In this review
In this review
If you’re here, you know that choosing a formula for your baby is overwhelming. When to start using it? Organic or conventional? Whole milk or nonfat milk as a base? DHA and ARA, and at what levels? With dozens of options - many claiming to be the “closest to breastmilk” - which should you trust for your child?
We enlisted the help of Chrissy Arsenault (RDN) - Pediatric Dietitian and mom to a preemie - to help us understand when to use formula, and the factors that actually matter when choosing one.
Combining Arsenault’s expertise with hands-on reviews by TCD parents on staff, we evaluated six popular infant formulas on ingredients, nutrition, safety, consistency, convenience, and cost: Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula, Similac 360 Total Care, Enfamil Optimum Infant Formula, ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, Nara Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula, and Kendamil Classic Infant Formula. We’ll help you make an informed formula choice for your baby’s nutrition and overall health.
One brand stood out for its commitment to safety, clean ingredients, and recipe modeled after breastmilk. Read on to find out which!
Should I Use Formula?
Parents often wrestle with the decision to formula feed, combo feed, or exclusively breastfeed.
“A fed baby is a happy baby! While breastfeeding has unique benefits, not all moms want to, or can, breastfeed,” explains Arsenault, our Pediatric Dietitian. “As the mom of a preterm infant, I did combo feeding because my son needed more calories for growth.”
Arsenault also notes that medical conditions, low milk supply, returning to work, or simply personal preference are all valid reasons to use formula.
“It’s your baby and your body, and it’s your choice. Formula feeding should not be a source of guilt for moms,” she says.
The most important decision? Choosing a formula that’s modeled after breast milk, is certified via third-party testing, is a good value, and is widely available. Let’s see how our six brands stack up.
Top Infant Formulas, Reviewed
Green highlights indicate best-in-category results.
Ingredients & Nutrition:
Bobbie’s Formula With Organic Whole Milk Wins
According to our Pediatric Dietitian, Chrissy Arsenault, “choose an infant formula with ingredients that are modeled after mature breastmilk.” That means:
- Protein ratio close to breastmilk. “For healthy term infants, a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio is ideal, as it mirrors mature breastmilk and supports comfortable digestion.”
- Carbohydrate source. “Look for formulas with 100% lactose, which is the primary carbohydrate in breastmilk.”
- DHA and ARA. These important fatty acids are critical for brain and eye development. “The EU requires at least 20 mg of DHA per 100 kcal. U.S. formulas aren’t required to add DHA, but I recommend choosing one that does, ideally paired with ARA for balance.”1
- An organic whole milk formula. “Most formulas start with a nonfat milk base and add vegetable oils to reach the required fat content,” Arsenault explains. Whole milk-based formulas contribute naturally-occurring fatty acids from milk fat, which means they include a lower volume of plant-based oils. Additionally, skim milk-based formulas typically do not contain MFGM, which has been studied for its role in brain development and immune health.2
Here’s how each formula stacks up:
🥇 Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula has the best combo of ingredients and nutrition.
- Made with organic whole milk, preserving natural milk fat and inherent MFGM.
- 60:40 whey:casein ratio, modeled after mature breastmilk, making it easy on digestion.
- Uses lactose as the only carbohydrate source (no corn syrup, glucose solids, or maltodextrin).
- Contains 20 mg DHA per 100 kcal, following the rigorous European standards for early brain and eye development.2
- Free from palm and palm olein oil, which can cause firm stools and reduce calcium and fat absorption.3,4
“Bobbie’s newest option checks every box I look for in a formula,” Arsenault tells us. “Organic, whole milk base, DHA, ARA, and a proper whey-to-casein ratio… It’s their closest to breastmilk formula, and one of the best you’ll find on the U.S. market.”
🥈 Kendamil Classic Infant Formula also uses a whole milk base with a 60:40 whey:casein ratio. It includes added prebiotics for digestive support and meets European quality standards for infant formula (24 mg of DHA per 100 kcal).
🥉 Nara Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula is USDA Organic and whole milk-based, with a 60:40 whey:casein ratio plus GOS prebiotics for softer poops. Nara also has 20 mg DHA per 100 kcal.
❌ ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula uses an 80:20 whey:casein ratio, which may digest too quickly and lead to hunger, necessitating extra feedings. ByHeart does not reach 20 mg of DHA per 100 kcal.
❌ Similac 360 Total Care uses a nonfat milk base rather than whole milk. It has no naturally-occurring MFGM, which has been studied to support babies’ brain development, and contains less DHA than other brands.
❌ Enfamil Optimum Infant Formula also uses a nonfat milk base, and includes palm olein oil for palmitic acid - an ingredient that can lead to harder poops and lower nutrient absorption. Enfamil also does not provide 20 mg DHA per 100 kcal.
