The 11 Best Baby Formulas, Vetted by Pediatricians and 300+ Moms

Backed by pediatricians and parents alike, it’s hard to find fault with Enfamil’s extensive family of baby formulas. Not to mention it's won Best Baby Formula in back-to-back What to Expect Feeding Awards, so it’s clearly a favorite among What to Expect parents as well.

Enfamil’s Enspire and Nutramigen varieties also earned spots on this list, but their NeuroPro line is a go-to for many families. This formula also provides brain-building nutrients like DHA, as well as immune system-boosting prebiotics.

The structure makes this milk-based formula generally easy for babies to digest (although the brand also has specific lines to address common feeding issues — more on that later).

“My daughter was born as the formula shortage began, so we were forced to try a few different brands,” says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Editor. Ultimately, her daughter took best to Enfamil, experiencing fewer spitups and blowouts than with other brands. And it didn't hurt that it was the most cost effective, at $1.70 an ounce. "Since the container is dishwasher safe, I ordered refill packs, which were cheaper than individual tubs, and stored them in the washed container.”

This formula is also available as a powder or ready-to-feed formula, as well as in a gentle variety that may be beneficial for little ones prone to spit-up and gas. 

To top it off, some What to Expect community moms were seriously impressed by Enfamil’s customer service, from general assistance to even receiving formula coupons.

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Shopping Director:

"Not only did she spit up less when drinking Enfamil, but her poop wasn’t as foul-smelling."

“If [babies] have a milk protein allergy, then they would need to go on a hydrolyzed formula, which is still actually based from cow’s milk, but they break down the protein so they're not allergic to it,” explains Dr. Feeley. Her recommendation: Enfamil Nutramigen. 

Designed for babies with food allergies, and including bonus nutrients like DHA, many What to Expect moms saw a huge difference when they switched from traditional formula to this hypoallergenic option. 

Many note that their baby didn’t spit up or get constipated as often as they did before, and one parent in particular found that their baby stopped fighting bottles when they switched to Nutramigen. What’s more is that although this product is very similar to Similac’s Alimentum, which is also a hydrolyzed formula, many parents say they preferred the smell of Nutramigen, which ultimately made them choose this one instead. 

Tested by Sarah Darby, mom of two and What to Expect's Senior SEO Strategist: 

"Nutramigen was honestly a lifesaver; my son was miserable with his allergy symptoms before we tried it. I really liked that Nutramigen wasn’t clumpy when mixed. My son thrived on it!"

Bobbie has long reigned supreme among formula subscription services. Even during the height of the formula shortage in 2022, Bobbie made sure to keep up with subscribers. "I often received texts from the company asking if I was keeping pace with her supply and whether I needed more cans early — which I often did," says Kathleen Felton, mom of two and WTE contributor who began subscribing to Bobbie right before the shortage. 

This is just one of the ways Bobbie has impressed moms over the years, including me. Additionally, Bobbie’s website is incredibly user-friendly. For starters, there’s a whole page dedicated to its ingredients and what each one does. There’s also helpful guidance on how many cans to buy based on your baby’s age and whether or not you’re also breastfeeding — or you can opt for a “starter bundle,” which includes one can at half price.

Of course, quality service means little without a quality recipe — and Bobbie delivers there, too. Its European-style formula is both FDA-approved and meets the latest European Union (EU) standards for key ingredients like DHA and iron. The formula is also USDA-certified organic, meaning the ingredients were produced without GMOs, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. In fact, Bobbie sources its key ingredients — such as pasture-raised dairy, whey and casein — from small family farms in the U.S. Bonus: It’s also the only female-founded and mom-led infant formula company in the country.

Since its inception, Bobbie’s list of formulas has grown, including a new Whole Milk-based creation that the brand states is the first and only American-manufactured USDA Organic whole milk infant formula. If you’re not sure what would be best for you and baby, you can opt to take Bobbie’s formula quiz to help narrow down your choice. 

One considerable downside, as with many subscription services, is that Bobbie can be hard to find. Although it’s available at Target, stock is often low. This may present a challenge if you're in a bind and need formula faster than it can be delivered.

Tested by Blake Bakkila, mom of one and What to Expect contributing writer:

"So many mom friends recommended it to me, mainly due to its breast milk-like formula, and my son took to it right away — no easy feat for a baby who didn’t always love bottles." 

Not only does Earth’s Best Organic Formula have all the essential nutrients your baby needs to develop and grow, but it’s also one of the most affordable organic formulas on the market.

This milk-based powder formula is produced from cows fed with certified organic grain and hay, which are grown without any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. It includes all the key ingredients your baby needs, plus DHA and ARA for brain and eye development and lutein for eyes. To top it off, it’s the brand’s closest formula to breast milk.

Reviewers also appreciate the packaging, which includes an easy-pull seal under its lid. Also nice: While some powdered formulas have a (totally harmless and subtle) smell, a number of parents mention that they like that Earth’s Best formula doesn’t have such a scent. 

Psst: The brand also offers a sensitive variety if your pediatrician recommends it. 

Tested by Kathleen Felton, mom of two and What to Expect contributing writer: 

"I used this formula for about four months with my first son. It’s organic but at an accessible price point, which I really appreciated. I also found it a lot easier to mix compared to others I tried, which helped with his ability to tolerate it." 

Finding a baby formula that agrees with a sensitive stomach can involve some trial and error. Many parents in the What to Expect community swear by Dr. Brown’s Gerber’s Good Start line, particularly for constipation, and for good reason. The brand has developed a variety of blends to suit various conditions that can affect newborns, and Good Start earned a reputation for adding probiotics to calm the digestive system. (Note, though, that the jury is still out on whether probiotics are beneficial long-term for your baby, so double-check with your pediatrician before trying them, according to the AAP.)

