By Insider Envy Staff
Reviewing the Best Infant Formulas
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What Formula Should I Choose?
When it comes to feeding your baby, there’s no question that breast milk is the gold standard. But due to a variety of factors, breastfeeding may not be possible for many families. If you have a newborn and choose to supplement with formula, you know the difficulty of finding a formula you feel comfortable feeding your little one. Right off the bat, we have some good news: all FDA-registered infant formulas in the USA are safe and nutritionally adequate for your growing baby. But if you’re looking to go above and beyond, there’s a new infant formula that we’re super excited about: ByHeart. Keep reading to learn more about why we’re so excited about ByHeart, and how it stacks up against other infant formulas.
Our Top Picks
- ByHeart
- Enfamil
- Generic Formulas
ByHeart
ByHeart is like the Whole Foods of infant formula: it’s going above and beyond industry standards to bring you the cleanest, highest-quality product possible.
Why We Chose It
1. All-In-One Benefits
Most new infant formulas have dialed up or down one ingredient of a pre-existing formula. This means that while some beneficial ingredients are increased, the actual formulas haven’t changed in years. ByHeart is the first company to fully re-write the recipe in decades, and ran the largest clinical trial by a new infant formula brand in over 25 years to prove the formula’s benefits. Backed by clinical research, ByHeart doesn’t sacrifice one benefit for another.
2. Farm-To-Formula Products
When it comes to ByHeart, we’ve noticed that simplicity and purity are key: to put it plainly, ByHeart tries to be as close to breast milk as possible. ByHeart’s focus on simplicity and purity of ingredients leads to more control over their production process, giving parents peace of mind that they’re feeding their children safe, nutritious food. In fact, ByHeart is made with just half the steps of most infant formulas, meaning they’re able to retain the purity and integrity of their high-quality ingredients. We love that ByHeart not only sources the best ingredients (and leaves out the yucky ones like palm oil, maltodextrin and corn syrup), they also make the most out of those ingredients.
3. Clean Label Project-certified
ByHeart isn’t just good for your baby: it’s good for the planet, too. ByHeart is the first Clean Label Project-certified infant formula in the US, meeting the highest Purity Award after being tested for over 400 contaminants. Leaving out environmentally destructive ingredients like palm oil is just one way ByHeart is working to leave behind a better world.
Enfamil
Owned by Mead Johnson, Enfamil is a widely available formula company that’s been around for decades. The brand has a wide array of products for whatever your baby needs, and is presently the #1 infant formula brand recommended by pediatricians.
Why We Chose It
1. Plenty of Prebiotics
About 70% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract, which means developing a healthy gut is key to an all-around strong immune system, as well as a healthy digestive system. Enfamil’s Neuropro infant formula includes prebiotics like polydextrose and galactooligosaccharides, which are types of carbohydrate that feeds the good bacteria in the gut.
2. Organic Options
Unlike ByHeart, not all of Enfamil’s offerings are made with organic milk. Instead, they have a variety of formulas, some of which are organic, such as the Enfamil Simply Organic Infant Formula. If your little one has a specific need, brands like Enfamil, which carry a wide array of formulas, can be useful. But for the busy parent who is looking for one formula to suit all their needs, sorting through the many different types of formula can be overwhelming.
3. Widespread Availability
Enfamil has been around for years, which means it’s easy to find on grocery store shelves. Convenience and accessibility can be major factors in the choice to use infant formula, so we appreciate the ease provided by Enfamil.
Generic Formulas
Prior to ByHeart, innovation in the infant formula sphere was few and far between. Because recipes for widely available infant formulas haven’t been rewritten in years, generic formulas often include many of the same ingredients as big brands like Enfamil or Similac, but at a fraction of the cost. Generic baby formula is another safe and effective option for your growing child.
Why We Chose It
1. Cost!
For new parents on a budget, generic-brand infant formulas have one big plus going for them: savings. Among generic brands, the New York Times recommends Kirkland Signature ProCare Non-GMO Infant Formula, which costs around 50 cents an ounce and offers many of the same added ingredients as name-brand formulas, such as DHA and prebiotics.
2. Availability
Like Enfamil, generic brands are available in stores, so you can buy food for your baby while you shop for yourself. That being said, generic formulas are available only at the specific stores that stock them, so if, say, you live near a Costco but get used to using Target brand formula, keep in mind which stores stock your favorite formula.
3. “Gentle” or “Tender” Formulas
If your baby has an upset stomach, you don’t have to shell out an arm and a leg for “gentle” formulas: many generic formulas offer these varieties in addition to their regular formulas. “Gentle” formulas use partially-hydrolyzed proteins, which are already broken down and therefore easier to digest. Before assuming that cow’s milk-based infant formula is the culprit, however, it’s worth considering that a child’s upset stomach may be due to a variety of factors.
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