The More You Know: A Brief History of Infant Formula

Young adult mother hand taking plastic bottle of white milk for baby feeding. Empty place for text on light blue wall background. Pastel color. Closeup. Front view.
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By Insider Envy Staff

The choice of what to feed your baby is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent...

How you choose to feed your baby is personal. Whether you breastfeed, formula-feed, or combination feed, it helps to understand how infant formula has evolved since its creation in 1865. In the timeline below, we call out key moments throughout infant formula history.  We also share our current favorite infant formula, ByHeart, that is made with high-quality, certified-clean ingredients. ByHeart’s patented protein blend gets closest to breast milk by including the two most abundant proteins found in breast milk (alpha-lac and lactoferrin) as unique ingredients—plus, broken down proteins (just a couple of the many reasons we love them!).

ABriefHistory_1

Baby formula has come a long way since 1865. Here's a brief history:

1865

In 1865, a chemist named Justus von Liebig developed the first infant “food” as it was marketed. This was made of cow’s milk, wheat and malt flour, and potassium bicarbonate.

1885

In 1885, Myerling’s unsweetened evaporated milk came onto the scene and while it would fill an infant’s belly, it lacked the protein, vitamins, and minerals that breast milk is rich in.

1920s

By the end of the 1920s, non-milk alternatives were developed using soy flour but they too lacked the essential vitamins and minerals.      

End of the 1920s

By the end of the 1920s, non-milk alternatives were developed using soy flour but they too lacked the essential vitamins and minerals.       

Powder milk for baby and blue spoon on light background close-up. Milk powder for baby in measuring spoon on can. Powdered milk with spoon for baby. Baby Milk Formula and Baby Bottles. Baby milk formula on kitchen background

1940s/50s

In the 1940s and 1950s, infant formula was now regarded as an acceptable and safe alternative to breastmilk.

1980

In 1980, the Infant Formula Act was enacted establishing minimum nutrient requirements for formulas that included proteins, fats, and vitamins.

2022

In 2022, ByHeart became the first new U.S infant formula company to become a manufacturer in 15 years—owning end-to-end manufacturing.

Meet ByHeart, the baby formula company that's shaking up the industry.

With so many different brands and types of baby formula, it can make it difficult to pick the right one to bring along on your feeding journey. ByHeart combines certified-clean ingredients with clinically proven benefits—like less spit-up and softer poops vs a leading infant formula—so you don’t have to pick. It’s also made with organic, grass-fed whole milk that is full of natural, healthy fats that help support baby’s cognitive development and growth. There are a ton of reasons why we love ByHeart, but these are some of our favorites!

Interested to learn more about ByHeart?

At Insider Envy we only promote products we love. We participate in a small number of affiliate programs, meaning we may receive compensation when you buy items after clicking a link on InsiderEnvy. But, that doesn’t change how much we love these products! We appreciate your support!

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