Best Organic Baby Formula Guide for 2024

Updated Oct 8, 2024 8:06 am ET


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Before choosing a formula, and if you have questions, it’s best to consult your child’s pediatrician for professional guidance — they’re your best resource when it comes to your baby’s specific health needs.

As a parent, you want your newborn baby to only have the best. That often means avoiding baby formulas with GMOs or genetically modified organisms. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent organic baby formulas you can pick from.

Even the best baby formulas can vary in terms of their contents. For example, you should examine each organic baby formula for the following:

  • Whether it was made with pesticides, preservatives, fertilizers, Unnecessary sweeteners, or other harmful compounds
  • Whether it is FDA certified and organic
  • What the ingredient list says it has, like lutein, maltodextrin, casein, colic, and other organic ingredients
  • Whether the formula is meant to foster brain development, focus on eye development, reduce constipation, and more
  • What reputation the formula brand has in Europe, the US, and other countries
  • Is it a gentle formula, a formula meant to emulate breastfeeding milk, or hypoallergenic?
  • Is it a milk-based formula, or is it an infant milk based on some other protein like soy, whey protein, or peas?

Each of these factors will help you determine which formula is right for combining with organic baby food and other organic products, particularly if your little ones have sensitive tummies.

But which is right for your unique baby or toddler? That’s a tougher question. Let’s break down the best organic baby formulas you can buy.

Best for Infants Under 6 Months: Bubs Organic Grass Fed Infant Formula Stage 1

Bubs Organic Grass Fed Infant Formula Stage 1 is exactly what it sounds like — a stellar organic baby formula pick for babies under the age of six months. It’s made with non-GMO organic milk, and you get over 28 ounces for your purchase.

This balanced formula is sourced from cows who live in the great outdoors and enjoy a grass-fed diet. As a result, this ACO and NASAA-certified organic baby formula comes packed with healthy nutrients and additives to give your little one exactly what they need to thrive.

At the same time, this is a great baby formula if you want to avoid the risk of your baby getting a sensitive stomach. Thanks to the nutritional balance of this formula, your baby will benefit from strong probiotics: perfect for helping their digestive and immune systems develop in the earliest stages of life.

Best for Infants Up to One Year: Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula with Iron

Happy Baby’s Organic Infant Formula with Iron is a standout choice for babies up to one year old, making it a great long-term formula pick for parents who know they will be relying on formula for a while to come.

This organic formula solution has no corn syrup solids, and it is certified USDA organic. As a result, it’s fantastic for reducing sensitivity, messes, and hiccups in your baby. On top of that, while it looks expensive, you actually get a lot of formula for your purchase, making it a top choice for parents who need to pick up a lot of formula at once.

Probiotics, fibers, and other healthy nutrients are included in this formula. It’s also made with organic lactose, which is the main carbohydrate found in breast milk. Parents of all stripes can rely on this organic baby formula to give their little ones what they need to grow healthy and strong.

Best for Nutrition Profile: Bellamy’s Organic, Step 1 Infant Formula

Bellamy’s Organic Step 1 Infant Formula is a great organic baby formula choice, thanks to its effective and impressive combination of nutrients ranging from potassium citrate to vitamin E to folic acid and more. This baby formula is perfect for infants up to the age of six months, and it is nutritionally complete.

You can rely on it to give your baby what they need to thrive because it has been scientifically researched and is certified organic. It’s also a pretty good price, as you get a healthy amount of formula per purchase.

Best for Avoiding Cow Milk Allergies: Kabrita Goat Milk Formula Powder

Kabrita’s Goat Milk Formula Powder is the best organic baby formula for those who wish to avoid triggering cow milk allergies in their babies. Since this uses goat milk, your infant won’t have an allergic reaction, like rashes or an upset stomach, if they react poorly to regular cow milk.

The goat’s milk organic baby formula contains 30 mg of sodium, 9 g of sugar, and 2 g of protein per serving. It also includes plenty of iron, which is important for baby development, all without including any genetically modified organisms.

The formula is made in the Netherlands and is designed to be impressively easy to digest. Therefore, you can also rely on this organic baby formula if your little one has difficulty keeping anything down, including natural breast milk or breast milk made with other core ingredients.

Best for Sensitive Babies: Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula

Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula is a popular choice among parents with sensitive babies and finicky digestive systems. It’s great for little ones up to the age of 12 months and features reduced lactose compared to standard formula choices.

At the same time, it has lots of iron, omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and ARA: perfect for fostering the development of healthy brain and eye tissue. You get 32 ounces per purchase, so it’s also fairly budget friendly compared to other baby formula alternatives.

This soy-based, non-GMO formula is easy to mix and is perfect for nourishing your child if their digestive system is a little pickier than you anticipated. It’s nutritionally complete, and all the lactose in the formula comes from organic and grass-fed cows. There’s nothing to worry about this formula’s ingredients at any step of the manufacturing or preparation process!

