The first year of your baby's life calls for the best nutrition, as this is a critical period of rapid growth and development. For many parents, choosing an organic infant formula means guaranteed peace of mind from day one. These formulas have a clean composition that's safe for your little one and cover all your baby's nutritional needs during this important stage of life. Read on to learn more about what makes organic infant formula special and how it can benefit your little one!
With so many infant formula options on the market, it's natural to feel confused when trying to find what would work best for your baby. Understanding the key differences between infant formula stages ensures your little one receives the appropriate nutrients for their age.
Infant formula is classified as Stage 1 or PRE in Europe. These are the only stages designed specifically for babies from birth to 6 months, unlike all stage formulas suitable for babies from birth to 12 months. Infant formula offers a complete source of nutrition, whether combined with breast milk or bottle-fed exclusively.
One notable characteristic of European infant formula is the use of lactose as the main carbohydrate. Manufacturers typically don't add complex carbohydrates like starch or maltodextrin to Stage 1, and they're never added to Stage PRE. This ensures that infant formula is easy to digest and puts less stress on a young baby's tummy.
Infant formulas also tend to have more whey protein than casein, and this is commonly referred to as a whey-dominant composition. The rationale behind this is that whey proteins are easier for babies' digestive systems to break down. Moreover, breast milk is whey-dominant too. Thus, an increased ratio of whey proteins to casein makes infant formula closer to human milk.
To compare infant formula to Stage 2 formula, known as follow-on formula, Stage 2 should only be introduced when your little one turns 6 months old because it's designed to be fed as part of a mixed diet of solid foods. Stage 2 cannot be used from birth as its nutrient balance is designed to complement solids and isn't sufficient to fuel your baby's growth from birth.
The best formula you can start your baby on is an infant formula that suits their specific nutritional requirements. While many babies do well with cow's milk infant formula, others need alternatives such as goat milk infant formula or special formulas like HiPP hypoallergenic, Anti-Reflux, or Comfort. We encourage you to speak with your pediatrician to determine the best feeding option for your child, as every baby is different.
Stage PRE and Stage 1 infant formula are the only options suitable for newborn babies. These formulas are specifically crafted to satisfy newborns' nutritional needs. They offer a balanced combination of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals to effectively support healthy growth and development.
Some of the most popular choices for newborns are HiPP Dutch Stage 1 and Holle Cow Stage 1. Both are certified European organic and made with clean ingredients. While HiPP Dutch focuses on mimicking breast milk with a recipe including advanced ingredients like pre-and probiotics, Holle Cow focuses on simplicity, featuring a minimal combination of wholesome ingredients.
Below, we discuss some of the bestselling European brands and their infant formula options to help you narrow your search in your formula-feeding journey.
Holle offers premium baby formula with simple, nourishing ingredients. Their Stage PRE and Stage 1 powdered infant formula is Demeter-certified—Europe's most strict organic certification. They have options based on cow's milk, A2 cow's milk, and goat's milk. Holle formula is non-GMO and free of added sugars and synthetic ingredients, making it a perfect choice for parents prioritizing high-quality nutrition.
Another brand with decades of experience in infant nutrition and countless customers worldwide is HiPP. HiPP Stage PRE and HiPP Stage 1 are designed for newborns. These infant formulas use the latest advancements in breast milk science to craft formulas closer to human milk for the best newborn formula. These formulas are offered in different country versions: German, Dutch, and UK.
HiPP German is available in goat and cow's milk, whereas the HiPP UK line is based only on cow's milk. HiPP German also has a variety of all-stage specialty formulas suitable from birth to 12 months, including HiPP Hypoallergenic, Anti-Reflux, and Comfort, which we discuss in depth below. HiPP German cow's milk Stage 1 and HiPP Comfort both include starch. Additionally, HiPP Comfort contains maltodextrin.
While all the other brands we carry only offer powdered formula, HiPP also has ready-to-feed versions of their German range for your convenience.
Both Holle and HiPP carry Stage PRE and 1 infant formula. Stage PRE is very similar to Stage 1. However, the former tends to have slightly lower energy content, and there can be a minor difference in the ratios of certain micronutrients between the two.
The main difference is that Stage 1 may include complex carbohydrates like starch or maltodextrin alongside lactose, but Stage PRE is based only on lactose.
European formulas aim to provide the most natural and nourishing substitute for breastfeeding. Formula brands take several steps to achieve this.
First and foremost, infant formula manufacturers use lactose as the main carbohydrate to copy the composition of breast milk as closely as possible. Lactose is a simple sugar that's easy for the body to break down and is the main carbohydrate in breast milk. For the majority of healthy babies, it is unlikely to cause digestive discomfort.
European formula brands also maintain a higher whey-to-casein ratio for their infant formula. The same can be observed in natural breast milk, with whey being the predominant protein in early-stage breast milk.
Finally, pro- and prebiotics are more common ingredients in European formulations. They can ensure smoother digestion and enhanced gut health and immunity, which is extremely important during those early stages of development.
Special formula is intended to meet specific dietary needs and/or manage certain health conditions. It should be used under pediatrician supervision. Here are the special formulas available from HiPP:
HiPP HA is a hypoallergenic infant formula for babies sensitive to cow's milk proteins. The standout feature of this formula is the use of extensively hydrolyzed proteins, which means milk proteins are broken down into significantly smaller pieces to reduce the chances of an allergic reaction. It also has pre- and probiotics to support digestive health and strengthen immunity. However, HiPP HA may not be suitable for babies with cow's milk allergy.
HiPP HA is available in two variations: Dutch and German:
HiPP HA German starts with Stage PRE, while the Dutch version begins with Stage 1, but the formulations are nearly identical. HiPP HA German is offered in 600g cardboard boxes, and HiPP HA Dutch is packaged in 800g metal cans. Finally, HiPP HA German has a ready-to-feed version of their Stage PRE formula.
HiPP Comfort is ideal for babies experiencing colic, constipation, and gas. The formula features extensively hydrolyzed proteins, reduced levels of lactose, and a unique fat blend to reduce stress on the tummy and alleviate discomfort.
HiPP Anti-Reflux (AR) reduces the unpleasant symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (frequent spit-ups or vomiting). Its thicker consistency helps prevent the formula from flowing back into the esophagus.
Although not organic, HiPP's specialized formulas are nutritionally complete, non-GMO, and offered in HiPP's usual high quality!
