Choosing an Infant Formula: What to Look For and What to Avoid

If a baby is fed infant formula, the choice matters less than many parents fear: no brand is best. What matters is choosing a formula made specifically for babies, fortified with iron, and in good condition.

The basics

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates commercial infant formulas to make sure they meet minimum nutritional and safety requirements. They come as liquids and powders. Powdered formulas are not guaranteed to be sterile, but the FDA regularly inspects the products and the factories that make them to help keep them safe.

Iron-fortified formulas are recommended. “Fortified” means vitamins and minerals have been added, and most commercial infant formulas sold in the United States contain iron.

At the store

When picking up a container:

• check the date — do not use formula that has expired;
• check the container — it should be sealed and in good condition, with no leaks, puffy ends or rust spots; and
• check the label — make sure it is not a formula labeled for toddlers.

Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse with any questions about choosing a formula, or before switching brands or types.

Why not homemade formula

The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both warn against making infant formula at home, because it can cause serious health problems.

• Nutrition. A baby’s nutritional needs are very specific, especially in the first year. A homemade formula can hold too little or too much of certain components, including vitamins and minerals such as iron.
• Contamination. Homemade formula also carries a higher risk of contamination, which can make a baby sick or cause an infection.

Imported formulas

Formulas sold in other countries are sometimes promoted as “natural” or “organic,” but there is no scientific evidence that they are better for babies than the commercial formulas sold in the United States.

Every infant formula sold legally in the United States — made here or imported — must be reviewed by the FDA, which also makes sure the water used to make formulas meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s safety standards.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against illegally imported formulas, such as products bought online from third-party distributors. The FDA may not have reviewed them, and they may not have been shipped or stored properly.

Toddler milks and drinks

Toddler milks, drinks and formulas are not needed to meet young children’s nutritional needs, and they typically contain added sugars. Babies under 12 months should have infant formula designed for their needs — never a product labeled for toddlers.

At 12 months, a child can start on plain, unsweetened, pasteurized whole cow’s milk, or on a fortified, unsweetened dairy alternative.

Sources

Based on "Choosing an Infant Formula," Infant and Toddler Nutrition, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.