If you’ve been paying attention to the news and your local grocery store’s shelves, you might have noticed something as of recent.
There is a formula “shortage”.
This is due to lack of current supply and also due to a formula manufacturer being shut down.
If you’re in a panic about where to buy infant formula, have no fear! I am here to help you find options.
When Nursing Isn’t Possible
Not everyone is able to breastfeed and not everyone is going to want to even if they can.
Sometimes it could be due to a physical impairment or that there is trauma underlying, PPD, etc.
In these cases, breastfeeding truly isn’t possible and mothers turn to formula to help feed their babies. In past generations, some mothers opted for wet nurses or even milk donors. You can check a local milk bank or Facebook has groups called “Human Milk for Human Babies” and they are usually grouped based on state or regional locality.
Since there are less and less mothers being able to or opting to breastfeed, the formula industry has been booming.
I have my thoughts and feelings on this, which may differ from yours, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing. Why might you ask? The ingredients in USA made formulas aren’t the best and I don’t see any movement towards safer ingredients and testing for purity and less junk ingredients.
These formulas tend to contain high amounts of sugar, soybean oil, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup solids, etc. So much so, that some formulas are over 50% these ingredients. Yikes!
Organic Formula Options
You have two different options when it comes to formula:
- Homemade baby formula
- Organic formulas or European formulas
Homemade Formula
Now, I know what you’re thinking, you’ve probably seen the social media posts of the old timer’s formula and thought it seemed pretty… not nutritious? Dated? Etc?
I’m right there with you. Yes, it might have been given back in the day, but we are so much farther along with nutrition than we were back then. Yes, those people might be saying “I was given it and I was fine”. But how do we measure “fine”? What is their current health status? Body condition? So on and so forth.
What I recommend instead is the formula by the Weston A. Price Foundation. They feature both a dairy based and non-dairy option.
What makes this version of homemade formula so superior is that it is nutritionally dense and backed by years of research.
Raw Milk Baby Formula
This recipe makes 36 ounces.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole raw cow’s milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
- 1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
- 4 tablespoons lactose
- 1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
- 2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
- 1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil
- 1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)
- 1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 teaspoons gelatin
- 1-7/8 cups filtered water
- 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder
Instructions
- Put 2 cups filtered water into a pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tablespoons (that will give you 1-7/8 cups water).
- Pour about half of the water into a pan and place on a medium flame.
- Add the gelatin and lactose to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
- When the gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture.
- Stir in the coconut oil and optional high-vitamin butter oil and stir until melted.
- Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients into a blender.
- Add the water mixture and blend about three seconds.
- Place in glass bottles or a glass jar and refrigerate.
- Before giving to baby, warm bottles by placing in hot water or a bottle warmer. NEVER warm bottles in a microwave oven.
Goat Milk Formula
If your baby is unable to tolerate raw cow’s milk, you can subsitute with goat milk. However, it lacks folate and vitamin B12. To make up for this, you can add 2 teaspoons of organic raw chicken liver that has been finely grated.
Other Options
Head on over the Weston A. Price Foundation’s website for other variations, tips and tricks in regards to formula options!
As noted above, you’ll need to make your own liquid whey so here’s a link to those instructions.
Organic Pre-Made Options
Some formulas that I feel comfortable using are Nature’s One Baby’s Only, Holle, HiPP, Kabrita, and other European brands.
A good place to purchase these is from the website Organicbabyfood24. You can click this link to Shop now!
So why choose European formulas over Enfamil, Similac, or a generic store brand? This is because they use considerably better ingredients than what you can find in the store. However, I did notice as of recent that some health food stores such as Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, and others are starting to carry some of these brands.
Bottom Line
In my opinion, breastfeeding is going to give your baby a big advantage with the immunity boosting benefits and it also provides your baby with the nutrition they need as it adjusts to their current stage of life.
However, if you opt for a formula, whether homemade or in a canister, make sure to reach for the best option to set them up on a good path in life.
While we’re on the topic of safer choices for the little one in your life, hop on over to my post on safer baby clothes!
Did you nurse or did you utilize other options? Share your experience below!
