Best baby formulas of 2024, according to a mom and pediatric dietitian

ByHeart uses organic, grass-fed whole milk which has a similar nutritional profile to breast milk. It’s made with a patented protein blend that is closest to breast milk and includes two of the most abundant proteins found in breast milk, alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin.

Alpha-lactalbumin is a whey protein that improves digestion and tolerability, and lactoferrin supports iron absorption, cognition, and the immune system. A portion of proteins are partially hydrolyzed, which are broken down to improve digestion for your baby’s tiny belly. Plus, ByHeart formula includes milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), a blend of fatty acids and protein also found in breast milk, that supports baby’s brain development. 

ByHeart produces their formula in small batches, which reduces production time and protects the quality of the fats in the formula. When formula is exposed to high heat for too long, it can negatively affect the color, taste, texture, and smell. We also value that ByHeart completed a comprehensive clinical trial to ensure the quality and benefits of their formula.

Hailing from Europe, Kendamil’s whole milk formula has become wildly popular in the United States. Made with organic, grass-fed whole milk (from cows that roam pastures 365 days a year!), it’s designed to mimic breast milk with its creamy texture and ideal whey-to-casein protein ratio. Perfect for combo-fed babies!

Plus, it’s free from palm oil, which has been shown to limit fat and calcium absorption and cause constipation. In fact, tons of BabyCenter parents say switching to Kendamil helped clear up their baby’s constipation almost instantly.

What’s more, Kendamil is packed with prebiotics to give your baby’s immune system a little extra love. It’s also loaded with DHA and ARA to support brain and vision development. And don’t stress — unlike your Omega-3 supplements, Kendamil doesn’t have any sort of fishy smell, as far as parents can tell. 

Another pro: At $1.20 per ounce, Kendamil is more affordable than comparable formulas, which cost about $1.70 per ounce. 

Earth's Best is a pioneer of organic formula and baby food. Its formulas are made from organic cow's milk and free from genetically modified organismsOpens a new window (GMOs), artificial growth hormones, and corn syrup solids. The latter is particularly important, as several formulas use corn syrups for their carbohydrate component.

But, like breast milk, Earth's Best gets its carbohydrate content from lactose. Earth's Best formulas also contain several other nutrients: DHA and ARA, an omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid respectively, that help with visual acuityOpens a new window and brain development,Opens a new window lutein for eye development,Opens a new window and prebiotics, which may improve your baby's gut healthOpens a new window.

Earth's Best also works to make the feeding journey easier on parents. Through its monthly newsletter, which is available to all parents, the brand provides coupons and expert-backed feeding tips.

Bobbie, a U.S.-based infant formula company, is one of the first to create a formula inspired by European standards, which are recognized for their stricter regulations on ingredient sourcing and nutrition. You can purchase Bobbie through a subscription, which includes perks like free shipping, the option to customize or pause deliveries, and access to exclusive discounts. This is particularly convenient when you're juggling multiple kids and responsibilities and don't have to worry about running to the store for more formula.

Bobbie formula is made from organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised milk which means it’s made with organic lactose, organic fat blend, organic whey protein, non-GMO, and free from antibiotics and pesticides. Its whey protein ration is designed to mimic breast milk, with a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio that promotes gentle digestion. Plus, it has 20mg/100 kcal of plant-based DHA, meeting both the US and EU requirements for DHA. 

If your baby has a sensitive tummy, this formula is made with gentle ingredients that can improve digestion. It has partially hydrolyzed proteins which are easier on little tummies, specifically designed to reduce crying, gas, and spit-up.

It includes a polydextrose and GOS prebiotic fiber blend to encourage soft and regular stools. It also contains 2’-Fucosyllactose, a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) that supports the growth of healthy gut bacteria and the immune system. 

If your baby has a true cow's milk allergy, other food allergies, or gastrointestinal conditions, Neocate may be the answer for you. Unlike other formulas, which are made from soy or milk, Neocate is made from amino acids, the building blocks of protein. These types of formulas are also known as "elemental" and may be recommended by your pediatrician if your child has a milk allergy. Neocate Infant DHA/ARA is is also produced in a dairy-protein-free facilityOpens a new window for even more caution.

How will you know if your baby needs a hypoallergenic or elemental formula? "If your baby is fussy after feeds, starts refusing to drink their formula, if they have excessive gas, a change in stool consistency – these may all signal a possible need for a change in their formula," says Dr. Regan. "If your baby has blood in their stool, this could be a sign of true milk allergy, and you should talk with your baby's doctor."

Although it's made for babies who are allergic to the cow's milk protein found in most infant formulas, Nutramigen is not a soy-based formula. Rather, Enfamil extensively breaks down the proteins in the milk so they're easier to digest, while also removing the lactose entirely, so there's nothing for a lactose-sensitive digestion to react to.

Nutramigen also includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus GGOpens a new window (LGG), a probiotic strain whose beneficial properties have been well-documented in preventing and treating allergies, as well as diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections.

If your baby has certain disorders (such as galactosemia), your pediatrician may recommend a soy-based formula. ProSobee has all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs for development, including vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron, with DHA added for brain and visual development. There's no lactose, artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors, and the formula is vegan, which plant-based families may be drawn to.

