Saturday, July 27, 2013

Homemade Coconut Milk Infant Formula

First off I would like to say that I am sharing with you my experience with two daughters that struggle with dairy allergies.  I have no background in nutrition or medicine.  So, please check with a holistic nutritionist or naturopath before starting a new diet with your infant.

I feel like I want to share this with everyone because it has changed our life so much!  When my second daughter was born I was sure that breastfeeding was going to go well.  I had difficulty with my first daughter and was only able to breastfeed 1/2 time for 7.5 months.  This time I was determined to do everything to make it work!  I fed on demand, even though she was screaming for food a mere 20 minutes after breastfeeding, I pumped in between feeds, I took Blessed Thistle, Fenugreek and Domperidone. I was told over and over again by moms and professionals, the more you take the more you make.

However, in my case, that was not true.  I have  condition called Mammary Hypoplasia.  In a nutshell, I do not have sufficient glandular tissue to hold enough milk to give my baby a full feed.  Therefore, my body is producing as much milk as it can hold.  But that storage is not big enough to satisfy my 9.5lb babies.  If you have struggled with breastfeeding and would like information on this condition please refer to the below link for information:

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lviss2-3-2009p4.html

So, I had to supplement my daughter within her first days after birth and was not able to breastfeed full time.  I had come to terms with that when around 4.5 months old I noticed an intestinal bleed.  She had also struggled with eczema from birth and was a terribly fussy baby, often waking 3-4 times a night.  The family doctor told us that it was a dairy allergy.  The proteins in the milk were causing damage to the intestines.  I did not want to put my daughter on soy formula due to the phytoestrogens and she would not take the hypoallergenic formula (due to the sour taste).  So the family doctor told me I would have to keep her on the dairy formula.

It was then that I was determined to find a better answer.  My daughters intestines were bleeding and I should just keep on doing what I am doing???  I made an appointment with a local naturopath and described my plight to him.  I also explained to him that I did not want to go on soy formula.  It was then that his receptionist found a rice milk based infant formula recipe from this blog:

http://jennpike.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/home-made-rice-milk-based-infant-formula/

There is a ton of information posted in the comments section of the blog.  So the naturopath sent us on our way to make our own formula.  I chose to use coconut milk.  I feel it has a pleasanter taste than rice milk.  It also has some healthy fats.  Here is what we do as adapted from Jenn Pike's Blog:

4 cups Coconut Milk (So Delishious)
2 tbsp Brown Rice Protien (Heartland Organics)
1 tbsp Molasses (Wholesome Foods)
2 tsp Pediatrivite (Genestra)
4 Scoops Infant Probiotic (Genestra)
2 tbsp Flax seed oil
400 Iu Vitamin D





Within 2 days my 5 month old was able to sit happily playing on the floor for 45 minutes instead of her usual 5 minutes.  She also began waking once a night and eventually slept through the night.  My daughter did a complete 180.  She went from pooping once every 3 days to pooping 3 times a day.  She is now 1 year old and growing like a bad weed.  I am so thankful for this recipe.  It made the latter half of our first year one to enjoy.  Instead of sleep deprived and completely frazzled I have fond memories of our first year together.  I cannot express what a difference this made in our life.

I love that this formula has whole foods in it.  There are no ingredients in it that I cannot pronounce. If I knew about this the first time around my older daughter would have been on it as well.  If we have any future children they will also be on this formula, allergies or not.

If you are in the Waterloo Region of Ontario you can consult with Dr. Dronyk ND of the Dronyk Clinic: http://www.dronykclinic.com/en/

116 comments:

  1. This is so inspiring Amber. If i ever hear of someone struggling with formula and feeding i will for sure recommend this post. Your sweet baby is a testament to how well it's worked for you both!

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  2. Thank you Tracey. I have felt so empowered through this experience. It has given me confidence to advocate for what is best for my children regardless of what the majority of medical professionals might say. I know this was the right choice for us and I would not hesitate to make this decision again.

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  3. Coconut is very good for us. Do you use can or carton coconut milk? Also the books titled "Coconut Oil Miracle" and "The Coconut Diet" go into a lot of details regarding coconut milk. One of the benefits being it is the closets to mother's milk than anything else out there.

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  4. I also wanted to know how long does it keep for before spoiling AND at what age is it safe to give to your baby. I am 9 months preggers and want provide this to my son since I've had a hard time nursing with my last two sons. Thanks!

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  5. fromk you so much for the information Kiesha. I will definitely be looking into those books. As I said above, I am not a nutritional expert or a doctor. However, I can tell you that my next child will be going on this formula from birth. I also have a naturopath that I will consult with any issues that might arise. But if you bounce over to the balancing bodies blog you will see all kinds of information from Jenn Pike who is a Holistic Nutritionist. We never had any digestive issues with our daughter but it does sound like some of the babies get constipated when too much rice protein is used. To ansCoconutr other question, we used carton milk (So Delicious Organic Coconut). I am glad you are considering a whole food option for your baby to be. We saw such a difference in temperament when we switched our daughter. God bless you and your family as you get ready to invite a new little brother or sister into your family.

