for those of you who feed homemade formula to your babies

[delfin]

Did they learn to follow directions at an early age????

I had to ask...that's a big claim Sally Fallon makes in NT!

but seriously...i'm curious. The general advice is not to feed a homemade brew to a baby, and i understand the motivation behind the advi$e, but this NT formula sounds so bizarre...

If you used it with your kids, when did you started?how did it work? until when?

[Sparkle*Mama]

I did not use the homemade formula, so I can not tell you anything from experience. But, I do talk to parents daily who do use this formula and their children do excel. I have yet to hear a negative about it. The Weston Price Website has a link to a yahoo discussion group (click on the Email Links link) and it is full of families who use the formula. That might be another good source to help feed curiousity

[joybird]

Does she really say this? Good grief - no wonder that book hasn't come off my shelf in so long.

I mean, I'm sure that as far as formula goes hers is probably pretty good. But, following directions well? Who's to say that's even a good thing? Although, come to think of it, cows do follow directions pretty well so maybe it all makes perfect sense.

[Bensmommy]

My BF kids followed directions well-- does that mean that they could have read and followed the recipe for the formula if I had done that instead of BF?

I think high quality food (and age appropriate, of course) only fosters the intellect that is already present in the child-- doesn't create intellect that isn't there!

[momma4fun]

i

[momma4fun]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was reading too fast!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get the topic of the thread now, carry on!!!!!!

[1littlebit]

So I've been lurking in this forum for a day or two now and I'm confused. why would someone make their own formula? i mean i get that formula from the store is not ideal but how is making your own any better? bm would be the most traditional food... and while i understand that some women cant bf is it safer to make your own formula or buy from the store? and if it is safer to make your own formula how does one do this and how do you know what to put in it? (o and the following directions thing? i was bf cant follow directions to save my life my best friend was fed goats milk and shes great with following directions .. if she got in trouble at school it was usually my fault! But i annoy the crap outa her b/c she works her but off and gets good grades while i'm lucky if i manage to get to class with all my books (let alone homework) and i get better ones)

[kl5]

This article explains it pretty well: http://westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html. WAPF is controversial for not taking a strong enough stand on the side of breastfeeding, but that aside, this seems to me like a much better compromise than industrial formula available at the grocery store.

[LoMaH]

Well, I was one of those moms who experienced a lot of problems with bfing (with lactation consultant and all). So, 5 1/2 yrs. ago, I stumbled onto WAPF when I wanted to try the homemade formula with my daughter who was also having difficulties with many formulas on the market.
My daughter got full body hives from the raw milk (very scary accompanied with the ER visit). She couldn't tolerate the liver based formula either because she was allergic to the whey portion of the formula.
My major problem wasn't exactly the safety of it (like providing enough nutrients, etc. 'cause I never got that far with it), but the fact that I had a very sensitive child.

So, while I've read of many moms whose children have thrived on both formulas..... my little one was an exception. I hope that moms take precaution. My advice is that you heed caution and give tiny amounts when introducing any new foods to your baby. I learned my lesson!

[momma4fun]

ok, i'll respond correctly now

disclaimer: i'm not trying to project MY family's experience on anyone else

on various sides of my family, we have history of aspergers syndrome, adhd, and bi-polar disorder, that manifested from birth

my kids have had a combo of breastmilk and raw cow's milk formula, only whole foods, no vax and natural births.

my kids are strong, super healthy, very athletic and have straight teeth, and no behavioural issues. (and of course i think they're brilliant!)

my neices and nephews were all breastfed for at least a month but no longer than 3-4 months, and from there on ate formula, the standard american diet, they are ALL considered underweight, and are all vaccinated.

3 (out of 5) are suspected or being evaluated for behavioral issues. they all have way narrower faces than my kids, and they all have accidents -- broken bones, fall down and get hurt a lot, get black eyes, a couple teeth knocked out and get stomach viruses all the time.

it's not proven science here or anything, but in my eyes from everything i've learned, my children are extreme examples of health compared to their cousins.

[Fi'sMom]

I'm wondering how much this homemade formula has ended up costing those of you who've been making it??? Sounds extremely expensive! And it doesn't sound like it would store for very long. My girl is 6 mth., and I'm wondering if I can maybe once a day give her a concoction of raw milk, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, coconut milk, a powdered probiotic and whey (since I have all of that already and it's not terribly expensive).

[LoMaH]

Fi'sMom
Pose your question on this group here:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/newwaphb/

As long as your little one doesn't have allergies, (is she bf-ed?) I see no reason why you can't reinforce her diet. <shrugs>

Originally Posted by Fi'sMom

I'm wondering how much this homemade formula has ended up costing those of you who've been making it??? Sounds extremely expensive! And it doesn't sound like it would store for very long. My girl is 6 mth., and I'm wondering if I can maybe once a day give her a concoction of raw milk, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, coconut milk, a powdered probiotic and whey (since I have all of that already and it's not terribly expensive).

[guestmama9904]

i think as a supplement or compliment to breastmilk the "formula" advocated by NT might be ok but i would not use it to feed my baby as a primary source of nutrition. if i had some extreme issue where i could not breastfeed i would attempt to find a milk donor, and if that proved impossible i would use an organic baby formula. but if anything i actually had an oversupply issue with DS and could spray milk 20 ft accross the room so i dont anticipate any milk problems with my baby.

