It can be challenging to decide which baby formula to use for your little one. You want to nourish your child with the most nutritious formula, but there are so many options that it’s tough to know which one is truly the best.
All formulas must meet strict nutritional standards set by the FDA – but each one is different in its ingredients and its proteins. If you’re struggling to choose a baby formula, check out the following four top choices.
1. Enfamil NeuroPro
Enfamil is a well-known name in the formula industry. The company makes several products, including NeuroPro, which is inspired by breast milk and contains brain-boosting ingredients such as milk fat globule membrane, DHA, and inositol.
Enfamil is manufactured by Mead Johnson Nutrition, a company that created the first clinically supported infant feeding product in America. The infant formula was developed to help the founder’s infant son, who couldn’t tolerate certain types of food. Years later, Enfamil also created one of the first soy-based infant formulas for children who were sensitive to cow’s milk protein.
You can use Enfamil NeuroPro to feed newborns and infants up to one year old, and it provides complete nutrition. Choose between a 20.7-ounce tub of powder for $27.99 or a ready-to-use liquid form complete with six 2-ounce bottles for $9.95.
2. Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula
Some parents choose to feed their family with organic products. Many infant formulas contain corn syrup solids, but Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula does not.
The product contains many of the important vitamins and minerals found in breast milk with no added chemicals. The ingredients are organic and non-GMO. This is a milk-based formula, and the lactose comes from cows raised on organic farms.
To improve digestion and minimize fussiness, this formula contains prebiotics. These feed the friendly bacteria in the gut and helps alter a child’s gastrointestinal balance to more closely match that of breastfed babies. Happy Family Organics makes this infant formula with the intent of providing enhanced nutrition for children from an early age. A 21-ounce container of powder formula costs $29.99.
3. Gerber Good Start Soy Formula
Cow’s milk protein allergies can plague babies in their first year of life. Soy-based formula, fortunately, is the perfect option for children who are vegan or sensitive to dairy.
Gerber Good Start Soy Formula is free of milk and lactose and may ease digestion in some infants. It contains DHA to support brain health and is made without genetically modified ingredients. Easy on the digestive system and as smooth as milk-based formulas, the Gerber Good Start Soy formula is one of the best alternatives for infants.
A 25.7-ounce tub of Gerber Good Start Soy powdered formula costs about $25. A pack of eight 8.45-fluid-ounce ready-to-feed bottles costs approximately $13.
4. Similac Alimentum
If your child has food allergies or doesn’t tolerate soy and milk protein, you might want to consider using a hypoallergenic formula. These formulas are a bit different – and sometimes more difficult to find – but they’re reputable and tested on infants who are especially sensitive to cow’s milk protein.
Similac Alimentum is a formula that’s specially created for infants with colic, food allergies, or an inability to properly metabolize and absorb fats and proteins. It’s made with hydrolyzed casein and amino acids. The proteins are partially pre-digested so that they’re more readily absorbed in your little one’s digestive tract. The formula also uses a distinctive combination of carbohydrates that enhance absorption. It also contains DHA and ARA, two nutrients found in breast milk.
Similac Alimentum costs about $40 for a 19.8-ounce tub of powder. The ready-to-feed liquid formula is available at approximately $10 for one quart. Choosing Alimentum can produce less fussiness, and if you have a baby with digestive issues, it may be the only formula your little one can handle.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.