If you have a child under 12 months at home, you are likely aware of the current baby formula shortage. Learning how to make baby formula may be a necessity, but it can also save you money.
When I had my second child, she suffered from severe acid reflux, as well as feeding and swallowing issues. She was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome later on.
I couldn’t breastfeed her like I did my oldest daughter. I totally understand that breastfeeding is the cheapest and healthiest option, but it isn’t always possible.
Purchasing formula at your local grocery store saves time, which is important when you are a busy mom. One downside, however, is the cost.
Here are just a few examples:
- Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Formula, Milk-Based Powder: $44.99. Makes 25 8-ounce bottles and would last approximately 5 days. (Total Monthly Cost = $269.94)
- Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Baby Formula from Enfamil : $36.99: Makes 10 8-ounce bottles and would last approximately 2 days. (Total Monthly Cost = $554.85)
- Similac 360 Total Care with Iron, Infant Formula: $16.99: Makes 6 8-ounce bottles. Would last 1 day with one bottle leftover. (Total Monthly Cost = $458.73)
-Prices were obtained from my local ShopRite’s online ordering system. Your store prices may vary slightly.
Should you have the time or wish to save a few dollars, consider making your own baby formula.
How to Make Homemade Baby Formula You Feel Safe With?
The first thing I want to do is advise all parents to contact their child’s pediatrician to discuss homemade baby formula.
Make sure you have the exact recipe for the baby formula that you’d like to use in front of you, so you can review all of the ingredients and the instructions on preparing the baby formula.
You probably won’t feel safe unless your doctor gives you the go ahead.
The recipes I have included in this article are ones I personally feel safe with, or I wouldn’t share them, but I am not a licensed doctor or nurse.
Always double-check anything new you plan on feeding your baby, whether formula or not, with your child’s medical team. This is even more important if your baby has any allergies or special medical issues.
How to Choose the Best Formula for Your Baby?
There are several factors you’ll want to consider when selecting a formula for your infant.
1. Doctor Recommendation
2. Recommendation From Parents Who’ve Used Formula Successfully
3. Baby’s Health Needs: Some formulas are enriched with iron or other supplements that your baby may be deficient in. Others are lactose-free for babies who are lactose intolerant.
4. Quality of the Formula: Formula that hasn’t been recalled or expired.
5. How Digestible the Formula Is: Some formulas contain full-size proteins that are hard for many babies to digest.
Making Your Own Baby Formula
It’s important to point out that preparing baby formula is time consuming. You can make several days worth of formula at one time, so that you only have to prepare it twice a week.
Before you begin making your own baby formula, you’ll have to stock up on a few items. This may seem costly at first glance, however, many of the items will last a long time.
Let’s say you purchase a large container of coffee grinds for $12. While that container may cost you $12 upfront, you use it for the next three weeks, bringing the weekly cost of the coffee to just $4.
If you can gather together the money to purchase the starter ingredients, you’ll find the cost to make your own baby formula becomes much less later on.
How to Make Baby Formula
Now it’s time to get right into the recipes. I have two here I’d like to share, plus the option to order a homemade baby formula kit.
Recipe for Baby Formula
One of the individuals I follow regularly is Dr. Jockers. His wife, Angel, adapted a homemade baby formula recipe from the Weston Price Foundation when she failed to produce enough breastmilk to satisfy her twin boys.
You can read Dr. Jocker’s article here: Homemade Baby Formula
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of filtered water
- 2 tsp collagen protein
- 4 tbsp. lactose
- 2 cups raw whole, grass-fed milk
- 2 tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 capsule contents Lacto (optional, for lactose digestion support)
- ¼ teaspoon acerola powder
- ¼ teaspoon of infant probiotics
- 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes
- ½ teaspoon of cod liver oil
- 1 teaspoon expeller pressed sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Instructions:
1. Take 2 cups of filtered water pour about half the water into a pan and turn heat on medium.
2. Add 2 teaspoons of collagen protein and 4 tablespoons lactose to the warming water and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
3. While the collagen and lactose are dissolving, place 2 cups of raw whole milk in a clean, glass blender and add the remaining ingredients:
- 2 or more tablespoons cream
- ¼ teaspoon acerola powder (vitamin C)
- ¼ teaspoon of bifidobacterium infantis
- 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes
- ½ teaspoon of cod liver oil
- 1 teaspoon expeller pressed sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
4. Then remove the pan from the heat and pour in the remaining half of the water to cool.
5. Next, add 2 teaspoons coconut oil and (optional) ¼ teaspoon butter oil to the water to melt.
6. Add the water mixture to the blender ingredients and blend for about 3 seconds.
7. Pour the blended ingredients into glass jars and refrigerate.
This recipe makes 72-ounces of baby formula.
