Best Formula for Newborns: How to Choose a From-Birth Formula

A shelf of formula cans can feel like a test you have to pass before your baby arrives. Parents who search “best formula for newborns” usually want one name, but the labels that matter are simpler than the marketing.

The short answer: there is no single best formula for newborns. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends an iron-fortified infant formula for formula-fed babies from birth to 12 months. For most babies, that means a standard cow's-milk-based formula labeled for use from birth, such as Stage 1 or Pre, unless your pediatrician advises a different type. Follow-on formula (Stage 2) is for babies 6 months and older.

This guide explains how to read a newborn formula label, the protein base, iron and typical amounts. Guidance was checked on November 8, 2026. Formuland sells the formulas named in this guide and does not rank them; your baby's pediatrician is the right person to help you choose.

What to Look For in Formula for Newborns

Four checks, none of them about a brand, come from AAP, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK's National Health Service (NHS).

• Labeled for use from birth. The can should name an infant formula and say it is suitable from birth; Stage 1 and Pre are the usual stage marks. The NHS says follow-on formula should never be given to babies under 6 months and that a first infant formula can stay the main drink until age 1. AAP says not to give toddler milks or drinks to babies under 12 months.
• Iron-fortified. AAP recommends iron-fortified formula for formula-fed babies from birth to one year and says low-iron formulas should not be used. Containing some iron is not the same as meeting the U.S. “With Iron” level, so ask your pediatrician to look at the iron figure on the formula you choose.
• A standard cow's-milk-based formula, unless your pediatrician says otherwise. Specialized formulas are for babies whose pediatrician recommends one.
• A form you can prepare safely. Powdered formula is not sterile. FDA lists babies 2 months and younger, babies born prematurely and babies with weakened immune systems as higher risk for Cronobacter infection, and for them suggests considering liquid ready-to-feed formula, which it calls the safest option for formula-fed infants.

For a higher-risk baby fed powder, FDA's extra steps are to boil the water, let it cool in the pot for 5 minutes, then pour the label amount into the bottle, add the powder, shake, and cool the formula to room temperature before feeding. If your can's directions differ, ask your pediatrician which to follow. Ready-to-feed formula needs no water, and FDA says never to warm formula in a microwave.

FDA also says not to use formula after its “use by” date and to check containers for damage. Infant formula made under U.S. rules has to meet the nutrient specifications in 21 CFR 107.100: minimum levels per 100 kilocalories (kcal) for 30 nutrients, three of which apply only to formulas that are not milk-based, and maximum limits for some of them.

The formulas Formuland sells are European- and UK-labeled imports, made under EU or UK infant formula law. Regulation (EU) 2016/127 sets those rules: every infant formula must contain DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), sucrose may be added only to formulas made from protein hydrolysates, and pesticide residues may not exceed 0.01 mg/kg per active substance. It is a different rulebook from U.S. requirements, so ask your pediatrician which formula suits your baby.

How to Read a Newborn Formula Label

The legal name on a European can tells you whether it is a formula for newborns. Under Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, infant formula is food for babies in the first months of life that meets their nutritional needs on its own until other foods are introduced. Follow-on formula is for babies once other foods have started, as the main drink in a more varied diet.

Regulation (EU) 2016/127 sets the names each language must use and requires an infant formula label to state that the product is suitable from birth. A follow-on formula label must say it is suitable only for babies over 6 months. The NHS warns that follow-on labels can look very similar to first infant formula labels, so read the age before you buy.

Pre or Stage 1?

Both are from-birth formulas. HiPP's German glossary explains that its Pre formulas use lactose as the only carbohydrate, while its German Stage 1 formulas also contain some starch, which makes them thicker. Recipes differ by edition, so check the ingredient list. Holle says its Pre and 1 formulas can be used from birth and through the whole first year.

Cow, Goat or Partially Hydrolyzed: What the Protein Base Means

On formula for newborns, the protein base is in the product name or ingredient list. These are label facts, not recommendations; talk to your pediatrician before choosing anything other than a standard cow's-milk-based formula.

