Baby’s Only Organic Formula Review
Nature’s One was nice enough to send me a full can of their organic dairy, iron fortified toddler formula to review here at wired mamas. I was totally thrilled because I had been researching Nature’s One, and really wanted to try their formula. Here’s a quick guide to Nature’s One formula:
Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula
Strives to be the Very Best Formula
Organic Dairy Formula
Baby’s Only Organic®dairy formula was introduced more than a decade ago as the very first organic formula on the U.S. market. This formula is scientifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a healthy, growing baby. When formula is required, health care professionals most often recommend a dairy-based formula. Dairy protein naturally contains amino acids and carbohydrate that are more similar to human breast milk. For babies with a lactose sensitivity or milk allergy, doctors may recommend Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free or Soy Formulas.
Quality Organic Nutrition
Nature’s One®recognizes the importance of providing your baby with the highest quality formula possible. Our company sets its ingredient standard beyond “organic” by sourcing only the best organic ingredients, including milk from organic family farms. Parents should be aware that other organic formulas use less desirable ingredients like organic corn syrup, organic palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA. Rest assured that Baby’s Only Organic® will never contain these ingredients.
The Best Organic Start
Breast milk is the best organic choice. Baby’s Only Organic® is labeled a toddler formula to promote breast milk as the best first option. Following breast milk, parents can continue providing organic nutrition using Baby’s Only Organic®formula. For a baby less than 12-months, use as directed by a healthcare professional. We recommend that you present our leading brand Dairy Nutritional Comparison Chart or our Multiple Product Nutritional Comparison Chart to your doctor.
Meets FDA Nutrition Requirements
In 1980, the U.S. Congress passed the Infant Formula Act, a law that defines the nutritional requirements for infant formulas sold in the United States. Baby’s Only Organic® does meet the nutritional requirements according to Infant Formula Act. Please review our Nutritional Comparison Chart to learn about the FDA’s specifications for infant formula and how Baby’s Only Organic® compares to leading brands. Baby’s Only Organic® is manufactured in the U.S.A.
In addition, the representative I cooresponded with through email had this to say as well:
A recent study from the United Kingdom, soon to be published, reports on the benefits of consuming organic foods.1 Of particular interest is the finding that organic milk can contain up to 60% more antioxidants than found in conventionally produced milk. Antioxidants are molecules that help to prevent damage to the body’s cells. Examples of antioxidants are Vitamin C and Vitamin E. You might enjoy this article on this subject as well http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4153951.stm. Baby’s Only Organic® formulas contain no genetically modified ingredients, pesticides, added growth hormones or hexane processed oils. Nature’s One® purchases its organic milk from farmer-owned cooperatives and only feed cows organic grains and grasses from organic pastures.
No onto my opinion: I really love the smell of this formula. It has a hint of vanilla, and mixes very well. My son drank it up fast, and seemed to really like the taste! It does have a little bit more foam than Parent’s Choice Organic Formula, but after a minute, it settles down just fine. At $9.92 for a 12.7 ounce can, it’s not as cheap as Parent’s Choice ($11.97 for a 25 ounce can), but here’s why I am making the switch:
- Nutritionally, Baby’s Only has better quality ingredients than any other formula, organic or non organic on the market…In my opinion. I have read and researched so much on this topic, to finally conclude that just because the FDA (for whom my trust is shaky) has guidelines for ingredients, doesn’t mean that all formulas are created equal. For example:
In my review of Parent’s Choice Organic Formula, I stated that the use of reduced minerals whey was easily digested…and that is true. However, they (and some other leading formula companies) add lactose to their formulas even though it is already naturally found in the non fat milk used. The added lactose can cause excess gas and bloating. Nature’s One chooses to use organic brown rice syrup as their added carbohydrate source to reduce the effect that added lactose may cause. Baby’s Only Organic contains no wheat or wheat gluten, no Martek’s DHA & ARA fatty acids, no palm olein oil, no corn or corn syrup, no sucrose, and no peanut.
