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We’ve added a new gentle formula pick, Bobbie Organic Gentle, to replace Parent’s Choice Tender Non-GMO, which has been discontinued. We’ve also updated pricing, availability information, and links throughout this guide. pant style diapers for adults
No matter how you do it, feeding a baby is hard work.
If you’re using formula, there are the added challenges of deciphering long lists of ingredients and distinguishing among the dozens of brands and types. And formulas can differ drastically in cost, which can create more confusion, not to mention worry.
We spent more than 80 hours researching formulas, interviewing pediatricians and other experts, and reading more than 20 scientific studies and journal articles. And we learned that all FDA-approved formulas made for healthy, full-term infants are safe and nutritionally adequate for normal growth and development from birth through the first year. We then analyzed the ingredients of more than 60 formulas to find the ones that we think offer the best combination of evidence-backed benefits and value.
This Sam’s Club formula uses lactose (the same sugar that’s in human milk) as its only carbohydrate. And it has several potentially beneficial extra ingredients found in much more expensive formulas.
This Costco formula also contains lactose as the only carbohydrate. And it has many of the same potentially beneficial extras found in more-expensive options.
This Target formula also uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate, and it has many of the same extra nutrients as formulas that cost twice as much.
This formula is made with all partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which may be easier for some babies to digest than the intact milk proteins used in our traditional formula picks.
This Target formula is made with extensively hydrolyzed casein proteins and is typically appropriate for babies who have certain diagnoses, like cow’s milk protein allergy.
This is among the least expensive organic formulas that uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate. It’s also one of the few that contains the potentially beneficial component MFGM.
This is one of only a few goat-milk-based infant formulas available in the US. But it is expensive.
Experts say most babies do well on formula with lactose (the same sugar in human milk) as the sole carbohydrate.
Protein in formula can be either intact or partially or fully broken down, which may be easier for some babies to digest.
All baby formulas must meet the same basic nutritional requirements. Some include extra nutrients like DHA, ARA, and prebiotics.
Generic formulas are as nutritious as brand-name options and often significantly less expensive.
This Sam’s Club formula uses lactose (the same sugar that’s in human milk) as its only carbohydrate. And it has several potentially beneficial extra ingredients found in much more expensive formulas.
Because traditional formulas are all required to meet the same basic nutritional standards, we looked for the most affordable formulas that offer the most additional potential benefits. Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark Infant Premium (around 80¢ per ounce, and a little less if you’re a Sam’s Club member) includes expert-recommended ingredients, such as lactose (the carbohydrate found in human milk), as well as a few desirable extras. This formula is also sold as Up & Up Infant Premium at Target, Parent’s Choice Premium Infant at Walmart, and Mama Bear Infant Premium on Amazon, so it’s easy to find.
This Costco formula also contains lactose as the only carbohydrate. And it has many of the same potentially beneficial extras found in more-expensive options.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO Infant Formula (about 69¢ per ounce) uses lactose, the sugar naturally found in human milk. And this formula provides many of the same extra nutrients you’ll find in formulas that cost two or three times as much.
This Target formula also uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate, and it has many of the same extra nutrients as formulas that cost twice as much.
Though more expensive than our main picks, Up & Up Advantage Premium (around $1 per ounce) is still among the least expensive formulas we found. Unlike our main picks, this formula is available in smaller 23- and 36-ounce sizes. It’s also sold in grocery and drugstore chains, as Walmart Parent’s Choice Advantage Premium, Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Advantage Premium, CVS Health Advantage Premium, and Amazon’s Mama Bear Advantage Premium, among others, so it’s also easy to find.
This formula is made with all partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which may be easier for some babies to digest than the intact milk proteins used in our traditional formula picks.
Most babies do well on traditional formula, but if your pediatrician recommends giving your baby a “gentle,” “tender,” or partially hydrolyzed formula (containing partly broken-down milk proteins, which may be easier for some babies to digest), we suggest Bobbie Organic Gentle. Though it costs considerably more than other “gentle” formulas at about $2 per ounce, it’s one of a few that doesn’t contain intact proteins—which would defeat the purpose—and does contain lactose as its sole carbohydrate.
This Target formula is made with extensively hydrolyzed casein proteins and is typically appropriate for babies who have certain diagnoses, like cow’s milk protein allergy.