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  6. fromk you so much for the information Kiesha. I will definitely be looking into those books. As I said above, I am not a nutritional expert or a doctor. However, I can tell you that my next child will be going on this formula from birth. I also have a naturopath that I will consult with any issues that might arise. But if you bounce over to the balancing bodies blog you will see all kinds of information from Jenn Pike who is a Holistic Nutritionist. We never had any digestive issues with our daughter but it does sound like some of the babies get constipated when too much rice protein is used. To ansCoconutr other question, we used carton milk (So Delicious Organic Coconut). I am glad you are considering a whole food option for your baby to be. We saw such a difference in temperament when we switched our daughter. God bless you and your family as you get ready to invite a new little brother or sister into your family.

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  7. Hello, my name is Angie and live in Las Vegas, Nevada. I found your recipe while recently searching for a natural baby formula online. I also struggled with producing enough breast milk to feed my new born infant. I then supplemented her with Similac Advanced Organic which turned out to be a very bad result for her. I'm very interested in trying this recipe you posted. I was doing some additional research online and found that some people believe that coconut milk will not supplement an infant as needed. Did you find this to be true? Also, did your baby have regular bowel movements? I was wondering if you could describe what type of texture they were and how often your baby had a bowel movement with this type of formula. I appreciate all of your help. God Bless.

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  8. Hello Angie. Thank you so much for your comment. I cannot believe I didn't mention this in the blog post. She went from pooping once every 3 days to pooping 3 times a day. They were quite soft and looked a little closer to breast milk poops. Finding a professional to walk through your journey with you will help out tremendously. A previous post talks about two books and one of which claims coconut milk is the closest to breast milk? I have not read these books but plan to go to the library and check them out. Besides, it is not just coconut milk that you would be supplementing with. You would be adding the other ingredients to make it a balanced diet for your little one. If you bounce over to the balancing bodies blog you will also see a whole host of information on Rice Milk Formula. I hope this was helpful. Sharing information on our journeys is one way to support each other. Please keep us posted on how you make out.

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  9. Hello Amber, thank you very much for your response. Again, I appreciate all your help and advice. I have felt very lost and confused this past week because I was not able to breast feed my daughter (my first baby). I don't agree with the commercial formulas out there due to the GMO's that are put in them. It hurt my heart when I thought that this was the only option for my little one. I bought all the ingredients to make this formula for my baby girl. I prayed night after night for guidance and came across your blog while searching for advice on many sites. I feel that the Lord has answered my prayers. Thank you for posting this. You are a true blessing! I will keep in touch with you and let you know how my little one does on this formula.

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  10. I am so glad that you found this information. This was a very emotional post for me to write and even now as I read your reply tears are coming to my eyes. I can appreciate the ups and downs of breast feeding and not being able to provide enough for your baby. I felt that I wanted to share this information so that it might help others. So I am very glad that you have felt blessed through the sharing of our experience. Once switching to this formula I felt great! I was so happy to find a whole foods option for my daughter. I think you will feel great about giving this to your daughter. Let me know how you make out. God Bless.

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  11. Hello Amber, I also wanted to ask you if you have any home remedies for treating a common cold and flu in infants without the over the counter drugs? I was searching online for advice. I would prefer to stay away from giving my baby med's that are too strong for her.

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  12. Hi Amber,
    I'm having trouble with the molasses blocking the nipple of the bottle. The baby can't really get much out because of the molasses blockage. How did you work around this problem?

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  13. Throwing your ingredients in a blender will help emulsify the ingredients. Maybe graduating to the next sized nipple if your little one can handle the flow. We found the protein to be more clogging than the molasses. But once we started blending the ingredients we no longer had an issue.

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  14. As far as immune boosters, a couple of my friends use deep immune. http://www.stfrancisherbfarm.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=706&pg=1

    We stick to probiotics and a formula our naturopath specifically chose for our girls.

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  15. As always, thank you so much Amber! You're awesome!!!

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  16. Hello Amber,
    I have been feeding my baby this formula since I last communicated with you. Everything had been going very well until just recently she started spitting up more frequently. I did notice that she is eating a lot more and having about 2-3 BM's per day. Do you think the spit up is normal? She;s not spitting up a lot every time, just a bit. I read on some sites that it could be caused by the formula? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Again, I am a first time mother, so I don't know much about what to expect from babies. My baby will be 4 weeks old on Thursday.

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  17. Some babies do spit up more than others. My first never spit up at all and my second would often bring up some of her formula. This is very normal for a baby of 4 weeks as the opening to the stomach that keeps things down is not fully developed yet. Also, many babies who are formula fed over eat and this is how they get rid of the excess. I would not worry too much about it at this point. Especially if it is just a little bit. At that age it is probably best to go by weight and developmental milestones. If your baby is gaining weight, not lethargic or fusssy and seems to be becoming more alert, I Dont think you have anything to worry about. I will say that your baby may not gain weight was rapidly as other babies on formula because there is no nasty fillers in this whole foods formula. A friend of mine who switched their baby over around 6 months actually saw weight loss. He was a very squeezable baby probably due to the fillers in the store bought formula he was previously on. :). If you feel it is due to the switch and would like, try rice milk. Jennifer Pike reccomends Ryza brand on her blog. Keep up the great work! You are a very attentive mom.

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  18. As always, thank you very much for your response! I appreciate all of your help!

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  19. Hello! I have been trying out homemade formula for about a week and I prefer to use this formula, as it appears to be the simplest but I have a question about water. Most of the other recipes I have encountered call for half water, half milk. Why is your recipe all coconut milk? Just curious!

