Bobbie Formula Review | The Picky Eater

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.

This Bobbie Formula review takes an honest look at this popular European-style organic formula that is relatively new to the US market. Find out what sets Bobbie Infant Formula apart from other brands, how it compares to European formulas, and what other parents have to say about it so you can determine if this formula is the best for your child.

Figuring out how to best feed your child is not an easy task, whether you are a new parent or a seasoned pro. While breastfeeding is always the first and the most natural option for a baby, it is not always possible for all mothers to exclusively breastfeed or even breastfeed their babies at all. Breastfeeding can be extremely challenging and mentally and physically taxing. It can be made even harder by potential latching or milk supply issues, difficult birth recoveries, and more. 

If you are also considering starting your newborn on formula or supplementing or transitioning your older infant to formula, that is okay! I truly believe that breast is not best; FED is best. Even with lactation consultants and other outside help, at least 83% of women turn to formula for some period of time. For me, nursing was one of the most physically and emotionally challenging parts of new motherhood; at 8 months old, I weaned my daughter to formula.

When I decided to make the change, I did extensive research online, spoke to doctors, consulted other mothers and friends, and discovered so much about the formula industry so that I could give my daughter the best baby formula possible. Once armed with this information, I’ve continued to research and learn about formulas and have stayed on top of the newest brands, such as Bobbie, always intending to do all the research so that you don’t have to!

For first time mothers concerned for their mental health as well as the health of their babies, finding an infant formula company you can trust is of utmost importance. I know this because I have been there! As a result, I have developed a working list of the best organic baby formulas that meet these guidelines. Good news: Bobbie Infant Formula is one of the best! It’s a new formula brand that is making quite a splash in the US market, and is a good choice for any family looking to transition to formula.

In this Bobbie Formula Review I will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding whether or not this formula is the right choice for your baby! In it, I will cover what Bobbie formula is, what sets it apart from the competition, summarize Bobbie formula reviews from other parents, answer the most common questions and more. Let’s get started!

But First, A Disclaimer

As a board certified health coach and certified nutritionist, I support products and ingredients that are rooted in science and are evidence-based. Using my background in nutrition, along with extensive research (see below for details), consultations with experts, and my own personal experience giving my two kids formula, I have reviewed Bobbie and recommend it highly. 

I may receive a commission (at no extra expense to you) if you purchase through the links provided. I only recommend brands that I have evaluated, believe are the highest quality, would give to my own two children, and that can do the most to help you and your family. By purchasing any of these products from the links below, you help keep this blog running, so thanks for your support!

Keep in mind that every baby & situation is different, especially yours, so please consult with your pediatrician first, especially when starting or switching to a new formula. My recommendations are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard or delay in seeking professional medical advice because of something you read here!

The Verdict: Bobbie Is The Best American-Made Baby Formula

When it comes to the best baby formula made in the United States, Bobbie Organic Infant Formula is by far the best. Whereas many popular American formulas are made with corn syrup solids, hexane-derived DHA, soy products, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Bobbie is made like European baby formulas: lactose is the first ingredient, it is certified USDA organic, it doesn’t contain corn syrup, glucose solids, soy, or any added sugar, and is made with non-hexane-derived DHA, amongst other things! 

Bobbie baby formula is easy to find at Target and also has a convenient subscription model (more on that below); making it easier to purchase and more affordable than many European brands. As you will see in this Bobbie review, there are many other reasons to love this high-quality and trustworthy US formula brand.

What Is Bobbie Formula?

Bobbie baby formula is a nutritionally complete, milk-based infant formula intended for full-term, healthy infants who are 0-12 months of age. It was founded in 2018 in San Francisco by two moms, Laura Modi and Sarah Hardy, who were disappointed with the subpar formula options available on the infant formula market at the time. 

The formula is made with a European-style recipe, meaning that Bobbie is made according to the more stringent European standards. That is, not only is it USDA Organic and non-GMO but it is also EU Organic Certified as well and does not contain sucrose or pesticides. This milk-based formula is FDA-approved and is manufactured in the United States. 

Furthermore, the macronutrients come in the following percentages: 57% carbohydrates, 28% fats, 11% proteins, and 2% vitamins and minerals. This makes this formula a fantastic pick to support your baby’s growth and development. 

