How to make a nourishing homemade goat milk baby formula that mimics human breastmilk as closely as possible.
I nursed all 3 of my children exclusively until they started solid foods. In addition, I practiced extended breastfeeding, nursing each of my first two children for 2 years and the youngest for 4 years. I only used homemade formula occasionally such as after surgery.
I adored every. single. minute.
Nursing my children was a glorious experience the memories of which I will cherish forever!  I’m sure most breastfeeding mothers would report the same.
The topic of homemade formula, even the more widely accepted goats milk formula, is a highly charged and controversial subject. In reality, it is a very important option for women to consider and have available who are not able to have a breastfeeding relationship with their baby.
This is because unpasteurized, donor breastmilk is not always available from reputable sources and in sufficient quantities to meet a baby’s growing appetite. A friend of mine is dealing with this very situation right now with her adopted daughter.
While she does her best to secure quality donor milk, the truth is that it isn’t enough, and she must supplement. Her first choice depending on local farm availability is formula made with raw goats milk as it seems to be digested a bit better by her baby.
Of course, all brands of commercial formula even if organic are best avoided if at all possible. The graphic above summarizes the problems with commercial formula quite succinctly.
Why Goat Milk is Healthy for Baby Formula
With commercial formula best avoided and relying solely on donor breastmilk a risky proposition, the homemade formula becomes an option well worth consideration.
But why goats milk formula in particular?
The reasons could be as simple as the availability of goat milk versus cow milk. The homemade formula is best made with a clean source of raw milk and some parts of the country have raw goat milk far more readily available than raw cow milk.
Another reason could be the digestibility of the formula. The natural homogenization of the fat globules and different structures of the goat milk proteins do make it easier to digest for some babies.
If a baby has trouble with a homemade formula made from raw grass-fed cow milk, for instance, then the next best option would indeed be goats milk formula.
I always suggest to mothers to try homemade formula made with cow milk first.
This is because although goat milk is wonderfully rich in brain-building fats, it must be used with caution in infant feeding.
Unlike cow milk, goat milk lacks folic acid and is low in the nutrient vitamin B12 both of which are critical to the proper growth and development of a baby.
Fortunately, if goats milk formula does indeed become the necessary choice, the inclusion of small amounts of nutritional yeast and organic grated or desiccated liver in the formula easily remedies this dilemma.
Infant Formula?
Below is the recommended recipe for goats milk formula as published by the Weston A. Price Foundation and originally published in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions in 1996.
I personally know at least a dozen women who have used this recipe with great success when raw grass-fed cow milk was either unavailable or did not digest well for their baby.
*You can order all of the required ingredients for the homemade baby formula in one easy package from Radiant Life by clicking here.
Because the goat formula contains liver powder, be sure to use bottle nipples that are designed for thicker flowing liquids. You can get them here.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe
A nourishing homemade goat milk formula made from goat milk, yogurt or kefir devised and tested by Dr. Mary Enig that matches the nutritional profile of breastmilk as closely as possible.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw goat milk OR whole goat milk yogurt
- 1 7/8 cup filtered water
- 1/4 cup liquid whey
- 4 Tbl goat lactose
- 1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis powder
- 2 Tbl raw or pasteurized cream
- 1/2 tsp cod liver oil unflavored
- 1/4 tsp butter oil unflavored
- 1 tsp sunflower oil preferably organic
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp virgin coconut oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp raw chicken liver OR 1/4 tsp desiccated liver powder
- 2 tsp gelatin
- 1/4 tsp acerola powder
- 1 tsp molasses optional
Instructions
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Fill a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup with filtered water and remove 2 tablespoons (this will give you 1 7/8 cup water).
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Pour about half the water into a pan and turn burner on medium.
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Add the gelatin and lactose and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
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When gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove pan from heat and add the rest of the water to cool.
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Stir in the coconut oil and butter oil until melted.
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Put remaining ingredients in a glass blender. Be sure to use only liquid whey and never powdered whey from making cheese as it will curdle the goat milk formula.
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Add the water mixture and blend for about 3 seconds.
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Pour goats milk formula into glass baby bottles or a large glass jar and refrigerate.
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Before giving to baby, warm glass bottle in a pan of hot water or a bottle warmer (I like these). Never microwave baby bottles!
