Tammi,
I have personal experience with a child (of acquaintances) who I have known
since she was a newborn who was reared on a dietary regimen of "homemade"
substances.  The baby was nursed for a few weeks, mother emotionally
overwhelmed and weaned.  Parents into macrobiotics and alternate health care
etc.  Well-meaning people.  They felt that formula was "un-cool" and
commercial and not p.c.  They opted for miso and seaweed broth and
"Soy-Moo", a white drink made of soy beans.  The child is now in early
adolescense and has had emotional and behavioral and learning problems for
most of her life.  This in spite of a mother who has never worked outside
the home, loving parenting from Dad, an advantaged environement, home
schooling (at times) and lots of therapies (from chiropractic to
psychiatrists to psychologists to learning specialists.)  Older sib. who was
nursed one year is fine.  I personally feel early diet affected brain growth
and development.

For all its faults, formula makers have a vested economic interest in at
least getting close to what is in human milk.  This offers the weaned infant
the best shot at normal brain development.  We have all-too-painful evidence
in the third world of what kind of growth problems develop when infants are
fed paps and gruels that just "look like milk."  Luckily humans are
resiliant, and many kids make it on marginal existances, but I for one would
hate to be responsible for the handicap that my young friend is going to
live her life with.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC
priv. pract. Austin, Tx
Owner LACTNEWS On-Line (the Conference Page)
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html