Dr. Poinsett notes that soy formula is mainly used for infants with a lactase deficiency, a condition known as galactosemia (an inability to digest one of the components of lactose), or in vegan families who want to avoid animal products. "Soy formula is not recommended in infants that are cow milk allergic as 40 percent of soy protein is the same as cow milk protein. Instead, infants that are cow-milk allergic should be given 100 percent hydrolyzed formula," says Dr. Poinsett. 

Australian-made Bub's goat milk infant formula is a great choice for babies with sensitive digestion. Goat milk naturally contains A2 beta casein protein, a smaller and easier-to-digest protein. It's also great for gentle digestion because it's made with whole goat milk fat and closely resembles breast milk on a molecular level.

This formula has omega-3 DHA, omega-6 ARA, MFGM, and GOS prebiotics. It's the first goat milk formula to earn an award for Clean Label Project Purity, a third-party organization that tests for toxins and heavy metals.

Unless your child has special feeding needs, most formulas will work for your baby. But the best formulas have subtle differences that put them over the top, such as special ingredients or gentle formulations that may make them more tolerable. Here's how I determined which baby formulas should appear on the list:

• Feedback from BabyCenter's Community of more than 4 million caregivers on their experience with formula, as well as what they think other parents should keep in mind when feeding formula to their child.
• Criteria on formula ingredients and infant nutrition from medical experts, including Del Cid, Dr. Agarwal, Dr. Victoria Regan,Opens a new window a pediatrician with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Dr. Pierrette Mimi Poinsett,Opens a new window MD, pediatrician, and consultant for parenting blog Mom Loves Best, and Jessica Gust, a pediatric dietitian and founder of Element Nutrition Co. For KidsOpens a new window, as well as advocacy groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
• My professional expertise as a pediatric registered dietitian specializing in infant and toddler nutrition and personal experience as a mom who has used baby formula.

Baby formula is designed to feed babies, as a substitute for or supplement to breast milk. There are a lot of formula options, so talk to your baby's doctor about the brand and type of formula you're considering for your baby. 

Regardless of the brand and type, you can rest assured that all baby formulas have the same five main components: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, all formulas marketed in the United States must meet the FDA's requirements for nutrients. So although specific ingredients and formulations may vary from brand to brand, all baby formulas have the basics your baby needs.

Some parents wonder about the best formula for newborns versus the best formula for infants or older babies. The truth is that all baby formulas have essentially the same ingredients, so don't worry about buying a different formula for a different stage of your baby's first year. 

Formula comes in three forms: 

• Powder that you mix with water
• Liquid concentrate that’s also mixed with water
• Pre-mixed and ready-to-feed bottles

Most people prefer to use powdered formulas, because they're less expensive per serving and minimize plastic waste. 

All formulas contain the same components — protein, carbohydrate, and fat — so brand-name, generic, and store-brand formulas are all, essentially, the same. The source of the components, however, may differ: 

• Protein: Cow's milk or soy
• Carbohydrate: Lactose, sucrose, and/or corn
• Fat: Coconut oil and/or soy oil)

Additionally, if a formula is marketed in the United States, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires a minimum of 29 nutrients, Opens a new windowso parents can rest easy knowing their formula is nutritionally appropriate for their babies. 

As for the types of formula, there are four main options:

• Cow's milk–based formula: According to the AAP, 80 percent of infant formulas are cow’s milk-basedOpens a new window and, for infants who are not premature, this is the generally recommended type, says Dr. Agarwal. The AAP further recommends that iron-fortified formula be used for all infants who are not breastfed or partially breastfed, from birth to age 1. Most milk-based formulas have "milk-based" on the packaging; you may also see nonfat milk in the ingredient list, as well as whey and casein, the two main milk proteins. Cow's milk-based formulas may also be fortified with probiotics Opens a new window(beneficial microorganisms), prebiotics Opens a new window(which may boost the health of the intestinal lining), and most have added docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA),Opens a new window fatty acids doctors think are important for brain and eye development.
• Extensively hydrolyzed formula: If your baby has a milk protein allergy, the AAP suggests asking your doctor about extensively hydrolyzed baby formula. The protein in these formulas has been broken down into smaller proteins that are easier to digest. Note these extensively hydrolyzed proteins are broken down more thoroughly than the "partially hydrolyzed" proteins often found in "gentle" and "sensitive" formulas. Opens a new windowExtensively hydrolyzed formulas will usually be labeled "hypoallergenic" (though they're not the only type of formulas given this description) or will be labeled "extensively hydrolyzed."
• Soy formula: These formulas contain soy protein and carbohydrates, often in the form of either glucose or sucrose. Pediatricians sometimes recommend these formulas for babies who have a true milk allergy or cannot digest the lactose in cow's milk, although the AAP notes that lactose-free cow milk–based formula is an option for babies with lactose sensitivities. Parents should check with a pediatrician before starting their baby on one, however, because the AAP says it's rare for babies to have a "significant" problem with lactose, and any issues parents notice may be due to another health condition. Soy formulas will be clearly labeled as such, and you'll find ingredients like "soy protein" and "soy protein isolate."
• Specialized baby formulas: These formulas have ingredients that make them suitable for infants with particular disorders or disease, as well as those born premature. If your pediatrician recommends a specialized formula, the AAP says to follow your doctor's preparation, amount, and scheduling recommendations, as they may vary significantly from the directions on your formula's package. Specialized baby formulas will clearly spell out on the packaging what population of infants it's intended for, and ingredients will vary. Amino acid or elemental formulas are one type of specialized formulas that are becoming more common, with protein provided by amino acids instead of milk or soy.