Homemade Formula

litzo27 · December 2013

I carefully side-stepped the entire stroller/leash/spanking topic but the one thing that caught my eye in the UO thread is that someone referred to Homemade Formula. Now, I know nothing about formulas as I was lucky to be able to EBF my boys 2+ years each but the process of making formula seems such a scientific mystery that a homemade version can't be a thing! Is it a thing???

Google to the rescue. What do you know - homemade baby formula! HOLY COW - it's a thing. My mind is officially blown!!!
https://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/recipes-for-homemade-baby-formula#chart

JaneW2 · December 2013

Please don't do that, especially not following this recipe. It explicitly recommends a toxic dose of vitamin A. (Yes, the animal form of Vitamin A gets toxic at doses not much higher than the idea intake!)

Commercial formula is balanced and also quite inexpensive.

MamaP19 · December 2013

I'm sure there are plenty of people that make and use it, but I can't imagine most Peds would be okay with it since its base is unpasteurized milk.

ETA @JaneW2 - inexpensive by what standards? I had to formula feed DD and I really don't consider 10 cans a month at $16/each inexpensive.

aessary03 · December 2013

Formula inexpensive?! I just purchased high calorie formula for preemies @ $18/can. I bought 10 cans .... 1 can is lasting approximately 4 days .... that seems pretty pricey to me.

ThankfulSnail · December 2013

My MIL has been telling me about the homemade formula recipe she and her mother used on all of their kids. It has significantly less ingredients than this recipe and I'm fairly certain absolutely zero nutritional value. I'm going to have to figure out a way to side-step that if I'm not able to/decide to stop BFing LO.

I also agree with PPs... By whose standards is formula inexpensive? In my BF class, the teacher said that formula feeding costs between $300-$350/month. That's pretty expensive to me.

Deblondie1 · December 2013

Uhhh yeah in no reality is formula inexpensive. We were paying out the wahzoo when Emme was on Similac. And that was even after we stopped following the high calorie prep (think twice as many scoops per water ratio).

And there's no way I'd make homemade formula.

megngregk · December 2013

@hillarycwkelly, YGPM.

litzo27 · December 2013

@JaneW2 was your comment directed at me " Please don't do that..."? Because I don't believe my post indicated any plans of doing that. And your comment was a bit condescending. I was simply sharing something that I found fascinating. The one product I would guess noone makes at home at this day and age...

My guess is that most people who do the homemade version are not doing it because of the cost concerns. The list of ingredients is pretty extensive and expensive and if you buy all of them organic even more so. It's going to add up fast - not to mention having to do the process every couple of days. From reading the comments it sounds most who go this route are either super "granola" who try to avoid all preservatives in their diet or those whose LOs have allergies to all standard formulas and they are trying to find any and all alternatives.

ac1259 · December 2013

ThankfulSnail said:

My MIL has been telling me about the homemade formula recipe she and her mother used on all of their kids. It has significantly less ingredients than this recipe and I'm fairly certain absolutely zero nutritional value. I'm going to have to figure out a way to side-step that if I'm not able to/decide to stop BFing LO.

I also agree with PPs... By whose standards is formula inexpensive? In my BF class, the teacher said that formula feeding costs between $300-$350/month. That's pretty expensive to me.

Ok from someone who did formula feed 300-350 a month is way astronomical unless your child needs very specialized formula..My DD was formula fed in some way from day 1 and entirely by 4 weeks...even buying full priced Similac we were paying only like $100 a month..Still not cheap but no way was I paying $350 a month.

MamaP19 · December 2013

$300 seemed high to me too, but you have to take into account whether someone has to buy specialized formula for their LO. The soy, organic, or alimentum formulas, for example, are more expensive than the "standard" Similac. That's what I used also from 3 weeks on and I'd say on average we spent around $160 a month. Sometimes it was a little more, sometimes less if I had coupons/formula checks to use or was able to find a deal.

I can't imagine how much you'd have to spend if you had to do the high calorie prep like @Deblondie1 mentioned.

cowscrub · December 2013

Some insurances will cover specialized formula with a prescription written by your physician.
We lucked out that none of my children needed special formula, so Costco formula worked for us $17/can.

LittleMommaBlueHen · December 2013

JaneW2 said:

Please don't do that, especially not following this recipe. It explicitly recommends a toxic dose of vitamin A. (Yes, the animal form of Vitamin A gets toxic at doses not much higher than the idea intake!)

Commercial formula is balanced and also quite inexpensive.

I have also read things about that specific recipe not being a wise choice. On the other hand I wouldn't call commercial formula inexpensive.

shortstuff15 · December 2013

For just regular formula we will spend between $200 - $250 a month. I would love to have it less then that but after having two kids, I know thats what its going to be. Canadian prices combined with a high COL area. hurray.

WinsyWade · December 2013

My chiropractor made a version of this- not the Weston Price version -for his 3rd baby when his wife wasn't able to BF. I think the ingredients are really expensive considering how much a baby eats.

I could see using it as a supplement to donated breastmilk though- which would be my first avenue. My chiro has a link with a video on how to make his too.

CarolinaGirl2014 · December 2013

I was the one that mentioned homemade formula. As @litzo27 mentioned, it's not for cost reasons. The adoptive parents I have chosen are super "crunchy" and also have some strong food allergies themselves, so they try to avoid preservatives and synthetically designed foods and vitamins when possible. The AMom is a highly qualified nutritionist and has done significant research to make sure that the recipe they decide on provides 100% of the baby's dietary needs and is safe. She has also consulted with pediatric specialists on this. In the end it often ends up costing less than formula, which is an added bonus (esp if you have a baby with dietary restrictions/allergies). I highly discourage anyone doing it without extensive research or consulting with a professional because as PP's mentioned, you don't want to play around with your baby's nutrition. I was surprised this is even an option and admit I used to think stuff like this was crazy, but it works out well for some families and I am excited that it is a good option for my baby's AMom. Yep, I'm now that person. :-)

JaneW2 · December 2013

The "please don't do that" was not necessarily to you, but to anyone who might consider it. The specific recipe provided there is the wrong nutritional balance for a baby, and it wouldn't be healthy.

Is it possible to make formula in your kitchen? I suppose you can make almost anything in a kitchen if you try hard enough.

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