Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit

What is the purpose of each ingredient?

Whole Goat Milk Powder:
Closely resembles the protein, fat, and carbohydrate structure of breast milk more than 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. Lactose is the preferred carb source because it is true “milk sugar”. It is a combination of glucose and galactose perfect for an infant’s diet. Babies naturally produce excessive amounts of lactase, an enzyme used to digest lactose, so the fit is natural. Lactose is beneficial for establishing Lactobacillus acidophilus (good bacteria) in the newly formed GI tract of your little one.

Goat Milk Ghee:
This clarified “butter oil” from goat milk cream does not contain any of the allergens found in cow milk and provides the necessary saturated fat for the formula. 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. NOTE: Coconut oil is a great substitution option for the saturated fat category of the formula and can be used in the same amount as the goat milk ghee.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
Provides the necessary monounsaturated fats. It is a good source of oleic acid.

Expeller Pressed Grapeseed Oil:
Delivers linoleic acid which is vital in infant nutrition. This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that the body cannot produce on its own but needs in small amounts.

Unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses:
High in B vitamins, minerals, and is a natural source of iron. It can help keep baby from getting constipated. The unsulphured variety is far less processed.

Head Start Multivitamin™:
Goat milk is dangerously low in folate, iron, and B12, so any goat milk based formula needs those elements added in. This multivitamin provides methylated b-vitamins (B12 and folate) and iron, as well as many other vitamins helpful for infant health. One serving is enough for the whole day, which is why this is a Once Daily Ingredient (ODI).

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.

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. This is also an ODI.

READ MORE about each ingredient at: https://goatmilkformula.com/2020/09/25/homemade-goat-milk-formula-recipe/

I want to use this formula for – insert age here. Can I do this?

Interestingly enough when I first developed this formula I was recommended parents hold off until baby was a few months old. However, we have been constantly updating and improving the formula and have had such overwhelmingly great feedback for all ages between newborn and 1 year that I feel comfortable recommending the formula to all ages. I never get tired of saying this though, keep your doctor in the loop.

Do I use the multivitamins/probiotics DHA or Colostrum in every bottle I make?

No. Just include those nutrients in one bottle per day and your baby will receive his/her needed vitamins and probiotics.

How do I store the liquid formula once made?

Once a bottle is made, it can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. You will want to taste it on the 3rd day to make sure it is still fresh. If you make a bottle and end up feeding it right away, we recommend throwing out any leftovers within 1 hour.

The recipe card included in the kit will provide directions on how to make larger liquid batches. If you do make a larger liquid batch, once all ingredients are mixed (except the once daily ingredients), we highly recommend pouring into individual bottles the amount your little one will consume in one feeding. This will keep the oils from hardening in a larger batch and not mixing evenly. This also ensures that formula won’t be wasted as what is not consumed from the bottle in a serving needs to be thrown out. In the same manner, if your child is not drinking a full 8 oz bottle in a sitting, but maybe only 4 oz, we would suggest making up the 8 oz formula ingredients, then dividing it into two bottles of 4 oz each. One bottle can be fed right away, and the other stored in the fridge. You could also split up an 8 oz serving into 4 bottles with 2 oz each if that is all you are feeding at a time.

The formula can be stored in breast milk storage bags in the freezer for up to 6 months, just like breast milk.

Do any of the kit items need to be refrigerated?

Yes, the DHA needs to be refrigerated after opening. The ghee can be stored in the fridge or on the counter top/pantry, just make sure if you are not going to be refrigerating it that you don’t cross-contaminate it with any other foods. Nothing else has to be refrigerated, but some like to refrigerate the probiotics and grapeseed oil to extend freshness.

Do you have a ready made formula version?

No, we do not sell a ready made formula, we only sell the ingredients to make your own goat milk formula at home. However, the kit does provide a dry mix recipe, which uses the same ingredients in the same proportions as the original recipe, but the powders, molasses and oils are mixed up without the water and can be used more like a traditional “store bought” formula experience. This can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You use 2 heaping tablespoons (approx. 30g) of this dry mixture for an 8 oz bottle.

How do I store the products?

The DHA is the only item that has to be refrigerated. You can refrigerate the ghee for a longer shelf life or you can leave it out. If you leave it out of the fridge (which will make it easier to scoop and use) please be careful not to contaminate it with other foods (like spreading it on toast and sticking the butter knife back in the jar), as it can cause mold to grow over time. Otherwise store the rest of the powders and oils in a dry place.

I thought goat milk was low in folate and vitamin B12?

You are right. (good job!) That is why we add the multivitamin powder.

The directions on the milk powder say I should use 2 scoops but your recipe only calls for one. Why is that?

A baby under 12 months old still has developing kidneys. Straight, undiluted “full strength” goat milk powder uses two scoops. There is simply too much protein and naturally occurring sodium in that amount of milk powder for the maturing kidney’s of a baby to process. Therefore we reduce the amount of milk powder to reduce the amount of protein. We then increase the amount of carbohydrates to make up for what we’ve taken out.

Is my baby getting enough iron with this formula?

Yes and here is why. When a baby is born full term they usually have a 6 month supply of iron that they have stored up while still in the womb. Therefore, from 0-6 months, the iron requirement for infants is only .27 mg/day. After six months however, the requirement jumps up to 11 mg for babies between 7 -12 months and then drops back down to 7 mg/day for toddlers 1-3 years of age. (The iron RDA won’t go back up to 11mg/day until your son or daughter is a teenager.) The formula that I created will deliver 0.5mg iron/100 calories of formula. Usually by the time a baby gets to 6 months, they begin eating a variety of solid foods and as long as parents are careful to include iron rich foods (winter squash, sweet potato etc.) along with vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables (vitamin C assists with iron absorption) supplementing with iron drops shouldn’t be necessary. However if you choose to supplement with iron drops remember that often these can cause constipation.

My baby just started the formula and loves it! He seems constipated though. Should I be worried?

It is very common for slight constipation to occur when switching to formula. There are several easy fixes that will help the transition. First, give them time to adjust on their own. The digestive system of an infant does not react as quickly as a mature digestive system to changes in diet and sometimes all the baby needs is a little more time to regulate on their own. If however it seems that they need a little help you can do one of two things. First, add less milk powder to the formula. Instead of using 1 scoop per bottle use 3/4 of a scoop and let the formula be a bit watered down for a day or two. This will usually clear things up and then you can go back to the regular recipe. Another trick is to add a generous amount of blackstrap molasses to the formula, blackstrap molasses is a natural laxative. The recipe calls for 1/8 of a teaspoon of molasses but feel free to use double, triple or even quadruple that for a short period of time to help clear up the constipation.

The bottle keeps getting clogged when I use the once daily ingredients and my baby and I are both frustrated, what do we do?

When it comes to clogging, the issue is typically the colostrum. We grind the colostrum as fine as we can, but sometimes it has a hard time getting through smaller bottle nipples, especially for newborns. We have been told that the Dr. Brown’s bottles are the worst bottles for clogging, and that Aventi and Mam bottles seem to work better, but it may depend on the bottle nipple size. Sometimes going up a nipple size, if it is safe for your little one, is enough to do the trick. Pre-grinding the colostrum in a mortar and pestle may be helpful. Ultimately the colostrum is an optional ingredient, so you can leave it out or mix it into baby food when your child is old enough to eat solids. Some parents mix a small amount of formula with the colostrum (or other once daily ingredients) and use an oral syringe to gently squeeze it into the side of the mouth.

If I am breastfeeding and supplementing with this, do I still need to include the once daily items?

This is totally up to you. We recommend that we provide baby with the most nutrient dense food possible and therefore recommend adding the once daily items.