Formula explained: types, brands and myths
Updated: 21 hours ago
Whether you're exclusively bottle-feeding, combining with breastfeeding, or switching over temporarily. Almost every parent will sooner or later find themselves in the world of formula. And that world is… quite a crowded one. Different brands, "comfort" options, goat's milk, lactose-free, anti-reflux formulas and meanwhile, you hear something different from everyone.
This is based on scientific information and the strict rules that formula must meet in Europe.
In summary
All formula sold in the Netherlands and Europe meets strict legal requirements . This means that all standard infant formulas are safe and nutritious for healthy babies.
The differences between brands are mainly in details like the whey/casein ratio, types of fats, and additives (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, or HMOs). They don't affect your baby's basic health or growth.
There are different types of formula. Think of standard infant formula, comfort formula, AR formula, hypoallergenic formula, low-lactose formula and goat's milk formula. They are designed for different situations and needs .
Most babies do very well on regular, standard formula.
Only in case of clear complaints or medical reasons is a specific variant useful, and preferably in consultation with a professional.
Common myths are wrong:
Changing brands is allowed for standard formula.
Colic is rarely caused by any particular brand ; the intestinal tract is simply immature.
Lactose intolerance is rare in young babies ; lactose-free is not a standard solution.
Goat's milk is not hypoallergenic, not lactose-free and not suitable for babies with a cow's milk protein allergy.
In practice, you primarily choose a brand that's readily available, affordable, easy to use , and that your baby tolerates well. If your baby is growing, drinking, and content, you're usually in good hands. If you have doubts, severe symptoms or worries, do not decide alone. Ask your doctor, midwife, paediatrician or child health clinic whether switching is necessary.
Contents
Breast milk as the biological norm
Breast milk is the biological norm for babies. It contains living cells, antibodies, and substances that change with your baby's needs. Therefore, all types of formula try to mimic breast milk as closely as possible. However, this is something formula can never fully replicate.
But in real life, many babies are also bottle-fed. Sometimes temporarily, sometimes as a supplement, sometimes completely, for all sorts of reasons that are normal and acceptable. More about rest around feeding is in Why rest and safety matter for breastfeeding.
That's why infant formula in the EU (and therefore also in the Netherlands) is subject to strict, specific legislation. These rules specify precisely which ingredients are permitted in formula. They also set the minimum and maximum limits, and what is not permitted.
Think of energy, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, all tailored to what a baby needs to grow healthily.
That means:
All standard formulas sold here are nutritious enough and safe for healthy babies.
Brands are allowed to vary a little within those margins, but not “just do whatever”.
There is no scientific evidence that one ordinary, standard brand is structurally “better” than another in terms of growth and development. That holds as long as they meet the legal requirements.
The basis is almost always cow's milk that has been processed in such a way that it better meets the needs of a baby (e.g. lower protein content, added other fats, extra vitamins/minerals).
Two types of formula
Basically there are two types: infant formula and follow-on milk.
Standard “first” infant formula (0 to 12 months)
This is the basic formula for babies who are not breastfed or combination fed.
Based on cow's milk protein (usually with more whey than casein, as it is easier to digest)
Suitable from birth. From 6 months, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Dutch child health guideline advise follow-on milk.
Follow-on milk (from 6 months)
Follow-on milk is intended for babies from 6 months:
May only be given from 6 months of age.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises switching to follow-on milk after 6 months. The Dutch child health guideline prefers follow-on milk from six to twelve months. It has added iron and less protein and sodium. Internationally, researchers see no proven added value over first infant formula.
Variations on standard formula
There are also a few variations.
Goat milk-based formula
Increasingly well-known, many parents wonder whether this is “better” or “milder”.
Goat and cow's milk formulas must follow the same rules and produce comparable growth and health outcomes in babies.
Goat's milk formula is not suitable for babies with a cow's milk protein allergy: the proteins are too similar.
Goat's milk formula also contains lactose. So with true lactose intolerance the symptoms remain.
There is no strong evidence that goat's milk causes fewer allergies or structurally reduces colic.
“Hungry” formula / extra casein
These formulas contain more casein (a protein that is digested more slowly).
Often marketed as good for “hungry babies” or “better sleep.”
There is no evidence that this helps babies sleep better or become calmer.
“Comfort” or partially hydrolyzed formula
The proteins have been partially broken down (hydrolyzed) , which makes them slightly easier to digest.
Can sometimes help with mild intestinal complaints (gas, cramps, slightly looser stools), but the effect is not spectacular in all babies.
Not suitable for babies with a true cow's milk protein allergy, which requires an extensively hydrolysed or amino acid formula.