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  20. As I said above, I was directed to this recipe by my naturopath. So this is the only one that I am familiar with. I did read up on liver formulas on Weston Price website. To be honest it turned my stomach just reading the recipe. But I wanted a completely dairy free formula. Coconut milk is made up of coconut and water. The water content is high as it is. If you would like Jennifer Pike who's blog link I included above is a holistic nutritionist and could probably answer your question better than I could. I can just speak from experience. It worked wonders for my daughter. She always had very wet diapers. Which is how you tell if your infant is being hydrated adequately. Hope this is helpful.

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  21. Just as a reference for Water content. My homemade recipe for coconut milk calls for 3/4 cup of coconut and 1 1/4 cup of water. This makes a really creamy milk.

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  22. Hello Amber,
    my daughter had her monthly (4 week) follow up appointment today. The pediatrician pointed out the the baby is only gaining 3 ounces per week instead of the average 5-8 ounces per week. Other than that, she says the baby seems to be very healthy and all. She was not pleased with the fact that we're feeding her our own formula but I stood strong on my belief's that we're not going to give her any of the toxic commercial formula. Just wanted to get your opinion about her weight gain. Do you recommend that I keep her on the coconut milk since she is gaining weight, just not the recommended (average) weight. Or should I switch to the rice milk now?

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  23. Hi Amber,
    I saw that Jenn Pike posted a comment on her blog that a liquid calcium supplement should be added to the formula if using the coconut milk recipe because coconut milk does not have the calcium that almond and rice milk have. Is this true if I'm using all the ingredients in your recipe? Just wanted to get your advice prior to purchasing a calcium supplement.

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  24. Angie,

    Sorry for my tardy reply. Good for you for holding your ground when it comes to the nutrition of your babe. Where I am from in Canada the Paediatrician expected 1/2-1 oz/day. Getting back to birth weight by 3 weeks. She is slightly under 1/2 oz a day. I would continue on doing what you are doing. You can up the protein if her tummy can handle it. Jenn Pike recommends up to 4 Tbsp per batch. Just watch for constipation. Also, if your paediatrician continues to be concerned make sure to point out that your baby is happy, having regular bowel movements and is hitting her milestones.

    When I consulted my naturopath about the calcium he said not to worry as it is not absorbed well anyways because it is a synthetic form. However my daughter was on food at that point and taking in lots of high calcium vegetables. You could add it just for arguments sake with your paediatrician. It cannot hurt especially because she is not on food yet. If you are still part time breast feeding she will be getting some calcium that way as well. Coconut milk has lots of healthy fats that rice milk may not have. I would continue on doing what you are doing. There is 25mg of Calcium in the Pediatri-vite. The calcium in breast milk is absorbed more efficiently than the synthetic form found in milk and vitamin supplements. So you would need to add more of the synthetic to make up for the value in breast milk. I recommend posting on Jenn Pikes website and ask for a reputable Calcium supplement for children. Or go to a health food store that has a holistic nutritionist on staff and ask. Keep up all the hard work you will feel good about it as your baby grows.

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  25. Hello Amber,
    Thank you again for your response. I also wanted to ask your opinion on goats milk. I'm being told by several people (one of those people being my chiropractor) to give her goats milk in place of the coconut milk. What are your beliefs on goats milk? I'd rather not give her animal proteins because of the risk you run into on damaging the gut/intestines. I would really prefer to stick with the coconut milk. Also, I switched the brown rice protein with hemp protein. The hemp protein has the plant omega's in it and it has less fiber than the brown rice protein. She was having up to 3 large bowel movements per day on the brown rice protein. Do you think this should be fine?

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  26. My naturopath is a strong believer in no animal milks being used. He says that no other mammal requires milk past the age of two and humans should be included in that category. I have not researched it enough to have an opinion myself. I just follow his direction and do not use animal milk of any kind. I have not looked into the size of the goats milk protein which is usually the hardest part on a babies intestines. Based on the fact that Jenn Pike recommends using Hemp Milk and Hemp oil, I cannot see why you couldn't use Hemp Protein. Again use your babies cues as a guide. My daughter took 3 large bowel movements a day once switching as well. This was because the dairy formula was constipating her. Hopefully this is helpful for you.

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  27. Hello Amber,
    Just wanted to give you an update that my daughter is doing well on this formula. I decided to substitute the rice protein for hemp protein instead because I read articles that rice protein has high levels of arsenic. Have you heard of this? My chiropractor was pleased with the ingredients in this formula. Only question I have for you is regarding the multi vitamin. I'm also using the Genestra Brand you recommended. If my little one is drinking this formula exclusively (not breastfeeding at all), is the 2 tsp of the vitamin okay? I just want to make sure its not more than the recommended daily amount. She's drinking about 25 ounces per day. My sister in law who is against me making my own formula is telling me that a high level of certain vitamins could cause adverse effects. Just wanted to get your advice on this. Again, I appreciate all your help. I don't have anyone else to lean on for this. It's been quite a journey for me as well.

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  28. I just want to say again good for you for sticking to your gut. Because there is all kinds of chemicals in the so called "approved" formulas. You making your own whole foods formula is such a great way to give your little one a healthy start in life. I know families can be the worst critics and can often be a hindrance in these times of making difficult decisions. On the balancing body website Jenn Pike reccomends 1 Tbsp of pediatrivite. But my naturopath does muscle allergy testing on my daughter to see how much she required. And it came up 2 tsp. Maybe this was because she partially breastfed? My daughter did excellent on this? That is all I can really say because i do not have a background in nutrition. Take your cues from your baby. If she is happy, alert and meeting her milestones than I dont think you need to worry. I also had heard about arsenic levels in rice. I did not research it myself but asked my naturopath and he did not seem concerned. But if the hemp protein is working well for you, that is great! If you want a professional opinion jump over to Jenn Pikes blog. She replied to my comments very quickly.