- The issue of Essential Fatty Acids. I will let Nature’s One’s own words explain this issue:
Essential Fatty Acids
Brand Linoleic Acid
(per 100 kcal)Alpha-Linolenic
(per 100 kcal)Baby’s Only Organic® 1000mg 128mg Manufactured by PBM:
Earth’s Best®
My Organic Baby
Wal-Mart® Parent’s Choice®
Vermont OrganicsTM
All Store Brands750mg 60mg Similac® Organic 860mg Not Stated Earth’s Best®, the Wal-Mart® Parent’s Choice®Brand, and Similac®Organic are lower in the essential fatty acid, Linoleic Acid; the Alpha-Linolenic fatty acid composition is lower or not stated on the formula labels. These precursor fats are important for the body to convert to DHA & ARA and are critical to brain and eye retina development. In fact, the makers of Similac supported a study1 comparing breast fed infants to three formulas described below:
- A formula containing no added DHA & ARA, but contained higher levels of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid similar to Baby’s Only Organic® Toddler Formula.
- Two formulas supplemented with synthetic DHA and ARA that contained lower levels of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid.
The results of this study did NOT support adding synthetic DHA & ARA to formula that contained the higher levels of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. However, Nature’s One®recognizes that some babies may not be as efficient at converting linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid and supplementation with Baby’s Only Essentials® DHA & ARA may be a better option than use of a product with synthetic DHA & ARA. The synthetic DHA & ARA used to supplement Earth’s Best®, Wal-Mart’s Parent’s Choice®, and Similac® Organic infant formulas are treated with hexane solvents, acid and bleach during the manufacturing process.
It is best to compare pediatric formulas using a 100-calorie serving, which is approximately 5-ounces of formula. So over the course of a day of feedings totaling 28oz, a baby consuming Baby’s Only Organic®would receive 1,400mg MORE linoleic acid and 380mg MORE alpha-linolenic fatty acid when compared to Earth’s Best® infant formulas. Remember, just because a formula is organic does not necessarily insure it is nutritionally advanced. Baby’s Only Organic® takes advantage of modern nutritional science.
So, in a nutshell, the use of higher levels of essential fatty acids in Baby’s Only formula allows the body to naturally covert the essential fatty acids to DHA and ARA, allowing the addition of those acids to be skipped altogether, and no hexane to worry about. Please read this article for an explanation of Hexane in baby formula. However, if your baby needs additional DHA/ARA supplementation, they have powdered packets sold separately that parents can add if they wish. Their extraction method doesn’t use hexane, but rather egg phospholipids using a water process. This formula is also marketed as a Toddler Formula. Their reasoning is that breast milk is best for the first year, and the next step should be their organic formula. Not everyone can breast feed, so please check with your pediatrician about the ingredients in Baby’s Only by Nature’s One. My son is 9 1/2 months old, and I feel confident that this formula is nutritionally sound for his age. Remember to refer to the Nutritional Comparison Chart to see for yourself.
Although I am frugal, I cannot put a price tag on my child’s nutritional needs. Since he is now 9 1/2 months old, I am going to purchase Baby’s Only Organic Formula. If you are interested in trying this formula, you can request a free sample. Mine got to me in one day! You can order this formula from their website, or to find a retailer near you, click here. You can also find Nature’s One formula on Amazon.com!
Please share your experience with me. Leave a comment!
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Hello, thanks for your review it’s very helpful!! I am deciding what formula to give my baby as breast feeding didn’t work for me, unfortunately. Currently she is on Goodstart and it tastes terrible… I don’t think my baby likes it that much…. I am in between baby’s only and earth’s best…. my baby is only 2.5 months old and I have reservations about baby’s only and it’s marketed for toddlers…. I will request a sample though.
Does formulas like similac & enfamil’s DHA/ARA processed with hexane also? thanks!
Hi Carla,
If I were you, I would email Nature’s One and ask any questions you may have to help you in the decision process. I know how stressful it can be choosing the right formula for your baby. I am feeding my baby this formula, and feel confident about it. The higher levels of linoleic acid are supposed to help babies convert those acids to DHA/ARA naturally, without the addition of it synthetically. However, you can buy their DHA/ARA packets to add to the formula for extra insurance. You should also discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician. Similac, Enfamil, and Earth’s Best all use hexane unfortunately, and Similac also uses sucrose instead of lactose as the added carbohydrate. Studies have shown that using sucrose can lead to obesity. Stay in touch, and let me know what you decide. Good luck, and congratulations on becoming a mama!