Homemade Emergency Baby Formula Recipe

I struggled significantly to breastfeed my first child, and when she was six-months-old, my milk could no longer support her growing needs. Baby formula became an absolute necessity.

Even though I more-and-more successfully breastfed each of the three babies that followed and learned how to get off to a great start with breastfeeding, at that point in time, we both reluctantly and gratefully relied on baby formula to help her grow.

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The problem was, however, that about a week after we had made the switch to full-time formula, the entire water supply to our beautiful city of millions of people became tainted with e-coli and was utterly undrinkable. Bottled water was severely limited.

And as you likely know, no water = no formula = no food for our infant daughter.

To say we felt helpless and panic-stressed would be an understatement.

Thus, if you’re in a similar situation, I want to share this baby formula recipe, which is based on the World Health Organization’s emergency baby formula recipe, as a stop-gap and stress-busting option when all your other alternatives to feed your baby have run out, whether that’s because of baby formula shortages, a water crisis, a natural disaster, or just the chaos of life and you open your cupboard and realize you forgot to pick up baby formula the last time you went to the store.

Dealing with Shortages

Three quick notes:

1. Creative solutions for supply shortages: If you’re dealing with an infant formula shortage, perhaps there are shortages on other items as well. You may want to read our solutions for how to make your own toilet paper and how to make SAFE, effective hand sanitizer (because you don’t want to mess around with nasty bacteria and viruses!).

2. Use an app to search: If you want to find where your preferred baby formula brand *might* be in stock, use this new Chrome extension to compare multiple online stores at once and set up notifications. This extension is new, so I can’t make any promises for how well it works, but it’s certainly one more way to hopefully find what you need before you feel like you’re completely stuck.

3. Remember that even though shortages are stressful, particularly when babies are involved, you have the unique opportunity and privilege to make your child feel safe and secure and loved, no matter what life has thrown at you. Take a few deep breaths, snuggle your baby, think through your options, then make a plan of action for how to find what you need, even if you have to get creative. We’re here to help you find joy even in stressful situations. ❤️

Okay, enough sidetracks! Let’s get on to the homemade emergency baby formula recipe!

Emergency Baby Formula

Andrew J. Schuman, MD, begins his fascinating article, A concise history of infant formula (twists and turns included), published in Contemporary Pediatrics journal in 2003, by nailing on the head the problem that has challenged doctors and scientists for centuries. He quips, “Finding an acceptable alternative to breast milk has proved to be a complicated quest that continues [even] today….”

He tells the story of how first raw milk, then pasteurized milk, were discarded as alternatives to mother’s milk. Raw milk was discarded as an option because the understanding of bacteriology or even proper milk handling hadn’t yet matured, so milk tended to become a petri dish for disease, especially tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cholera, and diphtheria. Pasteurized milk lost favor because when infants drank it, the “curds” in their stomach were thought to be “too large to digest” and caused discomfort.

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Enter evaporated milk.

Evaporated milk is milk that has been reduced to about 60% of its original volume. The evaporated milk is then heated above 200°F to sterilize it, which has the side effect of breaking down the protein structures in the milk.

Typically, I use this as an argument against pasteurization since there is a possible link between pasteurized milk and lactose-intolerance-like symptoms, but in the case of discovering an alternative way to feed babies, it’s a benefit.

Just as Dr. Schuman described that pasteurized milk was originally discarded as a viable option as a substitute baby formula because the protein structures were too large for babies’ immature digestive systems to handle, evaporated milk provided an alternative that was much easier on babies’ guts.

Thus, for several decades through the twentieth century, a simple evaporated milk formula was the most commonly recommended baby formula by physicians across the Americas and Europe. In fact, it wasn’t even produced commercially. Evaporated milk was known for being easy to find and inexpensive, so physicians simply gave parents the instructions and parents prepared the formula at home – homemade baby formula WAS the officially recommended baby formula! Numerous studies were also published between the 1920’s and the 1950’s documenting its safety and efficacy.

While today’s commercial formulas are much more sophisticated – they are truly a formula of ingredients which provide very exact amounts of a precise list of nutrients shown to help babies grow optimally – homemade evaporated milk formula is surprisingly simple for being able to provide the macronutrients your baby needs in the short-term.

And that same recipe is the still the recipe that is recommended by the World Health Organization today in places where war or natural disaster has occurred and parents have no other option for feeding their baby.

Full disclosure: The WHO documentation also states that the recipe is to be given to health care workers to show families how to make it properly. Other WHO literature states: “For infants who do not receive breast milk, feeding with a suitable breast-milk substitute – for example… a home-prepared formula with micronutrient supplements – should be demonstrated only by health workers, or other community workers if necessary, and only to the mothers and other family members who need to use it; and the information given should include adequate instructions for appropriate preparation and the health hazards of inappropriate preparation and use.”

