So, here you are with your new baby and what you expected regarding feeding your baby is no longer an option to you. You are needing to implement a different plan of action than the one you initially planned on. So, I would like to explore with you another course that perhaps had not been considered before. Let’s talk about homemade formula.
1 ~ Taking medication while breastfeeding can be a challenge for Moms if she is taking something that is not compatible with nursing.
If you are prescribed medication that requires you to temporarily stop nursing, homemade formula is a viable option should you not be inclined to use traditional formula.
2 ~ If your baby has an allergy to traditional formula ingredients you may want to bring homemade formula onboard.
This can be an allergy to milk, lactose, soy, corn/corn syrup or corn syrup solids, etc. Even some of hypo-allergenic varieties contain ingredients that may not be tolerated by babies with sensitivities.
When we were making it for our 2 children we used goat’s milk for the one who was allergic to dairy and raw cow’s milk for the other who was able to tolerate dairy. I know some folks have concerns about consuming raw/unpasteurized milk but, after much research and investigation into the matter, we were comfortable choosing this option.
3 ~ SIMPLICITY. 
As busy parents to newborns who wouldn’t want the ease of use that comes with this option. You just throw all the ingredients in a blender, mix well, fill a day’s worth of bottles, and store the rest in the refrigerator for the next day’s usage. Most families have not purchased a set of bottles for 2 days. But, if, by chance, you have enough bottles for 2 days, you can fill those bottles, too, and, VOILA, the nest days bottles are all prepped and ready to go. TALK ABOUT MINIMAL EFFORT. This process takes about about the same amount of time as making standard formula, especially if you keep all the items together in a bin and pull it out when needed. Keep in mind, that a couple of the ingredients will need to be refrigerated.
4 ~ For those families who find themselves in a position where alternative means of feeding their infant becomes a necessity homemade formula is a budget friendly route to go.
Whether your reason for doing so pertains to medical issues, allergies/intolerances, or preferred nutritional/health benefits, utilizing a homemade formula recipe is easy on the wallet. A comparison between the price of formula and the costs of the ingredients for homespun formula shows a clear win for the homemade alternative. Furthermore, given the price of the organic formula anywhere from $28 to $33, the purchase of the individual ingredients is far less given the amount of formula that is finally yielded.
5 ~ For parents who are health conscious and more discriminating and particular about their diets and, by extension, their baby’s, the homemade formula is a stellar option.
These parents might have issues with the ingredients in conventional formulas and appreciate the fact that the nutritional benefits are comparable in all respects.
For those desiring a peek into the ingredients in most homemade formulas I have included them here. They can be purchased individually or in a bundle. Let me say again here that the ease and nearly effortless process of making the formula made us thankful to have it as an option. As a matter of fact, my teenage son was typically in charge of the job, and would have it done in less than 10 minutes. And we tweaked the recipe so he made a double batch every other evening.
- cow or goat’s milk
- lactose
- whey (the site recommends homemade liquid whey not powdered but I didn’t use homemade)
- bifidobacterium infantis
- cream
- cod liver oil – I know this has an unpleasant fishy taste but none of my babies objected to it.
- butter
- sunflower oil
- olive oil
- nutritional yeast
- gelatin
I am including the link for the formula recipe here for those who would like to peruse the recipe from the popular health and nutrition website, Weston Price Foundation:
https://www.westonaprice.org/
Just an important disclaimer here for those considering the above mentioned option. You should definitely consult your pediatrician when considering the switch to homemade formula and just keep them abreast of your decision to switch to another feeding option.
Ruth Green is a trained professional birth and postpartum doula serving Richmond and Farmville, Virginia area. She is a married Christian mother of 13 hospital and home-birthed children that has experience working with midwives and doctors in both home and hospital settings since 1992. Find more blog posts from Ruth here on the website!