One look at Bobbie formula ingredients, and you’ll know that you can feel good about feeding it to your little one: this formula is made with organic lactose as the first carbohydrate and ingredient. Organic nonfat milk and whey protein are added to create a whey-to-casein ratio of 60 to 40 which is identical to the protein composition of mature breast milk. Bobbie infant formula also contains added iron. Most importantly, Bobbie doesn’t contain any palm oil, methane-extracted DHA, glucose syrup, corn syrup, artificial ingredients, or colors. Instead, it is made with only the good stuff that you’ll want when choosing a baby formula:

Organic Pasture Raised Dairy

Bobbie sources their organic milk from Organic Valley Milk farms, ensuring that all of their formula milk comes from pasture-raised and grass-fed organic cows here in the US. Bobbie’s recipe includes organic skim milk and whey protein, making the whey-to-casein ratio the same as that of breast milk. Bobbie’s lactose and whey are also sourced from small, organic farms here in the US. 

DHA & ARA Omega-3s & Healthy Fats

Bobbie infant formula includes Omega 3 fats extracted from algae using water; making it a safe hexane-free baby formula you can have peace of mind giving to your baby. Because Bobbie is derived from algae instead of fish oil, it is also a vegetarian-friendly formula. 

Additionally, the formula contains ARA which is known to support babies’ immune systems (source). A combination of organic coconut oil, canola oil, and organic sunflower or safflower oil make up the rest of the fat content of this infant formula. As noted above, the formula is made without palm oil or soy oil either. 

Key Nutrients

Being an FDA-regulated formula, Bobbie is confirmed to contain all of the critical ingredients for complete infant nutrition. Bobbie’s formula includes iron, which is critical for red blood cell function and brain development (source).

In addition to other essential vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, etc), Bobbie baby formula includes FDA recommended amount of Vitamin D which is important for bone development and immune function (source). This means that you don’t also have to supplement formula with Vitamin D drops as you do breast milk. It also contains folic acid, which supports cell growth and function during infancy (source). 

Check out Bobbie’s ingredient list dossier for the complete formula nutrition facts and ingredients, and why each one is important for infant nutrition and growth.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of all that sets Bobbie apart from the rest. Bobbie is:

1. Founded By Moms With A Great Mission

When you’re a mom struggling to find the best infant formula options for your baby, and you can’t find one that you like, you start your own infant formula company! Bobbie’s founders are moms like you and me. Tired of the negativity surrounding formula feeding which they faced firsthand, they wanted a better option to give to their own babies.

Together the Bobbie team developed the first organic European-style formula in partnership with food scientists and medical experts. The result: a quality product that meets FDA nutritional standards and is a nutritious and safe alternative to breast milk that U.S. parents can feel great about feeding to their babies. 

In addition to creating an exceptional formula, the company has also committed to supporting 25 breast cancer survivors and pre-vivors who have undergone mastectomies and lumpectomies with a free year of Bobbie.

2. European Formula Standards Founded In The USA

Bobbie’s recipe is comparable to European formula brands and abides by many of the European Union formula standards. It is a great alternative for American parents who are looking for U.S. formulas that meet FDA regulations while being similar to European formulas. Bonus: since this brand ships quickly from US warehouses, there’s no concern about the supply chain issues and delays which can be common when shipping European-made formula.

3. The Only Sugar Is Lactose

You won’t find any added sugars or artificial sweeteners in this formula. This includes added corn syrup, sugar solids, or maltodextrin. Bobbie organic formula’s only sugar is organic lactose, which is the naturally occurring sugar in breast milk and milk.

DHA Omega-3 is an important nutrient that helps brain development (source). Bobbie infant formula uses an algae-based DHA that does not use hexane for extraction. It’s water extracted DHA and meets the EU standard of 20mg/100 calories.

This amount is sure to provide your child with the benefits of essential fatty acids for brain and eye development. Note: It is important to point out that the US does not have a set DHA nutritional requirement for infant formula, meaning that the DHA in other American formulas can differ.

5. Formulated For Easy Digestion

Bobbie is a formula modeled after breast milk, ensuring the easiest digestion for your little one. To achieve the protein profile of human milk, organic whey protein is added to the organic cow’s milk to ensure that the whey-to-casein ratio matches that of mature breast milk, or 60% whey to 40% casein. Formulas that have a lower ratio of whey to casein may cause babies to have digestive problems.

6. High Quality Ingredients

Bobbie not only uses the highest quality ingredients, but they also test every batch of formula for over 400 toxins, including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plastics (source). Because of this, they have a Pesticide-Free certification and are the first US-based infant formula to have received the Clean Label Project Purity Award.

7. Easy To Try Out Via The Bobbie Starter Bundle

If you are thinking of trying out this formula but don’t want to commit to a full Bobbie formula subscription yet, the company makes it very easy to do so. They offer a starter pack, which provides you with 2 cans of organic Bobbie formula for just $40 along with free shipping, which works out to almost a 25% discount! 

