If you’re a parent, you must be bombarded with contradictory information on what’s best for your child every single day.
How should you raise them?
What should you feed them?
Should you give them food, milk, or formula?
Toddler formulas are massively popular right now. Supermarkets and medical stores have aisles dedicated to countless brands, all promising a list of health benefits.
Is there any truth in there or are they simply marketing gimmicks preying on the fears of parents?
In this blog, we’re
- Decoding the truth behind toddler formulas
- Fact-checking the two most popular stage 4 formulas,
- Testing their nutritional profile against good, old milk, and
- Learning if your child actually needs formula
Let’s dive in!
What are toddler formulas? Are they the same as baby formula?
Not at all. The CDC defines ‘toddlers’ as children between the ages of 1 to 3. Toddler formulas are “follow-up formulas” or “transitioning formulas”.
They are the baby formula equivalent for toddlers.
They promise a myriad of health benefits like boosting brain development, immunity, and even height.
But do they deliver on these promises?
According to almost all health organizations and pediatricians- NO.
Toddler formulas are often useless and sometimes harmful
A 2023 report by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls toddler formulas “unnecessary, with some being actually worse than cow's milk”.
These often contain added salt, sweeteners, and oils and have less protein than regular or breast milk. That’s because,
Unlike baby formula, they are not designed to meet ALL of a child’s nutritional needs in the first year of life. - Dr. George Fuchs, the lead author of the AAP report.
(Nestle Nangrow Stage 4 Formula)
Toddler formulas are like supplements of the adult world- expensive and unnecessary for most. So if they aren’t essential, why are they touted as the magical health tonic that all toddlers need to thrive?
Turns out that anxious parents make the most profitable customers.
According to a report by IMARC Group, the Indian baby food and formula market is expected to reach US$ 8.1 Billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 5.7% during 2023-2028.
This is fueled by rapid urbanization, an increase in the female working population, and increasing parental concern over their child’s nutritional well-being.
Marketing tactics have made parents mistakenly believe that these formulas are superior and more convenient to other food options.
If formulas are a scam, then what should toddlers drink?
The same things are you and me. Unicef says that since toddlers can chew food as well as you can, they can eat the same foods as you. Doctors recommend against preparing separate meals for babies once they’re 1 year old.
So, you can feed your toddler-
- Dairy or dairy substitutes
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains,
- Nuts and seeds, and
- Protein (eggs, meat, and pulses)
Feeding your toddlers a diverse diet is best for their growth and development.
So ditch the formulas and feed your toddlers a solid, whole-food diet.
Formula vs Regular milk- the ultimate health battle
We now know that a whole-food diet is better for your toddler than any formula. But how much better? Let’s look at the two most common toddler formulas in India and compare them with good, old regular milk.
- Nestle’s Nan Pro 4
Nestle’s toddler formula contains unnecessary additives like-
- Maltodextrin (which is a hidden version of sugar)
- Various types of vegetable oils
- Emulsifiers, etc
In fact, maltodextrin (sugar) and oil are the second and third ingredients. This means that after milk solids (which are high in cholesterol), they are present in the highest concentration.
Let’s look at the nutritional profile of Nan Pro. 100 ml of prepared formula contains-
- Calories- 67 kcal
- Carbohydrates- 8.6
- Protein- 2
- Fats- 2.7
It also contains 4.3 grams of total sugar and 2 grams of added sugar per 100 ml.
Can you guess the recommended amount of total sugar for toddlers?
It’s less than 25 grams.
With 210 ml being the recommended serving size, 2 servings of Nan Pro contain around 18 grams of sugar!
2.Similac
Is Similac, another popular toddler formula any better than Nan Pro? Let’s find out.
Like Nan Pro, Similac also contains additives such as
- Maltodextrin (a cheaper version of sugar)
- A blend of various oils, and
- Texture enhancers like soy lecithin
On the other hand, one serving of Similac comes out to be 30.6 grams. Similac recommends 3 servings per day.
For 100 ml of prepared formula, the nutritional data comes out to be
- Calories- 71 kcal
- Carbohydrates- 9.07
- Protein- 2.19
- Fats- 2.91
Similac also contains 6 grams of total sugar and 4.5 grams of added sugar per 100 ml of prepared formula. If you follow Similac’s recommended 3 servings per day with one serving being 100 ml,
You’ll be feeding your toddler 21 grams of sugar.
.png)
(Remember the recommended intake is less than 25 grams for one whole day)
How does good, old milk compare to both of these formulas?
The AAP recommends 300 to 500 ml of whole milk per day for toddlers between the ages of 12 to 24 months. Each 100 ml contains
- Calories- 62kcal
- Carbohydrates- 4.7
- Protein- 3.4
- Fats- 3.5
(Source- Amul Homogenized cow milk)
Regular milk contains 4.7 grams of natural sugars and 0 grams of added sugar per serving.
The conclusion?
Regular milk is unquestionably better for your toddler than any formula on the market. Why?
- It contains more protein (which is crucial for growth) than formula
- It does not contain any added sugar (which will help reduce your toddler’s sugar intake to the safe- 25-gramF limit)
- It doesn’t contain added vegetable oils or texture enhancers
- It’s insanely cheap when compared to formulas
(and that’s after taking the discounted prices from Amazon. The MRP is much higher)
So toddlers should never be given formula, right?
Like most things in life, these are universal guidelines that apply to the general majority. This doesn’t include infants with allergies or medical problems that need specialized formulas.
In a nutshell?
Toddler formulas are not what they claim to be.
The AAP, UNICEF, WHO, and IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) all recommend regular milk over hyper-advertised formulas.
So forget the fancy, expensive formula fuss and feed your toddler real food. Because let’s face it, toddlers don’t care about fancy foods- they just want something tasty.
.png)
