How to choose a baby formula
When my son Caden was born, I spent countless hours researching infant formulas. I was trying to figure out the best option for him to meet all of his nutritional needs. Eventually, I settled on a European brand, Hipp Dutch, and had to order it from a somewhat obscure website that ships it to the US. The whole process felt a bit clunky, so I made it a priority to find a formula made in the US. Thankfully, in those two years, two new brands, Bobbie and ByHeart, launched in the US. This was revolutionary for me, and I knew it would also be a relief for other parents across the US who were also relying on European infant formulas.
Bobbie and ByHeart are two brands that are disrupting the broken American formula industry. After digging into the research, it's clear that both are excellent options. To help you figure out which one is the best fit for your baby and your family, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about ByHeart vs. Bobbie formulas.
ByHeart overview
Origin and manufacturing
ByHeart has its own factories in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon, allowing them to tailor the production process to best fit their needs. They updated a manufacturing facility in Reading, PA, to provide the best conditions for making their infant formula. ByHeart's factory is now the 4th fully integrated, FDA-registered infant nutrition brand in the US, plus the first new one in decades.
Key ingredients and nutrition
The big difference between ByHeart formula and other brands is that it’s made with organic whole milk. ByHeart decided to use grass-fed whole milk in their formula because its nutritional profile is similar to breast milk. Whole milk is packed with healthy fats, including MFGM—a blend of fats and protein blends that supports your baby’s brain development, growth, and a healthy gut.
Here’s why whole milk is a big deal:
- Easy on digestion: It contains fatty acids that are easier for babies to digest and absorb.
- Eye and brain health: It has 5x more lutein than skim milk, a key antioxidant for eye development and health and cognitive function.
- Immune support: It also has 3.5x more beta-carotene than skim milk, essential for a strong immune system.
Other key ingredients include:
- Organic prebiotics: Contains galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) to support your baby’s gut health.
- Primary carbohydrate: Lactose, which is the main carb in breast milk.
- Fatty acids: Includes plant-based DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in breast milk.
- Protein content: Alpha-lac protein and lactoferrin, partially hydrolyzed for easier and gentle digestion.
Plus, ByHeart is free from soy, hexane-extracted DHA, artificial growth hormones, palm oil, corn syrup, gluten, GMOs, and maltodextrin.
Pricing and availability
You can easily find ByHeart at major retailers like Target, Amazon, Walmart, Publix, Babylist, and Thrive Market. It's also available directly on their website, where you can either make a one-time purchase or subscribe for regular deliveries. If you choose to enroll in a subscription plan, you can set the delivery cadence to every 2, 4, or 6 weeks. You can also choose how many cans you want delivered in each order, from 2 to 12 cans per order.
On-time purchase: $42 per 24oz can
Subscribe and save: $39 per 24oz can
Each 24oz can makes 40-44 4oz bottles.
ByHeart's core values
- Formulation that mimics breast milk
- Gentle formulation for easier digestion
- Organic and non-GMO
- Clean Label Project certified
- Small batch process to protect dietary fat integrity
- ByHeart conducted a comprehensive clinical trial to confirm their formula's quality. The trial demonstrated that ByHeart formula is easier to digest, results in less spit-up and softer stools, supports more efficient weight gain, improves nutrient absorption, and may even help your baby go longer between night time feeds.
- Directly source ingredients from known and trusted suppliers
- Third-party contaminant testing
Bobbie overview
Origin and manufacturing
Launched in 2019, Bobbie formula is an infant formula option made with high-quality standards and ingredients and manufactured in FDA-registered facilities in Ohio. Bobbie is inspired by the ingredient sourcing practices and nutritional standards of EU infant formulas, which adhere to higher standards.
Key ingredients and nutrition
Bobbie formula is a lactose-based infant formula made from organic grass-fed, pasture-raised milk without antibiotics or pesticides. Bobbie also meets EU standards for DHA, an added bonus since there is no requirement for DHA inclusion in infant formula in the US. It's designed to mimic breast milk, it features a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio that’s gentle on the tummy for easier digestion.
Other key ingredients include:
- 20 mg of plant-based DHA per 100 kcal to support brain development
- Primary carbohydrate: Uses lactose as a source of carbohydrates
- Organic fatty acids: High-quality expeller-pressed oils, made without chemical solvents or inorganic bleaching agents.
- Protein content: Whey protein ratio similar to breast milk
Bobbie formula is free of palm oil, gluten, pesticides, filler, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and antibiotics.
Pricing and availability
Bobbie formula is available in-store and online at Target or directly on Bobbie's website for a one-time purchase or with a subscription plan. Each 24-oz can makes 40 4oz bottles.
- One-time purchase: $46 per 24oz can
- Auto Renew: $41.40 per 24oz can
Bobbie's core values
- They partner with small, family-owned farms to source milk from organic, grass-fed cows.
- Source organic ingredients from trusted suppliers, focusing on local farms, family-run businesses, and small-batch operations in the U.S.
- Bobbie formula undergoes third-party testing to ensure quality, safety, and purity, screening for over 400 industrial and environmental contaminants and toxins, including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plastics.
- Clean Label Project certified
- Product traceability
Byheart vs. Bobbie: a side by side comparison
Similarities between ByHeart vs. Bobbie formulas
- Uses organic ingredients
- Lactose as the primary carbohydrate source
- Contains DHA
- Produced in the US
- Manufactured in-house
- Formulated to closely resemble breast milk
- Have higher safety standards
Noteworthy differences: ByHeart vs. Bobbie
- ByHeart uses whole milk & Bobbie uses nonfat milk
- ByHeart contains additional ingredients like prebiotics, alpha-lac protein, lactoferrin, and lutein & Bobbie has a simple, nutritionally-complete formulation
- ByHeart is partially hydrolyzed for easier digestion & Bobbie formula is a standard infant formula (Bobbie also sells an organic gentle formula)
- ByHeart is widely available for purchase at multiple retailers
- ByHeart is $42 per 24 oz can and Bobbie is $46 per 24 oz can
Choosing the right formula for your baby
Formula is an essential part of a baby's diet, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming for parents (I've been there too!). Thinking ByHeart vs. Bobbie? These are two options that offer high-quality ingredients and nutrition to support your baby's growth and development. But, before you decide, it's important to consider your baby's specific nutritional needs first before making a decision.
Some factors to consider when choosing a formula for your baby include:
- Age and stage of development
- Allergies or sensitivities
- Special dietary needs or restrictions
- Recommendation by your baby's pediatrician
I hope this ByHeart vs. Bobbie formula comparison helps you find the best formula feeding option for your baby. Don’t forget to add your choice to your baby registry checklist. For more on motherhood and nutrition, check out my blog, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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