As soon as a mother finds out she’s expecting, she immediately starts making plans and mental lists for everything from Lamaze classes to preschools. While planning ahead is definitely necessary, we all know that the first rule of motherhood is that Plan A will not always pan out and it's a good idea to have Plan B and/or C at the ready.
Some women may not want to breastfeed while other simply cannot. Even if a new mom wants nothing more than to breastfeed, sometimes unexpected circumstances do stand in the way. That's where plan B comes into play. When the time comes to bottle feed, finding the best organic baby formula for newborns can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.
Life after having a baby can quickly become overwhelming, but taking time to do a little research will prove to be beneficial as you will discover all of the wonderful advantages that organic formula has to offer.
Not only do organic formulas have multiple nutritional benefits, like being rich in antioxidants and containing more vitamins and minerals and less heavy metals, they also are not exposed to pesticides or other chemicals during their growth. The latter is especially important because nervous system injuries and lung damage are just a couple of possible side-effects of pesticides and other chemicals.
What to look for in a formula
When choosing the best organic baby formula for newborns, it's important to look for a few key ingredients and, in some cases, the amount of each of them.
The best organic formulas for babies will almost always be fortified with iron because babies need it for their brains to develop normally. While some formulas are designed to be low in iron, it's suggested that they be avoided unless you are told otherwise by your baby’s pediatrician.
It's believed that infants from birth to 6 months of age only need about 10 grams of protein a day, which is similar to what they would receive from breastmilk.
DHA/ARA are now common ingredients found in almost all baby formulas and are thought to promote healthy eye and brain development.
When it comes to protein, the best infant formula will contain the lowest protein count per 100ml since there is evidence that excessive amounts could contribute to childhood obesity.
Now that we know what to look for, let’s check out a few of the best organic baby formulas for newborns and see how they stack up.
But before we break it down for you, check out the table below to see our favorites.
Quick comparison: Best organic baby formula for newborns
Organic baby formula | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
Similac Advance Organic Infant Formula | - Top brand for moms | ||
Earth’s Best | - Very close to breastmilk | ||
Plum Organics Grow Well Organic Infant Formula | - Made with organic milk | ||
Vermont Organics Milk-Based Organic Infant Formula | - USDA certified organic | ||
Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity Infant Formula | - Ideal for your baby's |
For all the details, keep reading!
Similac Advance Organic Infant Formula
One of the best (and probably most common) ways to get information about all things baby is to ask other moms for their opinions and suggestions. In 2015, formula made by Similac was the #1 infant formula chosen by moms, per Nielsen data. Momma knows best, right?
This organic formula is certified USDA organic and lists wholesome, non-fat organic milk as its first ingredient. It also offers complete organic nutrition and features an exclusive blend of DHA, lutein and Vitamin E called OptiGRO, unique to Similac infant formulas.
Lutein helps support your baby’s eyesight, while vitamin E boosts her immune system, helping her body fight germs. As we know, it's not always easy to keep curious, well-meaning hands away from new babies, so we'll take all the germ fighting help we can get!
Pros
- Easy to scoop with one hand
- Made with organic milk
- High quality
Cons
- Doesn’t always mix well
- Some may find the smell to be unpleasant
Why is this formula a great option for your baby?
What really stands out to us about this organic infant formula is that the company has taken the time to develop their own exclusive OptiGRO blend with such important ingredients to support the vital development of your baby’s healthy eyes and brain.
Earth’s Best Organic Infant Formula
Like most organic formulas, this one made by Earth’s Best also has key ingredients like lutein, DHA and ARA, but it also includes prebiotics for immunity and is fortified with iron.
This product consists of an all lactose formulation and has no added corn syrup solids or any artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, growth hormones, antibiotics or pesticides.
Pros
- Kosher
- Easy to digest
- Nutritionally complete
- Fortified with iron
Cons
- May cause constipation
- Reported to have an iron-like taste
Why is this formula a great option for your baby?
This formula is awesome because it's kosher, which may be more important to some than others. Most recognize that when a product is kosher, it is undeniably considered to contain higher quality ingredients and therefore, this can be considered a superb formula.
Plum Organics Grow Well Organic Infant Formula
Plum Organics infant formulas are designed to nourish your baby with quality carbohydrates and proteins, and it's currently the only formula on the market to be certified by Oregon Tilth, a leading non-profit certifier of organic products.
This infant formula is made with organic, non-fat milk, and it's gluten free. While being aware of what's in your baby’s formula is extremely important, knowing what's not is equally so.
Infant formulas made my Plum Organics do not contain corn syrup solids or any genetically engineer ingredients.
Pros
- Gluten free
- No genetically engineered ingredients
- Kosher dairy
Cons
- May cause constipation
- Reported to have an unpleasant smell
Why is this formula a great option for your baby?
We know that having a gluten-free infant formula is not necessarily important to every new mother. However, the fact that Plum Organics chose to make one that is shows they are fully aware that being gluten-free is a top priority for a large number of families. We have no doubt that gluten-free moms and dads are thrilled to have this infant formula as an option for their new babies.
Vermont Organics Milk-Based Organic Infant Formula
When choosing the best organic baby formula for your infant, it's essential to look a bit into the future and choose one, like this formula made my Vermont Organics, that will meet your baby’s nutritional needs for the entire first year of their life.
Parents have reported that this formula smells like real milk, which makes sense considering organic, non-fat milk is the very first ingredient listed on the label.
This organic formula, like many others, contains DHA and ARA and is USDA certified organic.
Clearly, pesticides and antibiotics didn’t make the cut for this impressive ingredient list.
Pros
- Smells like real milk
- USDA Certified Organic
- No pesticides or antibiotics
Cons
- May cause constipation
- Contains soy products
Why is this formula a great option for your baby?
I think most mothers would agree that baby formula does not usually gain high praise for its unique smell, going in or coming out. Obviously, the fragrance of your baby’s main source of nutrition is not a deal breaker, but making this already impressive organic formula smell like real milk certainly sweetens the pot.
Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity Infant Formula
It is not uncommon for a new baby to have a sensitive tummy that doesn’t take well to regular formula, organic or otherwise. Thankfully, Earth’s Best has developed a low-lactose, whey dominant formula that is easier to digest and catered specifically to these little ones.
Although this formula is made to be gentle on your newborn’s tummy, it certainly does not lack the high-quality protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals your baby needs.
Also, like other organic formulas, this one contains DHA and ARA for healthy eye and brain development and prebiotics for immunity. It is also the first FDA-approved sensitive formula to be certified organic.
Pros
- Sensitive formula, easy to digest
- USDA Organic Certified
- Kosher
Cons
- Does not dissolve well
- First listed ingredient is organic glucose syrup solids
Why is this formula a great option for your baby?
Sleepless nights are many with a newborn and having a baby with tummy issues can make life extra stressful and leave us feeling helpless and desperate to find a solution. A sensitive formula, like the one made by Earth’s Best, can make a world of difference in your baby’s digestion and overall health. If your new baby seems to be having a hard time keeping his formula down or seems quite uncomfortable after each feeding, this sensitive formula could absolutely be a great option to try. A happy tummy makes for both a happy baby and mother.
Like we mentioned above, there are a million different things for an expectant mother to worry about when making plans and decisions for her new baby. Whether bottle feeding is your first or second choice, knowledge is power and now that you know what to look for, you can choose the best organic baby formula for your baby with confidence.
Remember, one of the best parts about becoming a mother is gaining this beautiful instinct to protect and nourish your child in whatever way you need to. When you're able to blend facts with your natural motherly instinct, you become capable of making the very best decisions for your new baby.
Featured image: Raniel Diaz
