Choosing An Infant Formula
Information about finding infant formula can be found here.external icon
Additional information to help families during the infant formula shortage can be found here.
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No brand of infant formula is best for all babies. You should pick an infant formula that is made especially for babies. The US Food and Drug Administration regulates commercial infant formulas to make sure they meet minimum nutritional and safety requirements. Iron-fortifiedalert icon infant formulas are recommended, and most commercial infant formulas sold in the United States contain iron. Commercial infant formulas come in liquid and powdered forms.
When choosing an infant formula:
- Make sure it is not expired.
- Make sure the container is sealed and in good condition. If there are any leaks, puffy ends, or rust spots, do not feed it to your baby.
- Make sure it is not labeled for toddlers.
Talk with your childs doctor or nurse if you have questions about choosing an infant formula for your baby or if you are thinking of switching infant formula brand or type.
What If I Cant Find My Babys Formula
In general, try to stick with a formula that is similar to the one that youve been using, advises Rebekah Wheeler, Certified Nurse-Midwife and Lead Family Guide at Cleo, an online health and wellness service.
If you cant find your favorite formula, its safe to switch formulas unless your child requires a special type of formula .
And since all infant formula in the U.S. is overseen by FDA, you can be confident that any formula you find will be safe and contain the vitamins, minerals and proper ratio of carbohydrates and proteins to help your baby thrive.
Best Overall Baby Formula
What Our Experts Say
If you have a picky eater, you know what its like to worry that theyre not getting enough of the good stuff to make their body and brain grow. This toddler formula contains 22 nutrients and is designed to support immune health and brain development. Some parents also use it as a transition step between ending breastfeeding at one year and starting regular cows milk.
Whats Worth Considering
Once your child turns one, its fine for most kids to start drinking regular cows milk, but always check with your pediatrician first.
Slower Digestion For Babies
Babies who consume milk too quickly or struggle with colic can have higher occurrences of spitting up or having difficulty digesting their meals. When switching your baby from breastmilk to baby formula, the formula isnt digested as quickly. As a result, your child will stay fuller longer and wont eat as often, especially in the first few months.
If traditional cow milk formula isnt suitable for your child, goat milk is the perfect alternative. There are fewer allergen risks, its easier to digest, packed with prebiotics, and it closely replicates the formula and texture of breast milk. See which baby formula works best for your baby for their health needs.
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Oil6 Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1
with a high percentage of milk, solid oil6 offers the goodness of goat milk. This goat milk formula offers many important minerals and vitamins, including vitamin a and c, calcium, and magnesium. Gentle on immune and easy to digest. The texture of this formula is lightly creamy and dissolves easily with a taste that has been described as similar to mothers milk. So, this formula is also a good option for mothers who cannot breastfeed their babies. Oil6 researchers are continuously working with industry experts and health care professionals to continuously boost their products so you can more sure the oil6 formula you are giving your babies is safe and contain excellent nutrition.
The package is recyclable including the scoop, tin, and lid for the environment-loving option. A little more costly than its cow milk formula.
- Offer the goodness of milk.
- Easy to digest and gentle on the immune.
- Texture formula dissolves and tastes similar to breast milk.
- Oil6 researchers are continuously working with health experts and industry professionals.
The Best Baby Formulas Of 2022
Our experts agree, Gerber Good Start GentlePro is the best
She is a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes care, and education specialist. Casey is the founder of a private practice, Casey Seiden Nutrition, specializing in a non-diet approach to diabetes care and womens health. She works with individuals, partners with companies, writes for media outlets, and is a published cookbook author.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproducts. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Gerber
Baby formulas are an easy and convenient way to ensure your baby is getting the nutrients they need if you cannot or choose not to use breast milk. The best baby formulas are modeled after breastmilk, contain 20 calories per ounce, and should be iron-fortified to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
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Earths Best Sensitivity Formula For Gassy Babies Review
Summary
In search of the best organic baby formula, we did not want to miss out Earths Best Organic Sensitivity Formula. For parents who prefer pure organic when it comes feeding their baby, then Earths Best Organic Sensitivity is one of the best options for infants who have sensitivity problems with regular formulas.
Sticking to the organic principles Earths Best is known for and ensuring that all necessary nutrients are present, this product is a great solution to the headaches many parents experience when the baby wont stop being fussy. It is low lactose and contains nutrients in an easy to digest form.