Recipe Notes
Do not substitute pasteurized milk or goat milk powder as these are heavily processed, denatured and allergenic foods. You may use plain, whole milk goat kefir or homemade goat yogurt in place of the milk portion of the milk if raw goat milk is not available in your area. Whole Foods has a quality brand of goat milk kefir available.Â
Cow lactose may be substituted for the goat lactose.
Do NOT use ultrapasteurized (UHT) cream. It is highly allergenic. Raw or pasteurized cream is acceptable.
Use only organic, unrefined, low oleic, cold pressed sunflower oil for this recipe. The brand linked to in the ingredients list is recommended.
The raw chicken liver should be frozen for 14 days or longer as recommended by the USDA for safe consumption. Â It is easiest to grate raw liver when it is frozen! Alternatively, 1/4 tsp of raw, desiccated liver powder may be substituted (find it here).Â
Collagen powder may be substituted for the gelatin in a pinch (more on peptides in baby formula in this article).
Use the optional molasses only if baby has issues with constipation. Only use as needed.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Video
Below is an instructional video I filmed for the Weston A. Price Foundation on how to prepare a homemade formula yourself. Â Enjoy!
More Information
Homemade Nondairy Baby Formula
Why Soy Formula Even if Organic is So Dangerous for Babies
Traveling with Homemade Baby Formula
Feeding an Adopted Baby Without Commercial Formula
State Threatens to Take Baby Over Homemade Goat Milk Formula
Goat Milk Versus Cow Milk
Can whey made from grains be used in this recipe?
No, absolutely not!
I was very concerned that after spending a fair bit of money and time, my grandson would not like the taste of this new formula, made with goat kefir, especially after two months of the sugary commercial formula. I am happy to announce that he loves it!! I am so very thrilled! My only issue is with the desiccated liver not passing through the nipple, but I put it through the NutraBullet to make it extra fine, then made the nipple hole slightly larger. This seems to work well. I thank God I found this site and all the wonderful help it provides!
Now another question, Sarah. Is it normal for babies not to have a bowel movement after switching formulas. He hasn’t had one for two days now.
If you switched the formula all at once, then yes, there may be some digestive issues such as constipation as he adjusts. Ideally, it is best when switching formulas to change over more slowly over the period of a week or two. If the constipation persists after 2 weeks, then consider adding the optional molasses to get things moving along.
Thank you! Just another thought, if I use kefir, a probiotic, may I skip the bifidobacterium Infantis?
Great question! You should still add the bifidobacterium infantis as kefir does not contain this particular probiotic strain.
Thank you so much for the amazingly fast reply!
Would goat yogurt work as a substitute for the goat milk portion (the closest place I can get quality goat kefir is a 2 hour drive away). Alternatively, I can get grass-fed water buffalo kefir
Water buffalo kefir would be fine to substitute for the raw milk portion of the recipe! Goat yogurt is fine too IF the yogurt is properly fermented 24 hour yogurt.
My apologies! I found the answer in the recipe notes!
Hi Sarah, I am finally getting all the ingredients together to make this goat milk formula. One question I have about the goat lactose…..I already have lactose that is not specified cow or goat, so may I use that?
It is probably cow if not specified. Most babies on the goat milk formula do fine with the cow lactose. If not, then order the goat lactose as linked to in the recipe.
Hi Sarah, thank you for providing us with a healthy alternative food for our babies! I read through most of the comments and your responses. Just to confirm, I cannot use pasteurized milk in the formula, but goat kefir, made from low temperature pasteurized milk, is fine?
Yes, low temp pasteurized goat kefir is fine to use for this formula. Substitute it for the milk portion of the recipe.
Can I use pasteurized cow’s milk in the formula? In Canada, it is Not possible to get the raw milk unless you live close to the U.S. and drive across the border with a load of passengers.
You CANNOT use pasteurized milk for this formula. You CAN use low temp pasteurized goat milk KEFIR for this formula as it has been cultured “back to life” and so has enzymes and probiotics.
Sarah, we are having to eliminate every bit of cow dairy from this formula, can you tell me what we can replace for the butter oil? We are going to switch the cream to a goats cream, and are already using a goat lactose, the butter oil seems to be all that’s left that may have a trace of cow dairy in it.
You can leave out the butter oil as it is an optional ingredient. Are you going to use goat whey as well? You can get this from straining out the liquid from goat yogurt or kefir.