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A nourishing, hypoallergenic homemade baby formula using safe, whole ingredients. This recipe was developed and tested by Dr. Mary Enig, a PhD Nutritionist and originally published in Nourishing Traditions cookbook in 1996. Source: Weston A. Price Foundation
Many health-conscious parents first try a homemade milk-based baby formula when it becomes apparent that breastfeeding is not an option. If baby demonstrates an intolerance even when using fresh, grass-fed whole milk or yogurt, the non-dairy homemade formula recipe is an excellent alternative to use instead. A detailed how-to video tutorial is also provided.
This dairy-free DIY formula is based on homemade broth and a small amount of cooked, organic grass-fed liver instead of milk as the source of protein.
The recipe was originally published in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions in 1996 and developed by Dr. Mary Enig.
Traditional cultures sometimes used liver pre-chewed by the Mother as a baby first food. Liver is very easily digested and full of nutrition and cholesterol for the baby’s rapidly developing brain.
Commercial nondairy formulas rely on soy as the protein source. Soy formula is a devastating food for babies as it is loaded with plant estrogens which wreak havoc with the baby’s developing hormonal system. In addition, soy contains some of the highest levels of phytic acid found in any food. Phytic acid contributes to poorly developed, cavity-prone baby teeth and poor bone structure (i.e., turned-in feet, flat feet, crowded teeth, sunken chest, etc) as it blocks mineral absorption.
Whatever you do, if your child cannot drink a milk-based formula, DO NOT use soy! Other types of plant-based DIY baby formula can cause growth problems as well.
What a relief for a concerned parent that a safe, healthy, non-dairy homemade formula can be made at home with nutrient-dense, whole-food ingredients.
Most babies who cannot drink the homemade milk-based formula THRIVE on this hypoallergenic homemade formula.
You will immediately notice that whey and lactose are used in this hypoallergenic recipe. The vast majority of babies will do fine with these milk-derived ingredients as it is the milk protein (casein), not the lactose or whey that was causing the problems with the milk-based formula. In the rare case that the infant is not thriving on this homemade dairy-free formula, remove the whey and substitute GMO-free dextrose or sucrose for the lactose.
Nondairy Homemade Formula
Click here for where to source all the ingredients for the dairy-free homemade formula such as gelatin, lactose, and acerola powder, etc. See the dairy-free baby formula video below for visual details.
One batch of 36 ounces takes about 10 minutes to make.
Be sure to use bottle nipples designed for thicker flowing liquids when feeding this formula to your baby. Get them here.
If your baby is only allergic to cow milk, but not other types of dairy, this article provides a how-to for making homemade goats milk formula if you would like to try that first. A sheep milk formula is an option too. Or, if you cannot get goat milk in your area, you can make homemade formula with camel milk.
Dairy-Free Homemade Formula Recipe
A nourishing, dairy-free homemade baby formula that uses bone broth as the base instead of raw milk that was developed and tested by Dr. Mary Enig to match breastmilk as closely as possible.
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups bone broth
- 2 oz grassfed liver beef, bison, or lamb
- 1/4 cup liquid whey leave out if baby cannot tolerate
- 5 Tbl goat lactose OR nonGMO dextrose if baby cannot tolerate
- 1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis powder
- 1/2 tsp cod liver oil unflavored
- 1 tsp sunflower oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil preferably organic
- 1 Tbl virgin coconut oil preferably organic
- 1/4 tsp acerola powder
Instructions
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Simmer liver cut up into small pieces gently in the homemade broth until just cooked through.
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Liquefy the liver in the broth using a handheld blender or a food processor.
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Let the broth cool to room temperature, then stir in the remaining ingredients or blend for a few seconds in a blender.
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Store formula in glass jars in the refrigerator.
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To serve the homemade formula, pour into glass baby bottles and warm in a baby bottle warmer or in a pan of hot water. Never microwave baby bottles!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
You may make bone broth yourself (most budget-friendly) or buy it. Be aware that almost all bone broth on the market is not quality. Even if it is quality bone broth, it comes in toxic packaging. Watch out! The only brand I have found as of this writing that is worth purchasing is bone broth packaged in shelf stable glass jars.
Most babies allergic to milk formula are allergic to the milk proteins, so liquid whey is tolerated well. If baby shows signs of intolerance try using goat whey (strained from goat yogurt or goat kefir). Leave out only as a last resort. DO NOT use powdered whey from the store or whey from making cheese.
