BABY FORMULA MADE AT HOME

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

The best food for nourishing a baby is breast milk, up until at least the age of 2, and preferably up until age 3 or even older. Do it properly, however:

For all fussy, malnourished or any other problem babies, please add at the beginning of every feeding, about one-fourth to one-half of a tablet of GB-3 from Endomet Labs, or an equivalent (pancreatin-160 mg, ox bile-112 mg, dehydrocholic acid-130 mg, and Russian black radish-130 mg). If you cannot get dehydrocholic acid in the USA it is not a problem.

Crush it up in a little milk, and give it to the baby first before starting to feed. Do this each feeding, especially if the baby will not feed for long enough.

A common reason for not feeding long enough is NOT that the breast milk is of inferior quality. More likely, in many cases, the baby does not have the digestive capacity to take much milk at one time. So just feed for as long as the baby wants, with a little crushed GB-3 added to assist digestion. Then wait at least one hour before recommencing feeding again.

DO NOT, and I repeat, do not, in almost all cases, switch a baby to adult food, or to canned or bottled “baby food”, which is really adult food, or to formula, even if it is 100% natural homemade formula. Just breastfeed a little at a time, wait an hour or more, and restart feeding again, and the baby will take the milk and gain weight normally. Adult foods, including bottled “baby food”, should never be introduced until at least age 2, and preferably not until after stopping breast feeding around age 3 or even later.

If breast feeding is not possible. Rarely, breast feeding is not possible because the baby is “sensitive” to breast milk or the mother is ill and cannot feed, and no wet nurse or milk bank can be found. These options are discussed below. In these cases only, the homemade formula described in this article is far superior to any commercial formula that I know of, and is worth the possible extra cost and the work of preparing it for your child.

WHY HOMEMADE FORMULA?

A baby’s digestive tract is extremely delicate. Babies should not have adult food until they are at least two years old, and preferably not until they are three or older. A baby can breastfeed for as long as he or she wishes, and usually will stop of its own accord around age 3 to 4. Until that time, many babies need only breast milk if it is high quality, which unfortunately is rare, but can be produced quickly if the mother follows a properly designed nutritional balancing program.

Problems breastfeeding. Problems that can arise with breastfeeding include:

1. Not enough milk from either the mother or any wet nurse (another woman who can breast feed the child.) In this case, the mother must eat better, with lots of cooked, (not raw) vegetables, not fruit, and drink plenty of spring water and no other type of water. A nutritional balancing program can help with this in all cases.

2. The baby may reject the milk, or remain hungry. As discussed above, this usually occurs because the baby cannot handle much milk at one time and not just most women’s breast milk today is not of the best quality. Follow the instructions above, and all mothers need a nutritional balancing program, not just taking a few vitamins and a “good diet”. This is best. If the mother cannot or will not follow a nutritional balancing program, then some breast milk is still ideal, but the baby probably needs the homemade formula below as well.

3. Other. The mother’s nipples may become infected, or the mother may become ill, she may have to go to work during the day, or she may be unable to breastfeed for some reason. For any problems with breastfeeding, an excellent, fabulous resource is La Leche League International (http://www.LLLi.org). For more on breastfeeding, also see the article on this website, entitled Breastfeeding. For many problems, the milk can be expressed from the breast with a breast pump and refrigerated for use later.

Now let us discuss options many mothers resort to that are not very good. If a mother cannot or does not want to breastfeed her baby for any reason, several options exist:

1. Commercial baby formula such as Similac® and Enfamil®. Formula is a term that means a combination of foods that approximates the composition of mother’s milk, basically. Unfortunately, commercial formula contains refined sugars, at times soy, powdered milk, cheap quality vitamins, preservatives, additives and other things that have no place in anyone’s diet, let along that of a baby. Most all of it is utter garbage and should never be used!

2. Adding adult foods, so-called “baby foods”, to a baby’s diet as early as the age of six months and often by the age of 1. This is very hard on the baby’s digestive system, and often leads to digestive upset, food allergies and intolerances, diarrhea, constipation, malnutrition and other problems. It comes in little bottles labeled ‘baby food’, or you prepare it at home, but it is still adult food, and not good for babies, no matter how delicious it is! Babies will often grab for it, but that does not mean it is good for them. If the baby’s digestive system is inflamed, for example, it causes a type of hunger that many adults recognize as a “nervous hunger”. This is not good, and please do not give adult types of foods to babies under age 3 or so.

3. A wet nurse. A wet nurse is a lady other than the mother who breastfeeds your child. The use of wet nurses used to be rather common, and they are used in some cultures, but not much in Western societies. However, this is an excellent idea, and is the best alternative to mother’s own milk, provided the wet nurse is healthy and well-nourished, which some are and some are not today. A wet nurse who follows a properly designed nutritional balancing program would be excellent in all cases.

4. A milk bank. This is a more modern idea, in which some nursing women who have too much milk offer to share their extra milk with those who need it, usually by refrigerating it and sending it to babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed for some reason. This is an interesting idea, and one can read more about it and connect with milk banks by visiting http://www.LLLi.org.

5. Homemade Formula. In the past, if a baby could not be breastfed, and no wet nurse was available, doctors did not prescribe commercial baby formula or adult food. Instead, they recommended homemade baby formula. This is much, much better than either commercial baby formula or adult food for a baby under age 3.

THE BASIS FOR THESE RECIPES

These recipes are culled from the cookbook, Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon with Mary Enig. They are made easier because one can buy a kit of the most difficult-to-find ingredients. This saves money and effort.