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  29. Also, just a thought: 1 generation ago people gave their children carnation milk with corn syrup in if they were una le to breast feed. I am sure what you are doing is much more nutritionally complete.

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  30. Hello Amber,
    Hope you're doing great! I wanted to ask you at how many months did you introduce solid foods (veggies/fruits) into your baby's diet? Which one's are best to introduce first?

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  31. Hey there, I'm all the way from New Zealand and am gunna give this recipe a try since i have a feeling my breast milk is drying up. For some reason I really don't want to use formula and I know coconut milk/oil has so many benefits! The only thing is that I may not be able to get the exact brands you have used, so I was wondering when you say 4 scoops of infant probiotic how much is that in cups??
    Awesome! and thankys!

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  32. 1 scoop is equal to 3 billion CFU.

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  33. 1 scoop is equal to 3 billion CFU.

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  34. EACH SCOOP (1 g) CONTAINS:

    Probiotic Consortium 3 billion CFU
    Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL-20)

    Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (CUL-34)
    Lactobacillus salivarius (CUL-61)
    Lactobacillus paracasei (CUL-08)

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  35. Hi im needing to supplement occasionally when I'm at work and came across ur page. Have few questions.
    1. Is the molasses just for taste?
    2. Can I use another multivitamin like baby plex by natures plus?
    3. Do the quantity of ingredients change by weight/age?
    4. How long does a mixture formula last if kept fridgerated?
    Thanks looking forward to trying this.

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  36. Joana,

    Thank you for your comment. I am sure that you will really love this formula if you give it a try.

    1. The molasses is not only for taste but to add an easily digestible iron and mineral content to the formula.
    2. Here is the values for the Genestra Brand Vitamin that we used. But I must comment that a naturopath was directing us on the amount to give our little one. But from 4.5-13 months the amount did not change.

    Supplement Facts
    Serving Size 1 Teaspoon (5 ml)
    Servings per Container 36
    Each Teaspoon Contains

    Total Carbohydrate 1 g
    Sugars 1 g
    Vitamin A (vitamin A palmitate) 1700 IU
    Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 50 mg
    Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 170 IU
    Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) 10.5 IU
    Thiamin (thiamin hydrochloride) 0.8 mg
    Riboflavin 0.8 mg
    Niacin (niacinamide) 3.5 mg
    Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 1 mg
    Folic Acid 70 mcg
    Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 8.5 mcg
    Biotin 70 mcg
    Pantothenic Acid (calcium d-pantothenate) 1.65 mg
    Calcium (calcium gluconate) 25 mg
    Iodine (potassium iodide) 25 mcg
    Magnesium (magnesium gluconate) 4.5 mg
    Zinc (zinc sulfate) 3.5 mg
    Copper (copper sulfate pentahydrate) 0.5 mg
    Choline (choline bitartrate) 10 mg
    Inositol 0.8 mg

    3. The quantity of the ingredients do not change by age and weight. Your little one will most likely intake more as they grow. Just as they would with commercial formula.

    4. A mixture lasts 48 hours in the refrigerator.

    I hope you enjoy it. Pleas comment again and let us know how it is going with your little one. Feel free to check our Jenn Pikes website (link above), as she is a holistic nutritionist and creator of the original recipe.

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  37. Amber,
    How much formula does this recipe make? Also, how long is it good for? Do you store it only in the fridge or can you freeze it as well? I am just trying to determine how often I would have to make it. I am currently breastfeeding a 4 month old but my milk production is slowing down so I am looking to supplement *homemade* formula with my milk.

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  38. This formula yeilds about 4 1/2 cups or 36fl oz. It can be stored in the fridge for approximately 48 hours. Once you get on to making it, a batch takes less than 5 minuted to whip up. Then you have your formula made for the next two days. I half time breast fed and went through a single batch every two days. Feel free to cut the recipe in half until you know better how much your little one will need in a 48 hr period. Please post again and let me know how your little one is enjoying it. I love to share encouraging stories.

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  39. Thank you for your response! I hope to make some this weekend if I can get all the ingredients. I will let you know how my LO likes it. Also, what do you think about freezing it? It would be nice if I could make a couple batches and freeze some for later use. Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Did you ever try freezing this recipe? How did it turn out? I am curious as I would like to know for baby #3 who is due in January.

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  40. I cannot imagine freezing it will harm it any? I just have never done it before. You may need to throw it I. The blender once it thaws to emulsify it again? Please do let me know.