Age: 0 12 Months
Features of Earths Best Organic Sensitivity Formula
Earths Best Organic Sensitivity is the first organic formula the FDA approved for infants who are extra sensitive. In both organic and non-organic circles, it is one of the most popular infant sensitivity formulas. Below is a list of its main features:
Advantages of Earths Best Organic Sensitivity Formula
Disadvantages
All About Formula Feeding
Commercially prepared infant formulas are a nutritious alternative to breast milk, and even contain some vitamins and nutrients that breastfed babies need to get from supplements.
Manufactured under sterile conditions, commercial formulas attempt to duplicate mother’s milk using a complex combination of proteins, sugars, fats, and vitamins that aren’t possible to create at home. So if you don’t breastfeed your baby, it’s important to use only commercially prepared formula and not try to make your own.
Besides medical concerns that may prevent breastfeeding, for some women, breastfeeding may be too difficult or stressful. Here are other reasons women may choose to formula feed:
Convenience. Either parent can feed the baby a bottle at any time . This allows mom to share the feeding duties and helps her partner to feel more involved in the crucial feeding process and the bonding that often comes with it.
Flexibility. Once the bottles are made, a formula-feeding mother can leave her baby with a partner or caregiver and know that her little one’s feedings are taken care of. There’s no need to pump or to schedule work or other obligations and activities around the baby’s feeding schedule. And formula-feeding moms don’t need to find a private place to nurse in public.
Time and frequency of feedings. Because formula is less digestible than breast milk, formula-fed babies usually need to eat less often than breastfed babies.
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Here Are Some Tips On How To Store Best Formula Milk For Baby 0
- Powdered formula milk should be kept in a tightly sealed milk container to retain its original composition.
- Prepared formula milk is usually left under room temperature. It can be spoiled easily especially when the weather is humid. It is safe to consume the first 2 hours.
- You can freeze the prepared formula milk if not yet consumed within 2 hours. Frozen milk can be safely used within 24 hours.
- Your babyâs milk left over should be disposed after 2 hours from the time it was prepared. This is to avoid having your baby consume milk contaminated with bacteria.
Bubs Australian Goat Milk
This formula from bubs consists of goats milk protein which is mainly from a looser, softer, and smaller curd intuitive than the cows milk. As goat milk doesnt include the type of alpha-S1, casein protein, that can be puzzling in cow milk. Bubs advance plus is the best suit for you if your baby is allergic to cows milk.
It is also naturally rich in nucleotides and probiotics delivering the building blocks to promote the development and healthy growth. Another benefit is that this formula is naturally rich in nucleotides, contains fish oil and probiotics. These added supplements will nutritionally benefit eye development, the brain, the babys immune system, and digestion.
- Contains ingredients to support the healthy development of your infant.
- Easy to mix and prepare.
- Affordable price.
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Top 10 Best Baby Formulas 2021
- Type: Cows milk
- Style: Powder concentrate
The Similac Pro-Advance Non-GMO formula is the #1 choice of mothers and the most used formula in hospitals. It contains excellent levels of nutrition that will support healthy growth and development in your baby through the first year.
Ingredients: This is the only brand of formula that contains 2-FL HMO, an immunity-boosting probiotic that can only be found in breastmilk. The gap that can be found between breastfeeding and formula feeding is narrowed with this product that is the closest match to a mothers milk.
The Similac Optigrow formula contains healthy levels of DHA, lutein, and vitamin E to promote excellent brain, eye, and bone development. There are no growth hormones in this formula and all its ingredients are tested to contain only the highest levels of nutritionthough the powder does have a slightly off milky order.
Benefits: By developing a strong immune system in your baby, you are protecting them in the most critical stage of their development. The presence of the 2-FL HMO probiotic is a step ahead of other products in keeping babies safe from infection and viruses.
For the parents convenience, this formula comes in a choice of powder or Ready to Use formats. When making the transition from breast milk to formula, parents agree that this product was easy to integrate into their babys routine.
Pros
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How To Choose The Best Formula For Your Baby
Since all baby formula has to have the same amount of nutrients to comply with regulations, there is no one particular brand that is best for all babies. So, knowing which one to buy at first can prove overwhelming, even if this isnt your first child.
The good thing about choosing a baby formula is that it is one of the most strictly regulated products on the market. If a substance is proven to be of benefit to a babys health, it is a legal requirement to be added to all formulas. So whether youre thinking about buying a more expensive brand or a lower-priced baby formula, you can have peace of mind in knowing that each one will contain the optimum nutrients available for your baby, and that these ingredients are regulated by the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 2007.
What are the types of baby formula available?
There are a variety of infant formulas on the market. It is advised that a baby should start with a first infant milk, whether bottle or combination fed.