[LoMaH]

arismama
you could spray 20 ft across the room, huh?
I would have loved to have borrowed your..... he he he..... nevermind. lol
You're so lucky!

At the time, I tried to find a milk donor.... the places I called were very very expensive (several thousand $$s/month), Oh, the milk is mixed together coming from several donors and is pasteurized... some people could have it covered by insurance if their child had no other source of food and had a life threatening health condition. My child didn't fall under that category.
The other problem with having a child w/ multiple allergies, you have to trust the donor to remain on a very restrictive diet...... a few moms I've known w/ allergic babies = have eaten like only 6 foods for years..... who else besides a mother (w)could do that for a child?

I had to settle for a special formula for my daughter (thank God there was something)..... and altho I hated the thought of all the junk it contained, I tried not to think about it too much because that junky formula was sustaining her life.
Sorry for the novela. Take care

Originally Posted by arismama!

i think as a supplement or compliment to breastmilk the "formula" advocated by NT might be ok but i would not use it to feed my baby as a primary source of nutrition. if i had some extreme issue where i could not breastfeed i would attempt to find a milk donor, and if that proved impossible i would use an organic baby formula. but if anything i actually had an oversupply issue with DS and could spray milk 20 ft accross the room so i dont anticipate any milk problems with my baby.

[Sparkle*Mama]

Originally Posted by Fi'sMom

I'm wondering how much this homemade formula has ended up costing those of you who've been making it??? Sounds extremely expensive! And it doesn't sound like it would store for very long. My girl is 6 mth., and I'm wondering if I can maybe once a day give her a concoction of raw milk, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, coconut milk, a powdered probiotic and whey (since I have all of that already and it's not terribly expensive).

You can buy a superfood pack from Radiant Life Company. It is $139 for the pack. It includes everything that you need except for the raw milk and you need to make your whey. The kit will make 28 days of 36 oz batches. Many of the items will last you anywhere from a couple more weeks to a few more months providing you are not using them for other things (cooking, baking, etc). The formula can be frozen if you need to make it ahead.

[guestmama9904]

Originally Posted by LoMaH

arismama
you could spray 20 ft across the room, huh?
I would have loved to have borrowed your..... he he he..... nevermind. lol
You're so lucky!

...

yes i was lucky to have a bountiful supply, unfortunately that led to about 15 cases of mastitis over the course of 1.5 years and persistant thrush on my nipples. it's weird, i was blessed to be able to feed my child and to never have to worry about having enough milk but then i was not so lucky with the other problems. the thrush did resolve itself by the time ds was 2 but it sucked, bleeding, peeling nipples and a kid who got asked what that purple stain around his mouth was by his daycare providers (it was gentien violet, which didnt work.)

anyways in regards to the homemamde formula thing, the ideal solution would be if we all lived in real life tribes and some other mama could nurse our baby. sigh. unfortunately modern life doesnt usually create this opportunity.

[Gale Force]

LoMaH -- I can't imagine having allergy problems like that. I hope your baby is doing better now.

For people whose only barrier to feeding their baby human milk is getting the milk itself, MDC is a really good place to network to find donors. There are moms here who pump for work anyway and end up with extra. It's possible to find someone.

On occasion I hear of people wanting to use the homemade formula because their own milk is not healthy enough. I hope that doesn't apply to anyone here, but if that's the way you are thinking, start a thread and tell us your concerns. Raw milk from another mammal should not displace mother's milk when the mother's milk is available.

Amanda

[neostudded]

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/g...mula-fed-baby/

I recently found this article and I thought it was pretty good,

Hope this helps

[Shelsi]

You have to wonder if these kids are "more able to follow directions at a younger age" because they just have a different style of parents. I mean really, how many parents who spank, do CIO, eat junk food, etc are going to make their own formula? Chances are high that the majority of parents even considering making their own formula also do many non-mainstream parenting practices, many of which I believe make a calmer and more respectful child (in other words, can follow directions).

[LoMaH]

Oy!
So sorry. I also had the cracking nipples and thrush but it was short-lived!
One thing you might want to try for thrush next time is a supplement called Candex. I didn't use it when trying to nurse but it has resolved other yeast issues for me and my kids. Also, a capful of apple cider vinegar in a glass full of water and rinse for some quick relief might help. Then some probiotics.
Yeah, we need modern day wet nurses.
My grandmother was tandem nursed alongside her uncle,- by her paternal grandmother because her own mother was unable to. (now that's a tongue twister!)
Take care

Originally Posted by arismama!

yes i was lucky to have a bountiful supply, unfortunately that led to about 15 cases of mastitis over the course of 1.5 years and persistant thrush on my nipples. it's weird, i was blessed to be able to feed my child and to never have to worry about having enough milk but then i was not so lucky with the other problems. the thrush did resolve itself by the time ds was 2 but it sucked, bleeding, peeling nipples and a kid who got asked what that purple stain around his mouth was by his daycare providers (it was gentien violet, which didnt work.)

anyways in regards to the homemamde formula thing, the ideal solution would be if we all lived in real life tribes and some other mama could nurse our baby. sigh. unfortunately modern life doesnt usually create this opportunity.