Best Baby Milk Powders In India

One of the most difficult aspects of raising a baby is taking care of their health and nutrition. The baby’s development is crucial in the first two years and parents must pay special attention to their nutrition. Mother’s milk is the best source of nutrition for a baby. Although, there are other options too, one of which we are going to review is the baby milk powders. Also known as baby formula, they are equally beneficial, and you can feed your baby any time and anywhere you want. There are many baby milk brands on the market. To give a clear view of the best baby milk powders, we will review the best brands in detail.

Best Baby Milk Powders in India

1. Nestle Lactogen 1 Infant Formula Powder

Nestle Lactogen 1 is highly recommended and one of the best baby milk powders in India. The whey protein in its composition is one of the richest sources of nutrients. It could be fed right from the first day as it is spray-dried infant formula and is easily digestible. It comes in Bag-in-Box packaging that provides excellent safety and hygiene for your baby. This baby milk powder is advertised for babies younger than 6 months. It comes with 400g of packaging and doesn’t cost much.

Pros:

1. A good alternative for newborns.
2. Easy for the baby to digest.
3. It includes whey protein.
4. Calcium helps in strengthening the bones.
5. Easily available on the market.

Cons:

1. Some babies may face difficulties digesting.
2. For some parents, this formula can be expensive.

2. Nestle Lactogen 2 Infant Formula Powder

Nestle Lactogen 2 baby milk powder is advertised as a stage 2 product. It means that you can use it once your baby reaches the six month milestone. The spray-dried follow-up formula helps for the further growth of your baby after 6 months. Many parents have expressed their satisfaction with this product and its effect on their babies. It comes in a similar Bag-in-Box food packaging similar to their stage 1 powder. Nestle has always been one of the parents’ favourite products.

Pros:

1. Promotes healthy growth and development of the body.
2. Calcium helps in strengthening the bones of young babies.
3. Easily digestible.
4. Promotes brain development.
5. Delicious in taste.

Cons:

1. Price is on the higher side.
2. Smell might not be pleasant for some babies.  

3. Similac Advance Stage 1 Instant Formula

The Similac advanced formula provides easy digestion and promotes calcium absorption. This has a spray-dried stage 1 formula, which is fit for newborn babies and babies younger than 6 months. Just like mother’s milk, this baby milk powder is designed to support a baby’s natural growth and development. It is enriched with neuro nutrients like Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, folic acid, iron, iodine, and zinc which promote brain development. The mixture of nucleotides present in the composition supports the baby’s immune system. It is one of the best baby milk powders in India and is enriched with Calcium and Vitamin D that supports the baby’s natural growth and is responsible for a baby’s bone development.

Pros:

1. Supports brain development and improves visual acuity.
2. Promotes bone development in babies.
3. Improves immunity.
4. Affordable and cheap compared to other products. 
5. Availability in the Indian market is good..

Cons:

1. The taste may not be suitable for all babies.
2. Can cause colic and indigestion in some babies.

4. Similac Advance Stage 3 Infant Formula

Just like its stage 1 formula, this baby milk powder is easy to digest and promotes the absorption of calcium in the body. It is made with their stage 3 follow-up formulas and is suitable for babies who are between 12 and 24 months old. This formula provides a healthy diet when the baby is in the crucial state of switching from breast milk to other sources of nutrients. This makes it one of the best baby milk powders for infants older than 1 year. Similac Advance contains many Neuro-Nutrients which are responsible for a baby’s brain development. Minerals like Calcium, Vitamin D, and Phosphorus in their composition are very helpful for a baby’s bone development also.

Pros:

1. Improves growth and development of the body.
2. Nucleotides help in developing the baby’s immune system.
3. The fat blend helps in easy digestion. 
4. The packaging is very good and user friendly.
5. It promotes brain and bone development. 

Cons:

1. The packaging could be improved.
2. Some may find it expensive.

5. Nutricia’s Aptamil 2 Follow Up Infant Formula

Aptamil 2 from Nutricia is a stage 2 follow-up formula that can be fed to babies aged between 6 and 12 months. It is enriched with vitamins A, C, D, E and minerals like Zinc, Selenium, Carotene that help to develop a baby’s immune system. It contains a mixture of ARA and RHA, Nucleotides, Iron, and Folic acid responsible for a baby’s brain development and improving visual acuity. It is one of the best baby milk powders that are easy on the digestive system as it has 100% lactose support in its composition.

Pros:

1. Good for the baby’s overall brain development. 
2. Assists in the physical growth of the baby’s body.
3. Included vitamins and minerals develop the immune system.
4. Improves visual acuity.
5. Good for the baby’s digestive system.

Cons:

1. Needs extra care as it can solidify easily.
2. Costly compared to other baby milk powders in the market.

6. Dexolac Stage 2 Follow Up Infant Milk Formula

This is a stage 2 baby milk powder offered by the veteran brand Nutricia. Nutricia has 100+ years of experience in providing nutrition to infants. This baby milk powder is suitable for babies older than 6 months and is an excellent alternative that supports the baby’s growth and development with its inbuilt 36 growth nutrients. Because of this, Dexolac stands out as one of the best baby milk powders one can buy in the Indian market. It contains minerals like Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D that support infants’ overall growth and develop strong bones. It also has whey protein in its composition for easy digestion of the milk.

