The Best Baby Formula for 2023
This list helpfully lays out the best baby formulas to help you provide wholesome nutrition for your little one.
From birth right up to the sixth of life, all a baby needs is milk. While breastmilk is ideal because of its nutrient-rich contents, breastfeeding presents many challenges. Some mums develop mastitis, while others lack proper nutrition or the necessary support from a partner. All these challenges can lead to poor milk production, and it is totally fine because there is such a thing as baby formula.
Baby formula bears a resemblance to the nutritional composition of breast milk for whole nutrition. Whether you prefer milk-based or soy-based options, we have identified the top baby formulas available to help you ensure that your baby is nutritional requirements are met.
Our Top Picks
Our Runner-Up
Gerber Good Start Baby Formula Powder
A magical formula that reduces fussiness, crying, gas, and spit-up within 48 hours.
$69.95 ($2.19 / Ounce)
Most Cost-Effective
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula
Contains some of the extra nutrients found in formulas that are twice the price.
$62.99 ($3.00 / Ounce)
Our Picks For You
Our Top Pick - Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula
Our Top Pick
Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula
Closest infant formula to breastmilk ever.
Every child deserves a chance at the best possible start. Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula offers that chance, with a complete source of vitamins, minerals, and carefully selected nutrients to support rapid growth and development.
Who It's For
This formula is an Excellent everyday nutrition option for babies aged zero to 12 months.
Why It’s Great
Enspire contains NeuroPro, which is a blend of brain-building milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), DHA, prebiotics, and immune-boosting lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is a protein found in colostrum and breast milk.
Potential Flaws
There are no organic versions of this formula, and it has a foamy texture. However, apart from that, it has key ingredients that are not available in any other formulas out there.
Other Features
Enfamil’s Gentlease formula is partially hydrolyzed and contains a dual prebiotic blend of GOS and polydextrose that works to foster the growth of beneficial bacteria throughout the large intestine, making it easier for babies to digest.
It is widely available, contains a triple prebiotic immune blend to support your infant's immune health, and comes at a reasonable price. It also has the EnfaCare option for babies born prematurely.
Our Runner-Up - Gerber Good Start Baby Formula Powder
Our Runner-Up
Gerber Good Start Baby Formula Powder
A magical formula that reduces fussiness, crying, gas, and spit-up within 48 hours.
Gerber Good Start GentlePro offers well-rounded nutrition, is easy to digest, and it is readily available.
Who It's For
Gerber is ideal for infants aged zero to 12 months. It contains small, easy-to-digest proteins to help soothe your baby's stomach. It also has DHA to support healthy brain and eye development.
Why It’s Great
Gerber claims that its GentlePro baby formula is the first and only one that contains both prebiotics and probiotics. It is effective in keeping infants' stomachs healthy and promotes softer stools with only 30% lactose. It also has the gentleness of breast milk and the ability to relieve fussy, colicky, and excessively crying infants.
Potential Flaws
As much as we love this formula, it only comes in powdered form and could be more prone to contamination.
Other Features
Gerber Good Start GentlePro earned our runner-up spot because it is widely available, earns very high marks across the board for its complete nutritional profile, and comes at a reasonable price.
Most Cost-Effective - Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula
Most Cost-Effective
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula
Contains some of the extra nutrients found in formulas that are twice the price.
Earth's Best promises only lactose is used as its sole carbohydrate — a thing no other formula offers at this price.
Who It's For
If you prefer a formula with no artificial colors or flavors, this is it.
Why It’s Great
Earth's Best Organic Dairy Infant Powder Formula contains iron, omega-3 DHA, and omega-6 ARA. The recipe is made with USDA-certified organic and non-GMO ingredients to help infants from zero to 12 months develop healthily.
Potential Flaws
Some reviewers on Amazon claim it has an unpleasant smell and taste. Besides, the low lactose content might be unnecessary since lactose intolerance is very uncommon among infants.
Other Features
With over 30 years of experience in infant formula production, you can be confident that Earth's Best is one you can trust when it comes to providing exceptional quality. They contain no GMOs, artificial growth hormones, or corn syrup solids.
Its composition includes DHA and ARA, two fatty acids found in breast milk that aid brain and eye development, along with prebiotics. It is one of the cheapest organic dairy infant formulas. However, it has many of the same potentially beneficial additives as other expensive baby formula brands.
Almost Made The Cut - Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula
Almost Made The Cut
Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula
A reliable all-time favorite and it's available as a powder or ready-to-feed.