Types of formula include:
For any questions, and for more details on what each manufacturer claims about its baby formulas, composition and cost information, the First Steps Nutrition Trust website is an excellent resource.
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How Is Formula Different From Breast Milk
Formula is a nutritionally complete food for babies. Many formula products contain extra ingredients so that they more closely match breast milk.
One of the main differences between formula and breast milk is that breast milk contains antibodies, which help protect the baby against a range of illnesses. The nutrition in breast milk adapts over the babys lifespan, unlike formula whose nutritional content stays the same.
Breast milk also has less protein than formula. Choosing a formula with less protein will reduce your babys risk of becoming overweight or obese as they get older.
Sneak In Formula In The Midst Of Breastfeeding
One common strategy for introducing a bottle for the first time is to switch to a bottle towards the end of a breastfeeding session. Your baby will still be hungry for more and in the zone of feeding, and will ideally feel calm and relaxed enough to try something new, such as a bottle containing formula. A related technique is to put some breast milk on the nipple of the bottle, so that it smells and tastes more familiar for your baby.
If youre not able to introduce a bottle in the midst of a breastfeeding session, and have to start the feed with a bottle, try giving your baby a bottle containing expressed breast milk. This will get them used to the feel of the bottle, while still giving them the taste theyre used to. If this isnt possible, introducing a bottle of formula with even a small amount of breast milk on the nipple may still encourage your baby to accept the bottle as it tastes and smells more familiar.
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Enfamil Ar Infant Formula
Price: $$
Key features: As with other thickened formulas, Enfamils A.R. formula contains rice starch to help thicken and settle better in babys stomach. The manufacturers of this formula supported a study in 2003 that showed it can reduce babies spit-up episodes by up to 50%. Anecdotally, many grandmothers will also tell you that they added rice cereal to their babys bottles to reduce spit-up back in the day.
Considerations: Youll want to speak with your pediatrician before offering thickened formula to your baby. While some parents swear this is the best formula theyve ever tried, others share that this mix really didnt help their babys spit-up issue enough. A thickened formula could be more difficult for certain babies to digest.
Some parents may also be tempted to add rice cereal to bottles to thicken the formula, but this is not recommended due to safety concerns like choking, allergies, and excessive weight gain.
Our Pick: Members Mark Infant
Like Kirkland Signature ProCare, Members Mark Infant is produced by Perrigo. Its ingredients list is largely the same as that of Kirkland Signature ProCare, with protein from nonfat milk and added whey, and lactose as the sole carbohydrate . Members Mark Infant contains both galactooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides as prebiotics, and DHA and ARA. It also uses palm oil in addition to other vegetable oils.
At about 44¢ an ounce , this formula is barely a third the cost of brand-name formulas, like Enfamil Premium Infant . Members Mark comes in a smaller quantity than Kirkland Signature ProCare . Members Mark Infant is sold at Sams Club, and the exact same formula is also sold under other brands, including Up & Up Infant at Target, Parents Choice Premium Infant at Walmart, Little Journey Infant at Aldi, and Mama Bear Infant on Amazon .
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Best Baby Formula For Preemies
Human milk is the ideal choice for preemies however, it may not always be available. Babies born prematurely may need additional support nutritionally.
As a result, formulas for preemies focus on higher calories usually 22 to 24 per ounce versus the standard 20 to help boost weight gain. They may also contain nutrients geared at promoting long-term growth and development.
When Do Babies Stop Drinking Formula
‘After one, give your baby full-fat cow’s milk. It’s cheaper than growing-up milk and toddler milk, and it doesn’t contain added sugar,’ says Shefalee.
‘Until one, milk is the main component of your baby’s diet and cow’s milk doesn’t provide the balance of nutrients they need.
‘However, after one food becomes the main component of your baby’s diet and they will get the nutrients they need by eating a varied diet containing lean meat, fish, wholegrains and fruit and veg.’
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Why Enfamil Infant Formula
Healthcare professionals trust Enfamil. Its the number one infant formula brand recommended by pediatricians, and the majority of birthing hospitals use Enfamil. When you choose Enfamil, you can feel confident that youre making an excellent choice for your baby.
Our family of formulas has vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to support your babys growth and development during their first year and beyond. Here are just a few reasons why were so recommended:
- Our formulas give every baby the amount of DHA found in average breast milk.*
- Enfamil has global expert-recommended omega-3 DHA.
- Enfamil® Enspire is a formula closest to breast milk that has lactoferrin, which is an important protein found in breast milk.