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  41. Hi there, where do you buy the added ingredients in your recipe? I live in Toronto. I know you clarified the 4 scoops infant probiotic (genestra) is = to 3 billion CFU, would you mind clarifying whether or not you do or do not also add water to the recipe please? This is the recipe I am trying to follow:
    4 cups Coconut Milk (So Delishious)
    2 tbsp Brown Rice Protien (Heartland Organics)
    1 tbsp Molasses (Wholesome Foods)
    2 tsp Pediatrivite (Genestra)
    4 Scoops Infant Probiotic (Genestra) = 3 billion CFU
    2 tbsp Flax seed oil
    400 Iu Vitamin D
    I am trying to find a solution for my daughter who I indirectly weened at 16 months. Her Pediatrician insisted I cut down on the night feedings, as she nursed like a newborn... So I did, and well, my daughter's and all or nothing type of girl... She refused to nurse during the day, and that lasted a good week before I knew something needed to be done. She refused all cow's milk. She refused the recommended soy formula her Pediatrician gave. And I am hoping your coconut milk formula will help me. Right now she reluctantly drinks coconut milk, because I am trying to force her to drink it. I made the mistake of giving her juice in the interim, and created a juice monster...So she is protesting the coconut milk, she takes a long time to drink it, and her liquid intake has dramatically gone down. I am on a mission to only give her coconut milk and water. She does not like the silk brand coconut milk at all. Any advice on where to purchase the additional ingredients and clarification on the recipe would be greatly appreciated. Btw I have noticed that she does have more bowel movements a day like 2-3 instead of 1-2 while on just the regular so delicious coconut milk. Thank you in advance. Aisha

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    1. Forgive me Aisha, I thought I had replied to this comment when you posted it. But apparently it must not have been published. Just to clarilfy 1 scoop of the genestra brand is = 3 billion CFU. I do not add water to the recipe. There is enough water content in the coconut milk. I get all the rest of the ingredients at my local health food store. Forgive me again for my late reply!!!

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  42. Hi, I am using a different brand rice protein & I am having nipple clogging issues. Does the Heartland Organics dissolve better?

    (side note: I am using a blender to blend it well)

    Thanks, April

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    Replies
    1. Maybe look at the next stage of nipple if your baby can handle it? I only used Heartland organics and therefore cannot comment on the difference between it and other brands. Our protein would sink to the bottom a bit. We would need to give it a good shake and roll the nipple between our fingers from time to time to remove some that got stuck there. A small price to pay to feed your baby whole foods! Sorry I do not have anything further to add. I hope you little one is doing well on the formula.

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    2. Hi Amber-
      I have been feeding my 5 month old this formula for the past 2 weeks and she LOVES it! The only difference is I use 4tbsp of Happy Bellies Organic Brown Rice Cereal with DHA, Choline, and Probiotics and don't add any additional probiotics. I also use 2ml of Enfamil Vitamin D drops and 1ml of Enfamil Poly Vi Sol drops. Is this ok? She has been on rice cereal since 3 weeks old for bad reflux, so she is used to the extra protein.

      Thanks!

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    3. I have no education in nutrition. So I cannot speak to that. As long as you are still using the brown rice protein I cannot bsee why your additions would be a problem? If you do have any further concerns, check out Jenn pikes website at balancing bodies for more great information. That is where I received the recipe.

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  43. Hello there. I would like to follow this recipe for my son, who is one year old and has eczema and psoriasis. I have bought all the ingredients but I am not quite clear about the amount of vitamin d I should use. Could you let me know please?. Thank you. ��

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    Replies
    1. In Canada the recommended daily dose of vitamin d for children is 400iu.

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  44. My question is, is my baby is allergic to milk protein, soy protein, and goats milk protein. I'm worried he's going to be allergic to the brown rice protein too. Do you think this is likely. I don't really understand this allergy, because he can't handle hypoallergenic formulas but can handle gentlease. I'm scared he's allergic to something else in the formula. I'm just scared that he will be even more allergic to this protein, because he is with goats milk and soy. Do you think it is a risk trying this because I don't want to hurt him anymore.

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    Replies
    1. I am not an expert on nutrition. However if you follow the link above to Jenn Pikes blog, balancing bodies, she will most likely be able to help you out. She is a holistic nutritionist and specializes in this. Sorry I am not more help. But am glad you can be inspired by my story. I know Jenn answers her comments section promptly.

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  45. Thanks for your answer. I have got the vitamin d, but I don't know., how many drops I have to put.

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    Replies
    1. The bottle will tell you how many iu are in a drop. Most are either 400 or 1000iu.

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  46. Thank you. I looked it up and hemp protein is totally healthy gluten free with no known allergens so we are going to substitute that instead of the brown rice protein.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing so that everyone can benefit from your information.

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  47. Do you know how this formula is for brain development?

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    Replies
    1. I really can't speak to that because I am not educated enough in nutrition and what a babies body needs. However, you can jump over to the balancing bodies website and there is a ton of information in the comments section. You can switch up the oil in this to ensure your babe is getting a variety of sources of omega 3. Fish oil can be used, flax oil even coconut oil. We switched it up a bit based on what we had in the house. Just my opinion: This is way better for your baby than all those ingredients you cannot pronounce on your commercial formula. Again I have no formal training, just my personal experience. Our daughter is a bright young girl, going to be 2 in July.

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  48. How is this prepared? Cold or warm? How long is bottle good for if its warmed and is this gluten free? I'm suspicious of gluten allergy in my daughter.

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    1. Tara,
      The ingredients are simply mixed. We found the blender workers best and helped to emulsify the ingredients. You do not warm any of the ingredients before your baby is ready to drink it. Therefore, prepare cold and warm 1 bottle at a time to serve. The formula keeps for 48 hours in the fridge. And just like commercially prepared formulas should be consumed withing an hour or two of warming. Yes this recipe is gluten free.

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    2. Sorry for the typos I am replying on my tablet.

