Parents, Here’s a Look at 12 of the Best Baby Formulas for Infants in 2023

As a new parent, you only want the best for your baby — before choosing a formula, it’s best to consult your child’s pediatrician for professional guidance, as they will have the best guidance and advice for your baby’s specific needs.

That said, baby formula can supplement natural breast milk or serve as your baby’s primary food – it’s totally up to you! Of course, some baby formulas are better for your infant’s health than others, according to sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For example, some baby formulas are meant to emulate breastfeeding, and they may be made of cow’s milk protein. Other formula-feeding solutions are meant to help your infant transition to eating solids, so they may have different carbohydrate ingredient compositions.

You should also look at things like:

• The exact ingredient composition (which can include choline, colic acid, casein, etc.), So you know that it meets all of your little one’s nutritional needs
• Whether it’s a hypoallergenic formula or if it’s meant to help your baby avoid gassy side effects or constipation
• What alternative base different formulas are made of, like goat milk or soy protein (perfect for babies with a milk protein allergy)
• Whether the formula option has any pesticides, preservatives, corn syrup solids, or other potentially harmful ingredients rated poorly by the Food and Drug Administration

If you’re not sure where to start, read on. We’ll take a look at the different types of formulas and some of the best baby formulas for infants in 2023 at major retailers like Target, Amazon, and more.

1. Similac Advance Infant Formula with Iron

Best for: Hospital Formula

There are lots of great formula choices out there, but few are very close to the exact hospital formula you might receive before being discharged. Similac’s Advance Infant Formula with Iron is a perfect choice if you want to make sure your baby gets almost exactly the same thing they would get in the hospital.

As its name suggests, it comes with iron for nutritional completeness, but it also comes with a host of other excellent vitamins and minerals, like DHA, lutein, and vitamin E. Without any artificial growth hormones, this is one of the best baby formula choices you can make overall, especially if you are a new parent and haven’t done a lot of research yet.

2. Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula

Best for: Prebiotic Boosts

The Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula is a top choice if you want to make sure your baby’s microbiome comes with all the prebiotic assistance it can get. This specific immune blend comes with excellent vitamins and nutrients, like expert-recommend DHA and triple prebiotic species.

Not only will this help your baby’s gut and digestive system develop properly, but it will also potentially assist with brain development. Overall, this is a pediatrician-recommended infant formula brand that you can easily rely on for up to the first year of your child’s life.

3. Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula for Babies 0-12 Months

Best for: Lactose-Free Formula

Earth’s Best Organic Sensitive Baby Formula is a great choice for the first 12 months of your baby’s life. But it’s an especially good pick if you want a lactose-free formula, which can be important if you know your baby is lactose intolerant.

This baby powder formula has reduced lactose to ease gas, fussiness, and crying. It also supports brain and eye development as well as a healthy immune system. With 32 ounces of formula, it’s also great in terms of value for money, as you get plenty of formula for each individual purchase you make.

4. Gerber Good Start Baby Formula Powder, Gentle Soy

Best for: Plant-Based Formula

Gerber’s Good Start Baby Formula Powder is designed with gentle and nutritious soy as its primary ingredient. This excellent formula is completely free of lactose, so it’s perfect for babies who need non-dairy formula solutions.

However, this doesn’t cut down on vital nutrients like vitamin D and calcium, both of which are important for bone and teeth development. The formula also comes packed with DHA to foster eye and brain development in equal measure. It’s a top formula choice for combining with baby-ready foods, like veggie purées and mushed fruit, as they get older.

5. Baby’s Only Organic Dairy with DHA & ARA Toddler Formula

Best for: Affordable Formula

Baby’s Only Organic Dairy with DHA and ARA Toddler Formula is nutritious to the extreme. As a Clean Label Project-verified formula, it’s perfect for boosting brain and eye health, and it comes with a wide variety of healthy ingredients like vitamin C, biotin, vitamin D3, and much more.

This kosher baby formula is made with organic nonfat milk, soybean oil, and other healthy ingredients. On top of that, it’s one of the most affordable baby formula solutions you can pick: a big benefit for parents whose budgets are a bit tight after having one or more little ones.

6. Aptamil Stage 1 Formula

Best for: Extra Omega-3s

Aptamil’s Stage 1 Formula is packed with extra omega-3 nutrients. These are highly important for brain and immune system development, as are vitamins and minerals like DHA, vitamins C and D, and so on. Make no mistake, this formula is designed from an effective European recipe without any corn syrup.

In this way, this can be a great choice for those who want to give their babies the best start possible in terms of nutritional development. It’s also free of palm oil, reducing the likelihood of any digestive or allergic reactions to the formula and its contents. This could be a great pick if you live in Europe or are planning to move to Europe in the future, as well, since it is certified and popular there.

