This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bobbie. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This article also contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves.
Over the past decade of researching baby formula, I have seen the formula market change for the better. There are now many more organic brands available, and most of them use higher quality fats and carbohydrates.
The single biggest positive change for formula-feeding parents was when Bobbie formula came to market in 2021. I had long recommended European brands as the very Best Stuff, and many of my clients went to heroic lengths and great expense to source HiPP, Holle, or Lebenswert. Others who simply were not comfortable getting formula from Europe or trying a goat milk formula were left choosing from among the lesser options available here.
Bobbie solved this problem because it features ingredients on par with the European brands, but is also FDA-approved and available in the United States.
Why Bobbie Is Best Stuff
Here is some of what is so special about Bobbie:
- Bobbie makes four infant formulas. Three of them are USDA Organic; the newer lower-priced Whole Milk formula is non-organic but non-GMO and Clean Label Project Certified.
- All Bobbie formulas use lactose—the primary carbohydrate in breast milk—as their carbohydrate source, with no corn syrup solids or other alternative sugars.
- Bobbie formulas contain EU-level DHA and meet stringent European standards for iron.
- Bobbie's formulas contain whey. Original and whole-milk formulas feature a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio modeled after breast milk, while Organic Gentle uses 100% partially hydrolyzed whey protein for easier digestion.
- None of Bobbie's four formulas contains palm oil, corn syrup solids, or GMOs.
I also like that Bobbie is manufactured in the United States (Vermont and Ohio) by a mom-founded and led company. Bobbie has customers in all 50 states, and the reviews are glowing.
To make their formula more affordable, Bobbie has rolled out a new Stay Stocked™ membership with up to $45/month in savings including free shipping and flexible delivery schedules you can adjust or cancel via text anytime. This also comes with guaranteed supply and inflation-proof pricing for your baby's entire first year.
Which Bobbie Formula Should You Choose?
With four Bobbie formulas now available, here's how I'd choose:
Bobbie Organic Whole Milk: This is my top pick for most babies. It's USDA Organic and made with whole milk from grass-fed cows, so it provides naturally occurring milk fat and MFGM and requires fewer added plant oils than the Original formula. If I were starting from scratch with a baby who didn't have any particular digestive issues, this is the Bobbie I'd choose.
Bobbie Organic Original: This is Bobbie's original European-style formula and remains a solid option. It's USDA Organic, lactose-based, and has a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio. It's also slightly less expensive than Organic Whole Milk.
Bobbie Organic Gentle: This is the one I'd consider only for a baby who experiences gas, fussiness, or digestive discomfort with standard formula. Unlike Bobbie's other formulas, Gentle uses 100% partially hydrolyzed whey protein, meaning the proteins are already broken into smaller pieces that may be easier to digest. It's still USDA Organic and lactose-based. Read our full review of this option.
Bobbie Whole Milk: This is Bobbie's most affordable formula. It uses whole milk from grass-fed cows and offers many of the same features as Organic Whole Milk, including naturally occurring MFGM, but it isn't USDA Organic. For Gimme readers, I'd choose Organic Whole Milk if the budget allows, but this is a nice lower-cost option for families who want a whole-milk formula.
A Pediatrician’s Stamp of Approval for Bobbie Formula
Because I am not a doctor, I like to confer with one when recommending something as important as baby formula. I trust the opinion of Dr. Dina DiMaggio, a well-respected pediatrician in Manhattan.
Dr. Dina likes Bobbie in part because she prefers her patients choose a formula that is FDA reviewed, which is a process that all infant formula legally sold in the US must undergo. “It ensures the formula actually contains what the label says it should contain, that the formula contains the proper nutrients for a baby’s growth and development, that the formula has been tested for bacterial contaminants, and that the formula manufacturers are following numerous good manufacturing practices and safety guidelines.”
Dr. Dina also recognizes the differences between US and EU formula regulation: “Although the Infant Formula Act ensures infant formula safety, it really hasn’t made any major updates since it was written in 1980, whereas the European Union has made updates more recently. Although many US formulas do contain DHA, it is not mandated and might not be added at the level of EU formulas. In addition, the EU does have more restrictions around what sugars can be used in infant formula.”
(Fortunately, Bobbie hits the mark here with both the addition of DHA and the use of lactose as its primary carbohydrate.)
Please comment below with any questions about Bobbie, and see our Safe Formula Guide for my opinion on dozens of other brands.
