels of B vitamins. Can find an infant B vitamin supplement, I personally like this one here. (the grated chicken liver below takes the place of this B vitamin, which is honestly the preferred method to making this formula).

1/4 teaspoon powdered probiotic: I love a multi-strain probiotic that is of the highest quality. Beware of the cheap brands you get at any supermarket, big box store or drug store. High quality is key. Natren is a great brand you can find here and this is the infant formula. I also like UltraBiotic Daily Powder from Nutridyn.

2 teaspoons coconut oil: extra virgin, cold pressed, unrefined. This is critical for MCT fats (medium chain triglycerides) for brain development and fat for satiety and fullness. It is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal which mimics the same properties found in breast milk. You can buy coconut oil here.

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil: For monounsaturated fats. Make sure to purchase an extremely high quality pure olive oil like this one.

1/4 teaspoon high vitamin butter oil (optional): I love the Vitamin Butter from Green Pastures (order here)

1 teaspoon sunflower oil: Sunflower oil can be used and is found at any health food store. You can also purchase it here

1/2 teaspoon unflavored fermented cod liver oil (optional): I also use the cod liver oil from Green Pastures (order here)

1/4 teaspoon acerola powder (or high quality vitamin C): You can purchase it here

2 teaspoon organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of 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. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12 you need to add in the chicken liver. It also must be frozen for 14 days to kill off any potential bacteria.

Directions

• Put the goats milk, filtered water and whey in a glass mixing bowl
• Add the rest of the ingredients and blend with an immersion blender until completely mixed together. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can also use a regular blender. If you make this often, I recommend purchasing an immersion blender to save you time and for an easier clean up
• Store in the refrigerator in glass or stainless steel
• Before giving to baby, warm bottles by placing in hot water or a bottle warmer. NEVER warm bottles in the microwave
• The ideal bottle to use is a glass bottle. I love these and these

Tips

• This formula has a darker color than breastmilk and other formulas. That’s normal
• When the formula is cold the oils will separate, but they will become uniform when heated up
• One batch will last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days
• This ingredient list looks long and complex. There is a learning curve to making this formula, but once you know the recipe it will only take 10 minutes to put together
• Double the recipe to make more and not need to make as often. A double batch will fill up one larger blender

Testimonials

“Going to work was tough because I now had to manage pumping and keeping my supply up. After a couple of months of being back at work my supply really decreased. This was very stressful for me. In talking with our daughter’s Dr. she suggested we put her on some sort of formula to supplement what I was giving her. I didn’t feel comfortable giving our daughter any of the formulas that are out there. I was so happy to have talked with Dr. Meghan. She suggested making a goat’s milk formula. I was very intrigued and decided to give it a try. I was surprised at how easy it was to make this formula. My daughter drank the goat’s milk formula as if it was breast milk! I supplemented one bottle with the goat’s milk formula at daycare. I would just make her bottle the morning of and brought it to daycare-so simple! I was so happy knowing that my daughter was getting the next best thing to my breast milk! I truly believe that this is the best alternative to other formulas that are out there.” -Britney