Best Baby Formulas of 2024

Choosing which baby formula to feed your baby is one of the most difficult decisions we make as parents, but it doesn’t have to be! While you can rest assured that all baby formula that’s FDA regulated will meet your baby’s basic nutritional needs, there are quite a few differences between each formula and decisions you have to make depending on your baby’s tummy and if you prefer organic formula. 

Many parents want a formula that closely mimics breast milk and contains nutrients that can help give their baby the best advantage possible during their first year of life. If you’re wondering what is the best formula for babies, we’re here to save you from hours of scrolling and searching. We did the research for you and came up with a list of the top baby formula available for 2024! 

Milk Drunk’s Top Picks for Baby Formula 

• Bobbie Organic Formula
• Bobbie Organic Gentle Formula
• Baby’s Only Organic Complete Nutrition Infant Formula
• Bubs Australia Goat Milk Formula
• Enfamil Enspire
• Kirkland ProCare
• Similac 360 Total Care
• Similac Pure Bliss
• Store-brand Advantage Premium

Note: All of these formulas are available in powdered form, unless otherwise noted. 

What’s in Baby Formula?

While all FDA-regulated baby formula will meet the essential needs of your baby, the ingredients list can look quite different from one to the next. Here are some of the essential parts of baby formula as well as some extra ingredients you might find for added nutrition and developmental support.

• Carbohydrate source: Many formulas contain lactose as a primary sugar, but some lactose-free formulas or “gentle” formulas contain corn syrup solids as it’s easier for babies to digest. 
• Protein: Infant formula will either include casein and whey derived from milk or soy (in the case of a cow’s milk protein allergy) as the main protein source. 
• Fatty acids: Most infant formula includes fatty acids from vegetable oils, including safflower, sunflower, soybean, and coconut oil. Some include palm oil, but this isn’t a source we recommend as it could cause your baby to absorb fewer nutrients. 
• Prebiotics and/or probiotics: Not found in all baby formula, but sometimes added to help support your baby’s gut health and immune system. 
• Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM): Not required, but added to some formulas to support neurodevelopment and immune health. 
• Lactoferrin: A protein naturally found in breast milk. Added to infant formula for its potential to support immune health, but research is limited. 
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): Not required to be added in US formulas, but European standards for formula require 20 mg per 100kcal to be added. Many FDA-regulated brands do include DHA in baby formula, but not all, and not in the same amounts. Some U.S Brands, like Bobbie, an FDA-regulated European-style formula, provides 20 mg per 100kcal, meeting the EU standards. 
• Essential vitamins and minerals 

Best Baby Formulas

Bobbie Organic Infant Formula

Pros: 

• Protein ratio close to that of mature breast milk
• 100% lactose as a carbohydrate source
• The only baby formula available in the U.S. with both USDA and EU Organic certification
• Clean Label Purity Award and Pesticide-Free certification
• Dairy from grass-fed cows
• Meets EU requirements for DHA and iron
• Available via subscription and at Target stores nationwide
• Simple, high-quality recipe with the essentials that a baby needs and nothing more
• Free from palm oil and soy allergens

Cons:

• No prebiotics
• Available by subscription or at Target and select retailers

Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula

Pros: 

• Only gentle, partially-hydrolyzed protein formula on the market to use exclusively lactose as the carbohydrate source
• No corn syrup, maltodextrin, or sucrose
• Partially-hydrolyzed whey protein
• The only gentle formula in the U.S. with both USDA and EU Organic certification
• Meets EU requirements for DHA and iron
• Available via subscription
• No palm oil or soy allergens

Cons:

• No prebiotics or probiotics
• Available by subscription or at Target

Baby’s Only Organic Complete Nutrition Infant Formula

Bubs Australia Goat Milk Formula

Enfamil Enspire Baby Formula

Kirkland ProCare Baby Formula

Similac 360 Total Care Baby Formula

Similac Pure Bliss Baby Formula

Store-brand Advantage Premium Baby Formula*

Choosing the Best Baby Formula 

To choose the best baby formula for your little one, you need to consider ingredients, whether or not it’s organic, if that’s important to you and your family, cost, and availability. Most importantly, talk to your pediatrician about any questions or concerns you may have about feeding your baby. Once you have your formula, learn more about how much formula your baby should be eating and how to switch formula if your baby eventually needs a change. 

If you’re looking for different formulas, we’ve got the Best Gentle Formulas and the Best Organic Formulas here for you, too.