But wait… is evaporated milk real food?

But is it real food? you say.

Is this actually something healthy that will nourish my baby?

Well, yes and no.

Yes, it’s real food. This is NOT sweetened condensed milk, which – at least in the commercial versions – has significant amounts of unhealthy types of sugars added. Like jarred tomatoes or canned refried beans, evaporated milk is a whole food that has been commercially preserved – and as you know, you can even make evaporated milk at home.

And yes, as I mentioned, it will provide macronutrients for your baby to survive. But it will not provide nutrients in the proper amounts to help your baby thrive or to support long-term health and growth. Regular cow’s milk by itself – including in evaporated milk – doesn’t have enough iron, vitamin E, or essential fatty acids for your baby to grow and too much protein, sodium, and potassium for your baby’s body to absorb. Both can cause harm.

This is a recipe that is meant to be used for a few days only at maximum. If you need something longer term, talk with your child’s doctor.

Evaporated milk: why canned is a better option in this case than homemade

Even though it’s easy to make your own evaporated milk, in this case, the canned stuff is the better choice. Why?

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Because even though both homemade and store-bought evaporated milk function equally well as an ingredient in pies and coffee and baking, the homemade evaporated milk has not (and cannot be) flash pasteurized, which is the process that breaks down the protein structures.

And remember, in homemade baby formula, we WANT the protein structures to be as easy as possible to digest, so canned is the way to go.

The only caveat I will add, however, is that you want to find a brand that uses as few additives as possible (if possible – remember, if you’re in an emergency, use whatever you have available). Carrageenan, gums, and other thickeners and preservatives can have harmful effects on the gut long-term or on very sensitive systems, but for most babies, shouldn’t present an issue in the short-term.

Other Options: What to Give Your Baby if You Run Out of Formula in an Emergency

Emergency Formula Alternatives

If you’re not crazy about making your own baby formula, there are a few other options, depending on the age and health of your baby. Let’s take a quick look at the nutritional needs of each state of development.

0 – 6 Months

Breast milk and/or formula should be the primary source of nutrition at this age.

• Contact your child’s pediatrician, a local clinic, hospital, food bank, or breast milk bank to inquire if they have formula or breast milk available.
• If no formula or breast milk is available, ask your child’s doctor if an oral rehydration solution or coconut water is acceptable for the child.
• If your baby is 4+ months, can hold his or her head up, and has lost the tongue-thrust reflex, you may supplement with puréed food.
• Do not give water by itself. An infant’s immature kidneys cannot process water without other nutrients, and too much water in the baby’s system can lead to what’s referred to as “water intoxication,” which can cause brain swelling and seizures.
• Do not dilute breast milk or formula with water or any other liquid.

6 – 9 Months

Breast milk and/or formula should be the primary source of nutrition at this age, supplemented with solid food.

• Contact your child’s pediatrician, a local clinic, hospital, food bank, or breast milk bank to inquire if they have formula or breast milk available.
• Offer solid foods, preferably nutritionally-dense foods such as whole fat yogurt, avocado, mashed egg yolk, mashed beans or lentils, oatmeal, cheese, and meat. However, solid food at this age is largely to introduce them to the tastes and textures of food, not to provide calories or nutrition.
• Oral rehydration solution or coconut water may be okay for a 1-2 day period of time.
• Small sips of bone broth are okay ( < 1-2 ounce per day ).
• Do not give water by itself.
• Do not dilute breast milk or formula with water or any other liquid.

9 – 12 Months

Breast milk and/or formula should be the primary source of nutrition at this age, supplemented with an increasing amount of solid food.

• Sips of water, full-fat dairy milk, bone broth, and coconut milk are okay ( < 2-4 ounces per day ).
• Do not dilute breast milk or formula with water or any other liquid.
• Oral rehydration solution may be acceptable for a 2-3 day period of time.
• Offer solid foods, preferably nutritionally-dense foods such as whole fat yogurt, avocado, mashed egg yolk, mashed beans or lentils, oatmeal, cheese, and meat.

12 – 24 Months

Unless otherwise stated by your child’s doctor, solid food should be the primary source of nutrition at this age, supplemented with breast milk or a toddler-specific formula.

• If your child is eating solid foods well, you no longer need to offer formula unless directed by your pediatrician.
• You may offer any full-fat dairy milk. At this age, milk is primarily for fat, calcium, and vitamin D, so if you are unable to get milk, focus on foods rich also in these nutrients, such as yogurt, cheese, and bone broth.
• At 12 months, water should be a part of your baby’s diet. Your baby may drink as much as he or she requests if they are consuming most of their calories via solid food.
• Oral rehydration solution is likely acceptable for a few days, especially if your baby is sick.