If your doctor recommends a hypoallergenic formula, Up & Up Hypoallergenic Infant Formula is equivalent to Enfamil Nutramigen and Similac Alimentum but available at a lower price (roughly $2.02 per ounce). It’s the same as other store-brand hypoallergenic formulas, including Mama Bear Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, Walgreens Well Beginnings Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, and Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, among others.
This is among the least expensive organic formulas that uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate. It’s also one of the few that contains the potentially beneficial component MFGM.
If you want a formula made from USDA-certified organic ingredients, we recommend Aussie Bubs Organic Grass Fed Infant Formula Stage 1. It’s among the least expensive organic formulas we found that has lactose as its only carbohydrate, and it contains whole milk in addition to nonfat milk. Some evidence suggests that milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which is naturally found in whole milk, may be beneficial.
This is one of only a few goat-milk-based infant formulas available in the US. But it is expensive.
Goat’s milk is sometimes considered more similar to human milk than cow’s milk, because, like human milk, it predominantly contains A2 beta-casein protein. (Most cow’s milk contains mainly A1 beta-casein.) There aren’t any studies that suggest goat milk is better than other formulas as far as tolerability, though there isn’t an abundance of research on it. Aussie Bubs Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1 is among the most expensive of our picks, at about $1.42 per powdered ounce.
We interviewed seven experts and read more than a dozen scientific studies, journal articles, reports, and advances to understand formula ingredients, nutrients, and other components. We looked at information from the FDA and CDC to learn how formula is regulated and tested in the US. Finally, we analyzed the nutrition and ingredients labels of some 50 formulas to understand the differences and similarities among them.
I’m a freelance science writer with a PhD in cell biology and have covered health topics for The Atlantic, CBS News, Undark, KFF Health News, and more. I have three kids, and I’ve experienced the difficulties that come with infant feeding. Also, I’m fascinated by nutrition science.
All babies require either human milk (breast milk), baby formula, or a combination of the two during the first year of life.
Four companies manufacture the vast majority of baby formula for sale in the US. Those companies are Mead Johnson (Enfamil), Abbott Nutrition (Similac), Nestlé (which used to make Gerber but now only makes medical formulas), and Perrigo (which makes generic formulas sold in many grocery and pharmacy chains and by other brands, including Earth’s Best and Bobbie, and also acquired Gerber Good Start). A few smaller manufacturers have more recently entered the market: ByHeart (made in the US), Baby’s Only (made in the US), Kendamil (made in the UK), Kabrita (made in the Netherlands), and Aussie Bubs (made in Australia).
All infant formula sold in the US and labeled for healthy babies is safe. It will support normal growth and development from birth through 12 months. The FDA tightly regulates and monitors baby formula and has strict requirements for its nutrients, ingredients, composition, and manufacturing processes.
Brand-name and store-name formulas are nearly identical. A 2017 article on infant feeding in the journal Pediatrics states this. Pediatricians Jenny Thomas and Anthony Porto both told us that parents should feel comfortable using store-brand or generic infant formulas because they contain all of the same FDA-required nutrients and ingredients as formulas made by Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber (which cost two to three times as much).
Much of what you’ll read on a formula container is just marketing. There are formulas marketed for constipation, spit-up, fussiness, and more. Yes, there are differences among formulas, but “in terms of ‘this formula is for colic, this formula is for constipation’—all formulas have to meet the needs of all infants in the US, from 0 to 12 months. So you can’t have a formula that’s just for a baby who is also breastfed, or a 2-month-old baby who is constipated,” baby feeding expert Bridget Young said.
Switching formulas is most often not a big deal. Thomas said that most babies will tolerate changing formula brands and formulations well: “Switching from formula to formula is not a hardship on the baby.” Thomas, Porto, and Young all agree that if your baby is feeding well and happily on a certain formula, there’s probably no reason to change it, though.
But any given baby may have specific needs. Some otherwise healthy babies without allergies do have trouble digesting certain formulas and can exhibit gassiness, spit-up, constipation, or fussiness. Porto said it can be hard to determine whether it’s the formula that might be causing trouble for your baby (and, if so, which component of the formula). If the formulas we recommend in this guide aren’t right for your baby, or you use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or you’re interested in what makes other formulas different, take a look at More baby formulas to consider.
Since 2017, we’ve considered every powdered non-prescription formula available in the US.
Here we focus on powdered formulas because they are the most commonly used (PDF) and most economical, and they come in the most varieties. The 2022 formula shortage led to more imported formulas entering the US market. For a 2023 update to this guide we added imported formulas that remain available beyond the temporary supply brought in to help alleviate the shortage. And in 2024, we removed discontinued products, updated some of the store brands, and added a few new formulas.
