Last updated: July 2026
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies and is recommended whenever possible. If breastfeeding isn’t possible or you need to supplement, donor breast milk and commercially prepared infant formula are generally the preferred alternatives. Some families, however, choose to explore homemade goat milk formula after carefully researching their options and discussing them with an appropriate healthcare professional.
This guide shares the homemade goat milk formula recipe that worked well for our family, along with our personal experience, ingredient explanations, preparation tips and answers to many of the common questions parents ask.
Please read: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
This post contains affiliate links, this means at no extra cost to you, we make a commission from sales. Please read our Disclosure Statement
Quick Answer
Homemade goat milk infant formula is an alternative that some families choose when breastfeeding isn’t possible or suitable for their circumstances. Unlike plain goat’s milk, a homemade formula recipe is modified by diluting the milk and adding carefully measured fats and carbohydrates to better match an infant’s nutritional needs.
Good hygiene, accurate measurements and safe storage are essential whenever preparing any infant feed. If you’re considering homemade formula, it’s important to understand both its potential benefits and its limitations before deciding whether it’s the right choice for your family.
Contents
- Our Journey
- Why Some Families Choose Goat Milk
- Understanding Your Feeding Options
- Why Plain Goat Milk Isn’t Suitable for Young Babies
- Goat Milk vs Cow Milk
- Is Homemade Goat Milk Formula Safe?
- Jump to Recipe
Our Journey to Homemade Goat Milk Formula
This recipe became part of our family’s story after a difficult start to breastfeeding.
Like many new mums, I expected breastfeeding to come naturally. Instead, I struggled to produce enough milk despite trying everything I could think of.
Our eldest daughter became severely dehydrated during her first few days of life. At just three and a half days old she was admitted to hospital with dehydration and jaundice after losing almost a pound from her birth weight.
It was frightening, exhausting and heartbreaking.
From that point on we supplemented with commercial infant formula, which was exactly what she needed at the time.
When our second baby arrived, we again used commercial formula alongside breastfeeding. She fed well but struggled with significant reflux and digestive discomfort during infancy. As she grew older we also noticed that cow’s milk seemed to leave her unusually bloated. Once she stopped drinking bottles altogether, her digestion and sleep both improved dramatically.
At around the same time my mother bought a small herd of dairy goats and began supplying us with fresh goat’s milk.
We quickly noticed that our daughter tolerated goat’s milk much better than cow’s milk.
That experience encouraged me to learn much more about goat’s milk and eventually led me down the rabbit hole of researching homemade infant formulas.
When our third baby arrived I wanted to understand every option available before automatically reaching for commercial formula again.
I spent weeks reading books, nutritional information and recipes from around the world before finally settling on a simple goat milk formula that suited our family.
After making a few adjustments based on the ingredients we could easily source in New Zealand, it became the recipe we used for both our third and fourth babies and baby number 5 was supplemented with just pure goats milk. To be clear, my babies only ever used this as a top up to breastmilk, if you want to solely use it, please do your own research first.
It worked well for our family and gave me confidence knowing exactly what was going into each bottle.
Every family is different, and what suited us won’t necessarily be the right choice for everyone. My hope is simply to share what we learned so you can make informed decisions for your own circumstances.
Why Do Some Families Choose Goat Milk?
Goat’s milk has been consumed around the world for thousands of years and remains popular in many countries today.
Some parents choose goat’s milk because their family already keeps dairy goats, while others prefer its taste or find that members of their family digest it more comfortably than cow’s milk.
Goat’s milk naturally contains a different balance of milk proteins and forms a softer curd in the stomach than cow’s milk, which may contribute to the way some people experience digestion.
It also contains naturally occurring medium-chain fatty acids and slightly different mineral levels compared with cow’s milk.
Although these characteristics make goat’s milk an interesting option, it’s important to remember that plain goat’s milk is not nutritionally suitable as the sole food for young infants.
