Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe

Hi there! I created the following homemade goat milk formula recipe nearly 10 years ago when my daughter Liesl was struggling to cope with commercial formula. I have both a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Human Nutrition and have used this formula with several of my 9 children. You can read the story behind the formula here or get into the nitty gritty science details here. Also if you would like to see a complete breakdown of macro and micronutrients and how they stack up against the FDA required maximums and minimums for nutrients you can check out our nutrient database. 

(Note: The proportions listed are for making an 8 oz. bottle.)

AuthorJoe Stout, M.S.

RatingDifficultyBeginner

Want to know why this homemade goat milk formula recipe is so nutritionally rock solid? Read on and I go into a ton of detail about each ingredient.

Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe Ingredient Overview:

Whole Goat Milk Powder

This is really where all the magic begins. Goat milk is a remarkable food in that it more closely resembles the protein, fat, and carbohydrate structure of breast milk than literally any other ingredient available. The benefits range from the nucleotide (DNA) structure of goat milk being as similar to breast milk to the presence of taurine in goat milk amounting to 20 times that of cow’s milk which is, not surprisingly, the same ratio found in breast milk. 

Goat Milk Lactose

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for baby and there is a fair amount of flexibility here. I prefer to use lactose as it is true “milk sugar”. Lactose is a combination of glucose and galactose which is perfect for an infant’s diet. Babies naturally produce excessive amounts of lactase, an enzyme used to digest lactose so the fit is natural. Also, lactose is really helpful in establishing Lactobacillus acidophilus (good bacteria) in the newly formed GI tract of your little one. Other good options for your carbohydrate sources are organic, raw turbinado sugar, organic maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and even cow milk lactose. Honey is not a good option as it is not recommend for babies less than 12 months old.

Goat Milk Ghee

This is one of nature’s greatest fat sources. Ghee is the clarified “butter oil” from goat milk cream and does not contain any of the allergens found in cow milk. Saturated fat is extremely important for the brain development and overall health of your growing little one. The saturated fat in goat milk ghee is high in medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s) and because our goats are grass-fed, our ghee contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) as well as important fatty acids such as lauric acid which is found in high amounts in breast milk. EDIT: Coconut oil is still a great option for the saturated fat category of the formula and can be used in the same amount as the goat milk ghee. Coconut oil was the most requested ingredient replacement question as it is unfortunately somewhat common as an allergen. We created our goat milk ghee to address this need and because this homemade goat milk formula recipe is meant to be a low-allergy option, the Goat Milk Ghee is a great tool for those little ones who are especially sensitive to the allergens found in coconut oil.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil delivers more healthy fats, this time in the form of monounsaturated fats. It is a good source of oleic acid.

Expeller Pressed Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil is present to deliver the essential fatty acid linoleic acid which is vital in infant nutrition. This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that the body cannot produce on its own but is not in need of in large amounts. Commercial formula manufacturers pack their formulas with cheap canola/safflower oils that are high in linoleic acid but much higher than an infant needs for proper health. Since these oils are high in polyunsaturated Omega-6 fatty acids, they tend to be inflammatory as opposed to the saturated/monounsaturated fatty acids. Since you are making your own homemade baby formula, you get to add only the necessary amount of this essential fatty acid without flooding the formula with polyunsaturated fatty acids. You won’t find that level of flexibility in any prepackaged formula.

Unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses

This thick black syrup is high in B vitamins, minerals, and is a natural source of iron. It also can help keep baby from getting constipated so be careful not to give too much! Make sure you get the unsulphured variety as it is far less processed.

Once per day ingredients:

Head Start Multi™

We are super excited about the Head Start Multivitamin Powder made by Dr. Wholeness. Years ago we set out to find the best children’s multivitamin that we could that checked all the needs of our customers and mixed well in the homemade baby formula recipe, but found none that matched our needs exactly. So we worked in conjunction with a local Naturopathic doctor, Dr. Matt Angove, ND, to come up with a multivitamin that gets our stamp of approval, and that is Head Start. It is an unflavored, easy-to-mix powder that even the pickiest of eaters will find enjoyable. It does not contain any gmos or common allergens. It does contain methylated b-vitamins (B12 and folate) that was our most requested need. Remember, this one you only need to add to one bottle per day as it will contain all the vitamins/minerals needed for that day. Please don’t add this to every bottle.

DHA

DHA also known as Docosahexaenoic acid is found in fish, algae and most importantly here, breast milk. It is not found in goat milk and is a required addition to the formula for its content of DHA as well as Vitamin D and Vitamin A. This is another ingredient that only needs to be added once per day based on the the weight of baby.

Goat Milk Colostrum

Colostrum is the thick yellow fluid which is produced as a precursor to mother’s milk. It is found in humans, goats, and other mammals where it is produced by the mother for two days following birth. Colostrum can be described as a brilliantly designed transfer system which effectively “jump starts” a newborn’s undeveloped immune system. Colostrum adds many beneficial bioactive ingredients such as lactoferrin, cytokines, growth factors, and immunoglobulins. It only needs to be added once per day. Make sure to get the powdered goat milk colostrum for easy mixing.

Flora Start Kids Probiotic

Probiotics are naturally present in breast milk. Flora Start Kids™ is designed to deliver live probiotic bacteria that promote healthy gut microflora, protect intestinal integrity and boost immune function. It contains three strains of Lactobacilli and three strains of Bifidobacteria, as well as Streptococcus thermophilus and Saccharomyces boulardii, an extensively researched microorganism shown to help restore microflora balance. The eight strains in Flora Start Kids have been strategically selected based on research supporting their survivability and adherence to the intestinal tract. Flora Start Kids comes in a powder form for easy administration to children. Remember, this ingredient only needs to be added once per day and should be kept in cold storage until right before you add it to the bottle.