Bobbie vs HiPP: Which Baby Formula We Recommend?

When breastfeeding is not an option, parents start searching for the best possible alternative. Wondering which formula is the best choice for your baby? Today I’ll compare two of your options – Bobbie vs HiPP.

Choosing the right formula for your baby can be difficult – especially when you’re a new parent without any experience. Most parents start their quest for the best overall baby formula with recommendations from their friends and relatives. Is this the case for you too? Then you’ve probably already heard about HiPP, a widely acclaimed European formula that has become hugely popular in America too.

On the other hand, Bobbie is a new American brand that is often recommended as the best replacement for HiPP. Obviously, the two have a lot in common, but there are some important differences between them too.

This article will help you understand what makes each of these formulas unique and who these brands are most suitable for.

The verdict: Bobbie vs HiPP – which one is better?

If you’re looking for a quality formula that will provide your baby with all the nutrition and care they need, both Bobbie and HiPP formulas are great options. You really can’t go wrong. Their ingredients are all organic, sensitive, and easy to digest, so unless your baby suffers from some serious allergies or intolerances, they should get used to both of these formulas with ease.

When comparing the two formulas side by side, they are extremely high quality so we’re not going to pick a winner on this front. You should be proud to feed your baby either of them.

If we had to pick one though, we would choose Bobbie simply because we love everything else that Bobbie is doing as a brand to try to push the formula industry to be better. Our beliefs about the formula industry align with theirs so we have thrown our support behind them and have made them our #1 formula recommendation.

Main Differences between Bobbie vs HiPP

The main differences between Bobbie vs HiPP are:

• Bobbie is a relatively new (2019) American baby formula brand, whereas HiPP is a European brand with 100+ years of history.
• Bobbie currently has two products, their flagship Bobbie Organic and their newer Bobbie Organic Gentle. HiPP produces a larger range of formulas, including goat milk and hypoallergenic options.
• Bobbie is slightly more expensive, whereas HiPP is a bit more affordable.
• Bobbie is FDA-approved and HiPP is approved by the European Commission. This means HiPP cannot officially be sold at retailers in the US at the moment.
• Bobbie is free from palm oil, whereas HiPP formulas contain some palm oil.

What we’re looking for in a baby formula

According to many parents I’ve met in my life, finding a good formula for their baby was one of the most challenging things they ever had to accomplish. I cannot blame them. After all, you’re trying to pick the best product to replace breastmilk, a pure natural perfection, so your expectations should be high.

A good strategy to hold onto is looking for a product that would mimic breast milk as closely as possible. This will undeniably bring you to articles like this that compare products like Bobbie vs HiPP, which both strive to replicate the amazing qualities of human breast milk.

Ingredients

Bobbie stands out from other American formulas by using the so-called “European” recipe. What does that really mean?

In short, this formula complies with somewhat stricter regulations imposed by the European Commission on all EU-produced formulas, which, among other things, prohibits the use of corn syrup and GMOs, restricts the amounts of sucrose, insists on purely organic ingredients, requires certain amounts of DHA, and so on.

Of course, this doesn’t automatically mean that standard American formulas are inferior – in fact, many of them do comply with plenty of these regulations too. They are just not officially obliged to do it by the authorities.

So, what kind of ingredients can you find in the Bobbie formula? Here’s a brief summary:

• Lactose is Bobbie’s main source of carbohydrates (and energy). It is the same carb that can be found in natural breast milk, so most babies will react to it very well. Of course, carefully watch out for the signs of possible lactose intolerance (which is very rare).
• Cow’s milk protein in Bobbie formulas comes from organic pasture-raised milk free from hormones and antibiotics. Grass-fed cows also produce milk that is richer in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Kids with a cow’s milk protein allergy should use a hypoallergenic baby formula instead.
• Added whey is included to mimic the natural composition of breast milk (60/40 whey to casein ratio). Whey also makes formula easy to digest and prevents painful colics, gassiness, and constipation.
• DHA is a healthy omega-3 fatty acid, which is extremely important for babies’ healthy brain and eye development. Although all modern formulas do contain some amounts of this crucial ingredient, Bobbie has higher levels of DHA than most of them, and it also uses DHA extracted naturally (water-based process instead of using hexane solvent).
• Organic vegetable oils (soy, sunflower, coconut) are a healthier and more eco-friendly alternative to palm oil. In addition, they provide the formula with fat and calories, which are essential to help your baby feel full and active.

Unlike some of the HiPP formulas, Bobbie does not contain any prebiotics or probiotics. According to their team, they have tried to keep their recipe really simple on purpose. If you feel like your baby needs them, though, you can always talk to your pediatrician about adding them separately as a supplement.

Taste and Smell

Bobbie certainly does a lot to make its formula feel in every regard as natural and pleasant as possible. If this effort appeals to you, the formula’s smooth texture, authentic milky color, and mildly sweetish taste shouldn’t disappoint you either.

Unlike some other formulas, Bobbie lacks the weird powdery aftertaste. It also won’t repulse you with the typical fishy smell that accompanies some of the other formulas rich in animal-based fatty acids. All in all, in regard to its taste and smell, Bobbie should suit even the pickiest babies (and moms).

Packaging and Prices

Bobbie formula is currently available only as a single product – an organic powder formula for infants (0 – 12 months). This comes in one type of packaging – a practical 400 g (14.1 oz.) can that should last anywhere between 3 and 7 days (depending on whether you are formula-feeding your baby exclusively).

