[Blog] Ep 45. How to Pick The Best Formula For Your Baby & Truth About Heavy Metals, Added Sugars and Oils

If you’re feeling confused or even guilty about choosing formula for your baby, you’re not alone. With recent headlines raising concerns about heavy metals, added sugars, and oils in infant formulas, many parents are left wondering what’s safe and what’s not.

In this blog, pediatric nutritionist Sanchita Daswani and pediatric sleep consultant Rinie Gupta come together to break down everything you need to know about choosing the right infant formula. From understanding ingredients to busting common myths and addressing the guilt many parents feel, we’re here to give you honest, evidence-based information.

Whether you're already formula feeding or just considering it, this guide will help you make informed, confident choices for your baby, without the stress or second-guessing.

Our Journey into Formula Feeding

Rinie opens up about the immense guilt she felt introducing formula to her baby after exclusively breastfeeding for three months. Sanchita echoes this by sharing her own journey — her twins were born prematurely and needed formula top-ups in the NICU. The societal shame around formula feeding is real and unnecessary, and both hosts highlight how common this is in the families they work with.

Understanding Heavy Metals in Formula

There was a U.S. FDA study that tested 41 infant formulas and found trace levels of heavy metals like lead and arsenic. Sanchita explains that while heavy metals were found, they were within permissible limits. The formulas undergo strict FDA testing, making them among the most regulated products.

What’s often left out of the headlines is that most of the formulas tested were safe, and the ones with slightly higher levels were typically the specially processed gentle formulas designed for babies with digestive sensitivities. Formula, in general, remains one of the most stringently regulated products on the market.

Are Added Sugars in Formula Bad?

There’s another wave of concern: sugar in infant formula. But here’s the thing — babies need carbohydrates to grow, and carbs are essentially sugars. Not all sugars are bad. Sanchita explains:

• Lactose is the primary sugar in most formulas, just like in breast milk.

• If a baby is lactose-intolerant, then formulas might use corn syrup solids or maltodextrin — not harmful, just alternatives.

• These sugars are not the same as the white sugar we fear in desserts.

Rinie adds that sugars like lactose, glucose, and fructose are natural carbohydrates essential for the body. She emphasizes not to generalize “sugar” as bad. Babies need the right type in the right amount to thrive.

Concerns about Vegetable Oils in Formula

Seeing oils like sunflower, soybean, or palm oil in formula can be alarming, especially if you’ve removed them from your own kitchen. But Sanchita clarifies why they’re there: breast milk contains about 45% fat, which plays a vital role in brain development and cell growth. To mimic this, formulas need a mix of oils that offer the right fatty acids.

The inflammatory concerns around these oils usually stem from how we cook with them at high temperatures. That’s not how they’re used in formula, which is made in a controlled, safe process. Many formulas also now include healthier oils like coconut oil. While palm oil has been debated, it’s not harmful in small amounts, especially if it’s not the main oil.

Understanding the Composition of Formula

Sanchita explains that most infant formulas follow a standard nutritional breakdown:

• 45% carbs

• 45% fats

• 10% protein

• Plus: vitamins, minerals, DHA, probiotics

What differs across brands is the source of these nutrients — not the amount. She advises not to obsess over the nutrition table but instead understand which ingredients suit your baby best. Unlike breast milk, which adjusts based on the mother’s diet and the baby’s needs, formula remains the same in composition. Still, it offers a nutritionally complete option for babies when breastfeeding isn’t possible or preferred.

How to Choose the Best Formula

Sanchita breaks it down simply. She recommends starting with one that uses lactose as the main carbohydrate, since it’s the closest to breast milk. For protein, the whey-to-casein ratio should ideally be 60:40, similar to breast milk. Whey is gentler, while casein is heavier. Formulas often mimic this ratio by adjusting cow’s milk.

