How to Choose the Right Infant Formula for Your Baby?

January 06, 2023

How to Choose the Right Infant Formula for Your Baby?

Whether you’re planning to exclusively formula-feed your baby, combine breastfeeding and formula feeding, or if you want to keep the convenience of having infant formula around occasional use, finding nutrition that will meet your little one’s unique needs is essential.

 

Here is everything you need to know to make the best baby formula choice for your little one.  

Table of Contents

What is Infant Formula?

What types of Baby Formulas are Available?

Should I Give My Baby Soy Formula?

Baby Formula Ingredients

Organic Baby Formula

Best Baby Formula

Why US Parents are Choosing European Baby Formula

Choosing the Right Infant Formula

 

What is Infant Formula?

Despite differences, at the very basics, all infant formulas have to include a specific amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Calories

Little ones need a lot of calories to support physical development and healthy brain growth.

 

The number of calories a baby needs varies greatly depending on age and if solid food has been incorporated into your little one’s diet. Keep in mind that all babies go through developmental stages at different rates.

 

​​The suggested average caloric intake from birth to twelve months is approximately 90-120 calories per kg in body weight.

 

Typically, baby formulas contain 19 to 20 calories per ounce.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient. Babies provide a readily available energy source and are imperative to their rapid growth and development.

 

Carbohydrate sources in the baby formula come from corn syrup solids, maltodextrin, sucrose, or lactose (the best), which is the sugar naturally found in breast milk.

Protein

The building blocks for growth- protein supports skin, hair, nails, and all the organs to ensure healthy development.

 

The primary protein sources in all baby formulas come from animal milk, milk protein isolate, whey, casein, plant protein ( soy, pea, rice, etc..), and amino acids.

Fat

Visual and cognitive development count on a ratio of fats that mimic breast milk.

 

You may find the fats listed as vegetable oil, palm oil, coconut oil, canola oil, or rape seed oil. Other vegetable oil may also be listed on their own or in combination.

Vitamins and Minerals

Many micronutrients are influenced by the ratio found in breast milk; this includes vitamins and minerals to support normal infant growth.

 

Baby formulas contain vitamins A, D, K, C, choline, calcium, iron, and more to prevent deficiencies and give your little ones the best beginning.

Long-Chain Fatty Acids

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are long-chain fatty acids in breast milk.

 

 DHA and ARA are linked with normal brain and vision development in babies.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics are healthy to live bacteria, and prebiotics is what probiotics feed on. Together and separately, this pair are generally great for gut health and ensuring proper digestion.

What Types of Baby Formulas are Available?

Beyond powdered, concentrated, and liquid, many different types of baby formula are available today.

Cow Milk Baby Formula

Cow’s milk-based baby formula accounts for 80% of all infant formulas on the market. Like breastmilk, cow’s milk infant formula contains lactose, a milk sugar.

 

For sensitive babies, a gentle cow’s milk-based infant formula typically has lower levels of lactose.

Goat Milk Baby Formula

Parents may choose to use goat milk formula for their baby for various reasons, from personal preference to health concerns.

Compared to standard cow, soy, or other plant-based milk, goat milk has more protein per serving. The A2 protein in goat milk is also more digestible, meaning your body can use it more easily.

Goat milk baby formula is digested easier and soothes gut flora, causing less chance of lactose allergies occurring.

Plant-Based Formula

Whether your family chooses a diet free of animal products or your little one has a cow’s milk allergy vs. cow’s milk intolerance, vegan formula that is nutritionally well-balanced and promotes future health can be the perfect option.


Free of animal-derived ingredients, 100% vegan formulas can be used from birth through the toddler years and contain the same nutritional value as traditional baby formulas.

Hydrolyzed Baby Formula

Often referred to as “predigested, “ infant formula is often used for digestive worries associated with lactose.

 

Cow’s milk baby formula has large and intact proteins, but some babies have problems digesting them.

 

When that happens, babies need an infant formula with smaller proteins. By extensively hydrolyzing or “breaking down,” the Hydrolyzed Baby Formula proteins became smaller and easy-to-digest proteins.

 

Sensitive and gentle infant formulas usually have partially hydrolyzed proteins that help gassiness, colic, and food allergy skin worries such as eczema.