Based on our extensive research and conversations with multiple experts, there were only a few criteria we used to whittle down our list of contenders for the best formulas:
Traditional and organic formulas should have lactose as the sole carbohydrate. Since lactose is the energy-providing carbohydrate naturally found in all mammals’ milk, and because formula seeks to mimic human milk as closely as possible, infant feeding experts told us it’s preferable to choose a formula that has lactose as the sole sugar. Most healthy babies don’t have issues digesting lactose, and there is little evidence that reduced lactose or lactose-free formulas reduce colic. For this reason, we didn’t consider any “sensitive” formulas that were lactose-free. (Most partially hydrolyzed formulas include another sweetener in addition to lactose, and all fully hydrolyzed formulas lack lactose.)
“Gentle” or “tender” formulas should contain only partially hydrolyzed proteins. If a pediatrician believes your baby would benefit from a “gentle” formula (which may be easier to digest), it should not contain “intact” proteins along with the partially hydrolyzed ones. (If the label lists milk in addition to hydrolyzed milk or hydrolyzed whey, then it contains both intact and partially hydrolyzed proteins.) This is because, according to Young (video), the presence of some intact proteins will negate any benefits the partially broken down proteins could offer. (Imagine that you’re lactose-intolerant and you order an almond-milk latte but still put whipped cream on top.)
Finally, we considered cost. Formulas can range from just under 70¢ to nearly $2 per ounce of powder or more; this translates to about 63¢ to $1.80 per 6-ounce bottle. We found that many less expensive formulas have most or all of the same extra nutrients as more expensive ones.
We looked only at cow- and goat-milk–based formulas. Pediatricians Anthony Porto and Jenny Thomas told us they recommend soy-based formulas only if the baby has a medical need for it, or if parents want their baby to follow a vegan diet; this is also the guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We did not look at certain formulas like HiPP and Holle that aren’t regulated by the FDA and aren’t sold in US stores.
We also did not consider formulas intended for babies who are premature or who have certain other medical conditions, including formulas whose proteins come in the form of amino acids (such as Elecare, Puramino, Neocate, or Alfamino).
We didn’t do any testing for this guide, because babies have minds of their own, and it would be impossible to control for all of the variables that might make a baby prefer one formula over another.
This Sam’s Club formula uses lactose (the same sugar that’s in human milk) as its only carbohydrate. And it has several potentially beneficial extra ingredients found in much more expensive formulas.
Member’s Mark Infant Premium is produced by Perrigo. Its ingredients list is largely the same as that of our other top pick, Kirkland Signature ProCare, with protein from nonfat milk and added whey, and lactose as the sole carbohydrate (making this formula’s protein close to 60% whey and 40% casein). Member’s Mark Infant Premium contains both galactooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides as prebiotics, and DHA and ARA. It also uses palm oil in addition to other vegetable oils.
At about 80¢ an ounce (if you’re a Sam’s Club member; if not, you’ll pay a 10% upcharge), this formula is about half the cost of brand-name formulas, like Enfamil NeuroPro Infant (which has a similar ingredients list).
Member’s Mark Infant is sold at Sam’s Club, and the exact same formula is also sold under other brands, including Up & Up Premium Infant at Target, Parent’s Choice Premium Infant at Walmart, and Mama Bear Premium Infant on Amazon. Though these versions are often more expensive than the Member’s Mark version, some of them are sold in smaller quantities, which could allow caregivers to try the formula before buying a full 48 ounces from Sam’s Club.
This Costco formula also contains lactose as the only carbohydrate. And it has many of the same potentially beneficial extras found in more-expensive options.
At about 69¢ per ounce (for a pack of two 42-ounce containers), Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO Infant Formula is among the least expensive traditional formulas we found. Yet it is just as safe and nutritious as formulas that cost much more.
It uses lactose as the sole carbohydrate, and it has added whey protein, in addition to nonfat milk, to make the protein ratio more similar to that of human milk (close to 50% whey and 50% casein). It also includes the extra nutrients DHA and ARA, lutein, taurine, L-carnitine, nucleotides, and two prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides and 2’-FL). This formula uses safflower oil, rather than palm oil, which may be a benefit if you are concerned about constipation (though our experts said palm oil is unlikely to impact a baby’s stool).
Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO Infant Formula is a generic formula available only at Costco. The Costco representative we corresponded with said its policy is to not disclose the company that manufactures its formula, but Perrigo lists the Kirkland formula on its website. Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO has a similar ingredients list to the brand-name Similac Pro-Advance, which costs more than $1 per ounce.
Some reviewers have complained that the ProCare formula comes with an opaque blue scoop, which makes it harder to gauge the measurement.
Kirkland Signature ProCare comes in a larger quantity than Member’s Mark. This formula is available online only as packs of two 42-ounce containers, enough for about 68 8-ounce bottles. If you want to buy smaller quantities of formula at a time, you can purchase individual Kirkland formula 42-ounce containers in-store.
You must be a Costco member to buy this formula online.
This Target formula also uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate, and it has many of the same extra nutrients as formulas that cost twice as much.
Though a bit more expensive than Kirkland Signature ProCare and Member’s Mark Infant Premium, Target’s Up & Up Advantage Premium Infant Formula is still one of the least expensive formulas we found, yet it contains many of the same beneficial ingredients as much more expensive formulas, and comes in smaller sizes than our top picks.
It uses lactose as the sole carbohydrate, the protein is from nonfat milk and whey protein (making the protein in this formula 52% whey and 48% casein), and includes the extra nutrients DHA and ARA, lutein, taurine, L-carnitine, nucleotides, and a prebiotics (2’-FL). Like Kirkland’s formula, Up & Up Advantage Premium does not contain palm oil.
Like the ProCare and Member’s Mark formulas, this one is manufactured by Perrigo; it is also sold as Walmart Parent’s Choice Advantage Premium, Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Advantage Premium Baby Formula, CVS Health Advantage Premium, and Amazon Brand Mama Bear Advantage Premium, among others.
Up & Up Advantage Premium (and the equivalent generics) are available in a smaller, 23.2-ounce size, as well as in a 36-ounce size.
This formula is made with all partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which may be easier for some babies to digest than the intact milk proteins used in our traditional formula picks.
“Gentle” or “tender” formulas use partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, which are partly broken down and may be easier for some babies to digest. If you or your child’s pediatrician thinks your baby might do well with a partially hydrolyzed formula, we suggest Bobbie Organic Gentle, which is also manufactured by Perrigo.
Bobbie Organic Gentle uses only partially hydrolyzed milk protein, and it contains no intact proteins, as some formulas labeled “gentle” or “tender” do. (If you’re choosing a partially hydrolyzed formula for your baby’s digestion, you should ensure that it doesn’t also include intact proteins, because those larger proteins would negate any benefits the broken-down proteins might have.)
At about $2 per ounce, it’s considerably more expensive than partially hydrolyzed formulas by Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber Good Start. However, it is the only one that contains lactose as the sole sugar and does not contain corn sugar. (Gerber Good Start GentlePro and Enfamil Reguline are the only other partially hydrolyzed formulas that contain some lactose and no intact proteins, but these also contain corn sugars.)
This formula’s protein is 100% whey, with no casein. It also contains high levels of DHA—20 mg per 100 calories (the required amount in Europe)—as well as ARA, and L-carnitine.
This Target formula is made with extensively hydrolyzed casein proteins and is typically appropriate for babies who have certain diagnoses, like cow’s milk protein allergy.
Hypoallergenic formula contains proteins that are fully hydrolyzed, or broken down, to make them suitable for babies with certain diagnoses, such as cow’s-milk protein allergy. If your doctor says you need to use a hypoallergenic formula, we recommend Up & Up Hypoallergenic Infant Formula. It’s equivalent to Similac Alimentum or Enfamil Nutramigen, but it’s considerably less expensive.
As with Alimentum or Nutramigen, its main carbohydrate is a corn-based sugar (corn-syrup solids), its protein is in the form of casein hydrolysate (a kind of hydrolyzed protein), and it contains soy oil. Unlike Similac Alimentum but like Nutramigen, it contains palm oil.
Like our other store-brand picks, it’s made by Perrigo, and it is also sold as Mama Bear Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, Walgreens Well Beginnings Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, and Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, among others.
This is among the least expensive organic formulas that uses lactose as its sole carbohydrate. It’s also one of the few that contains the potentially beneficial component MFGM.
If you want to feed your baby a formula made from organic ingredients, consider Aussie Bubs Organic Grass Fed Infant Formula Stage 1. Organic formulas use ingredients extracted from USDA-certified organic milk and other food products, but they may contain synthetic ingredients that are not approved by the National Organic Standards Board.