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    3. Does it have to be warmed or can it be given straight out of the fridge because my daughter prefers cold formula

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  49. The brown rice protein seems odd ? Breastmilk is only 2.5 grams of protein per serving and so is fresh coconut. The rice protein adds 3.5 grams of protein per serving. (8oz) that's over double what a baby needs, this is hard on their kidneys at such a young age .

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    1. You are referencing fresh coconut. Coconut Milk is mostly water content, not actually the whole coconut. The coconut milk we used referenced 0.4g protein for 1 cup (8 oz) of milk. If you have concerns about nutritional values you should contact Jenn from Balancing Bodies and ask her some questions as she is a registered holistic nutritionist. She recommends up to 4tbsp in her recipe. As long as babies tummies are not upset. Cows milk for 8 oz is 3.4g. All in the same ball park. Also, as stated above, I had a naturopath that walked through this journey with me and agreed with Jenn's recipe. I would strongly recommend having a professional in your area walk through any issues with you.

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  50. Hello Amber,
    I messaged you earlier this year about giving this formula to my baby since I was unable to breastfeed. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this recipe online for other mothers. I've had her on this formula since she was born and she is thriving on it! People tell me how beautiful her skin is and that she is extremely alert and active. When I was giving her that disgusting organic Similac formula, within a week she was already developing signs of eczema on her skin. As soon as I got her off that garbage and on this formula you posted her skin cleared up right away and is soft and radiant now. You are a blessing from the Lord. I couldn't thank you enough!

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    1. I am so happy to hear this! Doesn't it make you so happy to be feeding your little one whole foods? This is the whole reason I chose to post my story. To inspire other moms to make the best choice for their little one. I am so glad you came back to tell us how you made out. I hope you are able to inspire other moms with your story too. God bless!

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    2. Yes! I am very happy that I came across your website. I was up one night in tears and praying that the Lord give me an answer because I literally felt like I was hurting my baby by continuing to give her that GMO formula. That same night, after spending hours on the internet searching for an alternative I had finally found the answer to my concern. You are my inspiration! It's mothers like you that make a wonderful difference in this word. God bless you!

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  51. I have a couple of questions that you may be able to answer. Have you made this with canned coconut milk? I'd like to avoid the extra ingredients in the coconut milk. I know it would be fattier, but don't know if it would work. Also, if we use a daily vitamin D drop, does it need to be mixed in? My little guy is 11 months and we aren't sure we want to transition to whole milk when he's a year, so this is a good alternative. I'm a low supply mom and for the last 6 months been able to EBF since he started solids. I plan to continue breastfeeding, but I have got to wean off my domperidone and start exercising and decreasing my calories. I'd like to start giving him a sippy or two of this.

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    1. I don't see why you couldn't use canned milk. My only concern would be the BPA in the cans. If your little one is 11 months, he could be on Almond Milk as of his first birthday. The Silk Unsweetened is a fairly clean product with no carageenan. My daughter transitioned off this formula at a year because she was eating everything from the table like us. Our naturopath said she would be getting everything she needs from her food. I can appreciate continuing this longer if there is concern about nutrition or if your little one is not a great eater. If you use D drops, there is no need to add extra to the formula. My daughters did not tolerate Whole milk well and it was clear they had an allergy. So they went straight to Almond milk at at year old. This is all personal experience and hope it is helpful in you making the best decision for your little one. Please don't hesitate to ask any other questions. I am glad to be of any support.

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    2. hey thanks for all your information youve. provided. I'm really excited to try this. I'm wondering if you could give me a comparison financially how much this would cost comparatively to Walmart formulas

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    5. Vanessa,

      This formula costs about the same as a hypoallergenic formula such as Allimentum. It is not an economic way to feed your baby. I did crunch the numbers once but did not keep them. Seems to me it would be relative anyways based on the cost of groceries in your area.

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  52. Hi amber! I was just wondering what you did with this formula when you were out for a day. Did you just prefill the bottles before you left? Sorry if this posted somewhere else. I'm using my phone and it's glitchy.

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    1. I proportioned it into bottles in a cooler bag and would throw in an ice pack. We often would pre-portion the bottles right at the time of making the formula, thus cutting down on an extra step.

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  53. Hello, wondering what color the formula is? Hoping to sneak it past childcare providers without too many questions. Thanks!

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  55. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I can't wait to try it. Just a few questions:

    1) What color does the formula turn out? Hoping to sneak it past childcare providers without too many questions.
    2) I don't see any lactose or other sugars/carbs added and I believe the coconut milk is unsweetened, correct? do you know the carbohydrate content? just wondering because other recipes seem to add it in and breastmilk is so sweet as well.
    3) As I mentioned before I have been researching several recipes on line and many of them add yeast and animal gelatins/collagens. any particular reason why yours doesn't? Thanks again!

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    1. First off, thanks for your kind words. This formula is a brown colour due to the molasses in it. People used to ask in the grocery store etc, if I was feeding my baby chocolate milk. I used to just say politely, "no, she is on special formula due to allergies." Then I would kind of giggle to lighten the mood. It is not as dark as chocolate milk. I would say more of a weak coffee with cream in it.

      You can use sweetened or unsweetened. The sweetened is still about 1/2 the amount of sugar that would be found in cows milk. However, the molasses also adds sugar content to the formula. I am guessing this is why there is no added sugars or carbs. There is 10g of sugar in 1tbsp of molasses. If you were to use the unsweetened coconut milk it would have 4g of sugar for a batch and the original would have 28g of sugar per batch. I used the original forever before realizing that it has that much more sugar. But when I mentioned it to the naturopath he said it wasn't a big deal.

