I’m old enough to remember my mother making baby formula for my little brothers. My young self recalls canned evaporated milk, Karo syrup, and some super stinky brown liquid—more than likely, Poly Vi Sol vitamin drops. The horrible taste lingers in my memory as sketchy as that recipe might be. Of course, I tasted it.

Clearly, my brothers Tim Hegg, M.Div., Th.M., and David W. Hegg, M.A., M. Div., who thrived on homemade infant formula, turned out better than okay. Neither suffers from poor brain or bone development. Both are prolific in modern and ancient languages, published authors, and highly-respected professors at the college-, graduate-, and theological seminary levels; both are extremely musical and not bad looking, either. I am their proud sister.

Okay, back to baby formula, which is about as scarce as hens’ teeth at this writing. Of course, upon hearing the dire straits in which so many parents are finding themselves, my first thought was, just make it yourself! I should have been more compassionate, but you must remember who you’re dealing with here. My philosophy is if I can possibly make it myself cheaper, better, faster—why would I buy it?

Warnings, loud warnings

A quick online search for homemade formula specifics smacked me in the face! Dozens of loud warnings to never even think of making baby formula yourself. I get it—messing with an infant’s development by inadvertently withholding any of the proper nutrients necessary (amazingly found in perfect proportion in a human mother’s breastmilk) is dangerous.

Although pediatricians and doctors say you should not make your own baby formula, the fact is that people made their own for years before formula became commercially available in the 1950s.

If the choice is letting your baby go hungry or making your own, then there is no choice at all, is there? Pediatricians telling families not to make their own even if they cannot find formula leaves them with no solution.

Lack of proper nutrition at the right time in a baby’s early development could result in irreversible damage. Do not, I repeat do not, rely on my mother’s ancient recipe, in which I’m certain to have left out a couple of important ingredients! However, rest assured, what follows has been carefully developed by health professionals and is doctor-approved.

Meet Dr. David Jockers

David Jockers, DNM, DC, MS is a doctor of natural medicine, functional nutritionist, and corrective care chiropractor. He is the founder of Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia. Dr. Jockers and his wife, Angel, adapted (from Weston A. Price Foundation where you can learn even more) and developed this homemade-from-scratch recipe for baby formula when Angel could not produce enough breastmilk to nourish their baby twin boys well.

The recipe is specific (don’t leave out a single item unless marked as optional) and uses ingredients easily located either locally at your drugstore, health food store, or online. I will give you as many links and resources as possible, some from Dr. Jocker’s website store.

Let me give my warning: Initially, acquiring all ingredients will not be cheap. However, each batch of formula uses only a small amount, so your initial investment should last for quite a long time.

One last thing: If you opt to make homemade baby formula, make sure you run this by your doctor, pediatrician, or other health professional first for your physician’s approval. I am not a doctor, and I try hard not to play one on this blog!

Ok, with all of that introductory information out of the way, let’s go.

Homemade Baby Formula

Yield: 36 ounces

Ingredients

• 2 cups of filtered water
• 2 tsp collagen protein
• 4 tbsp. lactose
• 2 cups milk (raw whole, grass-fed, or regular whole milk)
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream
• 1 capsule’s contents of 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 cold-pressed sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• (optional) ¼ teaspoon butter oil

You can find these ingredients to make homemade baby formula bundled together: Nourishing Traditions Kit for Homemade Formula.

Instructions:

1. Pour one cup of the filtered water into a pan over medium heat

2. Add collagen protein and lactose to the warming water to dissolve, stirring occasionally.

3. While the collagen and lactose are dissolving, place milk in a clean, glass blender and add the remaining ingredients, make sure to open the Lacto capsule and adding only its contents, not the capsule itself:

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 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.

The information in this post for homemade baby formula has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. The content of this blog is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. They should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

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