I have made a few change in the recipes based on our hair analysis research, and this article will be updated as we learn even more about the needs of babies today. For example, I substituted lamb for liver in the meat-based formula. The reason is that liver is quite toxic today and I would prefer not to use it as the basis for the formula. I think using lamb, with a little organic chicken liver, is as good or better than using just liver. Also, some authorities recommend a little egg yolk, but I have omitted that for now.

Two recipes. There are two recipes – a milk-based formula and a meat-based one. Both are very good, and some babies will prefer one to the other. I would tend to prefer the milk formula if the baby will take it. You will notice there is no fruit, no grain, no cereals, and no sugars or sweeteners in these formulas, except for a little lactose, or milk sugar. This is very important for your baby’s health. I do not recommend giving babies fruit, fruit juices, soda pop, teas, corn flakes, Rice Krispies, or other adult foods, ever.

FORMULA RECIPES

THE MILK-BASED FORMULA (makes 36 ounces)

1. FOR ABOUT 36 OUNCES, PLACE IN A BLENDER:

- 2 cups of preferably raw, unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk. The best is goat milk. According to the authors, if you use goat milk you must add a little raw chicken liver to the formula for vitamin B12. Cows milk is not quite as good, but it will work fine.

If raw milk is not available, you may use pasteurized, but not homogenized organic milk, preferably from pasture-fed goats or cows.

- 2 tablespoons of preferably raw cream. If raw cream is not available, you can use organic pasteurized cream, although it is not as good.

- 2 cups of either spring water (the best) or, if not available, you may use 2 cups of carbon-only filtered tap water. Do not use water treated with reverse osmosis such as “purified water”, “drinking water”, or water from a multistage water filter. This is important.

- 1 Kelp capsule (only Nature’s Way Kelp capsules, 660 mg each)

- 1 crushed tablet of Limcomin **

- 1 crushed tablet of GB-3 **

- 1 capsule of Endo-veggies capsules**

- 2 teaspoons of grated, frozen, raw organic chicken liver

2. ADD TO THE ABOVE the ingredients for a 36-ounce batch of formula from the Nourishing Traditions Kit For Homemade Baby Formula (available from http://www.Radiantlifecatalog.com or 1 (888) 593-8333). These ingredients are listed below if you are not sure of the quantities.

Adding these to the blender is simple, except the gelatin should be warmed with a little of the water until it liquefies, and then mix it in with all the other ingredients.

Then blend all the nutrients together until they form a homogenous mass. Leave this in the blender in the refrigerator, or transfer the formula to a clean glass container for storage in the refrigerator.

To serve, pour 4 to 8 ounces into a clean baby bottle, warm the bottle by placing it in a pan of hot water until warm, shake it well and give it to the baby. Never warm baby formula in a microwave oven and never cook it.

THE MEAT-BASED FORMULA (makes about 36 ounces) (This is not quite as good as the milk-based formula for most babies, but is very useful for babies who are intolerant to animal milk of any kind)

1. FOR 36 OUNCES, PLACE IN A BLENDER:

- About 4 cups of chicken, lamb or beef stock or broth. The best way is to make this stock yourself. However, this involves some extra work. You could buy beef or chicken stock, but most is not worth it, so if possible make the stock yourself. Do not use chemicalized beef or chicken broth.

A general recipe to make this meat stock is to place about 4 pounds of chicken bones, lamb bones, or beef bones in cold water with about 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Bring to a boil. Brown scummy material will rise to the surface. Remove it with a slotted spoon, fork or other utensil. Then simmer the stock for 12 to 72 hours. Remove from the stove and strain out the bones, and remove the fat. This will leave a very mineral-rich bone broth.

- 2 ounces of cooked and shredded lamb chops (they need not be organic) or other lamb. Lamb chops are about the best, but any lamb will do.

- 1 Kelp capsule (only Nature’s Way Kelp capsules, 660 mg each)

- 1 crushed tablet of Limcomin **

- 1 crushed tablet of GB-3 **

- 1 capsule of Endo-veggies capsules**

- 2 teaspoons of grated frozen, raw organic chicken liver

** From Endomet Labs, Phoenix, Arizona 1 (800) 528-4067 or 1 (602) 995-1580.

2. ADD TO THIS the proper amounts of ingredients to make 36 ounces of formula from the Nourishing Traditions Kit For Homemade Baby Formula (contact information is above). The exact amounts of ingredients are listed below.

Adding these to the blender is simple, except the gelatin should be warmed with a little meat stock until it liquefies, and then mix it in with all the other ingredients.

The Nourishing Traditions Kit For Homemade Baby Food contains the following products (with product numbers). The following amounts are used for every 36-ounce batch of homemade baby formula:

¼ to ½ teaspoon of Life Start Infant Bifidum (bifidobacterium Infantis) (#00101 or 00102)

4 tablespoons of lactose (#00402)

1/2 teaspoon of Fermented cod liver oil (#05811)

1 teaspoon of Flora organic sunflower oil (#01801 or 01802)

1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic (#02801 or 02802).

1 tsp of organic coconut oil (#01301 to 01304)

2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast (#02301)

2 teaspoons of Bernard Jensen brand gelatin (#01501)

¼ teaspoon of Acerola powder (#00401)

OPTION: ½ teaspoon of high vitamin butter oil (#05804). This is not included in the kit, but it is excellent to add to the formula.

This kit is available from http://www.Radiantlifecatalog.com or 1 (888) 593-8333.

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