Anti-reflux (“AR”) formula
This formula has been thickened, for example with locust bean gum. It then flows back less easily, which can reduce spitting up.
Use only on the advice of a doctor/midwife/child health clinic.
Preparation is sometimes a little different than with regular formula (due to lump formation)
Lactose-free or low-lactose formula
Here the lactose (milk sugar) has been (partly) replaced by other carbohydrates.
Important to know:
True (primary or congenital) lactose intolerance in young babies is extremely rare. Worldwide it concerns a very small number of babies. In the Netherlands you almost never see it.
This usually involves temporary, secondary lactose intolerance after an intestinal infection, for example. The intestinal wall is damaged and then recovers. A lactose-free formula can sometimes help temporarily, always under medical supervision. The form that many adults have is a different one. There, lactase production gradually declines after the age of three.
Lactose-free is not the standard solution for cramps.
Hypoallergenic, extensively hydrolyzed and amino acid formula
These are intended for babies with a cow's milk protein allergy (CMA) or very specific medical conditions. Cow's milk allergy occurs in approximately 2 to 3% of babies in the first year of life. It usually develops in the first 3 to 6 months. Most children outgrow it before the age of three.
So it is much more common than lactose intolerance in babies, but still relatively rare.
Proteins are cut up, or replaced by individual amino acids. The immune system is then less likely to recognise them as “cow's milk”.
Only available by doctor's prescription; often taste bitter and are expensive.
Plant-based formulas (soy)
Soy formula is the only plant-based option and is barely available in the Netherlands. Formula based on rice protein may not be sold here. Use soy only on the advice of a doctor.
There are concerns about estrogens (phytoestrogens) in soy, which is why it is often used sparingly internationally.
Different brands: what's the real difference?
Looking at the shelves, every brand seems to be “the best”: with special fats, prebiotics, probiotics, HMOs, “like breast milk”…
Important to remember:
All major brands in the Netherlands/EU meet the same legal minimum and maximum requirements for nutrients.
The differences are mainly in:
whey/casein ratio
type of fats (palm oil, MCTs, vegetable oils)
additives such as prebiotics, probiotics, HMOs and ARA
whether it is organic
price, taste and how your baby tolerates it
There is no independent, robust evidence that any one particular regular brand (within the same category) consistently produces smarter , bigger or healthier children than another.
Organic/Bio : Organic formula is often a choice based on farming and values, such as no synthetic pesticides and animal welfare. The composition is not demonstrably healthier for the baby.
So basically you can choose any brand of complete infant formula.
Common myths about formula feeding (and what we do know)
Myth 1: “You can't switch brands”
No, that's not a hard rule
In principle, you can switch between standard infant formulas (same category). That is especially true if your baby does not seem to tolerate a brand well. Practical reasons like price and availability count too.
Babies sometimes need a few days to get used to a new formula (stools and colic may change temporarily).
What you'd better not do: try something different every few days "just because something's difficult." That just creates anxiety.
Is there a lot of projectile vomiting, poor growth, eczema, blood/mucus in the stool, or inconsolable crying? Then it's important not to switch your baby endlessly, but to discuss with your doctor/pediatrician whether there's a more serious issue .
Myth 2: “Colic is caused by formula”
Colic is often linked to the brand or type of formula, but that is usually not true. Colic often occurs when the intestines are still maturing, and this is just as common in breastfed babies. More about food and colic is in Can you eat anything while breastfeeding?.
What does research say?
There is insufficient evidence that a regular, standard brand of formula on its own causes or relieves colic.
In a small subset of babies, certain modified formulas (e.g. partially or extensively hydrolyzed formulas ) can reduce crying. That does not mean one brand is the culprit. That baby is more sensitive to cow's milk protein or to digestion.
In practice, there are often more factors that contribute to colic:
immature intestinal tract
overstimulation, fatigue
sometimes reflux or cow's milk protein allergy
Colic is usually normal. It is not automatically a sign that the formula is wrong or that you need to switch.
Myth 3: “Colic in babies is always lactose intolerance”
Lactose has a bad reputation, but:
Congenital lactose intolerance is extremely rare. These babies are seriously ill from the first feeding (watery diarrhea, dehydration, and lack of growth), making it a medical emergency.
The most common form in babies is temporary (secondary) lactose intolerance following a bowel infection or other damage to the intestinal wall. A low-lactose or lactose-free formula may then be needed temporarily.
The “classic” lactose intolerance that people develop later in life (e.g. stomach ache after milk) usually only develops after toddlerhood/preschool age.
So: most young babies can handle lactose just fine. Colic is rarely a reason to switch to lactose-free formula without a clear medical reason.
Myth 4: “Goat’s milk is hypoallergenic/better for sensitive tummies”
Goat's milk sounds natural and soft and is often marketed as such.