Its unique combination of specially selected ingredients gives your baby the nutrition that enables him or her to grow strong enough to withstand disease and stay healthy.
Who It's For
Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula covers your baby's nutritional needs from zero to 12 months. From a sensitive tummy to babies needing specialized nutrition.
Why It’s Great
Similac Pro-Advance claims to be the number one brand fed in hospitals. It comes in powder but is also available in ready-to-feed formats for families who prefer to take that route. The brand’s Pro-Advance formula is an exclusive blend of DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E to help support your baby’s overall growth and brain and eye development.
Potential Flaws
Similac Pro-Advance infant formula is not widely available and parents/caregivers might have some difficulty finding it in stores.
Other Features
With over 90 years of baby formula production, Similac applies decades of research to its products and offers standard varieties of baby formula.
Who This Is For
These products are designed to provide complete nutrition for babies from day one through the first 12 months of their lives or whenever they are weaned.
Why You Should Trust Us
With dozens of infant formulas available on the market, it is tricky to determine the perfect one for your baby. Each formula comes with its composition. While some contain more calories and protein with higher levels of vitamins and minerals, others handle allergies or digestive issues in babies. We independently searched for the best quality infant formula for your baby.
Benefits of powder vs ready-to-use formula
Selecting a baby’s formula today is a bit more complicated than it was a couple of years ago because of the different forms, types, and nutritional elements which are now available. The ready-to-feed formula is sterile, safe, nutritious, and convenient. However, we discovered that most parents opt for powdered rather than ready-to-feed. This is because the powdered formula is significantly cheaper. It can also be stored longer ( up to one month after opening), is environmentally friendly, and is widely available.
When can you start using baby formula?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should feed your baby formula or breastmilk exclusively from the first day of their birth right up to the sixth month. Formulas come in two stages; stage 1 and stage 2. Stage 1 infant formula is ideal for infant feeding from birth until 12 months of age. Stage 2 follow-on formulas are suitable for babies aged six months and older.
How We Picked
Ingredients and consistency
First off, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strictly regulates the core components found in a baby formula so each one is acceptable in terms of nutrition. However, all the available baby formulas come in different consistencies, and the tiny bits of variations in the recipe might make a significant difference in the end.
Price vs. quality
To save you from the migraine of analyzing the different prices and nutritional components of tons of available baby formulas, we completed hours of research to root out the best baby formulas. To do this, we studied various expert-recommended formula guidelines from health organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We then ensured that all of the baby formulas on our list are in agreement with the criteria provided by them.
Next, we scoured through several forums like BabyCenter, Mumsnet, etc with millions of parents and caregivers and noted the formulas that worked best for independent families and what they recommended to each other and went further to study each of these picks to select the best formulas.
How We Picked
Ingredients
Here, we considered formulas that contain key ingredients to support your baby’s growth and development. Such ingredients include protein, fat, linoleic acid, fat-soluble vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, sodium, and chloride.
Form/Consistency of Formula
Baby formula is available in three forms: liquid concentrate, powder, and ready-to-feed liquid. Liquid concentrate requires adding water as directed and shaking. The powder formula comes with a scoop and requires you to mix it with water. Ready-to-feed liquid formula can be consumed directly from the pack. We conducted extensive research to determine the best formula for infants' nutritional needs.
Age of Baby
It is important to choose a formula that matches the age and needs of your baby. Formulas are usually needed from birth until the baby is weaned (around one year old). As such, we selected formulas specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants aged zero to 12 months.
Cost-Effectiveness
Several factors affect the price of baby formula. More expensive brands add premium ingredients and adhere to safety measures when producing their formula, while cheaper formulas may not be of top quality and may have fewer health benefits.
Care and Maintenance
How to prepare
Once you prepare the baby’s formula, ensure to feed immediately or cover and store in a refrigerator at 35 to 40°F for no longer than 24 hours. Use boiled water cooled to body temperature to dilute the concentrated formula.
Perishability
Remember that as soon as the powdered formula is mixed with water, it must be consumed within an hour. If your baby is unable to drink all the formula in a bottle, do not save it for later. Throw leftovers, wash the bottles and nipples with soap and warm water, and do not use a microwave oven to heat the prepared formula as it can create hotspots that can burn your baby’s mouth.
Wash hands thoroughly before handling baby formula
It is important to always wash your hands thoroughly before handling baby formula and to mix the formula safely using the directions on the label. Discard the formulae if any foul odor, discoloration, or separation of baby formula liquid components happens. Lastly, make a gradual change to your baby formula option if your baby begins to spit up excessively or stops adding weight.
Sources and Research
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