Would you give your baby homemade formula? (US Formula shortage thoughts/recipe ideas)

[DragRaceFan]

I just read this article and it had me thinking about homemade baby formula. Is it something you would ever do? Do you know any recipes?

tinybeans.com/relactating-formula-shortage/

I didn’t know homemade formula was possible, I’d be scared their nutritional needs weren’t being met, so I googled. There are lots of warnings not to although, if it’s a choice between no formula or home made, what’s a parent going to do? Must be a huge worry.

www.newsweek.com/pediatrician-slams-dangerous-diy-baby-formulas-impassioned-video-1711749

medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-home-made-baby-formula-bad-idea.html

www.futurity.org/homemade-baby-formula-warning-2746412-2/

www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Is-Homemade-Baby-Formula-Safe.aspx

It isn't something that I would choose to do, but if I couldn't buy formula then I suppose I'd have to. It's sad that lots of parents are facing this problem.

Oh really sad
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that some babies fed homemade formula have been hospitalized for hypocalcemia (low calcium)

It's what people used to do before commercial baby formula was invented, but I'd be very reluctant to do it, you can cause serious harm if you don't know what you're doing.

For babies over six months they are saying if people can't find formula, to increase solids and use whole cows milk. For younger babies to seek donor milk, use other formulas or seek medical help and advice because it's dangerous for babies to have their entire diet replaced with something unsuitable.

No, absolutely not. The risk of baby becoming seriously ill is pretty damn high. Goats milk, if no formula and no chance of relactating.

Goats milk is no more similar to human milk than cow's.

Well I wouldn’t do it out of choice. But if they choice is no Breastmilk or formula then what else do you do? The option is they starve or you try the best next thing and hope it’s temporary and doesn’t make them ill

I imagine something like aptimal porridges for babies also have some of the key vitamins in? Not sure, but might be better than nothing for some over say 4 months

I wouldn't out of choice, but what do you do if you have a hungry baby and no formula milk for them? Hardly a free decision.

It would be really far down the list of preferred options, but if I'd exhorted all other options, then I would. The risk of it going wrong, while significant, is less then the risk of starvation.

No. I would source a milk donor.

I think I'd use cows milk tbh.

The closest to humans is actually donkey. Cows are just docile and easily bred and have many uses.

Each species of mammal makes milk perfectly suited to that species, and further, each animal makes milk specific to each baby which responds to pathogens the baby comes into contact with throughout each day communicated via saliva and the body then makes antibodies. It's literally how we form our immune system and fight off routine childhood illness.

We have so far removed from nature it's scary. And the mammalian milk production mechanism is wonderous. I had no idea until I had a baby, breastfed, and learned all this on my own.

It would be taught in schools if our society valued health and wellbeing instead of profit.

Home made formula is basically just animal milk (of whatever kind) with various things added to supplement it. It is definitely better than starvation but if I was stuck in that situation, couldn't get donor milk, couldn't relactate, I'd go to a doctor/health visitor and see what specifically they said was OK. It might be early weaning, it might be cow's milk with supplementary foods. Obviously a last resort, but I would not do it alone with advice off the internet.

Would cows milk not be preferable to homemade formula? Alongside vitamin & mineral supplements?

I have no idea - it’s an awful situation to be in.

I was fed on a Carnation milk "formula" as an adopted baby... it was just what was done before there were readily available baby milk optiions. Not ideal, but there was nothing else then. (I was also given cod liver oil, which I guess helped fill some of thenutritional void).

It's unbelievable that we have arrived at this kind of decision. I can't imagine the worry! I live somewhere with higher than average BFing rates so a wet nurse/milk bank would be my first choice. Then I suppose with younger babies you could try relactation but it's not possible in a lot of cases.

Are they just telling new mums to BF desperately?

No. When I first heard about the US formula shortage, I thought that pregnant US women should be seriously exploring other feeding options.

Though I'm not sure homemade formula is the way to go.

I read an article about this a few weeks ago and apparently the medical advice was to use full fat cows milk rather than any of the homemade formula recipes, though obviously that's not ideal either. But in the short term it's safer apparently.
Must be a terrible position for parents to be in.

I'd use cows milk, probably some food depending on the age and vitamin drops.

It must be an awful situation to be in.

My non-breastfed relatives were reared on boiled full fat milk with some flour mixed into.it. There was.no other option.

I thought it was elephant milk.

I had one ff and one bf baby and no I wouldn’t try to make
my own formula unless I was in a situation where there was no other option.

My Nan made her own formula in the early 1950's as she didn't breastfeed her own kids. Was pretty basic, cows milk with stuff added if I remember.

My initial reaction is of course not. But if my baby needed to eat and I couldn't buy formula, I'd try whatever I could.