Pros:

1. Assists brain development in infants. 
2. Enriched with 36 growth nutrients.
3. Helps to build strong immunity in kids.
4. Included vitamins and minerals promote bone development in babies.
5. Whey protein helps with easy digestion. 

Cons:

1. The packaging is not up to the mark.
2. The smell might be unpleasant to some babies.

7. Nutricia’s Aptamil 3 Follow Up Infant Formula

It is one of the best baby milk powders available in India that contains age-appropriate nutrients for the overall growth and development of the body. This stage 3 baby milk powder is suitable for babies older than 12 months. Just like its stage 2 formula, this is full of minerals like zinc, nucleotides, and selenium that helps in the development of the immune system. It also contains an optimised mixture of DHA and ARA, Iron, Iodine, and Folic acid responsible for the development of the brain and visual functions.

Pros:

1. Includes energy yielding nutrients.
2. Helps in the development of the baby’s brain.
3. The taste is also sweet.
4. Contains many minerals for the development of the immune system.
5. Helps in improving a baby’s visual functions. 

Cons:

1. Expensive compared to other baby milk powders. 
2. The smell might be unpleasant for some babies.

8. Farex 1 Infant Formula Refill

Farex 1 infant formula is a stage 1 formula perfect for infants younger than 6 months. It provides excellent nutrition for infants to support their growth, development, and immunity during the initial stages. The product is packed along with a PRECI CUP for ideal feed preparation. It contains a whey protein predominant formula for stress-free digestion. It is one of the best baby milk powders in the market, which has minerals like nucleotides and zinc to improve immunity. Its composition also has Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that help with brain growth and improve visual acuity.

Pros:

1. Easy for the baby to digest.
2. Comes with a cup for proper feed preparation.
3. Helps in developing a healthy immune system.
4. Promotes overall growth of the baby’s body.
5. Helps in the overall brain development of a baby.

Cons:

1. Some babies might not like the taste.
2. Difficult to avoid lumps while mixing.

9. Enfamil A+ Baby Milk Powder

Enfamil A+ is a stage 1 baby milk powder suitable for newborns younger than 6 months. This is one of the best baby milk powders to meet the nutritional needs of infants from their first feed. It contains nutrients that are essential for infants’ brain development. The minerals like ARA and DHA in the composition help the baby in improving its visual functions also.

Pros:

1. The consistency is very similar to breast milk.
2. Doesn’t cause any constipation issues to the baby.
3. Very easy to digest.
4. Helps in the baby’s natural growth.
5. Contains essential nutrients for baby’s brain development.

Cons:

1. A bit expensive compared to other options available in the market.
2. Does not have a pleasant smell.

Types of Baby Milk Powder Formula

There are different types of baby milk formula available in the market. We cannot name one product as the best baby milk powder. Every baby is different, and every parent has their concern for their baby. To make yourself known of these products, you might know the different types. These products are directed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

1. Cow milk protein-based formulas

Most of the baby milk powder formulas are made with cow’s milk that has been used to replace or resemble breast milk. Cow’s milk formula suits most babies, but on the flip side, some babies who are allergic to this formula need other types of infant formula.

2. Soy-based formulas

If you don’t want your child to consume animal proteins, then the Soy-based formulas can be really very useful. This might also be a good option if your baby is allergic to cow’s milk because of the higher concentration of lactose in it. However, if your baby is allergic to cow milk, then he/she might be allergic to soy milk as well.

3. Protein hydrolysate formulas

These types of formulas carry hydrolyzed protein or proteins that are broken down into smaller pieces compared to those available in soy-based formulas and cow’s milk. Hydrolyzed formulas are good for babies with protein allergies or those babies who cannot tolerate soy-based or cow’s milk formulas.

4. Formulas for Premature babies

It is quite obvious that premature babies or preterm infants demand specialised nutrition for their bodies as they are born at least 3 weeks earlier than the normal time of delivery. There are specific formulas on the market that are supposed to mainly focus on proteins and calories, which are quickly supplied to the baby through a fat which is mainly known as medium-chain triglycerides. However, choosing the right kind of formula for a premature baby depends on the weight of the child.

What To Look For Before Buying the Baby Milk Powder?

Choosing the best baby milk powder for your little ones is clearly a challenging job. 

• Make sure you check the expiration date on the package, as you can’t be sure of the powder’s quality once the expiration date has passed.
• When looking for the best baby milk powder, it is important to keep in mind if the formula suits your baby or not.
• Verify that the package is undamaged and it is sealed.
• Another aspect you should keep in mind is to check the ingredient list. 
• Avoid any product that has any preservatives in it, especially talc. These added preservatives are not good for your baby.

FAQ’s

1. Which is the best baby milk powder in India?

We have reviewed and listed some of the best baby milk powders available in the Indian market. You can choose any of them depending on your child’s age and availability in your region.

2.Which milk is best for babies after 6 months?

Stage 1 baby milk powders are excellent for newborns. You can select the one that is available at the best price in your region.

3. Which milk is best for babies?

Though we have mentioned some of the best baby milk powders that are easily digestible, mother’s milk is considered the best source of nourishment for your newborn baby.