If your baby is exclusively formula-fed, two cans will last for a week on average. They will last longer if you are just supplementing. Bobbie does not provide free samples or cans of their formula, but the starter pack is a low-risk and cost-effective way to try it out.

Drawbacks Of Bobbie Baby Formula

Though there are many things that I love about Bobbie, there are admittedly a few drawbacks. For many, the pros outweigh the cons but I’d be remiss without sharing the following:

• Does not include added prebiotics or probiotics. But you can easily supplement with an infant probiotic if your doctor approves of it. 
• Is not a hypoallergenic formula. Even though it is made without soy and palm oil, it is made with milk and therefore may not be a good option for babies who cannot digest cow’s milk or otherwise have known food allergies.
• Only one stage. Unlike many European formulas which have different stages of formula for different ages of infants, Bobbie has just one stage for ages birth to 12 months. 
• On the more expensive side. Although it is cheaper than many European formulas, Bobbie does tend to be more expensive than many American-made alternatives, as it comes in at $26 for a 400g can.
• Not made with whole milk. Although organic lactose and organic nonfat milk are great first ingredients, since the formula is made without whole milk, Bobbie has to add vegetable oils to create a nutritionally complete infant formula that meets FDA standards. These added vegetable oils aren’t necessarily harmful, but formulas made with whole milk do have more fats from the natural fat source, as breast milk does.
• Not good for premature babies. Bobbie is formulated for full-term healthy babies. If you need a formula recommendation for your premature baby, speak with your pediatrician for the best option for your little one.

How Does It Work?

So now that you know everything about Bobbie and what sets it apart from the rest, let’s get into how to order, where else you can buy it, how to mix it, and what it costs!

How Does The Bobbie Subscription Model Work?

You can purchase Bobbie Organic Infant Formula on their website as a one-time transaction, or you can sign up for their subscription service. When ordering, you have the option to purchase 2, 4, 8, or 10 cans. 

At the time of publication, they offer a discount of 10% off of your first 2 months when you set up a subscription purchase and allow you to modify, order more, pause, or cancel at any time, with no questions asked. Standard shipping is FREE with subscriptions and you can even change the address if you’ll be traveling with your baby.

To know exactly what to purchase for your baby, Bobbie provides a feeding guide on their website to help you calculate how many cans you will need each month. It is recommended to get between 8-10 cans per month for exclusively formula-fed infants. Some parents prefer to add a few extra cans each month to ensure that they never run out of formula. 

We have found that subscribing is a great option that will help ensure you always have enough formula when you need it! It helps to check one more thing off your parenting list. If you ever have any questions about or issues with your subscription, their customer service team is available by text, phone, or email Monday through Friday 7 AM to 4 PM PST and Sat-Sun 9am-1pm PST. You can also reach them on social media @Bobbie.

Can You Purchase Bobbie In Stores?

If you prefer to not order online or set up a subscription service or if you run out of formula before your next subscription order arrives, you can now also purchase Bobbie formula at Target stores and online at Target.com.

How To Mix Bobbie Formula

If you’re wondering about Bobbie formula preparation – I have you covered! This formula is super easy to make and mixes up well with no chunks. Here are the Bobbie formula mixing instructions:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water and get a clean bottle.
2. Add warm filtered water or cooled boiled water to the bottle and then add the formula powder. You’ll want to use 1 unpacked, level scoop of baby formula powder for every 2 fluid ounces of warm water. Important note: Make sure the water isn’t warmer than 100 degrees F.
3. Shake the bottle for 30 seconds to mix and serve immediately.
4. Discard any unused formula after 1 hour.

What Does It Cost?

At the time of this article’s publication, Bobbie is sold for $26 for a 400g (14.1 oz) can on their website and it goes for $25.99 for the same size can at Target and Target.com. 

Every 400g can of the formula mixes up to around 106 ounces of formula, or about 26, 4-ounce sized bottles. Therefore, the cost works out to around $1 per 4-ounce bottle. 

What Do Parents Say About Bobbie?

Parents rave about their experience using Bobbie! Here are a handful of selected recent Bobbie organic infant formula reviews from verified customers of the brand who shared their reviews on the Bobbie Website: 

Easy On Digestion: A parent named Molly said, “We did try another more mainstream formula and it gave our baby terrible stomach gas, so we’re happy that we found Bobbie.”

Great For Combo Feeding: “I started combo feeding at four months, and it has been a great experience. My little one, has been so happy and never had any problems.” – Crystal Y. 

A Shame-Free Option: “Thank you for a year of shame free, reliable food for my sweet girl. She loved every bottle by the way!!” – Jessica 

Stress-Free Subscription Service: Verified customer Kelsey said: “I loved the subscription service because I never had to worry about running out of formula especially since we had the formula shortage before.”