Special Baby Formula

A thickened baby formula may be recommended for little ones with acid reflux, GERD, or if your little one is spitting up more than five times a day.


An Anti-Reflux Formula made with organic ingredients will soothe digestive worries and help with other digestive issues.

Should I Give My Baby Soy Formula?

Easily found over-the-counter soy formula. Unfortunately, this plant-based option can cause more harm than help.

 

Soy baby formula contains high amounts of genistein and phytoestrogens, both potent human endocrine disruptors, binding efficiently to the estrogen receptors in both females and males.

 

Generally, soy formula is not recommended. Infants with cow’s milk sensitivities or allergies may also have the same reactions to soy, in which case, hypoallergenic formulas are often a better alternative.

Baby Formula Ingredients

It is essential to choose a formula designed to nourish your infant well with the best ingredients.

 

Each component must be designed and sourced in a specific way that will give your baby all the clean energy now for cognitive growth and physical development and support health in future years.

Organic Baby Formula

Manufacturers of organic European baby formulas follow farming methods that are holistic and eco-friendly. From soil to production, European organic farming practices consider animal health, husbandry, and economic and long-term social aspects of farming.

 

In total contradiction are American organic practices that leave room for toxic ingredients, health-impairing non-lactose sugars, and heavy metals.

 

European baby formula is designed with each element and component in mind. Unfortunately, US standards are not the same and may include in their composition harmful ingredients that may be harmful to your baby today and in the future.

Best Baby Formula

Clean, pure ingredients to get your formula as close to nature is the best formula for all little ones. Put that together with content sourced in the most ecological and animal-friendly manner.

Why US Parents are Choosing European Baby Formula

Starting from conception, all European baby formula ingredients that are farmed, sourced, and manufactured are strictly regulated to leave no harmful substances in your baby's bottle.

 

When choosing the right infant formula for your baby, the priority is to select a formula that eliminates pesticide residue, toxic processing agents, chemicals, and GMO ingredients.

 

European organic baby formulas go out of their way to avoid unhealthy and potentially harmful ingredients such as carrageenan, highly processed sweeteners like corn syrup, glucose syrup, and other non-lactose sugars.

 

On the opposite end-American baby formulas allow these for quick energy sugars, fillers, and cheap additives.


It is easy to see that European baby formulas are a better choice.

Choosing the Right Infant Formula

Starting the first day, you give your baby a bottle through the toddler years. My Organic Company is here for your family.

 

Our European baby formulas make choosing the right formula for your infant easier. Meeting every digestive and nutritional need is our goal.


Please contact our European Baby Formula experts to help narrow down the best formula for your infant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which formula is right for my baby?

As daunting as it can be, finding the right formula for your baby may be a process of trial and error.

 

If your baby has a known milk protein allergy, colic, gas, or other specific concerns, you can start with a formula for those issues and see how your baby reacts. Otherwise, you can choose a formula that fits your ingredient preferences, and a taste baby prefers.

 

Call your pediatrician and ask for a recommendation if you need help figuring out where to start.

What is the closest formula to breast milk?

In reality, no formula can completely mimic human breast milk. However, scientific and nutritional advances have come a long way in recent years, and some great options are available.

 

The formulas meeting European infant nutrition regulations contain DHA (found in varying amounts in human milk), ARA, carbs, fats, and vitamins that mimic those found in breast milk.

 

European regulations ensure that the ratios are as close as possible and the ingredients are pure and clean.

What is the most recommended formula?

Formula ingredients are much more important than the brand. With some research, families will be well on their way to choosing an excellent formula for their babies.

 

Your pediatrician can also give a more specific recommendation for your little one.

How do we switch baby formula if needed?

In the absence of an allergy, intolerance, or medical condition that would warrant switching formulas cold turkey, it is often in the best interest of your little one to make the change slowly.

 

This slow transition can ease any digestive worries and help your baby adapt to the change in taste or texture that comes with different brands.

 

We suggest transitioning to each step every 1-2 days.

 

    An example using 4 oz of baby formula

    3 oz current formula, 1 oz new formula

    2 oz current formula, 1 oz new formula

    1 oz current formula, 3 oz new formula

                          4 oz new formula

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