That’s why homemade recipes modify the milk by carefully adjusting the balance of nutrients.
Understanding Your Feeding Options
Every family’s feeding journey is unique.
For many parents, breastfeeding works beautifully. Others experience low milk supply, medical complications, adoption, medications, premature birth or other circumstances that make breastfeeding difficult or impossible.
If supplementation or replacement feeding becomes necessary, there are several possible options.
| Option | Comments |
|---|---|
| Breast milk | Widely recognised as the ideal source of nutrition for most babies. |
| Donor breast milk | Often available through regulated milk banks or private donation networks where appropriate. |
| Commercial infant formula | Carefully formulated to meet infant nutrition standards. |
| Homemade goat milk formula | An option that some families choose after careful research and consideration. |
Each option has its own advantages, challenges and considerations. The best choice is the one that safely meets your baby’s nutritional needs while fitting your family’s individual circumstances.
Why Can’t Babies Drink Plain Goat Milk?
This is one of the most important things to understand.
Fresh goat’s milk is a wonderful food—but it isn’t designed to meet all of a young human baby’s nutritional requirements.
Compared with breast milk, plain goat’s milk contains higher levels of protein and minerals, while providing lower amounts of some nutrients that infants require during rapid growth.
There are concerns that young kidneys are still developing and may not be able to process the higher concentration of protein and minerals found in undiluted goat’s milk.
Homemade infant formula recipes therefore dilute the milk and carefully replace the nutrients that become diluted with measured amounts of carbohydrate and fat.
The goal isn’t to improve goat’s milk—it’s to create a better nutritional balance for infants during their first year of life.
Goat Milk vs Cow Milk
| Goat Milk | Cow Milk |
|---|---|
| Forms a softer curd during digestion. | Forms a firmer curd. |
| Contains A2-type casein proteins. | Many breeds predominantly produce A1 beta-casein, while some produce A2. |
| Naturally smaller fat globules. | Larger average fat globules. |
| Often preferred by families who already keep dairy goats. | More widely available commercially. |
Although some people find goat’s milk easier to digest, it’s important to remember that both goat’s milk and cow’s milk are dairy products. Babies with a true cow’s milk protein allergy may also react to goat’s milk because the proteins are similar.
Is Homemade Goat Milk Formula Safe?
This is probably the most important question parents ask—and the answer isn’t a simple yes or no.
Like commercially prepared formula, the safety of homemade formula depends on several factors including the quality of the ingredients, careful preparation, accurate measurements and proper storage.
Babies have developing immune systems, so every bottle should be prepared with the same care you would use when preparing any food for an infant.
If you decide to make homemade formula, it’s essential to:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- Measure every ingredient accurately.
- Prepare bottles with clean hands and clean equipment.
- Store prepared formula in the refrigerator.
- Discard unfinished bottles after feeding.
- Never use ingredients that are past their use-by date.
If your baby was born prematurely, has a weakened immune system or has complex medical needs, discuss feeding options with your healthcare team before using any homemade formula.
Fresh Goat Milk or Powdered Goat Milk?
One of the great things about this recipe is that it works with either fresh goat’s milk or reconstituted powdered goat milk.
If you have access to healthy dairy goats, fresh milk is often the least processed option and was our preference.
If fresh milk isn’t available, good-quality powdered goat milk prepared according to the manufacturer’s directions can also be used successfully.
Both options have advantages.
| Fresh Goat Milk | Powdered Goat Milk |
|---|---|
| Less processed. | Convenient to keep in the pantry. |
| Excellent flavour. | Available year-round. |
| Requires refrigeration. | Long shelf life before opening. |
| Depends on access to dairy goats. | Easy to source in many supermarkets. |
Whichever option you choose, always prepare the milk according to the directions before adding the remaining ingredients.
Should You Use Raw or Pasteurised Goat Milk?
This is one of the most debated aspects of homemade formula.
Some families choose to use fresh raw milk from goats they know and trust, while others prefer to pasteurise the milk before preparing bottles.
