In the world of baby formula, a lot of brands may catch your eye. Some are local, some are big names, and then there are organic brands. No matter what your budget, preferences, or dietary needs, there is sure to be a baby formula out there for you. With so many options to choose from it can be easy to lose sight of what is best for your child. You may have been reading about European brands, and you are probably curious about the hype. If you don’t have any idea about Lebenswert, Holle, HiPP, and Nanny Care, then you are missing out on some of the best infant formulas available.

American Brands vs. European Brands

As a parent, you probably have your ear to door when it comes to upcoming trends and health tips for your child. With so many people giving their thoughts about the benefits of baby formula from the EU, it can make you think it is just a passing trend. If it isn't a trend, then it can make you wonder if American formulas are really subpar.

There are several differences between European baby formulas and American baby formulas. In brief, the truth is that while all baby formula is technically safe for consumption, they are not created equally. Most parents assume that infant formulas are all made with healthy and nutritious ingredients, but this is far from the truth. As many people will exclaim, European brands such as HiPP, Holle, and Nanny Care are industry leaders when it comes to quality, nutrition, and reliability.

Once you recognize why infant formulas from the EU have gained such popularity, you will be in line to make the switch as well. There are a lot of reasons why so many parents are turning to European infant formulas, but here are the top three.

Brands From Europe Are Closer To Beast Milk

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants created by nature which of course is hard to replicate. Many families prefer to supplement their breast milk with formula or completely bottle-feed their infant. It makes sense to choose a formula that is as close to breast milk as possible to ensure the health of your infant. The vast majority of infant formula brands in the US include corn syrup, chemicals, and sugar to their infant blends. The last time we checked there were no syrups or chemicals contained in breast milk so how can those be healthy for an infant?

Baby formula, such as those that are manufactured by Holle and other EU brands,are created to be a substitute for breast milk. Lactose is the main source of carbs in breast milk, but in the US, most brands use sucrose and corn syrup instead. In the EU, brands prefer to use lactose. This is to ensure that the formula is gentle on the stomach and also that it is as close to breast milk as possible.

Brands in the EU also use healthier ingredients such as whey to help the formula better resemble breast milk during digestion. The oil blends in the EU tend to be made from canola, organic rapeseed, sunflower, coconut, or palm. This is important because they provide a healthy source of good fatty acids that also resemble the natural fat found in breast milk. Additionally, most EU brands also enrich their formulas with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and ARA which helps to boost brain and eye health.

Organic European Formulas Have Higher Approval Standards

It’s no secret that organic infant formula, food, and clothing are considerably better for health than traditional options. Along with being better for the body, they are also better for the earth in general. In the US, the FDA is very general about what they consider suitable for inclusion in infant formula. As long as an ingredient is safe for consumption and free of contaminants, it can be included in a baby formula blend. That means chemicals, sucrose, GMO’s and more may be used in formula regardless of the dangers or lack of benefits. Organic also has a very different meaning when it comes to baby formula stateside. While there may be no chemicals in the actual formula, organic farming may not be how the ingredients were sourced, even for brands listed as organic.

In the EU on the other hand, the European Commission has very high standards when it comes to ingredients used in infant formula. EU brand baby formulas that use intact milk proteins are not allowed to have sucrose to start. Also, the carbs in infant formula in the EU must be 30% lactose based at a minimum. Most preservatives such as pectins, fructans, and carrageenan are also banned in the EU, so you will never find them in your child’s bottle.

Most infant formula brands in the EU such as HiPP, Holle, and Lebenswert not only follow the regulations above; they surpass them. There are several fully organic European brands that are certified organic. The big difference is that in the EU, organic is more than lip service, it means that companies actually use biodynamic farms. We go further into detail about biodynamic farming and infant formula in this blog post (here). Infant formula from the EU is going to be free from pesticides, G.M.O. ingredients and sucrose, which is always best for infants.

The Experts Have Weighed In On The Benefits of European Formula

Public opinion and parent reviews are an important part of comprehending how well a product is received in the market. Even some popular items have a very little actual benefit. One crucial factor to note about the European baby formula is that actual health and nutrition specialists have confirmed the nutritional superiority of European baby formulas.

There are plenty of blogs, forums, and discussion panels talking about the benefits of formulas from brands such as Nanny Care, Holle, Hipp, and Kabrita. Along with these discussions, a quick internet search will bring back an equal number of published reports from pediatricians, medical professionals, and nutritionists. These detail the differences and benefits of EU formulas to those of the USA. Selecting the right formula for your infant is very important and can be stressful if you are not sure what’s in the formula or how it may affect your child’s development. With help from Mommy Formula, you no longer have to worry about access to healthy choices for your child.