Baby & kids nutrition

Infant formula and children’s foods screened for heavy metals, pesticides and plasticizers by an outside group.

Breast milk first, when it’s possible

Major health groups recommend breast milk as a baby’s first food whenever it is possible, for what it protects against. When it isn’t possible, or isn’t enough, formula is a safe choice, and donor milk and breastfeeding help are there if you want them.

Why

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk alone for about 6 months, then breast milk alongside other foods for 2 years or beyond, as long as mother and baby both wish. The World Health Organization gives the same advice. AAP policy statement, Pediatrics 2022 (opens in a new tab)
Breastfed babies have fewer infections, especially gut infections. Lancet review, 2016 (opens in a new tab)
Breastfeeding likely lowers the risk of sudden infant death. For mothers, it likely lowers the risk of ovarian cancer and high blood pressure. Umbrella review of 192 meta-analyses, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Formula is a safe, regulated choice when breastfeeding is not possible or not enough, used alone or alongside breast milk. FDA, infant formula information for parents (opens in a new tab)

How we rank baby & kids nutrition

Ingredients 30%
Independent testing 35%
Trust 25%
Value 10%

Why, and what each one means

Independent testing weighs most because the US sets no federal limits on lead, arsenic, mercury or cadmium in infant formula (Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab)), and most baby foods carry some (our guide). A recall of a baby product weighs heavily on trust. Most babies do fine on any regulated, iron-fortified formula of the right type, store brands included, so we do not rank formulas on nutrition claims (our guide).

Ingredients 30%: Organic where it matters, every ingredient named, no added sugar, no artificial anything. Formula meets FDA nutrient rules and is iron-fortified.
Independent testing 35%: Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury measured in the product by a lab the maker does not pay where possible, with results published and low.
Trust 25%: Highest when the maker has no recalls, warning letters or lawsuits over safety, publishes its test results, and answers questions. A recall of a baby product weighs heavily.
Value 10%: Price per serving against the others here that pass.

Each product scores every one from 1 to 5, and its rating is the weighted average. We list only products rated 3 or above that break none of our rules.