Best for Boosting Brain and Eye Health: Baby’s Only Organic Dairy Toddler Formula

If you want to make sure your baby’s brain and eyes develop healthily, check out Baby’s Only Organic Dairy Toddler Formula. This is a very healthy organic baby formula choice, as it’s USDA certified and totally kosher. It has also been heavy metal tested, and it doesn’t come with any corn syrup or palm oil.

Importantly, it provides calcium for strong bones, vitamin D for immune system support, and choline for brain health. Other effective ingredients, like DHA, are included to facilitate the healthy growth of eye tissue and other organic compounds in your little one.

This is a very easy formula to prepare, as well, making it a favorite for parents who need to whip up some formula quickly in the middle of the night. You get a pack of six for each purchase, so you can buy a lot of formula in bulk before going on vacation and leaving your baby with a sitter.

Best for Bulk Formula: Baby’s Only Organic Sensitive LactoRelief with DHA & ARA Toddler Formula

Baby’s Only Organic Sensitive LactoRelief with DHA and ARA Toddler Formula is a standout organic baby formula choice if you need to purchase a lot quickly. Each purchase comes with a pack of six, and the baby formula is some of the best in the industry.

Not only is it perfect for babies with lactose sensitivities, but it’s also Clean Label Project verified. This non-GMO baby formula comes with everything your toddler needs to grow up healthy and strong, including protein, calcium, and much more. It’s also a kosher formula if that matters for your family.

Not only can you purchase this particular baby formula, but the same brand also offers organic dairy, whey and dairy, and other formula types. Therefore, it might be a good choice if you have several babies at once, each with little digestive quirks that you need to account for when purchasing organic formula for all of them.

Best for Close to Breastmilk: Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula for Babies 0-12 Months

Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula is perfect for babies up to one year old, and it comes with all the great ingredients your little one needs to thrive, like omega-6 ARA and omega-3 DHA. Iron, calcium, and other nutrients are included as well.

But while this is an affordable baby formula option, with 21 ounces of formula per purchase, it’s also noteworthy because it is a formula very close to breastmilk (in fact, it’s this brand’s closest formula overall). The ingredients come from organic sources, but it’s still remarkably close to natural breast milk.

Therefore, it might be a great choice for parents who previously breastfed their children but had to stop for one reason or another. It may also be ideal if you want to mix breastmilk and baby formula for your little one, gradually weaning them off breastmilk entirely. A formula very close to breastmilk might make the transition a little easier.

Best for Affordability: Pure Bliss by Similac Infant Formula

The Pure Bliss by Similac Infant Formula is an excellent and highly affordable choice for parents who need to purchase high-quality, organic baby formula without putting too much strain on their wallets. For a single cost-effective purchase, you get almost 25 ounces of formula in a can.

Not only can you buy a lot of formula in bulk at good prices, but you can also purchase this brand once to see if it works out before purchasing more. It doesn’t include any artificial growth hormones or other genetically modified organisms, of course, such as antibiotics or palm olein oil.

Instead, it has healthy ingredients, like DHA and ARA, and it starts with fresh milk from organic, grass-fed cows. This is the preferred formula fed in many hospitals around the country, so it’s another good choice if you are worried about reputation or overall quality.

Best for Whole Milk Formula: Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder Drink Made with EcoDairy Grass Fed Organic Whole Milk

If your baby doesn’t struggle with lactose, and in fact, you want to ensure their digestive system builds up a tolerance, the Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder is the best pick, bar none. That’s because it is made with organic A2 whole milk, meaning they get all the good stuff in milk in addition to other organic compounds.

Those compounds include DHA and ARA, alongside HMOs, to bolster nutritional completeness and overall baby health. The formula is packed with other vitamins and minerals and is all combined into an easy-to-digest recipe that makes it a good choice, even if your little one is known to have a sensitive stomach. That’s also because it includes prebiotics for the immune system and digestive health.

It’s a fairly affordable formula, and you can purchase it in bulk ahead of time if you know that you’ll need to stock up. All in all, it’s a good choice for heavy dairy drinkers and for toddlers that will likely be eating a lot of dairy as they get older because of their environment or culture.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, any of the above organic baby formula choices could work for your little one. Consider their digestive system, the recommendation of your pediatrician, and your personal preferences as a parent.

For instance, Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula is probably wise if your little one struggles with gas or indigestion. On the other hand, the Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder might be better if your baby does just fine with full lactose and whole milk.

Remember, you don’t have to stick with the same formula in perpetuity. Try one out, see if it works, and don’t hesitate to switch if your infant needs something different!

Sources:

Chase Clements

Chase Clements

Author McClatchy Commerce

Based in Kansas City, Chase Clements is the Commerce Content Operations Manager. He has many years of experience as a Commerce Writer and Editor for McClatchy.