Old Fashioned Baby Formula Recipe
Back in the old days, they didn’t have grocery stores with formula for sale on the shelf. Many women opted to use goat milk to feed their babies when breastmilk wasn’t an option.
Unfortunately, there are a few things goat milk lacks, so straight goat milk isn’t the best option.
Mt. Capra has a goat milk baby formula recipe you can use if your child is sensitive to cow’s milk. You can read there full article here: Homemade Baby Formula – The Closest Thing to Breast Milk?
Here is the company’s chart comparison of their formula to that of a mother’s milk:
Ingredients:
- 5 oz warm filtered water
- 1/2 tsp. goat milk ghee
- 1 scoop whole goat milk
- 1 Tbsp. goat milk lactose
- 1/4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/8 tsp. expeller-pressed grapeseed oil
- 1/8 tsp. unsulphured blackstrap molasses
- 3/4 scoop HeadStart multivitamin powder
- 1 scoop goat milk colostrum
- 1 scoop Flora Start Kids Probiotics
- Nordic Naturals DHA Infant (based on weight)
Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Fill the bottle with the water.
3. Add the ghee and give it time to melt
4. Add goat milk powder, goat milk lactose, extra virgin olive oil, expeller-pressed grapeseed oil, and unsulphured blackstrap molasses.
5. Shake well.
Note: This makes one bottle, which will stay good in a refrigerator for up to three days. That means you can make additional bottles at the same time.
6. Once per day (in only one of the bottles for the day) add 3/4 scoop of HeadStart multivitamin powder, 1 scoop goat milk colostrum, 1 scoop Flora Start Kids Probiotics, and Nordic Naturals DHA Infant (based on weight of child).
Note: Always shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and then add the probiotics. Shake one final time.
Homemade Baby Formula Kit
There are reputable websites out there that sell all the ingredients you need to make your own homemade baby formula kit.
The website I trust the most is Radiant Life. I am not an affiliate for this website, but I highly recommend the company. They have individual ingredients and full kits to make the easy homemade baby formula recipe listed above.
Radiant Life even offers both a Domestic and an International Kit.
The Domestic homemade baby formula kit is available for $239 and this gives you a full month and an extra week of formula. That is a significant savings when compared to store-bought formulas.
You can also get the 3-month supply for just $319, which comes out to just over $100 per month. WOW! That brings your total savings per month to $169 to $454 when compared with the store-bought formulas listed above!
Multiply those figures by 12 months and you’ll see savings between $2,028 and $5,448! Why not take your savings and put it in a savings or college fund for your baby.
Consider Reading: Investing for Kids: Help Your Kids Start Investing Early
FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions when it comes to how to make baby formula.
Can You Make Your Own Baby Formula?
Yes, you most certainly can. It may seem intimidating at first, but after you’ve done it a few times, it will become second nature.
Again, you can stock up on ingredients and batch-prep the formula so that you aren’t making it every single day. Once made, most homemade baby formula recipes are good for three days in the refrigerator.
If you’re still nervous about making your own formula, seek out another mom in the area who is currently doing this. Ask to watch her make a few bottles.
Should I Make My Own Baby Formula at Home?
There are many factors that go into deciding whether you should or shouldn’t make your own baby formula at home.
Some of these include whether breastfeeding is an option, whether there are any allergies or health concerns your infant may be facing, and cost.
Always discuss your options with your pediatrician.
In Conclusion: How to Make Baby Formula
There are many old fashioned baby formula recipes being circulated across social media, and many of them are downright harmful!
Never rely on social media when it comes to your baby’s health. I’ll say it again, when you find a baby formula recipe that looks like a legitimate solution to your needs, contact your pediatrician to get the go-ahead.
There are homemade baby formulas that you can use to help your little one thrive. The two I mentioned above are a good place to start.
Have you had success feeding your baby homemade formula? If so, let us know in the comments below!