A Guide for Formula Feeding Your Newborn or Older Baby

We understand that there are many reasons why you might decide to formula feed your baby. 

One reason formula is introduced is to help share feeding responsibilities with a partner or family members. Whatever feeding options fit your life, we’re here to offer our support.

Our infant formulas are inspired by breast milk and designed to meet the nutrition needs of your baby to support their growth and development. Similac infant formulas can help give your little one a strong start and have important vitamins and minerals. Most Similac infant formulas have our exclusive blend of DHA, lutein, and vitamin E to support baby's brain and eye development and are made with milk ingredients that do not have artificial growth hormones.* Our formulas have no palm olein oil. Our oil blend allows for greater absorption of nutrients like calcium, compared to formulas made with palm olein oil.^1,2  

To learn more, check out our What’s in Similac^® formula? page.

While all infant formulas help to nourish your baby, there are different types. Some are specially formulated to support specific needs your baby may have.

If you need help choosing a formula, talk to your doctor. You can also compare options with our Formula Finder.

The different types of baby formula and toddler drinks

Before trying a new feeding option, consult your child’s doctor for a recommendation based on your child’s needs.

Milk-based, iron-fortified formula

This is the most common type of infant formula, and it’s often recommended by doctors. If this is your baby’s first time being fed formula, it’s a good place to start. The main carbohydrate source in these formulas is lactose. Lactose is also the main carbohydrate in breast milk.

Similac^® 360 Total Care^® formula is milk-based and has an exclusive blend of 5 HMOs, our closest prebiotic blend to that of breast milk. Another milk-based option is Pure Bliss^® by Similac^® Irish Farms, which starts with fresh milk from cows in Ireland.  

Formulas for fussiness, gas & mild spit-up

• Sensitive infant formula
  If your little one shows signs of a sensitive tummy, like fussiness, gas, or mild spit-up, sensitive formulas are designed to help. They contain carbohydrates such as maltodextrins, instead of lactose, making them suitable for infants who may be sensitive to lactose.

         Discuss Similac® 360 Total Care® Sensitive with your baby's doctor.

         It's designed for babies with fussiness and gas due to lactose sensitivity.

• Partially hydrolyzed protein-based infant formula
  If you’ve tried a sensitive formula and your baby is still showing signs of fussiness, gas, or mild spit-up, partially hydrolyzed protein-based formulas may help. This type of formula is also good for babies with lactose sensitivity.

  
  Similac Pro-Total Comfort^® has partially hydrolyzed whey protein and is great for babies who have difficulty tolerating other milk-based formulas.
  

• Soy-based formula
  If your baby has fussiness or gas when feeding with other formulas, you might want to try a soy-based formula. Soy-based formulas have been clinically shown to help reduce fussiness and gas. Your doctor may also recommend a soy formula if your baby has galactosemia. Vegetarian families often prefer a soy-based formula for their babies.
  
  No other soy-based formula has been studied more than Similac^® Soy Isomil^®, which supports normal growth throughout infancy. If your baby’s fussiness or gas seems excessive, ask your baby’s physician about switching formulas.

Specialized baby formula

If your baby has a food allergy or other specific nutrition needs, specialized infant formulas can help meet their needs. Make sure to consult with your baby’s pediatrician before starting a new formula or if you have any questions about which formula to use.

For cow’s milk allergy, your baby’s doctor might recommend Similac^® Alimentum^®. It’s a hypoallergenic, extensively hydrolyzed protein-based formula for infants with food allergies and colic symptoms due to protein sensitivity.

To learn more about food allergies and the formula options for them, check out our Feeding Issues and Food Allergies section.

Similac^® NeoSure^® is specially designed for premature babies post-discharge to promote catch-up growth on the outside—and important development on the inside. It provides enriched nutrition that has increased protein, vitamins, and minerals compared to term infant formula.

For more information on nutrition for babies born prematurely, check out our Preemie section.

Organic baby formula

Most organic formulas contain the same ingredients you would find in a standard, milk-based, iron-fortified formula. The difference is that all USDA-certified organic products must meet the USDA’s strict production and labeling standards. Products with the USDA organic seal must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, excluding water and salt, and have no genetically modified ingredients. Learn more about Pure Bliss^® by Similac^® Organic page.

Toddler drink

After your baby becomes a toddler, they may miss out on some important nutrients as you discontinue infant formula after their first birthday and introduce new foods. Toddler drinks, like Go & Grow 360 Total Care^® by Similac^®, are designed for children between ages 12 and 36 months and can help fill nutrient gaps until they adopt a variety of new foods into their diet.

To learn more about the nutrition needs of your toddler, visit our Toddler section.