      I cannot tell you anything about the gelatins/collagens and or yeast. I have no formal education in nutrition. However, if you follow the link above to the original recipe by Jenn Pike, she is really good at posting answers promptly to your questons. The reason I loved this formula so much was because it was so SIMPLE!!!! No playing around with liver and bone broth etc. My daughter also did extremely well on it. There was absolutely no problem getting her to take it. Hopefully this was helpful!

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  56. Awesome. Thank you for your quick response!

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  57. Last question. You mentioned in another comment that you had a homemade coconut milk that used 3/4 milk and 1 1/4 water? Please share! Would love to use this instead of the storebought milk. Thanks.

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    1. I have made homemade coconut milk before. I have never used it in this formula. But have been toying with it for the next babe. I use 1.5 cups of shredded, unsweetened, unsulphered coconut and 4 cups of boiling water in my vitamix. Then the milk needs to be strained through a nut milk bag. The only thing to remember is that there will be no Vitamin D and calcium added like many of the store bought milks.

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  58. Hi I have a two month old baby and was planning on having Her on a homemade base formula along with breastfeeding.
    Was wondering if this formular was good for a 2 month old baby?
    another question
    If I decided to make homemade coconut milk from fresh brown coconut must i heat the water that I put in with it?

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  59. Thanks for the informative post you shared with us. Very useful for me.
    best natural baby formula

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  60. Can I use Klaire Labs TherBiotic Infant Formula Probiotic in place of the genestra probiotic? It is what I use for my daughter on a daily basis and I also can't seem to find the genestra probiotic anywhere. Thank you!

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  61. Valuable site, where did u come up with the information in this posting? I am pleased I discovered it though, ill be checking back soon to find out what new content pieces u have.
    all in one pos system

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  62. Hi! I have begun making this for my 8 month old son after the goat milk formula I made for my previous two children didn't work for him. I'm curious if there is a reason for a whole tablespoon of molasses as both my son and I found it to make the formula way too sweet. He wouldn't even take it til I mixed it with some canned formula. My goat milk recipe calls for 1-2 teaspoons of molasses. I'm just gonna scale it back and hopefully he's still getting all the nutrients he needs. Thanks so much for posting this recipe!

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    1. Well I just made a new batch and I think I was mistaken about what's causing the sweetness. I didn't realize that I bought a mango/orange flavored multi vitamin which is super sweet. I may have to run back to the store for a plain one. The reason I tried your formula is because my baby has spit up like crazy after almost every bottle his whole life and thankfully this formula seems to have finally solved that problem.

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  63. Firstly i would like to thank u for this post. My 7 month old has been drinking this for the 3rd day now. He seems to enjoy it and sleeps better at night. The only question i have is that he seems to be pooping alot more ofteb than before, and that this is of a runny consistency. Is this normal? I really do not want to have to start supplementing with commercial formulas and my breast milk supply isnt cutting it.

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    1. Try using Rice Milk or Hemp Milk? It may be the coconut milk that is making the stool soft. If you bounce over to the site that is listed in this blog post, she is trained and able to help answer questions. We tried this formula with my son from birth, But he did not gain weight and just had watery poops. When I put my 4 month old on it however, her poops were softer and she started having 3 poops a day instead of 1 every 3 days. She also stopped screaming every time she had to have a bowel movement. I found it very helpful to be working with s naturopath during this time. That way we could play with the formula until we got it right for her.

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  64. Aww bless. Thank u fr ur swift reply.hevseems better today but ill try the rice milk. I checked yhe link provided but i dont think that particular blog is still available. Hopefully the rice milk should help. What did you end up doing with your son at the end?

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  65. Can you freeze leftovers of this? I flubbed up and accidentally had to double the recipe

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    1. I think I froze it one time and it was ok once warmed.

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  66. Whoah, that's nice for a baby milk formula. Never thought that it could be used for making a homemade formula. I tried using aptamil for my first baby. Luckily, she liked it. Even though it was hard to switch her from breast milk to a formula milk.

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  67. Hello. I've been using this for a week so far. Love it. What do you do for night feeds? Keep a bottle in the room already? What do you do when you are out and need to feed?

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    1. If you are serving it cold choose an oil that does not solidify in the fridge like coconut oil does.

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  68. hi amber, how many calories per oz is this formula? is it the regular 20 for babies under 12 months

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  69. I do not know. If you follow the link to Jenn Pikes blog she can tell you more. She is trained in nutrition. I am not. I was just sharing my experience as it was such a dramatic change.

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  70. Can you use this formula for a 2 month year old

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    1. I believe you can. I tried this formula with my son from birth and he did not respond to it. He was not gaining weight and it seemed to just go right through him. You can visit Jenn Pike's website: The simplicity project for more information. I do not have any expertise in nutrition and worked closely with a naturopath.