A Clean Formula You Can Trust: Sheena said “I breastfed exclusively in the beginning, but decide to supplement with formula due to pumping & just exhaustion. She did perfectly on it! I researched the product & felt very safe giving it to her & it worked out for us!”

How Does Bobbie Compare To Other Formula Brands?

Bobbie Formula vs. HiPP Formula

Bobbie and HiPP are two great formula brands! Bobbie is American made and HiPP is European, as the latter company has manufacturers in the Netherlands and Germany. Both brands of formula are organic, Have high-quality ingredients, contain DHA & ARA, and don’t have any added sugar, corn syrup, or other sugar solids. 

Here are the high-level differences between Bobbie and HiPP:

• Bobbie is made in the US, HiPP is made in Europe
• Bobbie has one stage of formula for the first 0-12 months of life, and depending on the country of origin HiPP has up to 4 stages
• Bobbie is FDA regulated, HiPP is not (HiPP is regulated by the European Commission)
• Bobbie has no prebiotics or probiotics, HiPP has both
• Bobbie has no palm oil, HiPP contains palm oil

Bobbie vs. Similac

Bobbie and Similac are American-made formulas. Both have no syrup solids or added sugar and use lactose as the primary carbohydrate. 

Bobbie has a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio (the same as breast milk), while Similac has a 48:52 whey-to- casein ratio, meaning that it may be harder on digestion. Bobbie is also organic and non-GMO, while Similac is not. See this Bobbie Formula vs. Similac Formula comparison guide for more details!

Bobbie vs. ByHeart

ByHeart is another great American-made formula company! Both Bobbie and ByHeart are manufactured in the US and focus on promoting shame-free feeding journeys for all babies and their parents. Each of their formulas are non-GMO, certified pesticide-free, made with organic grass-fed milk, and are made without corn syrup, gluten, hexane-extracted DHA, and palm oil. They are also both Clean Label Project Purity Award winners and are known to be good for easy digestion.

The biggest difference between the two brands is that ByHeart is made with organic whole milk instead of organic nonfat milk and also contains lactoferrin and alpha-lactalbumin, two essential proteins found in breast milk that are known to stimulate the immune system (source).

Bobbie vs. Enfamil

Bobbie and Enfamil are both established baby formula brands that don’t have any added sugars and contain DHA. Here are some of the key differences between the two formulas:

• Enfamil has a large variety of formulas to choose from. They do offer a non-organic and an organic version. Both of Bobbie’s formulas – the standard and gentle formulation – are organic and non-GMO.
• Enfamil contains palm oil, but Bobbie does not.
• Enfamil organic has a 20:80 whey-to-casein ratio, while Bobbie organic has a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio, making Bobbie easier for babies to digest.
• Both mix well, but Enfamil has been reported to have a metallic taste.

Bobbie vs. Kendamil

Another comparison of two great formula companies! Both Bobbie and Kendamil are organic and FDA-regulated. Even though Kendamil is made in the UK, it was approved by the FDA to be sold in the United States as part of Operation Fly Formula during the 2022 formula shortage. 

Whereas Bobbie only has an organic version, Kendamil has both a non-organic and an organic version, but both are made with milk from grass-fed cows. Kendamil is made with whole milk, however, and Bobbie is made with nonfat milk. Both formulas have no palm oil, no sugar or syrup solids, and include DHA. See this Bobbie vs. Kendamil Formula comparison guide for more details!

Related: Best Toddler Formulas

Bobbie Formula FAQs

Final Thoughts

I hope this Bobbie baby formula review answered all your questions about Bobbie and helped you to decide if Bobbie is the right option for your little one! If ever in doubt about this or any question about your child’s health and well-being, always consult their pediatrician as they will be able to guide you to the best decision. 

Overall, Bobbie is a fantastic American-made formula. It is made with clean ingredients, is organic and non-GMO, is a complete source of infant nutrition, is FDA-approved and made according to the FDA dietary guidelines, and has a creamy and delicious taste that babies love.

If you’re asking yourself, “Is Bobbie formula worth it?”, my answer would be yes! It’s absolutely worth it if it works for your baby. If your baby is a full term infant, with no specific allergies or intolerances (e.g. CMPA or lactose intolerance), then Bobbie infant formula could be a great option for your child. If you’re curious about trying it out, their starter pack is a low-risk and affordable way to do so! 

For more recipes, guides, tips, and tricks, check out the Best For Kids section of my blog. If you have any more questions about this product or brand or want to share your experience with Bobbie, please do so in the comments below or message me. I respond to every message I receive!

More Helpful Baby Formula Guides!