Substitute nonGMO dextrose or sucrose
If your baby has a true dairy allergy and is not just dairy sensitive, this infant probiotic is dairy free to use as a substitute.
**Do not use krill oil as a substitute for the cod liver oil. It contains no Vitamin D and very little Vitamin A.
Hi Sara!
If organic liver is not available, can you use dessicated liver instead?
You really need fresh liver for this recipe. You can use the desiccated for the goat milk formula (goat milk is low in B12 and folate compared with cow milk so adding a bit of liver fixes this problem), but not for the non-dairy formula.
I don’t like the idea of feeding my five month old whey (since it is technically dairy), or liver…
Some healthy ancestral cultures used liver as a first food.
Hi Sarah
My son is having some testing done due to some abnormalities on his newborn screening test done at birth. He is currently at risk for having “Galt” or galactosemia. We were instructed to give him soy milk formula since his body may not be able to process lactose or galactose. I was so excited to discover this formula recipe but after further research I’ve learned liver is known to contain high levels of galactose can you tell me if there is a substitute for the liver or is it totally necessary to the formula recipie? I will be heartbroken if I have to continue my son on soy 🙁
Unfortunately there isn’t a substitute for the liver in this recipe.
Hi there,
Thank you so much for this information. My baby may have Fpies to dairy and GI doctor said she is also allergic to the lactose in my milk. Is there a formula without whey and lactose that you might know of? I have been on a total elimination diet and gaps this had helped but my breastmilk has dried up. She is 10minths old now. Please any suggestions I would really appreciate. It will be a long time before she can’t try dairy. She is actually allergic to soy but we had to try allimentum last night because she won’t drink neocate. Thank you so much.
Hi Sarah, my 2 month old has been on goats milk since 4 weeks old, she seems to be spitting up quite a bit here recently, any thoughts on camels milk as a substitute? Since camels milk does not contain the hard to digest protein? Thanks’
You could try camels milk and see if that helps … be sure to add the extra cream per the directions on the recipe as camel milk is low in fat.
Pls help… just found out baby is allergic to lactose,sunflower oil, olive oil nd dairy…currently I am using the Wap hypoallergenic formula nd substituiting maple syrup for lactose.. can I substitute avacado oil for sunflower oil? Can I leave out the olive oil?
Thank you, Sarah, for this formula. I wanted to comment that my baby loves this formula much more than the Alimentum we were giving him before. But he had really watery poop on it, so much that he has had a really bad diaper rash. Our integrative doctor suggested that perhaps his gut is not able to handle the liver formula yet, so he recommended that we add his old formula back in 1 tablespoon at a time until each bottle is roughly half liver formula and half store bought formula. It’s been a week since we’ve done this, and his poop has become thicker. Poops are also down to 2 or 3 a day, and his diaper rash is healing. I know it’s not the best in terms of nutrition, but it has really helped with the watery poop and diaper rash.
How about adapting this for a 8 months old baby? He is breastfed but he takes formula top ups especially in the night. He also started solids BLW style and eats egg yolks and yogurt daily with other steamed vegetable options. Do you think can I live the bifidum nad lactose out? How about cod liver oil? I seem to cannot find it where I live. I am so desperate to stop can formula. Please reply.
An 8 month old baby would take the exact same homemade formula. At one year old, you can switch to plain raw milk.
So again us in the third world countries cannot do what’s best for our kids. most of the ingredients bifidum, cod liver oil, lactose, acerola powder simply not available here and cannot be imported due to customs. We are left to the hands of Nestle. I was hoping since he is already breastfed and already on solids I can get away with it.. Alas.
I’m sure these ingredients are available via other brands. What country do you live in?
Hi Sarah,
My question to you is, you only add Vitamin C, what about the other vitamins that a regular formula has? Don’t they need that too? Also what about the fat that babies need for brain development?
Thank you, Im so excited I found your links!
Hello Sara,
My child is 5 month old and he is on homemade milk formula since birth. He seems now developed some eczema.
We are planning to switch to non-dairy formula. Can we replace beef liver with chicken liver? If not, can we use raw dessiccated liver instead frozen one? If so, how much we can replace the frozen 2oz liver?
Thanks for your great help.