I am all about empowering parents with the education to make their own informed decisions. BUT, without a doubt, the most common question I receive is, “What formula do you recommend?”
I hemmed and hawed about whether to write this article for several reasons. First, I want parents to make their own educated decisions, and not blindly follow recommendations. Secondly, all babies are different. One blanket recommendation won’t be the right fit for every single family. Often families have to try 2 or 3 formulas before finding the right fit for their individual baby’s little body. Switching formula is stressful and I recommend doing it in a planned and strategic fashion.
But everyone has to start somewhere. I totally get it! The majority of my patients are parents that originally intended to breastfeed and then don’t know where to begin once they decide to use baby formula. Inevitably, you make the decision to try formula at 3AM, when the baby is screaming and you haven’t slept in 3 days. You don’t have time to read my enormous articles and casually decide. You need a recommendation NOW! Well, as long as you promise to go back and read the articles about how to choose baby formula, I’ll give you my starting recommendations. These depend on the age of your baby:
For healthy term infants with no major health complications who are younger than 6 months, I recommend starting with either:
Don’t just take my word for it! Keep reading to see why I recommend it.
You know we have to start at the list of ingredients. That’s all that matters. The major ingredients are (color coded as: protein in red, fat in green, carbs in blue)
Plum Organic Gentle Formula
ORGANIC LACTOSE, ORGANIC PARTIALLY HYDROLYZED WHEY, ORGANIC PALM OIL OR PALM OLEIN, ORGANIC SOY OIL, ORGANIC COCONUT OIL, ORGANIC HIGH OLEIC (SAFFLOWER OR SUNFLOWER) OIL,
How do the major macronutrients stack up?
Protein: This is a whey partially hydrolyzed protein. Awesome. Two thumbs up for little babies.
Fat: This blend does contain palm olein oil. Since I’m giving this recommendation for healthy term babies, I’ve got no problem with that. So the fat blend is OK
Carbohydrate: This is the ONLY partially hydrolyzed formula on the US market that is 100% lactose… meaning NO corn sugar. Yaaaaaaaas!
Bonus: It’s also the ONLY partially hydrolyzed formula that is organic! Here’s another “!” for good measure.
How do the micronutrients stack up?
LESS THAN 1%: MORTIERELLA ALPINA OIL (ARA), SCHIZOCHYTRIUM OIL (DHA), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BETA-CAROTENE, VITAMIN D (CHOLECALCIFEROL), VITAMIN E (dl-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE), MIXED TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATE, VITAMIN K (PHYTONADIONE), ASCORBYL PALMITATE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, NIACINAMIDE, FOLIC ACID, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, BIOTIN, ASCORBIC ACID, CHOLINE BITARTRATE, INOSITOL, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, CUPRIC SULFATE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, SODIUM SELENITE, SODIUM CITRATE, TAURINE, ORGANIC SOY LECITHIN.
Pretty great! All the vitamins and minerals are standard. DHA and ARA are added. This is a hexane-free extraction of DHA, which is great progress. It is a simplified organic recipe – PREbiotics, no PRObiotics, no nucleotides. If you are are looking for a simple formulation, this is a great choice.
This formula is available at some Targets (coming to more stores soon), or you can always buy it online.
Gerber Good Start Gentle Stage 1
WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (FROM MILK, ENZYMATICALLY HYDROLYZED, REDUCED IN MINERALS), VEGETABLE OILS (PALM OLEIN, SOY, COCONUT, AND HIGH-OLEIC SAFFLOWER OR HIGH-OLEIC SUNFLOWER), CORN MALTODEXTRIN, LACTOSE
How do the major macronutrients stack up?
Protein: This is a whey partially hydrolyzed protein. Awesome. Two thumbs up for little babies.
