HiPP German Stage 3 Formula
Trusted for more than 80 years, HiPP is a leading name in organic baby formula. As your baby gets older, table foods are slowly introduced into their diet, but a majority of nutrition should come from breastfeeding or formula. HiPP German Stage 3 formula meets the unique nutritional needs of babies during this transitional time and is for babies 10 months and older.
HiPP meets rigorous European organic ingredient standards. They also employ ethical and environmentally conscious animal agriculture practices for their grass-fed milk.
After the first 10 months of life, many babies are transitioning from newborns into toddlers. They begin to sit up, crawl and be more active. Their energy needs for these new activities increase and HiPP stage 3 formula is designed to meet those nutrition needs.
HiPP German Stage 3 cow’s milk formula is a perfect complement to a baby’s solid food intake. HiPP Stage 3 formula is more nutritionally complete than cow’s milk since it contains all the vitamins and minerals an infant needs for growth and development.
Organic standards for baby formulas are much higher in Europe than in the United States. HiPP’s organic stage 3 formula is free from GMOs, artificial hormones, corn syrup, and common allergens including gluten, wheat, and eggs.
Pros and Cons of HiPP German Stage 3
Let’s weigh the pros and cons of selecting the HiPP German Stage 3 formula.
Pros:
- High quality, organic formula
- No GMOs, artificial hormones, or corn syrup
- Milk sourced from grass-fed cows
Cons:
- Contains milk, and will not work for babies with milk allergy
- Not suitable for lactose intolerance
- Not appropriate for fish allergy contains fish oil
Ingredients of HiPP German Stage 3
Listed below are the ingredients in HiPP German Stage 3 formula.
Organic Skim Milk, Organic Lactose, Organic Vegetable Oils [Organic Palm Oil, Organic Rapeseed Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil], Organic Lactose, Fish oil, Vitamin C, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Salts Of Orthophosphoric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Carbonate, L-Tryptophan, Iron Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Vitamin E, Lactic Acid Culture [Hereditum® Lactobacillus Fermentum CECT 5716], Zinc Oxide, Niacin (Vit B3), Pantothenic acid (Vit B5), Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Potassium Iodate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Sodium Selenate, Manganese Sulfate, Biotin, Vitamin D, Vitamin K
Allergens: milk, fish
In Europe, “bio” is a formula label that means the product meets the EU criteria for organic agriculture. Organic vegetable oils provide a fat source to the formula while organic lactose provides a carbohydrate source for infants.
HiPP German Stage 3 formula also has a “combiotik” label, which is a trademarked term in Germany meaning it contains probiotic ingredients. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that keep the digestive tract healthy and functioning properly.
HiPP Stage 3 uses a blend of organic vegetables as a fat source. There is evidence to suggest that palm oil can interfere with calcium absorption. However, this formula contains a blend of oils, not solely palm oil and it is a safe ingredient in baby formulas.
Nutrients in HiPP German Stage 3
As your baby starts to eat solid foods, it is natural to wonder if your child is getting enough calories. The good news is that babies are experts at listening to their satiety (fullness) cues and are capable of getting the energy they need for growth and development.
HiPP German Stage 3 is a nutritionally complete formula meaning it can provide all the calories, vitamins, and minerals needed. It can serve as a standalone nutrition source or as a complement to breastfeeding and solid foods. Nutritionally, it is more complete than cow’s milk. The added vitamins, minerals, and probiotics provide all the essential nutrients for babies older than 10 months.
Fish oil is a natural source of DHA, an omega-3 fat. DHA plays an important role in brain and eye development. Fish oils are also one of the only concentrated sources of EPA, another omega-3 fat associated with heart health. Animal-based EPA from fish oil is more readily used in the body than plant sources of EPA, such as flax seeds, chia seeds, and canola oil.
Probiotics naturally exist in breast milk. Lactobacillus is a strain of probiotic that helps to colonize the gut with essential microorganisms that promote growth and digestion. HiPP “combiotik” formula contains Lactobacillus probiotics for digestive health.
Side Effects of HiPP German Stage 3
HiPP German Stage 3 formula is a follow-on formula for infants older than 10 months. Nutritionally, it may not be appropriate for infants younger than 10 months.
Organic skim milk is the primary ingredient in this formula. While grass-fed milk is a premium protein and carbohydrate source for most babies, it is not appropriate for babies with a milk allergy. Additionally, lactose provides a carbohydrate source to the formula, so infants with lactose intolerance should not consume it.
Fish oil is a natural source of the healthy fats EPA and DHA, but infants with a fish allergy should not consume this formula.
There is a rare genetic metabolic disease called Phenylketonuria. Children born with this condition cannot consume phenylalanine. This formula contains the amino acid L-phenylalanine, and children with PKU should not consume this variety.
How HiPP German Stage 3 Formula Compares
HiPP is a trusted and renowned European organic baby formula. Let’s see how it compares to a few US organic brands.
HiPP German Stage 3 vs Enfamil Simply Organic
Enfamil Simply Organic is a cow’s milk-based formula from grass-fed cows similar to HiPP German Stage 3 formula. Enfamil can be fed to babies from birth to 12 months, while HiPP Stage 3 is uniquely crafted for babies older than 10 months.
Both formulas contain sources of omega-3, choline, and DHA for brain development. Enfamil contains a source of prebiotics, while HiPP contains a probiotic for gut health. The DHA in Enfamil comes from harvested algae, while fish oil provides DHA and EPA in HiPP.
HiPP German Stage 3 vs Similac Organic
HiPP and Similac Organic are cow’s milk-based formulas that are free from corn syrup, artificial hormones, and GMOs. Milk for HiPP formulas comes from grass-fed cows, while the milk for Similac meets organic standards, but is not necessarily grass-fed.
Digestive health is important during the first year. Similac Organic contains prebiotics, while HiPP formula includes probiotics.
Algae is a fish oil alternative source for DHA in Similac Organic, while fish oil provides DHA in HiPP German Stage 3.
As with many US brands, Similac Organic formula can work for infants 0 to 12 months old. HiPP Stage 3 formula targets the unique nutritional needs of infants over 10 months.
HiPP German Stage 3 vs Earth’s Best Organic
HiPP German Stage 3 and Earth’s Best Organic formulas are both certified organic, cow’s milk formulas. Earth’s Best brand can work for infants from birth to 12 months, while HiPP Stage 3 is nutritionally appropriate for babies 10 months and older. HiPP Stages 1 and 2 can work for infants under 10 months.
Given their respective organic certifications, both formulas are free from GMOs and artificial hormones. The milk sourced from Earth’s Best comes from cows fed organic grain and hay, while HiPP uses milk from grass-fed cows.
Both formulas are also fortified with iron and DHA for growth and development. HiPP German Stage 3 formula is “combiotik,” meaning it contains probiotics for gut health, while Earth’s Best does not have probiotics.
Bottom Line
HiPP German Stage 3 formula is a wholesome, complete nutrition source made from the highest quality milk for infants over the age of 10 months. Breastmilk is the reigning gold standard for infant feeding, but HiPP is a very close nutritional approximation with DHA, iron, and probiotics. HiPP German Stage 3 formula is a nutritionally complete primary nutrition source or an excellent complement to breastfeeding and solid foods.