Who to call for help if you don’t have access to breast milk or formula

• Call your doctor or your baby’s doctor. Your OBGYN or your baby’s healthcare provider may have formula samples on hand they can offer you to hold you over until you are able to get more. They may also be able to point you to other service providers in your area with helpful resources.
• Lean on your community. If you’re part of a church, contact your deacons. If you have friends or neighbors who have young children, see if they have extra they can share for a day or two. Even if these individuals don’t have formula or breast milk specifically, they may have other ways to support you to help you stretch your budget.
• Food banks. As you know, I’m a passionate advocate of food banking. ❤️ Local food banks may or may not have infant formula to offer, but it’s worth checking. Even if they don’t, you may be eligible to receive food so that you can stretch your budget to make sure you are also able to buy the food or formula your baby needs.
• WIC. In the United States, the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program exists to help families provide food and nutrition for families with young children. To find out if you are eligible for WIC, call a WIC office near you or apply online.
• SNAP. Also in the US, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers benefits to provide food for low income families. Unlike WIC, the benefits can be used to purchase food for individuals of any age, including infant formula. Get more information here.
• Breast milk banks. There are more and more resources available for finding human milk to feed your baby. You can find a milk bank through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, La Leche League International, Mothers Milk Bank Charity (Australia), the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, the United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking, and many others.

But I need a longer-term solution! What do I do?

For longer-term solutions, there are a few options. (Other options are being added in the comments, as well, so take a look below to glean from the collective wisdom of those who have chimed in with ideas.)

1. Take the nutrition information for this recipe to your pediatrician and see if it’s appropriate for your child for a longer period of time.

This was the recipe recommended by physicians for much of the early and middle part of the twentieth century, so there’s plenty of history documenting that it can be used safely and effectively for weeks or months at a time. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for YOUR child long-term and the risks can be high if your baby doesn’t receive the proper balance of nutrients. (And let me state again for the record: I am not your child’s physician, nor am I a physician myself. I am a researcher, journalist, and natural living strategist, so I am merely providing information with which YOU can do your own due diligence.)

2. Use a recipe that supplements other nutrition or stretches the bit of formula you do have.

We have another recipe for homemade baby formula, but it’s only appropriate if your baby is already getting the majority of their calories and nutrition from another source (such as breast milk or other formula). You can see that powdered goat’s milk homemade baby formula recipe here.

3. Make a scientifically-formulated homemade baby formula.

Although making your own homemade baby formula is against the recommendation of the FDA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and most mainstream pediatricians, if you’re willing to consider making your own baby formula, the two homemade baby formula recipes (one dairy and one non-dairy) developed by nutritionist Mary Enig, Ph.D. to mimic mother’s milk are the most trusted, well-vetted homemade baby formula recipes available.

Like everything, these recipes have their risks and their benefits, but those are discussed in-length at the Weston A. Price Foundation website. See the recipes and all the discussion here.

For the record, we very much agree with the FDA, AAP, and others that making your own homemade baby formula long-term without consulting an experienced healthcare professional can be very risky business. That said, you DO have options beyond manufactured formula.

4. Lean on the community resources you have available.

Use the recommendations above to find formula samples, charities who may have extra formula, human milk banks, and other resources to help fill the gap until you can buy formula again.

Sources

1. Schuman, A.J. (2003). A concise history of infant formula (twists and turns included). Contemporary pediatrics, 20, 91-98. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/concise-history-infant-formula-twists-and-turns-included
2. WHO/UNICEF. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003. 140p.
3. Ziegler EE, Fomon SJ, Nelson SE, Rebouche CJ, Edwards BB, Rogers RR, et al. Cow milk feeding in infancy: further observations on blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Pediatrics. 1990;116:11-8.
4. Iliff, Douglas, MD and O’Connor, Nina R., MD. American Family Physician Journal. 2010 Apr 15;81(8):933-934. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0415/p933a.html
5. WHO. Guidelines for Use of Breast-Milk Substitutes in Emergency Situations. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005. https://www.ennonline.net/attachments/521/lebanon-guidelines-for-breast-milk-substitutes.pdf
6. The American Association of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/
7. Medani C. R. (1987). Seizures and hypothermia due to dietary water intoxication in infants. Southern medical journal, 80(4), 421-425. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198704000-00003
8. Castilho, S. D., & Barros Filho, A. A. (2010). The history of infant nutrition. Jornal de pediatria, 86(3), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.2223/JPED.1984

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