Formulas for Vegetarian Babies
Every child is unique, which means there is no one-size-fits-all formula. If your family is on a vegetarian diet, we have formulas to fit your baby’s nutritional needs.
Shop formulas How do I choose?Best Vegetarian-Friendly Formula Options
How to Choose the Right Vegetarian-Friendly Formula:
If your little one is being raised on a vegetarian diet, finding the right formula doesn’t have to be difficult.
We stock two incredible vegetarian-friendly options, for a cow's milk formula, Kendamil Organic Formula is an excellent choice, and for an incredible goat's milk option, we suggest our very popular, Holle Goat.
Kendamil Organic Formula (Cow’s Milk)
From farm to formula, Kendamil Organic is manufactured in the UK in the English Lake District — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Made with a full cream milk recipe and without palm oil, soy oil or fish oil, all three stages of Kendamil Organic Formula contain plant-based DHA derived from algal oil, making the formula uniquely vegetarian. It is also the only European formula in the world that contains Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) to continue to build up your little one’s immune system
Holle Goat
Holle is one of the most well-respected organic formula brands in the world and makes a great goat’s milk formula in all three stages. This may work well for babies that have a cow’s milk sensitivity. Research suggests that babies can digest goat’s milk more quickly and completely than cow’s milk. Holle Goat has plant-based DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid essential for brain development and is linked to improved heart health, better vision, and reduced inflammatory response.
Check in with your doctor.
Any of our vegetarian-friendly formulas would be a wonderful choice for your baby but we always recommend consulting with your pediatrician before switching baby formulas.
Need more help?
Our team of Infant Feeding Technicians can help you find the right product.
Chat with our teamHow Little Bundle Works
From finding the right formula to worry-free shipping, we're committed to helping you find the best for your little one.
1. Find The Right Formula
Finding the right formula isn't always easy. Start with our formula comparison chart and browse the Little Bundle product store to find the perfect option.
2. Place Your First Order
You have enough on your mind—we get it. That’s why Little Bundle formulas ship free on all orders. Just one less thing for you to worry about!
3. Baby Satisfaction Guaranteed
The right formula means more sleep, less fuss, and more time enjoying life with your little one. If the formula you purchased isn’t right for your baby, we'll help you find one that is. With our Baby Satisfaction Guarantee, you’ll receive store credit to try another formula, on us!
What makes a good baby formula?
Many baby formulas appear similar at first, but their ingredients lists say otherwise.
Use our analysis below to help you decide what you do and don't want in your little one's formula.
1. Selecting The Right Carbohydrate
Lactose
Lactose is the carbohydrate found in breast milk, which makes Lactose-based formulas much closer to breast milk than alternatives. All infants produce the lactase enzyme, allowing them to easily digest and absorb Lactose.
Lactose also has a far lower glycemic index than processed refined sugars, aids in the absorption of calcium, helps the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, and more.
In short, choosing a Lactose-based formula is probably the most important step in finding the best formula out there. As you read the ingredients, keep in mind that lactose is the main ingredient in cow's milk, and may appear as "organic cow's milk" or "organic skimmed milk" in ingredient lists. Lactose-based formulas are typically manufactured in Europe.
Processed Refined Sugars
Formulas manufactured in the US are typically based on sugar, corn syrup, syrup solids, or brown rice, all of which are high in sucrose and have high glycemic index.
As you can probably guess, these are extremely unhealthy. Formulas with added sucrose are actually banned in Europe due to childhood obesity concerns, which tells you all you need to know about formulas with sugar as the carb base.
With nearly 1 in 5 children in the US having obesity, it's never been more important to carefully read the ingredients list of the formula you choose for your little one to make sure it doesn't contain added sugar. As you may have guessed, you won't find these types of formulas on Little Bundle!
2. Prebiotics and Probiotics
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are like food for beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics), and are naturally found in breast milk. They won't get digested by your baby, but they will aid the growth of probiotics, helping shift your baby's microbiome to be more similar to that of a breastfed baby.
That's a great thing, which is why you'll find prebiotics in many of the products carried on Little Bundle. When selecting a formula, check the ingredients list for common prebiotics like Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) or Fructooligosaccharides (FOS).
Probiotics
Probiotics are the beneficial gut bacteria that are part of a healthy baby's microbiome!
These are critical, since around 30% of a breastfed baby's microbiome comes from natural probiotics found in breastmilk. Probiotics may help improve immune response, reduce colic, prevent eczema, and more.
They are a big plus in baby formula, and can be found in Little Bundle's HiPP Dutch products. When selecting a formula, check the ingredients list for Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium.
3. DHA and ARA
DHA
DHA is a long chain omega 3 fatty acid that is important in early eye and brain development. Based on the findings from the latest scientific and nutritional research, it is now required in all European infant formulas.
DHA, a vital nutrient, is naturally found in breastmilk. Formulas fortified with DHA are beneficial, as generally babies may need more DHA than they can generate on their own.
ARA
ARA is another fatty acid that is important in regulating inflammation and in generating different body signals.
Like DHA, it's also found naturally in breastmilk and is beneficial in formula. You'll find both DHA and ARA in the products found on Little Bundle.
4. Preservatives
Many US-made formulas contain synthetic preservatives like ascorbic palmitate and beta carotene. This practice is disapproved by the National Organic Standards Board, and you won't find these preservatives in any European formulas. These synthetic preservatives can be toxic, and are not something you want in your baby's formula.
5. Nutrients
Synthetic nutrients include lutein, lycopene, taurine, L-carnitine, and L-methionine. Many of these substances are toxic themselves or processed with toxic solvents. They are banned in Europe, but are still commonly found in many formulas made in the US.
6. Palm vs. Soy
Palm Oil
Palm oil is used in most formulas in both Europe and the US. It may cause digestive issues and gassiness in babies, but is still typically better than soy oil, which is the main alternative.
Soy Oil
Soy oil is the main alternative to palm oil. While it isn't typically associated with digestive issues, it has been found to be linked to severe menstrual cramps later in life. Given this, palm oil is generally considered the better alternative between the two.