Raw milk naturally contains beneficial bacteria, enzymes and other naturally occurring components. However, it can also become contaminated during milking, handling or storage if excellent hygiene isn’t maintained.
If you’re unsure about the quality of your milk supply, pasteurising the milk before use is the safest option.
You can learn more about pasteurising goat milk here:
You may also find this article helpful when researching raw milk:
Super Easy Homemade Goat Milk Infant Formula
Editors Note: supplement formulations and recommendations change over time, and readers should confirm that any supplements they use are appropriate for infants and follow current guidance.
This is the recipe our family used successfully with our third and fourth children.
It’s based on a simplified whole-food approach using goat’s milk together with carefully selected fats, carbohydrates and supplements.
Because supplement formulations occasionally change, always check the instructions on the products you purchase and calculate the correct daily amount where required.
Ingredients
125 ml Fresh Goat’s Milk
Use fresh goat’s milk that’s less than three days old, or prepare powdered goat’s milk according to the directions on the tin.
Goat’s milk naturally contains protein, fat, vitamins and minerals that make it an excellent base for this recipe.
If using raw milk, ensure it has been collected hygienically and kept refrigerated.
125 ml Filtered Water
The water dilutes the protein and mineral concentration of the goat’s milk to create a balance that’s more suitable for young infants.
1 Tablespoon Sugar (Approximately 12 g)
Carbohydrates provide an important source of energy for growing babies.
We usually used brown sugar because it dissolved easily, but other options include:
- Lactose
- Organic raw sugar
- Maple syrup
- Brown rice syrup
Do not use honey for babies under 12 months of age.
½ teaspoon Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contributes medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a type of fat that’s also naturally present in breast milk.
½ teaspoon Grass-fed Butter
Butter contributes additional milk fat and fat-soluble vitamins.
If your family prefers goat dairy, goat butter can also be used if available.
½ teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil supplies monounsaturated fats together with essential fatty acids.
⅛ teaspoon Blackstrap Molasses
Only a very small quantity is used.
Blackstrap molasses contributes naturally occurring minerals and can also help soften stools if constipation becomes an issue.
Infant Probiotic
Add the manufacturer’s recommended daily amount to one bottle each day.
Liquid Infant Vitamins & Minerals
Add the manufacturer’s recommended daily amount to one bottle each day.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Add the recommended daily amount to one bottle each day as directed on the product.
How to Make Goat Milk Infant Formula
- Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing the formula.
- Sterilise bottles and feeding equipment if appropriate for your baby’s age.
- Measure all ingredients carefully.
- Warm the goat’s milk slightly if needed to help dissolve the fats.
- Combine all ingredients until completely mixed.
- Divide into individual bottles for the next 24 hours if preparing a batch.
- Refrigerate immediately.
- Warm bottles by standing them in hot water before feeding.
- Shake gently before serving as some natural separation may occur.
Never microwave baby bottles, as this can create dangerous hot spots.
How to Store Homemade Goat Milk Formula
Safe storage is just as important as using the correct ingredients.
Because homemade infant formula doesn’t contain the preservatives found in some commercially prepared products, it should always be handled carefully to reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
As soon as you’ve prepared the formula, divide it into clean bottles, seal them and refrigerate immediately.
We usually prepared enough formula for the next 24 hours, although the recipe can be doubled or tripled depending on your baby’s feeding schedule.
The butter and coconut oil naturally harden once chilled, so it’s much easier to portion the formula into bottles before refrigerating.
| Storage Method | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Store immediately after preparing and use within 24 hours. |
| Room temperature | Only while actively feeding. Return unused refrigerated bottles promptly. |
| Freezer | Not generally recommended as freezing may separate fats and affect consistency. |
| Heated bottle | Discard any leftovers after the feed. |
If the formula develops an unusual smell, changes colour or appears spoiled, throw it away and prepare a fresh batch.
How to Warm Homemade Baby Formula
Never microwave infant formula.