Fat: This blend does contain palm olein oil. Since I’m giving this recommendation for healthy term babies, I’ve got no problem with that. So the fat blend is OK
Carbohydrate: The last two ingredients are the carbs: corn maltodextrin & lactose. Normally, I do prefer a lactose source. However, I have never seen a hydrolyzed protein baby formula that also has only lactose. They all seem to have at least some corn-based sugars. Here, lactose is listed after corn maltodextrin, which usually means there is more maltodextrin than lactose. However, Gerber is pretty awesome in that they are transparent about their ingredients and tell health care practitioners that this formula is 70% lactose and 30% corn maltodextrin… So mostly lactose, not bad.
How do the micronutrients stack up?
GALACTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES, AND LESS THAN 2% OF: POTASSIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, MANGANESE SULFATE, SODIUM SELENATE, M. ALPINA OIL, C. COHNII OIL, SODIUM ASCORBATE, INOSITOL, CHOLINE BITARTRATE, ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, NIACINAMIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN A ACETATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, FOLIC ACID, PHYLLOQUINONE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN D3, VITAMIN B12, TAURINE, NUCLEOTIDES (CYTIDINE 5′-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM URIDINE 5′-MONOPHOSPHATE, ADENOSINE 5′-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM GUANOSINE 5′-MONOPHOSPHATE), ASCORBYL PALMITATE, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, L-CARNITINE, B. LACTIS CULTURES, SOY LECITHIN.
Pretty great! All the vitamins and minerals are standard. DHA and ARA are added. This formula also has two bonus ingredients added – the PRObiotic Bifidobacterium Lactis. This is a good probiotic that is in breast milk. You can always add your own probiotic to your baby’s formula (see how here), so it’s not a requirement for me. However, it’s nice to have Gerber do the work for you here. In the recent recipe change, Gerber also added a PREbiotic! To my knowledge this is the first major formula on the market that has BOTH a PRObiotic and PREbiotic. Love that!
This formula is available at really any major store, or you can always buy it online.
Enfamil Reguline
Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids, vegetable oil (palm olein, coconut, soy and high oleic sunflower oils), corn syrup solids, lactose
How do the major macronutrients stack up?
Protein: This is a partially hydrolyzed protein which is a great starting point for newborns. The whey:casein ratio is 60:40 – like breast milk. Awesome. Two thumbs up for little babies.
Fat: This blend does contain palm olein oil. Since I’m giving this recommendation for healthy term babies, I’ve got no problem with that. So the fat blend is OK
Carbohydrate: The last two ingredients are the carbs: corn syrup solids & lactose. Normally, I do prefer a 100% lactose source. However, I have never seen a US hydrolyzed protein baby formula that also has only lactose. They all seem to have at least some corn-based sugars. However, Enfamil is pretty awesome in that they are transparent about their ingredients and tell health care practitioners that this formula is 50% lactose and 50% corn syrup solids..
How do the micronutrients stack up?
polydextrose, galactooligosaccharides, Mortierella alpina oil, Crypthecodinium cohnii oil, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3, vitamin E acetate, vitamin K1, thiamin hydrochloride, riboflavin, vitamin B6 hydrochloride, vitamin B12, niacinamide, folic acid, calcium pantothenate, biotin, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, inositol, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, cupric sulfate, sodium selenite, sodium citrate, potassium chloride, potassium iodide, taurine, L-carnitine
Pretty great! All the vitamins and minerals are standard. DHA and ARA are added. This formula does not have a PRObiotic, but you can always add your own probiotic at home (see how here), so it’s not a requirement for me. Reguline does have a PREbiotic! Love that!
This formula is available at really any major store, or you can always buy it online.
For healthy term infants with no major health complications who are older than 5-6 months, and have eaten dairy foods with no reaction, you have TONS of great options. I recommend starting with either:
Plum Organic Formula
Earth’s Best Dairy Organic Formula (red can)
Honest Co Standard Formula (NEW RECIPE)
If your baby has tried any type of dairy (yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, etc), and tolerated it well, then there’s no reason to avoid intact cow’s milk protein in formula. So, literally every formula option is available to you!
Since that’s the case, I would recommend an organic formula that has minimal carbohydrate from corn sugar. But There are quite a few of these on the market, and I have a pretty darn cool breakdown of all the organic formula in the US here. But if you’re in a pinch, these are 3 great options to start with.
