No Place Like It: Homemade/Alternatives to Cow-Milk-Based Formulas

You want what’s best for your little one, and when it comes to choosing a formula, cow’s milk-based products are the most popular option on the market. But what if you could make a homemade formula that doesn’t contain cow’s milk? It might sound tedious or a difficult task to complete, but there are plenty of recipes online that will help you get started.

Going the homemade route may be the best option. You’ll be spending less money on pre-made formulas. Homemade products are also nutritionally sound and can be customized to meet your baby’s specific needs. If you’re worried about potential allergies or intolerances, making your own formula is a great way to avoid feeding your infant anything that could negatively affect their digestive system.

You’re also avoiding potential health risks. Several factory-made formulas like Similac and Enfamil have been directly linked to the development of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, a gastrointestinal disease that attacks an infant’s digestive system.

Customize Your Ingredients

You can find several different recipes with a quick internet search. There are a few things you’ll need in order to make your own formula: a blender, water, organic sugar, unsalted butter, and an unrefined oil like coconut or olive oil. Some recipes also call for a probiotic supplement, which you can find at most health food stores.

You can customize your recipe and substitute ingredients to fix your baby’s needs. If you’re concerned about dairy allergies or lactose intolerance, you can use a milk-free formula recipe. You can also add in essential vitamins and minerals that are important for growth like choline chloride (B vitamin) and zinc sulfate (mineral).

Some recipes call for ingredients like fish or avocado oil, these ingredients are high in omega fatty acids, which are beneficial for brain and eye development. If your baby is struggling with gaining weight, you can add in a higher calorie supplement like Nutella or liquified avocados.

Choose Healthy Components

When you take charge of making your baby’s formulas you’re in control of what goes in them. You can use high-quality organic ingredients, which will ensure that your baby is getting the best nutrition possible. Formulas made at home are also free of preservatives and chemicals you’d find in pre-made products.

Making homemade formulas may save money, but it’s also an effective way to avoid feeding your child anything that might negatively impact their sensitive digestive systems. Young bodies are not designed to break down the large enzymes found in cow’s milk formulas or the processed elements in store-bought products.

You’re also reducing the risk of your child having an allergic reaction to the ingredients in store-bought or cow-milk-based formulas.

Allergy testing has become more sophisticated over the years, and there are plenty of resources to help you figure out if your child may have allergies. You can find symptoms like vomiting/diarrhea, constipation, eczema flare-ups, colic or excessive crying (especially after eating), dark circles, and low weight in the list of negative effects that are directly correlated with what your baby is consuming.

If you’re unsure about what’s causing your child’s discomfort, consult with an allergist to see if an elimination diet could help pinpoint the source of their issues. Talk to your child’s pediatrician and share your research, they will help you make an informed decision.

A mother feeds her two week old baby with milk substitute. Frb 28 2011. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Search Popular Options

There are several well-known recipes to choose from. Most of them include organic sugar, which is a natural sweetener that contains vitamins B and C. It also has other essential minerals like zinc and potassium.

Some of the recipes have cow or goat’s milk. If you’re interested in avoiding that, there are several options, you can replace it with any milk alternative like almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, or hemp milk. You can also use soy milk, but be sure to purchase a formula that is specifically designed for infants.

If your baby has trouble digesting lactose, you can find recipes that don’t include dairy products at all. There are plenty of infant formulas on the market that are made without cow’s milk and they are just as nutritious.

You can also add a probiotic supplement to any recipe to help improve your baby’s digestion. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that line the gut and support nutrient absorption and immune system health.

Making your own formula at home is a great way to ensure that your child is getting the best possible nutrition, without the hassle of researching chemicals in store-bought products that you don’t understand or running the risk of feeding your baby something that affects their health in the long-run.

There are plenty of benefits to making your own baby formulas at home. You’re spending less money on pre-made formulas, you’re in control of what goes into them, and they are free of preservatives and chemicals. Homemade formulas also reduce the risk of your child having an allergic reaction to ingredients found in store-bought and cow-milk-based products.

There’s no place like home, and there’s no formula like homemade. It comes straight from the heart.