Different formula types are available and each one has different instructions for preparation.

• Powder formula

  When you think of baby formula, it’s probably the dry powder form. It comes in a can or tub, is measured with a scoop, and is mixed with water. When not prepared, powder has a longer shelf life than ready-to-feed or concentrated liquid formula, which makes it a good option for those supplementing breast milk with formula.

• Ready-to-feed formula

  Ready-to-feed formula is convenient for traveling because it requires no water or mixing. It’s also great for late-night feedings and when you’re on the go. Similac Ready to Feed is available in 2-fl-oz, 8-fl-oz, and 32-fl-oz bottles. 

• Concentrated liquid formula

  A type of liquid formula that mixes with water for easy preparation—just add 1 part water to 1 part concentrate.

Once you’ve found a formula that’s the right fit for you, here are some great tips on How to Make a Bottle.

Babies are different when it comes to how often to feed them—and the right feeding amount. That’s why it’s important to learn the cues your baby may give to signal hunger, like rooting (searching for a feeding with their mouth), making sucking movements, or putting their fingers in their mouth—even while sleeping. Using these cues to understand when to feed your baby will help ensure that they’re getting the right amount of nutrition to support their growth and development.

How to know if your baby is full
Your baby’s doctor can help determine a feeding schedule that’s appropriate for your baby’s age. But your baby will let you know if they are full, so look for signals. They may turn their head or stop sucking. You may not always need to feed your baby an entire bottle.

Feeding them too much can cause mild spit-up. That’s why it’s important to keep the following things in mind as you begin feeding:

• Know your baby's eating rhythm
• Follow your baby’s lead
• Feed when they naturally want to eat

Count the wet diapers
A general guide for whether your baby is consuming getting enough is the number of diapers you change each day. Six to 8 wet diapers and 1 or 2 passed stools per day is an average.

Your baby's weight gain
Your baby should gain a small amount of weight each week. But, because babies gain weight and develop at different rates, your baby’s doctor can tell you what’s normal for your little one.

If you notice any changes in your baby’s eating habits or digestion, make sure to talk to your baby's doctor about your concerns.

You can feel confident that baby formula is among the most highly regulated food products in the US and must follow strict manufacturing and labeling requirements. But here are a few guidelines to follow when buying, preparing, using, and storing it.

• Buying: Check that the product isn’t past the expiration date. Also make sure that the container and seal aren’t damaged. Look for the MySimilac^® QR code on select Similac^® products—it's an easy way to check a product's expiration date and more!

• Preparing: Be sure to follow label preparation instructions. If preparing powder or concentrated liquid infant formula, be sure to add the appropriate amount of water. Once prepared, either feed or refrigerate the formula immediately.

• Using: If your baby is finished feeding from a bottle and doesn’t drink all the formula within 1 hour, throw the formula away. After feeding, the formula contains bacteria from your baby’s saliva that can multiply. To help reduce waste, mix smaller portions and refill if necessary.

• Storing: Feed prepared powdered formulas within 24 hours of mixing and storage in the fridge. Make sure to follow the storage instructions on the formula label and see our How to Make a Bottle article for storage tips and more.

Be loyal to one bottle brand
If you find a bottle brand that works for you, it helps to stick with it. That way you won’t need to search through mismatched nipples and rings when it’s feeding time. It also makes storage easier!

Plan for on-the-go feeding
You won’t always be able to prep formula in the kitchen. Pack your baby bag with ready-to-feed bottles for convenient, no-mix feeding. 

Prep bigger batches
Instead of mixing just 1 bottle of formula every couple hours, save time by preparing a large batch of powdered formula in advance. 

Alternate feedings to get more sleep
If your baby is bottle-fed with formula or expressed breast milk, trade off feedings with a partner so that each of you can get more sleep. For more feeding tips, see How to Make a Bottle.

To warm or not to warm your baby’s formula
Baby formula doesn’t need to be warmed, but if you want to warm a bottle, do not microwave it. Microwaving baby formula can cause “hot spots” that can burn your baby. Instead, try this method:

• Water bath.
  Set the filled and capped bottle of formula in a bowl of warm (not boiling) water. Make sure the top of the bottle is not making contact with the water source. You can also hold the bottle under warm tap water. Before feeding, mix the formula again to evenly distribute the heat and sprinkle a few drops of formula on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.
  

* Milk ingredients are derived from milk of non-rbST-treated cows, which is not different from milk of rbST-treated cows.

References: 1. Nelson SE, et al. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998;17(4):327-332. 2. Koo WW, et al. Pediatrics. 2003;111(5, pt 1):1017-1023.