For fats, a combination of vegetable oils is standard. If the formula has coconut oil, that’s a plus. Palm oil isn’t ideal due to potential issues with calcium absorption, but it’s okay if it’s used in small amounts. Added ingredients like DHA (from fish oil) support brain development, and probiotics like Reuteri help with digestion. But again, if your baby is doing well on a formula that doesn’t have all these extras, that’s completely okay too.

Do you need to buy Organic Formula?

The organic label offers reassurance that the formula hasn’t been made with pesticides or hormones. But it’s not a requirement. Sanchita describes organic as a “sexy add-on”- a nice bonus if it aligns with your values and budget.

Rinie shares that she’s never felt the need to choose organic and has been just as confident in her parenting choices. Whether or not to choose organic is entirely personal.

What are Hydrolysed Formulas?

When your baby has trouble digesting regular formula—symptoms like gas, spit-up, or reflux—hydrolyzed formulas can help. These formulas have proteins that are partially broken down, making them easier to digest.

Sanchita explains that it’s often not lactose intolerance, but difficulty with protein digestion that causes discomfort. Hydrolyzed formulas can be a helpful step before moving to goat’s milk or soy-based formulas. She advises trying regular formula first, then hydrolyzed if needed, and only switching to alternatives like soy or goat’s milk if no improvement is seen.

Is Cow’s Milk a Better Option than Formula?

Some families believe cow’s milk is fresher or more natural than formula. But Sanchita cautions against this. Even though cow’s milk is fresh, it isn’t suitable before age 1.

• Cow’s milk has too much casein, which is hard for babies to digest.

• It’s low in iron, which babies need a lot of in their first year.

• Formula is nutritionally complete, cow’s milk is not.

Though the WHO recently said cow’s milk could be an option in extreme cases, that’s mostly for regions where formula is completely unaffordable. For everyone else, formula is the safer and more balanced option.

Can Parents Replace Formula with Solids in the First Year?

The answer is NO. Solids are introduced around six months, but they’re meant to be an activity, not the primary source of nutrition. Sanchita stresses that babies need milk for calories and growth in the first year. Replacing formula with solids too early can lead to digestion issues, allergies, and even obesity.

It’s important to let the transition to solid foods be gradual. Around nine months, babies start naturally shifting toward eating more solids and reducing milk. Let that progression happen organically.

Can we make Homemade Formula?

While the idea of making your own formula might feel appealing, especially if you're concerned about ingredients, it’s not safe. Sanchita explains that homemade formulas can’t meet the precise nutritional ratios required for infant development. They haven’t gone through the rigorous testing that commercial formulas have.

Rinie adds that even if you’re following a popular recipe online, there’s no guarantee it’s been clinically validated. The risks simply aren’t worth it.

Do Babies Need Follow up Formula?

Sanchita explains that stage 1 formulas are nutritionally complete for babies up to 12 months of age. Stage 2 might have slightly more casein and iron, but it’s not a requirement unless there’s a specific nutritional concern.

Stage 3, or toddler formula, is where real caution is needed. These formulas are not tightly regulated, include added sugars and may reduce your child’s appetite for real food. Sanchita recommends sticking to Stage 1 and skipping Stages 2 and 3- they are more of a marketing gimmick than a necessity.

Do You Need to Buy Formula from a Certain Country?

There’s a trend among some parents to import European formulas because of the perception that they are purer or better. While European standards are a bit stricter in some areas, Sanchita reassures that both U.S. and European formulas are safe and effective.

Concerns with imported formulas:

• Higher price

• Availability issues

• Measurement confusion

• Potential for missing recall alerts

Her suggestion is simple: stick to formulas that are easily available and approved in your region.

Final Thoughts

As this episode reminds us, formula is not the enemy. It has provided countless babies with a healthy start in life and given parents the freedom to feed their children without shame. Breastfeeding is wonderful, but so is feeding your baby in a way that works for your family.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this discussion, where Sanchita and Rinie will explore the long-term impact of formula feeding on immunity, IQ, and more. Follow the Modern Indian Parent podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to stay updated!