Giving your baby the nutrition they need to grow and develop is top of mind for parents. Regardless of how you’re feeding your baby, it’s far from an easy task. If you’re solely formula feeding or perhaps supplementing breastmilk with formula feeds, the sheer volume of commercially prepared infant formulas available on the market can be overwhelming. Add sensitivities, allergies and intolerances to the mix, and figuring out which formula is best for your little one can be even more challenging.
Best Overall Baby Formula
Bobbie Organic Infant Formula
Pros
- Certified by the Clean Label Project
- Free from palm oil and corn syrup
- Subscription-based eliminates trips to the store
Cons
- Expensive
This organic infant formula company was started by an Irish-American mom who was frustrated with the quality of formula in the U.S. The brand prides itself on thoughtfully-sourced ingredients and provides a higher level of DHA, an essential nutrient to support developing babies’ brains, than is found in any other U.S. formula (20mg/100kcal) to meet EU standards. In addition to being organic, Bobbie was also the first ever infant formula to receive the Clean Label Project Purity Award and a certification as a Pesticide-Free product. Plus, it’s free from palm oil and corn syrup.
| Price per ounce | $1.84 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 14.1 |
2
Best Value Baby Formula
Walmart Parent’s Choice Advantage Premium Powder Baby Formula with Iron
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Free from palm olein oil
- Made with non-GMO ingredients
Cons
- Only available at Walmart
Our pros were impressed by this generic store-brand formula that contains multiple HMOs, a type of prebiotic important for immunity that is found in breastmilk, and other compounds to support baby’s digestive tract. The blend comes in at one of the most affordable prices per ounce and still meets FDA requirements, packing in DHA, lutein and vitamin E for baby brain and eye development.The formula is also free from palm olein oil and is made with non-GMO ingredients.
| Price per ounce | $0.76 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 36 |
3
Best European Formula
Kendamil Organic Stage 1 Powder Infant Formula
Pros
- Free from palm oil, corn syrup, maltodextrin and soy
- International formula that meets U.S. standards
Cons
- Expensive
During the infant formula shortage, Kendamil was among the first international suppliers approved by the U.S. administration as part of Operation Fly Formula. Although the brand is new to many Americans, it has been around for 60 years. Their formula is fully compliant with FDA’s nutrition standards and has a few key characteristics that set it apart from others on this list. Parents we spoke to that switched to Kendamil during the shortage ended up sticking with the brand moving forward since they were so impressed by the quality.
| Price per ounce | $1.41 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 28.2 |
4
Best Organic Baby Formula
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula With Iron
Pros
- USDA Organic
- No added corn syrup solids
Cons
- Contains palm oil and soy
Free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, Earth’s Best line of infant formulas includes dairy, sensitivity and gentle. They not only meet the U.S. FDA’s nutritional requirements and regulations, but they are also USDA Organic.This iron-fortified option also contains DHA, ARA, lutein for eye health and prebiotic fiber for digestion.Our pros appreciate that the formula is produced with milk from cows that are humanely raised and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. “Once we started using Earth’s Best, we no longer had to use gas drops like we did with his previous formula,” one mother that we spoke to said.
| Price per ounce | $1.28 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 21 |
5
Best Value Organic Baby Formula
Baby’s Only Organic Premium Infant Formula With Iron
Pros
- Clean Label Purity Award recipient
- Free from palm oil and corn syrup
- Certified organic
Cons
- Can be hard to find in stores
Free from artificial growth hormones and corn syrup, Baby’s Only sources high quality organic ingredients in this premium formula that is the brand’s closest formula to breast milk. The product meets U.S. federal formula requirements like all other American formulas on the market, and includes important vitamins and minerals like iron and choline to support brain development, vitamin D for immune support and calcium to help build strong bones. Parents that we spoke to who use the formula with their children said they appreciated the brands emphasis on heavy metal testing and loved that the organic option is free from palm olein oil.
| Price per ounce | $0.95 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 21 |
6
Best Goat Milk Formula
Bubs Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1
Pros
- Clean Label Purity Award recipient
- Available in cow and goat milk varieties
- Goat milk options are great for sensitive tummies
Cons
- Expensive
The Australian-made brand offers a variety of high-quality grass-fed cow and goat milk formulas that are similar to European style recipes. Not only do their formulas meet FDA requirements for an iron-fortified formula, but the offerings are free from corn syrup, maltodextrin and growth hormones and are made with full-fat milk. This pick as also also earned a Clean Label Purity Award, which means they were tested for 400+ contaminants, heavy metals and more and meets high quality standards.
| Price per ounce | $1.56 |
|---|---|
| Ounces per container | 28.2 |
