I’ve Tried Over 10 Formulas with My Baby – Here’s the TL;DR of 5 Popular Brands

If trust is your top priority when choosing a formula, Little Spoon is hard to beat. Known for raising the bar in baby and kids food, the brand brings that same transparency-first approach to infant formula. Each batch is tested for more than 500 toxins and contaminants. This is an unprecedented level of testing in the U.S. formula space that immediately set it apart for me.

The formula itself is dual-certified USDA Organic and EU Organic, made with grass-fed whole milk sourced from New Zealand and produced under some of the world’s strictest dairy standards. It meets FDA requirements while also aligning with EU-level safety benchmarks, which gave me extra peace of mind. The inclusion of plant-based DHA to support brain development and prebiotics for immune support rounds out a thoughtfully formulated option, especially for parents looking to mirror some of the benefits of breast milk.

What I appreciate most about Little Spoon is the bigger picture: parents can rely on one brand from their baby’s very first bottle through early childhood. Between the rigorous testing, consistent subscription model, and the brand’s commitment to transparency, it helps remove some of the uncertainty that can come with feeding decisions during the first 1,000 days.

The latest Happy Baby’s Organic Infant Formula is one I’ve discovered later in our feeding journey as it was launched this year from from the #1 organic infant feeding brand.** My baby has been using this formula for a few months now with soft poops on a consistent basis – nothing better than that! I can rest easy knowing the ingredients are designed to support his belly, including a patented probiotic and prebiotic blend that helps support gut bacteria to be closer to that of breastfed infants**.  (It’s worth noting that Happy Baby Organic Formula is the only formula in this list with both probiotics and prebiotics – pretty impressive). I love that lactose (the #1 nutrition component of breast milk) is the #1 ingredient in their formula. Some other ingredients that stand out to me are their protein that’s designed to model breast milk’s protein ratio of 60% whey to 40% casein. Like their lactose, their protein comes from organic milk from grassfed cows***. Plus their formula has key vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, copper, folic acid and choline, as well as iron and vitamins C & D to help support your little one’s immune system. Since using this formula, I feel my baby has not been as fussy and is very happy after feedings!

Other things that make Happy Baby stand out from the pack? It’s both USDA and EU-certified organic and is made in Europe with high-quality ingredients from around the world,***, which speaks volumes of its quality (and, again, it’s worth noting that while other brands in this list may be USDA Organic or made in Europe, Happy Baby is the only brand that’s both). It is also produced in their very own FDA registered, state of the art facility in Europe. That’s a big deal because it means the formula is rigorously quality and safety tested from start to finish. It has also received the Clean Label Purity Award. I always appreciate when an independent 3rd party validates a product – and this one is non-GMO, has no antibiotics, no added corn syrup****, no artificial growth hormones*****, and no prohibited pesticides used. Phew.

Another popular pick is Bobbie’s new Whole Milk formula. Long-requested by mamas and dadas alike, this new launch features milk from grass-fed cows. Beyond that, it features extra “good stuff” like DHA, ARA, and Choline to support brain development in the first year. I personally love that the brand is founded by moms, because not many brands are on this list (except Happy Baby). Plus, who knows more of what my baby and I need than another mom?

Bobbie’s subscription model is a huge perk, as they ensure supply for families through this model to ensure no baby goes unfed, even if some wild event happens like the formula scarcity a few years ago. Bobbie is considered a premium product, meaning it is priced accordingly. You get what you pay for, I suppose. I do feel like the smell is a little tougher than others, but hey, what formula isn’t a little smelly.

Continuing on, we’ve also tried Earth’s Best Formula. I was really excited about this one because they offer both a value size and a regular size. When your baby sucks as much formula down as mine does, that would excite you, too! Designed to model breast milk, it does feature good things like Omega-3 DHA and Omega-6 ARA for brain and eye health, as well as iron, and my baby didn’t seem to mind it, which is always good. It is USDA certified organic and Kosher dairy certified as well.

That being said, I have a few cons for this brand, most notably the availability of the product. I had such a hard time finding this that we could not commit to using it on a regular basis due to the availability.

Last, but not least, we have Similac’s Organic line, “Pure Bliss.” I remember being in the hospital when my baby had RSV at a few weeks old (0/10 recommend) and being asked “does he take Similac or Enfamil?” I was mind blown that those were the only two options given at the hospital. Stories aside, I was curious how Similiac’s take on organic would stack up and was pleased to find it’s made with no artificial growth hormones, no palm oil, no corn syrup, and is non-GMO. My baby didn’t seem to mind the formula and it seemed like he was able to digest it pretty easily.

I didn’t love the smell of this one overall and just in general am a little skeptical of a big brand. No hate, Abbott/Similac, but I just raise an eyebrow when the standard offering isn’t necessarily what I’m looking for in terms of ingredients.