- All of these formulas are organic.
- All are cow’s milk based with additional whey (score!).
- All contain lactose as the sole carbohydrate (like breast milk). This means no corn sugar or glucose syrup.
- All are easy to find in stores and online!
Here’s a look at the ingredients and a summary of the differences between the three:
Plum Organic Formula Ingredients:
ORGANIC LACTOSE, ORGANIC NONFAT MILK, ORGANIC PALM OIL OR PALM OLEIN, ORGANIC SOY OIL, ORGANIC COCONUT OIL, ORGANIC HIGH OLEIC (SAFFLOWER OR SUNFLOWER) OIL, ORGANIC WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, LESS THAN 1%: MORTIERELLA ALPINA OIL, SCHIZOCHYTRIUM OIL , VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BETA-CAROTENE, VITAMIN D (CHOLECALCIFEROL), VITAMIN E (dl-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE), MIXED TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATE, VITAMIN K (PHYTONADIONE), ASCORBYL PALMITATE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, NIACINAMIDE, FOLIC ACID, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, BIOTIN, ASCORBIC ACID, CHOLINE BITARTRATE, INOSITOL, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, CUPRIC SULFATE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, SODIUM SELENITE, SODIUM CITRATE, TAURINE, ORGANIC SOY LECITHIN.
Earth’s Best Dairy Formula Ingredients:
Organic Lactose, Organic Nonfat Milk, Organic Oils (Organic Palm or Palm Olein, Organic Soy, Organic Coconut, Organic High Oleic Safflower or Sunflower Oil), Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Less Than 1{d3431cee00683dd1c43a4eb0fdbd2aadf61cae39541cb3bcdd241b07539079d2}: Mortierella Alpina Oil, Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil, Fructooligosaccharide, Lutein, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E (d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Mixed Tocopherol Concentrate, Vitamin K (Phytonadione), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cyanocobalamin, Niacinamide, Folic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Choline Bitartrate, Inositol, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Selenite, Sodium Citrate, Taurine, Organic Soy Lecithin, Nucleotides (Cytidine-5-Monophosphate, Adenosine-5-Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine-5-Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine-5-Monophosphate, Disodium Inosine-5-Monophosphate).
Honest Co Organic Formula Ingredients:
Organic Lactose, Organic Nonfat Milk, Organic Palm Oil Or Palm Olein, Organic Soy Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic High Oleic (Safflower or Sunflower) Oil, Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Less Than 1%: Mortierella Alpina Oil, Schizochytrium Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Organic Soy Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherol Concentrate, Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium Phosphate, Cupric Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium Phosphate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Selenite, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Choline Bitartrate, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Inositol, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E (Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Vitamin K (Phytonadione).
Here is how the three differ:
- Earth’s Best and Honest Co have a PREbioic (Fructooligosaccharides). I like this since it is challenging to add your own PREbiotic to formula.
- Other than the PREbiotic, Honest Co is a relatively simple recipe – which lots of folks are looking for. No: Taurine, Nucleotides, or Carnitine. None of these are required, but lots of companies add them to formula. I don’t think they’re very important for babies over 6 months old.
- Earth’s Best has the works. It has all the extras: DHA, Taurine, Nucleotides, and Carnitine. It even has Lutein. This is one of those “bonus” nutrients that is found in breast milk but not required. I suppose it’s nice to see, but Lutein does not make or break my decision about a formula.
- Plum is in-between Honest Co and Earth’s Best with the extras. It DOES have DHA and Taurine, but no added Nucleotides, Carnitine, or Lutein.
To me, the PREbiotic and DHA are the biggest differences. So, Earth’s Best and Honest Co have a PREbiotic and DHA; Plum has DHA but no PREbiotic.
The decision to feed formula is difficult to make. Always check with your doctor before doing so. After you’ve made the decision to feed formula, the overwhelming selection and lack of support is literally enough to bring a postpartum-hormone-ridden-sleep-deprived-mother to tears! My hope is that these recommendations start you off on the right path and buy you some peace of mind while you continue to do your own research.
Your baby is so special!
Dr. Bridget