• Cow's milk protein. The base for most formula sold, according to AAP.
• Goat's milk protein. Goat milk infant formulas labeled from birth are available. AAP and the NHS say they are not for babies with cow's milk allergy, because the proteins are very similar.
• Partially hydrolyzed protein. The milk protein has been partly broken down; UK labels often call these comfort formulas. The NHS says to ask for advice before using one and that they are not suitable for babies with cow's milk allergy.
• Extensively hydrolyzed or amino-acid-based formulas. The protein is broken down much further, or replaced by amino acids. AAP asks parents to have their pediatrician recommend one when a baby needs it.
• Soy protein. AAP sees few situations where soy formula should be chosen instead of cow's-milk-based formula; discuss it with your pediatrician first.

Some labels describe a purpose rather than a protein. Lactose-free formulas change the carbohydrate, and the NHS says to use them only under medical supervision. It says the same of anti-reflux formulas, and asks parents to get advice before using hungry-baby or comfort formulas.

Not formula: Plain cow's milk, goat's milk and plant drinks are not infant formula. AAP says whole cow's milk and dairy alternatives are not recommended for babies under 12 months, the NHS lists goat's milk as a drink among the milks never to give a baby under 1 year, and AAP strongly advises against making formula at home.

Iron in Formula for Newborns

AAP singles out iron when it describes formula for newborns and older babies. It recommends iron-fortified formula for formula-fed babies from birth to one year, because some infants do not have enough natural iron reserves, and it says low-iron formulas should not be used.

U.S. and European labels show iron differently. Under 21 CFR 107.10, a U.S. label must say “Infant Formula With Iron” or a similar statement when a formula has 1 mg or more of iron per 100 kcal; below that, it must say “Additional Iron May Be Necessary.” EU rules require iron in every infant formula made from cow's or goat's milk protein or protein hydrolysates, at 0.3 to 1.3 mg per 100 kcal. The EU minimum is lower than the U.S. “With Iron” level.

European nutrition panels list iron per 100 ml of prepared formula. To compare, divide the iron (mg per 100 ml) by the energy (kcal per 100 ml) and multiply by 100. Show that figure to your pediatrician and ask whether it suits your baby, especially if your baby was born early or small.

How Much Formula Does a Newborn Need?

Amounts of formula for newborns start small. These amounts come from AAP's formula feeding schedule. They are fluid ounces of prepared formula, not ounces of powder, and they are averages, not targets: feed on demand at first and follow your baby's hunger and fullness cues.

AAP gives a daily rule of thumb of about 2½ fluid ounces of formula per pound of body weight, and usually no more than about 32 ounces in 24 hours. If your baby sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours in the first few weeks and starts missing feeds, AAP suggests waking your baby and offering a bottle.

For mixing, water and storage times, see how to prepare and store baby formula. For amounts beyond the newborn weeks, see how much formula a baby needs.

Switching Formula for Newborns Safely

AAP says that for most babies it is OK to switch between different milk-based formulas, unless the baby is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed formula. Talk to your pediatrician before you change.

• Prepare each formula with its own scoop and the directions on its own label; scoop sizes and water amounts differ.
• Never put two different powders in the same bottle, and never add extra water or powder to stretch a can.
• Call your pediatrician if your baby has repeated vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, poor feeding, weight loss or signs of dehydration.
• AAP says to call your pediatrician immediately if a baby 3 months or younger has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, even with no other signs of illness.

From-Birth Formulas at Formuland

Formuland ships European and UK formulas with duties and taxes included, free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more, and Subscribe & Save at 7% off eligible items. For a newborn at higher risk, FDA's ready-to-feed advice above may matter more than the brand: see our ready-to-feed formula before you choose a powder.

Each formula for newborns in the table below is labeled for use from birth. The list is alphabetical and is not a shortlist: choosing a goat's milk formula, or anything other than a standard cow's-milk-based formula, is a decision to make with your pediatrician.

Prices checked November 8, 2026, one-time price for one can or box. Per-ounce figures are for powder, not cost per bottle, because mixing ratios differ.

Browse every from-birth formula in our Stage 1 formula collection, including the full HiPP, Holle, Kendamil and Aptamil ranges. Ordering from overseas? Read how to buy European baby formula in the U.S..

Disclosure: Formuland sells every formula in the table above and does not rank them. This guide summarizes public guidance from AAP, FDA, the NHS and EU and U.S. regulations for general information, not medical advice: your formula's label and your baby's pediatrician come first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formula for Newborns