Despite new packaging and branding, the non-GMO milk-based formula has remained the same. It also includes DHA for brain and eye development and has no artificial growth hormones.

That said, you should check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby is truly constipated before switching to this type of formula. "Babies that are formula-fed are going to have less frequent bowel movements and often firmer bowel structure, or stool structure, as opposed to breastfeeding babies,” Dr. Abelowitz, pediatrician, explains. 

Doctor's Note: Make sure you're mixing the formula correctly. “A lot of times they're not, and then that can be why the babies are getting constipated from it," says Dr. Feeley, board-certified pediatrician. 

If your little one is suffering from symptoms of gas and colic, Similac’s Alimentum may be worth a try. It’s a particular favorite among What to Expect community parents whose babies are gassy and colic-prone. This formula includes the necessary ingredients to boost brain and eye development and provide your baby the nutrition she needs, but it also has a hypoallergenic milk protein that helps eliminate allergic reactions and colic symptoms due to protein sensitivities.Alimentum is also available in a ready-to-feed format for families who prefer to take that route.

Alimentum is expensive, however — at $3.47 an ounce, it’s not exactly a budget-friendly pick. If your baby doesn’t have symptoms of gas or colic, you likely don’t need to spend more on a special formula like this. When in doubt, ask your pediatrician what they recommend for your baby’s symptoms.

Aussie Bubs Organic Grass Fed Infant Formula is not only another excellent option for parents who would prefer an organic formula, but also for newborns specifically. As you might guess, Aussie Bubs is manufactured in Australia, but this company is FDA-compliant and was given the green light by the agency to import to the U.S. during the formula shortage. This Stage 1 formula is made to be extra sensitive on newborns' stomachs, who are fed more times a day than when they get older. 

Aussie Bubs’ milk-based powder is made with grass-fed organic cow’s milk that contains milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), as well as probiotics. The brand’s formulas are Clean Label Project certified, which means they have been extensively tested for chemicals that could be concerning. Many parents in the What to Expect community report that they switched to this formula during the shortage when their go-to brand was unavailable and were pleasantly surprised by how well their babies did on it.

Worth noting: While most U.S. formulas are designed broadly for infants, Aussie Bubs’ milk-based powder formulas are stage-based. Stage 1 is for 0-6 month olds and Stage 2 is formulated for 6-12 month olds — so make sure to purchase the right type for your little one’s age.

Launched in 2022, ByHeart’s infant formula is registered with the FDA and prepared with organic, grass-fed whole milk, plus two proteins found in breast milk. Using breast milk as their “blueprint,” the brand has quickly become a popular resource for new parents — including my friend, Corinne, whose son just hit the 1-year-mark and needed an alternative to the formula she was given at the hospital. 

She and her husband chose ByHeart because it didn’t have any ingredients such as corn syrup, GMOs or soy. Their son took to it immediately and didn’t experience any gassiness or other symptoms. “We stuck with it and signed up for the online subscription so we never even had to think about buying it again — it just showed up at our door every month,” Corinne shares. 

Moms in the What to Expect community agree, sharing that ByHeart’s formula has helped for all types of feeding needs — from supplementing to combo feeding to exclusive formula feeding. Like my friend, they also loved how the subscription service takes the guesswork out of ordering more. That said, some did share there was a bit of an adjustment period before their babies’ tummy troubles subsided, and a couple didn’t like the consistency of the formula

Goat’s milk has quickly proven to be a popular alternative for parents whose babies are intolerant to cow’s milk. Sourced from goat farms in Europe, Kendamil’s formula is a vegetarian-friendly option the What to Expect community is loving for their babies. Many share that problems such as gas pains and reflux have been remedied with this product, which features A2 proteins that can help with digestion. However, it should be noted that it has experienced recurrent shortages. The formula is sold at Target and Walmart, but at the time of publishing, they were either sold out or low in stock.

Many parents whose babies experienced colic and digestive issues swear by Similac’s 360 Total Care Sensitive formula, as it’s made to address fussiness and gas caused by lactose sensitivity. The key is five different prebiotics that have nearly an identical structure to those found in breast milk. But perhaps the best part? It’s usually easy to find online and in stores.

However, this won’t always provide you with an overnight fix. Dr. Posner stresses you may need to give it a couple of weeks to see if it works for you and your baby.

Still, parents rave that this is easy to mix and doesn’t have an off-putting smell. It’s also sold in a large container with more servings compared to most other options on this list, meaning you won’t have to worry about replacing it or having an extra on standby as frequently.

Because all baby formulas in the U.S. must adhere to the same FDA rules and regulations, there’s no reason to buy an expensive formula if you don’t want or have to. Kirkland’s Signature ProCare formula from Costco is a widely loved generic option that parents in the What to Expect community consistently praise for its more affordable price tag.

It includes all the nutrients and extra ingredients that name-brand formulas do (as well as DHA for brain growth and lutein for baby’s eyes), but comes at a fraction of the price. It also contains no artificial growth hormones, and is certified kosher and certified halal. And although this formula is currently only available at Costco and non-members have to pay a small surcharge, the price per ounce is still significantly lower than other options.

The only (very minor) complaint some parents have about Kirkland formula is that it can sometimes be a little more frothy than other brands after it’s just been mixed. Swirling the bottle gently to incorporate the formula rather than shaking it too hard can help to ease bubbles, parents say. 

Also good to know: More great options that come at a lower price point include Up&Up from Target and Member’s Mark from Sam’s Club, both of which several What to Expect community parents love.

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Commerce Editor:

“My daughter had the same response to Costco’s formula as she did to Enfamil — little spit-up and less stinky poops, so we used the two interchangeably, depending on availability."

Freelance writer Kathleen Felton originally contributed to this article.