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  71. Hi there

    My (near eight month old!) baby will be going to childcare once or twice a week. I am exclusively breastfeeding however, just in case I don't have enough milk expressed to give the childcare centre I thought I better give them some back up formula (much to my resentment). I have spent hours on end for weeks searching for the best formula out there with great disappointment (too much crap in alllll of them! No matter how 'organic').
    I then thought I would try to make my own. I searched high and low for a recipe I was comfortable with that didn't have cows milk or liver or bone broth etc etc. I then came across your homemade formula recipe and I couldn't wait to say THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH for posting this!!!!!! I saved it to my phone some months ago and tonight I made my first batch. My baby took to it STRAIGHT AWAY. She absolutely loved it and is asleep as I type.
    I am very excited about this as I can see me continuing to use it once I've weaned my baby off the breast. Following other comments, I did tweak your recipe a little: I used hemp protein powder instead of the rice protein and a couple of other different branded ingredients (I was having trouble finding some of the brands you mentioned).
    For the next batch I will try some fish oil instead of the flax seed just to mix things up a bit.
    Thank you again.

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    1. Thank you. I am glad my experience could help you.

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  72. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  73. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  74. Sorry I couldnt edit my comments ! How much per month was this costing you ?!!

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    1. I tried crunching the numbers at one point. I cannot say for sure how much it cost. But I do remember that it was on par with hypoallergenic formulas tha I could buy in my area. Which are on the higher end of the spectrum,. But I felt good that I was feeding my baby whole foods and not chemicals and fillers that were causing her tummy issues.

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  75. I would also like to know if you have an idea how much ler month this was costing or how long the supplies were lasting. The cost does add up with these ingredients (stoped at the health food store yesterday to price it out). As far as directions go on how to make it so you just blend everything and refrigerate does it require boiling or cooking at all? How long does it keep when mixed?? Thanks again for all your help I see you've been helping us mom's and dad's out for a while now 😉 clearly it's an ongoing problem. I also react to whey protein so really need to look at alternatives asap poor baby needs something.... Hope to hear from you very soon. Thanks againa in advance!
    Josée from Sudbury Ontario

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    1. Also.... for the pediatri Vit looks like Genestra is no longer making it it's discontinued everywhere... have you heard of a good alternative of good quality?

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    2. I do not know how much it cost per month. I was part time breastfeeding. So I am not sure my cost would be accurate based on a babies needs at different stages and ages. I do remember that it was about the same cost as buying hypoallergenic formula. Just blend and refrigerate. And warm before feeding. As for the pediatrivite, you could look for one with similar values and ingredients.

      Supplement Facts
      Serving Size 1 Teaspoon (5 ml)
      Servings per Container 36
      Each Teaspoon Contains

      Total Carbohydrate 1 g
      Sugars 1 g
      Vitamin A (vitamin A palmitate) 1700 IU
      Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 50 mg
      Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 170 IU
      Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) 10.5 IU
      Thiamin (thiamin hydrochloride) 0.8 mg
      Riboflavin 0.8 mg
      Niacin (niacinamide) 3.5 mg
      Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 1 mg
      Folic Acid 70 mcg
      Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 8.5 mcg
      Biotin 70 mcg
      Pantothenic Acid (calcium d-pantothenate) 1.65 mg
      Calcium (calcium gluconate) 25 mg
      Iodine (potassium iodide) 25 mcg
      Magnesium (magnesium gluconate) 4.5 mg
      Zinc (zinc sulfate) 3.5 mg
      Copper (copper sulfate pentahydrate) 0.5 mg
      Choline (choline bitartrate) 10 mg
      Inositol 0.8 mg
      Other ingredients: Water, fructose, dextrin, dextrose, natural cherry flavor, glycerin, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, beta-carotene (color)

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  76. Thank you reassuring. I know the feeling of not beening able to breast feed. I was pressure by family to start formula and without doing my research I just gave in. However, I forgot how dairy can have it's draw backs. I been praying about it too. I hope they will band the kids formula it's so wrong. Yet on the coconut milk container it states not to be use for infant formula ok well. It's not bad at all. Coconut milk can be use with the proper added vitamins, protein (plant base) We need start making changes for our next generation. It's no wonder we are seeing lots of disease. Our creator created what's best for our bodies. Man made stuff it's scary. Very dessiving.

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  77. Thank you reassuring. I know the feeling of not beening able to breast feed. I was pressure by family to start formula and without doing my research I just gave in. However, I forgot how dairy can have it's draw backs. I been praying about it too. I hope they will band the kids formula it's so wrong. Yet on the coconut milk container it states not to be use for infant formula ok well. It's not bad at all. Coconut milk can be use with the proper added vitamins, protein (plant base) We need start making changes for our next generation. It's no wonder we are seeing lots of disease. Our creator created what's best for our bodies. Man made stuff it's scary. Very dessiving.

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  78. I want to give my baby a good start... and corn syrup was just not what I had in mind. I began researching and looking for alternatives. https://myorganicformula.com/collections/holle-organic-formula

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  79. Thank you for sharing Amber! What did you end up doing for your son? I wonder why he didn't take to it.. I'm hoping my daughter thrives off this recipe like so many others. It would be an answer to prayer.

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  80. Hi did this work at freezing it. I'm giving it a try as my baby cannot take formula or prescribed non cows milk formula. I'm putting in the hemp milk with this also so do I need to take anything out and replace with the hemp milk? Thank you

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  81. Visit www.tellgamestop.com and participate in the Tell GameStop Survey to provide your feedback regarding its product and service and win 1 of 25 $100 Gift Card.

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  82. Can you use the HMF Probiotic Supplement powder instead of the probiotic formula? I couldn't find the probiotic formula online. And if so, how much would you use?

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