What do we know?
Goat's and cow's milk-based formulas produce comparable growth and health outcomes in babies.
The proteins in goat's milk are very similar to those in cow's milk. For babies with a cow's milk protein allergy, goat's milk is not a safe option .
There's no convincing evidence that goat's milk systematically reduces colic or allergies. The benefit is primarily a matter of individual tolerance or preference (sometimes a baby tolerates it better, sometimes not).
If you choose goat's milk, that's fine, but based on preference , not on the promise that it is "hypoallergenic" by definition.
When to consider another brand or another type?
Reasons to consult a professional about a different formula:
your baby is not growing enough (according to the growth curve)
frequent and heavy spitting, projectile vomiting combined with crying
stool with blood/mucus
persistent eczema + other complaints
inconsolable crying, really beyond what you would expect with normal colic
It may then be necessary to switch to a different type, for example comfort, AR or hypoallergenic formula. Sometimes a low-lactose or lactose-free formula helps temporarily. Cow's milk protein allergy or another cause may also need investigating.
Always do this in consultation with your GP, paediatrician, midwife or child health clinic. Self-prescribing medical formula can actually mask or worsen symptoms.
So how do you choose?
If your baby is healthy and has no medical indication, you can make your choice something like this:
Choose a standard infant formula (0 to 12 months) from a brand that:
is readily available
is financially feasible
you like in terms of feeling and information
See how your baby is doing after 2 weeks:
Is he drinking well, growing and not extremely restless? Then there is no need to change anything.
Are you in doubt? Discuss it with your GP, midwife or child health clinic first.
Only in case of clear complaints or medical reasons is another type (comfort, AR, hypoallergenic, lactose-free, goat's milk) worth considering, not as a "standard upgrade" .
Preparing the bottle: water and temperature
Wash your hands first and use a clean bottle and teat. Fill the bottle with cold tap water. In the Netherlands that water does not need to be boiled first. Then warm it to roughly body temperature.
Do not make the water hotter than 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. Only add the powder once the water is at temperature, using the scoop from the pack. Shake until everything has dissolved. Then drip a little milk on the inside of your wrist to feel the temperature. Which bottle and teat suit you is in The best bottle for your baby.
In the Netherlands you make formula with cold tap water. You then warm the bottle to about 30 to 35 degrees. That works because tap water here is of good quality. If you are unsure about the right method, ask at your child health clinic.
How long does a prepared bottle keep?
It is best to prepare the bottle just before the feed. Do not let your baby drink from the bottle for longer than half an hour. Milk that is left over goes down the sink. Bacteria grow quickly in a leftover.
If you want to work ahead, prepare no more than two bottles in advance. Put them in the fridge straight away, below 4 degrees Celsius. Keep a prepared bottle there for no longer than eight hours. A bottle that has stood outside the fridge is no longer used.
Vitamin D and K with formula
Vitamin D is already added to formula. Even so, your baby gets extra vitamin D every day. The advice is 10 micrograms a day, until your child is four. That is needed to build strong bones.
Formula also contains vitamin K. Extra drops are only needed if your baby drinks less than 500 millilitres a day. The same goes for hypoallergenic formula. If you are unsure, ask at your child health clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Is one brand of formula better than another?
In the EU all infant formulas must meet strict requirements. The basis is therefore safe and nutritious. The differences are mostly in details and added ingredients.
Can you switch formula brands?
Yes, with standard infant formula you can switch in principle. Do give it time, usually a few days, to see how your baby responds.
Does comfort formula help against colic?
It can sometimes help mildly in some babies. But colic is usually a normal phase of an immature gut. It is not automatically the brand.
Is lactose intolerance a common cause of colic?
No. Congenital lactose intolerance is extremely rare in babies. Lactose-free formula is therefore usually not a standard solution.
Is goat's milk formula hypoallergenic?
No. Goat's milk is not suitable with a cow's milk protein allergy, because the proteins are too similar. It is not lactose-free either.
When should you look at a different formula with a professional?
With insufficient growth, blood or mucus in the stool, or heavy or projectile vomiting. Also with persistent eczema plus other symptoms, or inconsolable crying beyond normal colic.
Peace and confidence around formula feeding
If your baby is formula-fed, know this: you do not have to let the shelves overwhelm you. Prices vary enormously and every package promises something extra. But within the EU, formulas are much more similar on the inside than they appear on the outside.
Choose a complete infant formula that you like, that is affordable and that you can keep buying without stress. The basics are safe and sound everywhere in Europe.
Love,
Bobby
Sources
Written by Bobby, maternity nurse at Bobby Kraamzorg. Last updated: September 2026.
