The Best Baby Formulas of 2024, According to a Mom and a Pediatric Dietitian

by James K. Kunkeltech for kids

BabyCenter selects products based on research from our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter community. All prices and details are correct at time of publication. We may earn a commission from your shopping links.

For the first six months, your baby will get all the nutrition it needs from breast milk or formula. Both are excellent choices, and the decision between them often comes down to the mother’s personal preferences, lifestyle, medical considerations, and the baby’s specific health and feeding needs.

I exclusively breastfed my third baby until 9 months, when we switched to a combination of breast milk and formula because he lost interest in breastfeeding. Whether you decide to formula feed your baby right at the start or partway through your feeding journey, you may be wondering, like me, which formula is best for your baby.

First, it’s important to note that while formula and breast milk are inherently different, “formula is a completely safe and healthy alternative for babies,” it says Carmen Del Cid MSN, APRN, CPNP-PCOpens a new windownurse at Lurie Children’s Primary Care Town & Country Pediatrics. The most important thing is that your baby is well-nourished. And there is little evidence that breastfed and formula-fed babies develop at different rates.

“Although there is some evidence of that Breastfed babies have better immune protectionOpens a new window and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms,Opens a new window Your baby will get all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts through the formula,” he says Dr. AS Arunima Agarwal, a pediatrician from New York.Opens a new window

As a pediatric registered dietitian, I share the best baby formulas to help you find the best one for your baby (and luckily, there are plenty to choose from!).

Our research

1989. Hanson, et al. “Breastfeeding provides passive and probably long-lasting active immunity.” Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 81, Issue 6, December 1998, Pages 523-534, 537. (Accessed November 2022)

2019. “Relationship Between Breastfeeding and Reported Rates of Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Infections in Young Children.” BMC Pediatrics Volume 19, Article Number: 339 (Accessed November 2022)

2009. AFP. “Infant Formula.” Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(7):565-570. (Accessed November 2022)

2022 FDA. US Food and Drug Administration. “Consumer Questions and Answers About Infant Formula.” (Accessed November 2022)

2022. “Carbohydrate Composition of Breast Milk and Its Impact on Infant Health.” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2020 July; 23(4): 277–281. (Accessed November 2022)

2022. “The biology of lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein that may help defend against viruses and bacteria.” Front. Immunol., May 28, 2020. Sec. Viral immunology (Accessed November 2022)

2016. “Clinical benefits of milk fat globule membranes for infants and children.” J Pediatr. 2016 Jun;173 Suppl:S60-5.
(Accessed November 2022)

2014. “Towards a better understanding of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG – host interactions.” Fact about microbial cells. 2014; 13 (Suppl 1): S7.
(Accessed November 2022)

1999. “Health Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).” Fact about microbial cells. 2014; 13 (Suppl 1): S7. (Accessed November 2022)

2016. “The Essentiality of Arachidonic Acid in Infant Development.” Nutrients. 2016 Apr; 8(4): 216. (Accessed November 2022)

2021. “Early pediatric benefit of lutein for eye and brain maturation—a review.” Nutrients. 2021 Sep; 13(9): 3239. (Accessed November 2022)

2014. “Prebiotics in Infant Formula.” Gut Microbes. 2014; 5(6): 681–687. (Accessed November 2022)

2015. “Evaluation of Hypoallergenicity of a New Amino Acid-Based Formula.” Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Mar;54(3):264-72.. (Accessed November 2022)

2004. “Hypoallergenic formulas – when, to whom and for how long: after more than 15 years we know the right indication!” Allergy. August 2004; 59 Suppl 78:45-52. (Accessed November 2022)

2004. “Effects of a Low-Lactose Partially Hydrolyzed Formula with Probiotics on Mild Infant Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Single-Arm Clinical Trial.” Nutrients. 2021 Oct; 13(10): 3371. (Accessed November 2022)

MedlinePlus (ADAM). 2015. Infant formulas—an overview. (Accessed December 2021)

AAP. 2018. Amount and schedule of formula feeding. American Academy of Pediatrics. (Accessed December 2021)

FDA. 2018. Consumer Questions and Answers About Infant Formula. (Accessed December 2021)

AAP. 2021. Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe? American Academy of Pediatrics. (accessed December 2021)

Nemours Foundation. 2015b. Frequently asked questions about formula feeding: Some common concerns. (accessed December 2021)

AAP. 2018. How to safely prepare formula with water. (Accessed December 2021)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *