Hipp vs Loulouka: Which Formula Is Better For Your Baby?

Key Differences Between Hipp and Loulouka

Features/Aspect	HiPP (Dutch Version)	Loulouka Stage 1
Base Ingredient	Organic skimmed milk and whey product	Organic whole milk and whey concentrate
Protein Source	Skimmed milk and whey, mimicking breast milk	Whole milk and whey protein concentrate
Carbohydrate Source	Lactose	Lactose
Fat Source	Vegetable oils (palm oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil) and fish oil	Coconut oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil (No palm oil)
Prebiotics/Probiotics	Prebiotics (GOS) and natural probiotics from breast milk	No specific probiotics or prebiotics mentioned
Special Ingredients	DHA from fish oil	DHA from algae (vegetarian source)
Palm Oil	Yes, from sustainable sources	No
Specialty Versions	HiPP Comfort, HiPP AR, HiPP HA for various dietary needs	Standard formula stages without specific versions for dietary issues
Unique Selling Points	Probiotics extracted from breast milk	Coconut oil and whole milk instead of skimmed

In this article, we will compare two popular European formulas: Hipp vs Loulouka.

For this comparison to make sense, we will compare their Stage 1 formulas, however, it can also be applied to their Stages 2 and 3 formulas, since the differences are minimal.

We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional composition to help you make the best decision for your little one.

Let’s get after it!

Important information: Loulouka has three formulas, Stages 1, 2, and 3. Hipp however, has different versions: UK, German, and Dutch. It also has specialty formulas like Hipp Comfort, Hipp AR, and Hipp HA (Hypoallergenic). Take this into account if your baby has any special digestive needs.

Our Short Answer

Hipp and Loulouka are two of the best formulas available in the market. Here’s our recommendation:

Choose Loulouka if you are looking for an organic formula, with amazing ingredients and as natural as possible. For babies without sensitivities.

Choose Hipp if you want a formula enriched with prebiotics and probiotics, perfect for promote a healthy gut and a strong immune system. It is organic as well.

Brand Reputation

HiPP Dutch formula mimics breast milk with organic, lactose-based ingredients and natural probiotics for digestion and immune support, following biodynamic, chemical-free farming.

Loulouka, developed in Switzerland, offers a preservative-free formula with 100% lactose, emphasizing sustainability by using coconut oil and organic cow’s milk.

Hipp Reputation

HiPP Dutch is a widely recognized brand that prides itself on closely mimicking breast milk. Originating in the Netherlands, HiPP focuses on using high-quality, organic ingredients. The main carbohydrate in their formula is lactose, just like in breast milk, ensuring there’s no added starch like in the German version.

This Dutch formula stands out because it contains natural probiotic lactic acid cultures extracted from real breast milk, aiming to support your baby’s digestion and immune system.

The farms producing HiPP’s milk follow biodynamic practices. These are chemical-free and respect animal welfare and environmental sustainability. With certification from the EU organic body, you can be assured of its quality and safety standards.

HiPP formulas are free from artificial sweeteners, GMOs, allergens like gluten, soy, peanuts, and eggs.

To encourage healthy development in infants, HiPP enriches its formula with prebiotics (galactooligosaccharides/GOS), essential fatty acids (DHA and ARA), minerals, and vitamins A, D, and C.

Loulouka Reputation

Loulouka is a unique formula developed in Switzerland with rigorous European standards ensuring its supreme quality.

What makes Loulouka special is not only its commitment to being free from preservatives, soy, sugar, maltodextrin, and GMOs but also its adherence to over 50 rounds of testing pre-market.

Designed for infants up to six months old (but available in three stages for older babies), Loulouka uses 100% lactose as its carbohydrate source. Ingredients such as whey protein concentrate and folic acid are key components of this Stage 1 Formula Milk which also packs a powerful punch of essential nutrients including vitamins A, B1 through B6.

Loulouka emphasizes sustainability through its use of traditional coconut oil instead of palm oil found in many other formulas.

Sourcing its organic whole milk from cows grazed on pesticide-free grass ensures that every sip your baby takes is not just delicious but nourishing too.

Nutritional Composition

HiPP uses skimmed milk and whey for gentle digestion, while Loulouka opts for whole milk and whey protein, both aiming for breast milk-like nutrition.

Both formulas use lactose for carbohydrates, mirroring breast milk’s energy source.

Loulouka’s fat blend, excluding palm oil and including coconut oil, offers a superior profile for healthy growth and digestibility compared to HiPP’s mix of vegetable and fish oils.

