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Best baby formulas

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Best baby formula overall

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Best formula for breastfed babies

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Best formula for sensitive babies

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Best organic baby formula

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Best non-GMO baby formula

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Best hypoallergenic baby formula

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Best baby formula for gassy babies

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Best lactose-free baby formula

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Best formula for babies with a milk allergy

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What is baby formula?

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

1989. Hanson, et al. "Breastfeeding Provides Passive and Likely Long-Lasting Active Immunity." Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 81, Issue 6, December 1998, Pages 523-534, 537. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1081120610627044Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2019. "The relationship between breastfeeding and reported respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates in young children." BMC Pediatrics volume 19, Article number: 339 https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-019-1693-2Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2009. AFP. "Infant Formula." Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(7):565-570.  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2009/0401/p565.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2022. FDA. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. "Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formula."   https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/questions-answers-consumers-concerning-infant-formulaOpens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2022. "Carbohydrate composition in breast milk and its effect on infant health." Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2020 Jul; 23(4): 277–281. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7805382/#:~:text=early%20infant%20outcomes.-,Determinants%20of%20breast%20milk%20carbohydrates,in%20determining%20early%20infant%20health [Accessed November 2022]

2022. "The Biology of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein That Can Help Defend Against Viruses and Bacteria." Front. Immunol., 28 May 2020 Sec. Viral Immunology https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01221/fullOpens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2016. "Clinical Benefits of Milk Fat Globule Membranes for Infants and Children." J Pediatr. 2016 Jun;173 Suppl:S60-5. 
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01221/fullOpens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2014. "Towards a better understanding of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG - host interactions." Microb Cell Fact. 2014; 13(Suppl 1): S7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155824/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

1999. "Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)." Microb Cell Fact. 2014; 13(Suppl 1): S7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10479465/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2016. "The Essentiality of Arachidonic Acid in Infant Development." Nutrients. 2016 Apr; 8(4): 216. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848685/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2021. "Early Pediatric Benefit of Lutein for Maturing Eyes and Brain—An Overview." Nutrients. 2021 Sep; 13(9): 3239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8468336/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2014. "Prebiotics in infant formula." Gut Microbes. 2014; 5(6): 681–687. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615227/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2015. "Evaluation of hypoallergenicity of a new, amino acid-based formula." Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Mar;54(3):264-72.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25395609/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2004. "Hypoallergenic formulas--when, to whom and how long: after more than 15 years we know the right indication!." Allergy. 2004 Aug;59 Suppl 78:45-52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15245358/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

2004. "The Effects of a Partially Hydrolyzed Formula with Low Lactose and Probiotics on Mild Gastrointestinal Disorders of Infants: A Single-Armed Clinical Trial." Nutrients. 2021 Oct; 13(10): 3371. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8540403/Opens a new window [Accessed November 2022]

AAP. 2015. Choosing a formula. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Choosing-a-Formula.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

MedlinePlus (ADAM). 2015. Infant formulas—overview. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002447.htmOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

AAP. 2018. Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Amount-and-Schedule-of-Formula-Feedings.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

FDA. 2018. Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formula. https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/questions-answers-consumers-concerning-infant-formulaOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

AAP. 2021. Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe? American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Is-Homemade-Baby-Formula-Safe.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

Nemours Foundation. 2015b. Formula feeding FAQs: Some common concerns. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/formulafeed-concerns.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

AAP. 2018. How to Safely Prepare Formula with Water. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/How-to-Safely-Prepare-Formula-with-Water.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed December 2021]

Joyce Slaton
Joyce Slaton is the commerce editor at BabyCenter, the world's number one digital parenting resource. She is a certified child passenger safety technician who loves to write, sew, and cook. Slaton lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter. 
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