Aussie Bubs formula is manufactured in Australia. The company's formulas are Clean Label Project certified, which means they are tested for chemicals of concern, including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plasticizers. Aussie Bubs came to the US during the formula shortage of 2022, but a company spokesperson says the brand is here to stay.
This organic formula is made from grass-fed whole cow’s milk. Whole milk formula has only been available in the US in the last year, and it naturally contains the potentially beneficial ingredient milk fat globule membrane (MFGM).
In addition to grass-fed whole milk, the protein comes from organic whey, and organic nonfat milk, making the whey-to-casein ratio 60 to 40). The carbohydrate is primarily in the form of lactose. This formula contains a prebiotic (galactooligosaccharides), and it contains soy oil but no palm oil.
This formula contains less DHA than other organic options—just 4.43 mg per 100 calories (Bobbie, ByHeart, and Kendamil organic formulas each contain at least 18 mg per 100 calories). While there isn’t consensus about how much DHA babies need (quantities vary considerably in human milk), formula makers in Europe are required to include 20 mg per 100 calories DHA.
It is called “Stage 1” because in Australia (and Europe), formulas are sold in two stages—Stage 1 for babies 0 to 6 months old and Stage 2 for babies 6 to 12 months old. Each stage has its own nutrition requirements. However, in the US there is only one set of nutrition requirements, and stage 1 is most similar to other US formulas and can be used for babies 0 to 12 months old. (This formula is also available in Stage 2 for babies 6 to 12 months old.)
Aussie Bubs Organic is currently less expensive than our former choice for organic formula, Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula. However, it’s not cheap. It ranges from $1.12 to $1.42 per powdered ounce, depending on where you buy it, making it more than double some of the generic formulas we recommend. If you would like a whole-milk option that’s a bit less expensive, Kendamil Stage 1 is a similar formula made without organic ingredients. If you’d like an organic formula that may be cheaper but doesn’t contain whole milk, try Baby's Only Organic Complete Nutrition Infant Formula.
This is one of only a few goat-milk-based infant formulas available in the US. But it is expensive.
If you want a goat milk formula, we recommend Aussie Bubs Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1, from the same Australian manufacturer of our organic pick.
While there aren’t any studies that suggest goat milk is better than other formulas as far as tolerability, there isn’t an abundance of research on it. Goat’s milk is sometimes considered more similar to human milk than cow’s milk, because, like human milk, it contains A2 beta-casein protein. Most cow’s milk contains predominantly A1 beta-casein. (Some cows produce A2 beta-casein, and there are A2 cow’s milk formulas available.) However, goat milk does contain some A1 beta-casein. And if your baby has a cow’s milk protein allergy, goat milk is not a good option because of the similar proteins in both kinds of milk.
Because this formula contains full cream goat milk, like our organic pick, it also contains natural milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which may be beneficial. And this formula contains less DHA than some cow’s milk formulas, at 8.8 mg per 100 calories.
The carbohydrates are primarily in the form of lactose. It has a prebiotic (galactooligosaccharides), it contains palm oil but no soy oil, and the protein is from whole goat milk and whey from goat’s milk (making the whey-to-casein ratio 60 to 40).
Stage 1 can be used for infants up to 12 months old, whereas Bubs Goat Milk Follow On Formula Stage 2 is only for babies over six months.
Baby formula available in the US is based on either cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or soy.
Lactose is the carbohydrate occurring naturally in all mammalian milk, and it is the most abundant component of human milk. Some formulas marketed as “sensitive” have reduced lactose or are lactose-free and instead use corn syrup, sucrose, or other sugars. A Pediatrics in Review article states that “primary lactose intolerance is rare in children,” and most healthy babies are able to tolerate lactose, whether from cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or human milk. Pediatrician Anthony Porto said that when a baby is having issues digesting a formula, it’s usually due to the protein and not the carbohydrate.
Each formula brand uses its own standard blend of fats in all of its formulas. Fat is the second-most-abundant component of human milk, after carbohydrates. But most US-made formulas use plant-based fats, the most common being coconut, soy, sunflower, safflower, or palm oil. Young says for some babies, palm oil might contribute to constipation, but “most infants are able to pass stool while consuming palm oil just fine.” Porto said if a formula-fed baby has hard stools, palm oil wouldn’t be the first thing he would consider as a culprit. He would first make sure that the baby was hydrated, and then maybe recommend a formula with hydrolyzed proteins, since some babies have difficulty digesting intact milk proteins. However, if you want a formula that doesn’t use palm oil—some people may also want to avoid it for environmental reasons—Kirkland Signature ProCare, all Similac formulas, Bobbie, ByHeart, and Kendamil formulas don’t include it.
Aside from carbohydrates and fats, milk formulas contain different forms of milk proteins:
There are 29 FDA-mandated vitamins and nutrients that all infant formulas must include. Many formulas also have added nutrients and ingredients, which are intended to make formulas more similar to—or to confer benefits associated with—human milk. Here are some of the “extras” you’ll find (see the chart below for a full list):
Though the FDA recognizes all these additives as safe, a 2017 article on infant nutrition in Pediatrics in Review concluded: “The benefits of these additives are still under investigation.” Research into human milk is ongoing. And the makeup, role, and benefits of many of human milk’s bioactive components, like white blood cells, immunological proteins, beneficial microbes (probiotics), and prebiotics, among many others, are still being understood.
“We have come ages in formula development. But [formula makers] are nowhere close to creating human milk,” Thomas said. “I don’t think that any of the newest additions to formula makes any one formula so great that you should stand up and say this is the one that you need.”
Following the guidance of these experts and other medical sources, we considered these formula “extras” to be just that: safe to consume, maybe nice to have, but not yet conclusively beneficial. These ingredients are one of the reasons the cost of formulas can vary so widely, but Young said you don’t need to stretch your budget for them.
And when it comes to formula companies touting certain ingredients as improving babies’ development or cognition, Young tells parents to be skeptical. “Talk to your baby, make eye contact with your baby, snuggle with your baby, read to your child,” she says. “All of those things together make such a bigger impact that there’s just no room for parents to feel any guilt if a formula is out of their financial reach.”
There is a dizzyingly long list of potential ingredients in formula, and understanding the label isn’t easy. Many of the ingredients that fulfill the FDA-required vitamins and minerals have complex names (“iron” might be listed as “ferrous sulfate”). And a formula might proclaim it “contains DHA” on the front, but to find it on the ingredients list, you’d need to know that DHA often comes from Crypthecodinium cohnii oil. Here, we’ve listed the FDA-required ingredients you’ll find in all US formulas.
We’ve also listed other common minerals and prebiotics, as well as other ingredients added to formulas. These “extras” are not required by the FDA, but they are all considered safe. Formula companies add these ingredients because they may confer potential benefits or are designed to make the formula more similar to human milk. And some ingredients act as emulsifiers or thickeners for the formula’s consistency.
Infant formula is one of the most highly regulated foods, and manufacturers are required to test samples of each batch of formula for Cronobacter and Salmonella, bacteria that can contaminate dry foods like powdered formula and can make infants, especially newborns, sick. Recalls due to potential pathogens are rare, but they do happen, and sometimes recalls happen for other reasons (such as things ending up in the formula that don’t belong there).
Though potentially harmful bacteria can sometimes come from powdered infant formulas, they can also be introduced during the process of preparing formula and feeding a baby. To minimize the risk, the CDC recommends sterilizing bottles and the feeding parts (such as the nipples), as well as washing your hands thoroughly before preparing formula or feeding.
For at-risk babies (those who are under 3 months old or are immunocompromised), the CDC and the World Health Organization recommend using premixed liquid formula (often called “ready to feed”) or mixing powdered formula with very hot water (158 degrees Fahrenheit), being careful to let it cool before feeding. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics says you don’t need to boil or otherwise heat the water before mixing in powdered formula, unless you are concerned about water safety. Talk to your doctor about any special instructions for preparing your baby’s formula.
All FDA-regulated infant formula sold in the US is safe and promotes normal growth and development for healthy babies from birth through 12 months. We think our picks offer the best value and meet an array of caregiver preferences. But your baby’s needs may differ, and the list below includes nearly all powdered milk-based formulas available in the US (sorted by brand, alphabetically). We’ve noted which carbohydrate(s) and extra nutrients each formula includes, but for complete information, check nutrition and ingredients labels and refer to our charts and descriptions above.
overnight adult diapers with tabs Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber offer some of their formulas in liquid concentrate (which must be diluted) and ready-to-feed versions. Ready-to-feed formulas, some of which come in 2-ounce or 8-ounce pre-portioned bottles, are