Safety & Third Party Testing
Bobbie Wins With 2,000+ Quality And Safety Checks Per Batch
Heavy metals and other contaminants in baby formula should be a top concern for parents.
“Metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are neurotoxic. No amount of lead is safe, which is why I recommend brands that publish transparent testing around heavy metals and quality,” Arsenault says.
🥇 Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula is the cleanest option. It is the only brand in this review with transparent testing results and is ranked by Consumer Reports as a Top Choice for low or nondetect levels of common contaminants. Bobbie is both USDA Organic and Clean Label Project certified, and every batch goes through over 2,000 safety and quality checks. “It gives me peace of mind as a mom,” says Arsenault.
✖️ ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula is Clean Label Project certified, with pesticide-free sourcing. However, it is not certified USDA Organic (though it does contain at least 70% organic ingredients), and Consumer Reports listed it as a Good Choice, rather than a Top Choice, due to volume of trace lead in recent testing.5
✖️ Kendamil Classic Infant Formula is not USDA or EU certified organic, but does use grass-fed milk and passes pesticide testing. Kendamil was considered a Top Choice in the recent Consumer Reports testing, but does not come with the assurance of Organic certification.5
❌ Nara Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula is USDA Organic and Clean Label Project certified, but has not published any heavy metal testing results, leaving parents with less visibility into quality assurance.
❌ Enfamil Optimum Infant Formula has no Clean Label Project certification and little publicly available information about independent safety testing. This product was deemed a Consumer Reports Top Choice, although other Enfamil formulations were found in the Good and Worse categories.
❌ Similac 360 Total Care has faced the consumer scrutiny. It is not Clean Label Project certified, and certain Similac products were subject to a major FDA recall in 2022 due to potential Cronobacter contamination. Similac has also been named in lawsuits alleging misleading claims about heavy metal content, which may give some parents pause about its long-term safety record.6 Finally, Similac 360 Total Care was listed as a Good Choice, rather than Top Choice, in Consumer Reports testing.
Cost
Kendamil Wins As The Cheapest Formula Option
Some formula brands can be up to two times more expensive per ounce than others. Given that parents can expect to use 0.5 to 2 ounces of powder formula per day (depending on age), these differences can really add up.
🥇 Kendamil Classic Infant Formula is the most affordable option, at about $1.21 per ounce.
❌ Enfamil Optimum Infant Formula is the most expensive, at $2.34 per ounce online.
Consistency
It’s A Tie Between Bobbie And ByHeart
How a formula mixes matters - clumps or foam can make bottles harder to prepare and less appealing for babies, like our editor’s 7-month-old, Drew. Here’s how they compared:
🥇 Very Smooth: Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula and ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula mix evenly with no clumping and minimal foam, and were preferred by Drew. These brands are easy on babies’ tummies.
🥉Average: Nara Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula and Enfamil Optimum Infant Formula mix reasonably well, with minimal clumping, but a more obvious grainy texture.
❌Coarse, Requires Extra Shaking: Similac 360 Total Care and Kendamil Classic Infant Formula are coarser powders that can clump and stick to the sides of a bottle, making feeding difficult. These formulas may require extra shaking to fully dissolve.
Availability
Similac, Enfamil, and Bobbie Win
For peace of mind, and emergencies, Arsenault recommends choosing a formula that is available in-store and online.
🥇 Similac 360, Enfamil Optimum, and Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula are all available both online and in major retailers.
🥈ByHeart is sold direct online, with availability in Walmart and Target locations.
🥉Nara, a newer brand, is only available online.
❌ Kendamil Classic Infant Formula is the hardest to find consistently, with no online availability in the US.
Our Verdict: Bobbie is the Best Infant Formula of 2025
Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula was our Pediatric Dietitian’s #1 choice.
It's the clear winner for its high-quality ingredients and formulation, industry-leading safety standards, strong value, and availability.
Pediatric Dietitian Chrissy Arsenault agrees: “Bobbie is the whole package, at a reasonable price. I’m a combo-feeding mom and recommend Bobbie to anyone looking for an option you can trust and that your baby will enjoy.”
Ready to try Bobbie? With code BOBBIETCD20, save 20% on your first order with free shipping. Plus, Bobbie offers discounted sample packs for first-time customers, starting at $14 per can.
1. National Library of Medicine: EU DHA Requirements
2. National Library of Medicine: Benefits of MFGM in Infants
3. Food and Nutrition Research: Palm Olein Consumption Causes Harder Stools in Infants
4. Journal of the American College of Nutrition: Palm Olein Consumption Leads to Lower Calcium and Fat Absorption in Infants
5. Consumer Reports: Test of 41 Baby Formulas for Lead and Arsenic
6. Lawsuit Information Center: Similac Powder Formula Recall
