Avoid making these mistakes when switching baby formula
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Don’t dilute your baby’s formula
If you’re in need of formula, resist the urge to dilute your supply with water as this can lead to problems for your child.
If you’re looking for ways to make your supply last, consider making smaller bottles. Dr. Regan says many parents will make an eight ounce bottle, when the baby only finishes six ounces or so. If you make smaller bottles, you can stretch a 24 ounce supply into four feedings instead of three. Keep the leftovers either way.
“You can store the rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours,” she adds.
Don’t make your own baby formula
Doctors advise strongly against making homemade formula, because many of these recipes are outdated and don’t provide proper nutrition.
“It was what they had in the day, but there are just a lot of issues with bacterial growth and components not measured the correct way,” Dr. Regan says. “It can also affect their development and growth.”
Instead, contact your local pediatrician to see if they have formula samples they can share with you. If you’re still in a pinch, Gust suggests reaching out to a local dietitian.
“If parents need help finding a pediatric dietitian near them they can go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ‘Find a dietitian’ page and enter their information to get a list of providers,” she says.
Don’t introduce solid foods unless it’s time
“Parents shouldn’t completely switch to solid foods but it is appropriate to introduce healthy foods early on,” Dr. Kadaj says. “Between 4 and 6 months old is when parents should start introducing these foods to their babies. This includes different vegetable and fruit purees such as carrot, peas, avocado, banana, apple, sweet potato and rice cereal. Foods should be introduced one at a time to monitor for food allergies.”
Top baby formula brands you can switch to
Here’s a list of baby formula brands based on their main ingredient or symptom, so you can easily swap if you’re in a pinch.
Cow-milk formulas
Always My Baby Advantage (Giant Food)
Always My Baby Infant (Giant Food)
Burt’s Bees Organic Infant Milk
Comforts Advantage (Kroger)
Comforts Infant (Kroger)
CVS Health Advantage (CVS)
CVS Health Infant (CVS)
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy
Enfamil Infant
Enfamil NeuroPro Infant
Enfamil Enspire
Enfamil Simply Organic
Enfamil A2
Happy Baby Organic
HEB Baby Advantage (HEB)
HEB Baby Infant (HEB)
Kirkland Signature ProCare (COSTCO)
Kirkland Signature Infant (COSTCO)
Little Journey’s Advantage (Aldi)
Little Journey’s Infant (Aldi)
Mama Bear Infant (Amazon)
Mama Bear Advantage (Amazon)
Mama Bear Organic (Amazon)
Member’s Mark Advantage (Sam’s Club)
Member’s Mark Infant (Sam’s Club)
Parent’s Choice Advantage (Walmart)
Parent’s Choice Infant (Walmart)
Parent’s Choice Organic (Walmart)
Parent’s Choice Supplementation (Walmart)
Plum Organics Grow Well Organic
Plum Organics Premium
Pure Bliss by Similac
Similac Advance
Similac Pro ADvance
Similac 360 Total Care
Similac Organic
Tippy Toes Advantage (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Tippy Toes Infant (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Advantage (Target)
Up & Up Infant (Target)
Soy-based baby formula
Comforts Soy (Kroger)
CVS Health Soy (CVS)
Earth’s Best Non-GMO Plant Based Soy
Gerber Good Start Gentle Soy
HEB Baby Soy (HEB)
Little Journey’s Soy (Aldi)
Mama Bear Soy (Amazon)
Parent’s Choice Soy (Walmart)
Similac Isomil
Tippy Toes Soy (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Soy (Target)
Spit up with added rice baby formula
Comforts Added Rice Starch (Kroger)
CVS Health Added Rice Starch (CVS)
Enfamil AR
HEB Baby Added Rice Starch (HEB)
Parent’s Choice Added Rice (Walmart)
Similac for Spit Up
Tippy Toes Added Rice Starch (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Added Rice Starch (Target)
GI upset formulas
Always My Baby Gentle (Giant Food)
Burt’s Bees Organic Ultra Gentle
Comforts Gentle (Kroger)
Comforts Tender (Kroger)
CVS Health Complete Comfort (CVS)
Earth’s Best Organic Gentle
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Enspire Gentlease
Enfamil Reguline
Gerber Good Start Gentle
Gerber Good Start Gentle Pro
Gerber Good Start Soothe Pro
HEB Baby Complete Comfort (HEB)
Little Journey’s Gentle (Aldi)
Mama Bear Gentle (Amazon)
Member’s Mark Gentle (Sam’s Club)
Parent’s Choice Gentle (Walmart)
Parent’s Choice Tender (Walmart)
Plum Organics Gentle
Similac Total Comfort
Similac Pro Total Comfort
Tippy Toes Gentle (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Gentle (Target)
Up & Up Complete Comfort (Target)
Low lactose for gas
Always My Baby Sensitivity (Giant Food)
Burt’s Bees Organic Sensitive
Comforts Sensitivity (Kroger)
CVS Health Sensitivity (CVS)
Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity
Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive
Happy Baby Organic Sensitive Formula
HEB Baby Sensitivity (HEB)
Little Journey’s Sensitivity (Aldi)
Mama Bear Sensitivity (Amazon)
Member’s Market Sensitivity (Sam’s Club)
Parent’s Choice Sensitivity (Target)
Similac Sensitive
Similac Pro Sensitive
Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive
Tippy Toes Sensitivity (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Sensitivity (Target)
Consult your doctor before switching formula brands in these categories:
Hydrolyzed formulas/ elemental amino acid based
Elecare Infant
MEAD Johnson Puramino DHA & ARA (infant)
Neocate Infant
Neocate Syneo
Nestle Alfamino Infant
Premature formulas
Enfamil NeuroPro Enfacare
Similac Neosure
Partially broken-down formulas
Comforts Hypoallergenic (Kroger)
CVS Health Hypoallergenic (CVS)
Gerber Extensive HA
HEB Baby Hypoallergenic (HEB)
Mead Johnson Nutramigen
Mead Johnson Pregestimil
Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic (Walmart)
Similac Alimentum
Tippy Toes Hypoallergenic (Giant Eagle, Weis Markets)
Up & Up Hypoallergenic (Target)
Well Beginnings Hypoallergenic (Walgreens)
SOURCES
Jessica Gust, MS, RDN, Pediatric Dietitian at Element Nutrition Kids
Dr. Victoria Regan, a pediatrician with Children’s Memorial Hermann Pediatrics
Phillip Kadaj MD FACP, and Family Medical Expert on JustAnswer.com
Allegheny County Infant Formula Infographic
Perrigo Pediatrics Formula Alternatives