7. Mama Bear Sensitivity Baby Formula Powder

Best for: Gas Reduction

Mama Bear’s Sensitivity Baby Formula Powder is, as its name suggests, a popular choice among parents who want to reduce digestive sensitivity and irritation in their infants. This formula can help to reduce gas in babies because it has 99% less lactose compared to standard milk-based infant formula.

At the same time, it does a great job of ensuring total nutritional and prebiotic support for your little one. Lutein, vitamin E, DHA, and omega-3 fatty acids are included. It meets the exact same FDA standards as national brand formula, so consider this if your baby has trouble with other formula brands and is constantly fussy or crying because of gas.

8. Similac 360 Total Care Infant Formula

Best for: Formula in Bulk

The Similac 360 Total Care Infant Formula is a relatively affordable choice considering you can get a pack of 24 formula bottles with a single purchase. That’s a great thing for parents who need to buy formula in bulk, such as before they go on vacation or leave their little one with a sitter.

This bulk formula solution nonetheless has excellent ingredients and nutritional composition designed for immune system support, digestive health, and brain development. More importantly, this formula is ready to use; you don’t need to mix anything, so it’s perfect for late-night feeding or on-the-go nutrition for your baby.

9. Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder

Best for: Milk-Based Formula

If you are looking for a milk-based formula, try the Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder. This milk-based formula is easy to digest and is made with clean ingredients since the milk comes from grass-fed beef.

This whole milk toddler formula is packed with A2 proteins, HMOs, DHA and ARA, and all other important ingredients for your little one. You can get it in a single package or purchase it in bulk if you want to stock up on formula for a long time to come. In any case, this is a top choice for infants who do digest milk capably, but it can also serve as a good gluten-free alternative for babies who have gluten sensitivity.

10. Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Baby Formula

Best for: Allergy-Resistance

Nutramigen’s Hypoallergenic Baby Formula is a lactose-free milk powder featuring omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and probiotics for digestive health. It also comes with iron for even better nutritional aid.

This formula can help with immune system development and health, and it could be a good choice if your baby previously had an allergy to milk-based formula. As always, use a little bit of this formula first to see how their system responds to it before making it a staple part of their diet.

11. Aptamil Gold+ ProNutra Biotik Stage 1 Infant Formula

Best for: Early-Stage Formula

Aptamil’s Gold+ ProNutra Biotik Stage 1 Infant Formula is a one-of-a-kind formula solution, available in a good size and with a host of scientifically researched ingredients. These include amino acids, potassium, calcium, several vitamins, biotin, and folic acid.

Overall, it’s one of the most complete nutritional compositions you can find, and it’s designed to be nutritionally complete from birth to six months old. Because of this, it’s a great early-stage formula rather than a formula to rely on until your baby is one year old or even a little older.

Consider using this formula as the first thing your baby drinks if you are unable to produce breast milk, or you know that your baby will have to get used to formula very quickly.

12. Baby’s Only Organic Plant-Based Pea Protein Toddler Formula

Best for: Organic Formula

If you’re in the market for organic baby formula, Baby’s Only Organic Plant-Based Pea Protein Toddler Formula is the way to go. This non-GMO, USDA organic, and Clean Label Project-verified formula is made with titular pea protein, and it is completely free of genetically modified organisms.

Even better, it’s been heavy metal tested, so it won’t present any health risk to your baby. Healthy organic ingredients like potassium, calcium, sunflower lecithin, and more are included in the formula, providing a nutritionally complete profile without the use of ingredients like palm oil or corn syrup.

Thanks to this healthy focus, it’s a very good choice for parents who want to start their babies off right and who wish to introduce their young ones to organic diets right from the get-go.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are dozens of different baby formula choices you can make. It’s important to pick the right baby formula based on how you want your little one’s diet to evolve.

For example, if you want to start your baby off with an organic diet, the Baby’s Only Organic Plant-Based Pea Protein Toddler Formula is a perfect choice. Meanwhile, if you want your baby to enjoy milk and you know they are not lactose intolerant, the Serenity Kids Toddler A2 Formula Powder could be the best option overall.

Regardless, be sure to speak to your pediatrician or nutritionist. They’ll be able to do tests on your baby and tell you which type of formula is right for their needs and any dietary restrictions. Remember, you can always switch the formula you give your baby if they have an allergic reaction to it later on or if they have a lot of gas.

Sources:

• What is infant formula, and how can scientists make it more like human milk? | American Chemical Society
• Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | NCBI
• Vitamins & Minerals | Nutrition | CDC

This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Parents, Here’s a Look at 12 of the Best Baby Formulas for Infants in 2023."