Microwaves heat unevenly and can create dangerous hot spots that may burn your baby’s mouth.
Instead, place the bottle into a jug or bowl of hot water for several minutes until it reaches body temperature.
Before feeding, gently swirl or shake the bottle to redistribute the fats that naturally separate during refrigeration.
Always test a few drops on the inside of your wrist before offering it to your baby. The milk should feel lukewarm rather than hot.
Can You Freeze Homemade Goat Milk Formula?
Although some parents choose to freeze prepared formula, we preferred making fresh batches every day.
Freezing can change the texture of the fats and may cause separation when thawed.
If you need to prepare formula in advance, refrigeration for a short period is generally the better option.
Can You Prepare Formula in Advance?
Yes.
Preparing enough bottles for the next day’s feeds can save a lot of time, especially during those exhausting newborn weeks.
Simply prepare the formula, divide it into individual sterilised bottles and refrigerate immediately.
Warm each bottle only when required.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using plain goat’s milk without modifying it.
- Guessing ingredient quantities instead of measuring accurately.
- Leaving prepared bottles on the bench for extended periods.
- Reheating bottles multiple times.
- Using expired supplements.
- Adding extra vitamins without checking dosages.
- Preparing formula with poor-quality or contaminated milk.
- Using honey for babies younger than 12 months.
Goat Milk Allergy vs Lactose Intolerance
These two conditions are often confused, but they’re very different.
A lactose intolerance involves difficulty digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in milk.
A milk allergy is an immune response to proteins in milk.
Goat’s milk contains proteins that are similar to those in cow’s milk, so babies with a confirmed cow’s milk protein allergy may also react to goat’s milk.
If your baby has been diagnosed with a milk allergy, always seek medical advice before changing formulas.
When Can Babies Drink Plain Goat Milk?
Once babies are around 12 months old and eating a varied diet, many families choose to transition from infant formula to whole goat’s milk.
By this stage their nutritional needs have changed significantly and they’re obtaining much of their nutrition from solid foods.
If you’re unsure when to make the transition, discuss your child’s feeding plan with your healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use powdered goat milk?
Yes. Simply prepare it according to the manufacturer’s directions before adding the remaining ingredients.
Can I use fresh goat milk?
Yes. Fresh milk was our preferred option because we had dairy goats, but hygiene and safe handling are extremely important.
Can I leave out the cod liver oil?
Each ingredient contributes to the overall nutritional balance of the recipe. If you’re considering substitutions, check that your baby’s nutritional needs will still be met.
Can I substitute different oils?
It’s generally best to follow the recipe as closely as possible because each fat contributes a different fatty acid profile.
Can I use honey instead of sugar?
No. Honey should never be given to babies under 12 months of age because of the risk of infant botulism.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes. We regularly prepared enough bottles for the following day.
Can I warm bottles in the microwave?
No. Warm bottles in hot water instead.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
The cod liver oil provides nutrients that would need to be replaced appropriately if omitted.
Why has the fat separated?
This is completely normal. Simply shake the bottle gently before feeding.
Can adults drink this formula?
While the ingredients are ordinary foods, the recipe has been formulated specifically for infant feeding rather than as a general-purpose milk drink.
Final Thoughts
Every family’s feeding journey is different, and there is rarely a single solution that works for everyone.
For our family, this homemade goat milk formula provided an option that suited our circumstances when breastfeeding alone wasn’t enough. It gave us confidence knowing exactly what went into each bottle and became part of the routine that helped nourish two of our children.
If you’re considering making your own infant formula, take the time to understand the recipe, source high-quality ingredients and prepare every bottle with great care. If you have concerns about your baby’s growth, feeding or nutritional needs, seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
I hope sharing our experience helps you feel better informed as you decide what’s right for your own family.
Related Articles
- How to Pasteurise Goat Milk
- Raising Dairy Goats
- Our Daily Goat Milking Routine
- More Homesteading Guides
