Looking for alternatives to baby formula? Here are some do’s and don’ts

Be wary of recipes for making your own formula. Baby formula is made with specific nutrients and vitamins with the calories babies need. That’s one reason why you shouldn’t feed your baby regular milk or dilute the baby formula.

Author: Norton Healthcare

Published: May 19, 2022 | Updated: July 27, 2022

“We recommend that babies are either formula fed or breastfed until age 6 months. Shortly before 6 months, babies who are meeting developmental milestones can have their formula supplemented with purees, cereal and other solid foods to help the formula last,” said Heather M. Felton, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Germantown.

Norton Children’s Medical Group

Norton Children’s Medical Group, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, offers pediatric primary care at more than 20 locations throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Make an appointment
(502) 629-KIDS (5437) Option 3


Request an Appointment Online


Find a Pediatrician

Most cow’s milk-based formulas are interchangeable, according to Dr. Felton.

Be wary of recipes for making your own formula. Baby formula is made with specific nutrients and vitamins with the calories babies need. That’s one reason why you shouldn’t feed your baby regular milk or dilute the baby formula.

Donor breast milk may be an option; moms who’ve recently stopped breastfeeding may be able to resume lactating. After four months or so of bottle feeding, a mother may not be able to lactate.

Help is available for new mothers who want to breastfeed.

Resources include:

The following alternatives to Similac baby formulas were provided by the state of Connecticut and reviewed by Dr. Felton.

Alternatives to Similac Advance

Always My Baby Advantage HMO Good Start Gentle Parent’s Choice Infant Non-GMO Tippy Toes Infant
CVS Health Advantage HMO Gerber Good Start Gentle Pro Infant Similac 360 Total Care Up & Up Advantage Infant
Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Good Start Gentle Supreme A2 Similac Pro-Advance Up & Up Infant
Enfamil Infant Parent’s Choice Advantage HMO and Non-GMO Tippy Toes Advantage Premium Well Beginnings Advantage HMO

Alternatives to Similac Total Comfort

Always My Baby Gentle Enfamil Gentlease Parent’s Choice Gentle Tippy Toes Gentle
CVS Health Complete Comfort Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Similac Pro-Total Comfort Up & Up Gentle Non-GMO
Enfamil Reguline Gerber Good Start Soothepro Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort Up & Up Complete Comfort

Alternatives to Similac Sensitive

Always My Baby Sensitivity Premium Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive Parent’s Choice Sensitivity Non-GMO Up & Up Sensitivity
CVS Health Sensitivity Similac Pro-Sensitive Tippy Toes Sensitivity Premium Well Beginnings Sensitivity Non-GMO
Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive Powder Parent’s Choice Sensitivity HMO Up & Up Sensitivity Non-GMO

Alternatives to Similac Spit Up

Parent’s Choice AR Powder Up & Up Added Rice Starch Enfamil AR

Alternatives to Similac Isomil Soy

Enfamil Prosobee Parent’s Choice Soy Baby Formula Well Beginnings Soy Gerber Good Start Soy Up & Up Infant Formula Soy