Regarding its price, Bobbie is a bit more expensive than some other comparable formulas. But besides buying it on a one-off basis, you can also subscribe to its monthly delivery, which is not only more convenient but also more economical. As a subscriber, you won’t pay any shipping fees, and you are free to cancel, skip, or modify your orders at any time.

Reviews

The reviews of Bobbie are about as good as it gets. They are going above and beyond to support parents on their feeding journey compared to other formula brands. They have some incredible content on their website, they host a podcast that talks about all sorts of issues families face every day, they are investing heavily into research and development and are even lobbying in Washington D.C.

The brand is very approachable and the formula is the highest quality we can find in the US. So naturally, the reviews that we’ve read are all pretty glowing. There are always some parents or babies that just won’t tolerate this formula but they are far and few between.

They have a great subscription service that you get can on so you can just set it and forget it and the formula will arrive at your door.

Many of them also agree that their babies seem to be happy with the formula’s taste and smell, which can often be the most problematic part of introducing a new formula.

Bobbie features:

• A fully organic formula for infants from 0 to 12 months
• Mimics breast milk as closely as possible
• FDA-approved product modeled after European formulas
• No GMOs, palm oil, or added sugar
• Full of essential vitamins and minerals
• Enriched with DHA

Pros:

• Only American formula that fully complies with the official EU regulations
• 100% organic ingredients
• FDA approved and widely available in the US
• Created by moms for modern parents

Cons:

• No hypoallergenic version (yet)
• More expensive than other similar options

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Ingredients

Talking about the HiPP formula can be a bit tricky for parents. They produce a range of formulas, many look exactly the same and the label is either in German or Dutch. Luckily our partners that sell HiPP do a great job of breaking down each individual formula in easy to understand language.

The current range of formulas include:

• HiPP Dutch Organic (stage 1, 2, 3, 4)
• HiPP German Organic (stage 1, 2, 3)
• HiPP Dutch goat milk (stage 1, 2, 3)
• HiPP HA (The Baby Swag’s #1 rated hypoallergenic formula)
• HiPP Comfort (lactose reduced formula)
• HiPP AR (anti-reflux formula blend)

Each of these products is recommended to a slightly different type of customer, so some of them contain various special ingredients to meet the individual needs. Nevertheless, what they all have in common is the use of top-quality organic ingredients and a wide array of essential nutrients.

• Natural lactose is the main source of energy and the only source of sweetness in most of these products. Nonetheless, there’s also a lactose-free reduced HiPP Comfort which replaces lactose with other sources of carbohydrates to suit kids suffering from lactose intolerance.
• Organic skimmed milk provides these formulas with natural proteins. The cow’s milk used in most of the HiPP formulas comes from strictly controlled organic sources, so it’s always free from hormones or antibiotics.
• Vitamins and minerals of great natural quality can be found in large quantities in all HiPP formulas. They include Vitamins A, C, and D, as well as iron and numerous other essentials.
• Healthy fats, including polyunsaturated Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, contribute to your baby’s healthy development and growth.
• Dietary fibers (prebiotics) replicate those that can be found in breast milk – they make the formula easy to digest and help your little one’s digestive system grow strong and healthy.

Unlike Bobbie, the HiPP formula contains palm oil, which is avoided by many parents due to its controversial sourcing and potential health impact in the long run.

You should probably also know that this formula contains a bit less iron than what is considered to be a recommended dosage here in the US. Some parents might therefore consider supplementing iron to their little one’s diet separately after consulting the matter with their pediatrician.

Taste and Smell

While we parents are mostly concerned with the composition and quality of the formula, babies are clearly much more oriented on its taste and smell. In other words, the formula is only as good as how much your baby likes it.

Of course, this is highly individual – while some babies seem to love HiPP formulas and prefer them to other similar products, others just cannot stand it and won’t consume it at all. I believe that it’s safe to say that the latter is very rare, though.

Although HiPP is, in general, less sweet than other formulas, its mild taste and odor are both pleasant, and most babies accept them without any major issues.

Packaging and prices

The HiPP formula range contains many different formulas that come in various forms and packages. Most of them are available in standard powder form (boxes/cans of 400, 600, or 800 grams).

Prices of different HiPP products can vary quite a bit too, but, generally speaking, HiPP is one of the more affordable organic formulas on the market. On the other hand, since you can currently buy this formula only online in the US, don’t forget about the shipping fees that can increase the total costs.

Reviews

HiPP formulas are widely praised as a reliable solution for sensitive kids prone to constipation, colics, and refluxes. They are also praised by any parent that is looking for a very organic formula.

Of course, as one of the oldest formulas on the market, HiPP has also collected some less favorable reviews over the years. Some parents claim that it’s too fatty. Others say that their babies didn’t accept the formula because of its tastelessness and thick texture.

These individual opinions probably shouldn’t discourage you from trying it on your own, though. For more details, don’t forget to read our full HiPP formula review too!

HiPP Features:

• Popular European formula made of organic ingredients
• Wide range of products, including special formulas for sensitive and allergic babies
• Not FDA-approved yet
• It can be currently ordered only online at The Milky Box, Organics Best, My Organic Co
• It contains palm oil
• It’s full of vitamins and minerals
• The formula is enriched with DHA

Pros:

• Top-quality organic formulas with 100+ years of history and tradition
• Complies with EU regulations that forbid or limit the use of some controversial ingredients
• Wide range of products with alternatives for everyone
• Suitable even for kids with various allergies and intolerances

Cons:

• It’s not FDA-approved yet
• It cannot be bought in standard American shops – only online
• Contains palm oil

FAQs