Protein Content

HiPP: The protein in HiPP formula is derived from skimmed milk and whey product, closely replicating the protein composition found in breast milk. This aims to be gentle on your baby’s digestive system while fulfilling their nutritional needs for growth.

Loulouka: Loulouka utilizes whole milk and whey protein concentrate to provide its protein content. This formulation supports infants’ growing bodies and works to ensure that babies receive the essential amino acids they need during their crucial first months of life.

On paper, both formulas use milk from grass-fed cows, the only difference is that Loulouka uses whole milk, but this applies to its fat content, not protein content. It’s a draw in protein content.

Carbohydrate Content

HiPP: In line with its goal to closely resemble breast milk, HiPP uses lactose as its main carbohydrate source. Lactose not only provides energy but also helps with the absorption of calcium and magnesium which are vital for bone development.

Loulouka: Similarly, Loulouka uses 100% lactose for its carbohydrate component. Lactose being a natural sugar found in breast milk makes this choice conducive to supporting energy needs while being easy on the baby’s tummy.

No differences in carbohydrate content, with both formulas using lactose exclusively. This is exactly what we like to see in conventional formulas. However, if your baby has any sensitivities, you may need a lactose-reduced formula or a hydrolyzed formula for cow’s milk protein allergies.

Fats and Oils

HiPP: HiPP opts for a blend of vegetable oils (palm oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil) alongside fish oil to deliver essential fatty acids including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which is important for eye and brain development. The use of a variety of sources helps ensure a well-rounded intake of fats beneficial for your baby’s health.

Loulouka: Steering clear of palm oil, Loulouka incorporates coconut oil in addition to rapeseed oil and sunflower oil. Coconut oil has been noted not only for fostering healthy weight gain but also for promoting proper bone density as well as being easily digestible. This selection contributes positively to both healthful growth and sustainability concerns.

Loulouka’s fat profile is superior to Hipp’s thanks to using coconut oil and whole milk. Palm oil, if organically grown, is one of the best vegetable oils, along with coconut. The problem with palm oil would be if it was refined and non-organic. This version would be called palm olein, and formulas like Enfamil use it a lot.

Why Does Hipp Use Palm Oil?

HiPP carefully chooses palm oil for their infant formula because it closely matches the fatty acid makeup of breast milk, thanks to its rich palmitic acid content—just like breast milk’s own. This key ingredient helps ensure the formula is easy for babies to tolerate and supports healthy digestion.

What’s more, HiPP is committed to the environment. Their palm oil comes exclusively from 100% sustainable sources that are Rainforest Alliance Certified. This means no rainforests are harmed; instead, the oil palms grow on previously used pastures and farmland.

The farms are mostly small, local operations that practice organic farming, making HiPP’s palm oil as eco-friendly as it is baby-friendly. Plus, palm oil is super efficient, requiring less land than other oil crops.

Nutritional Facts Comparison

Nutrient	Hipp	Loulouka
Energy	276 kJ / 66 kcal	268 kJ / 64 kcal
Fat	3.6 g	3.26 g
– Saturated fatty acids	1.5 g	0.9 g
– Monounsaturated fatty acids	1.6 g	1.7 g
– Polyunsaturated fatty acids	0.5 g	0.7 g
— Linoleic acid (omega-6)	400 mg	392 mg
— Linolenic acid (omega-3)	60 mg	55 mg
— DHA	13.2 mg	15.4 mg
Carbohydrates	7.0 g	7.2 g
– Sugar	7.0 g	7.2 g
– Lactose	6.9 g	7 g
Fibres	0.3 g	0.17 g
Protein	1.28 g	1.36 g
Sodium	20 mg	24.3 mg
Potassium	66 mg	66.6 mg
Chloride	51 mg	47.4 mg
Calcium	51 mg	44.8 mg
Phosphorus	30 mg	35.8 mg
Magnesium	45 mg	59 mg
Iron	0.5 mg	0.7 mg
Zinc	0.5 mg	0.51 mg
Copper	0.053 mg (53 µg)	0.0525 mg (52.5 µg)
Manganese	0.0050 mg (5 µg)	0.0077 mg (7.7 µg)
Fluoride	< 0.0050 mg (<5 µg)	7.7 µg
Selenium	3.8 µg	3.2 µg
Iodine	15 µg	14.1 µg
Vitamin A	54 µg	58 µg
Vitamin D	1.5 µg	1.47 µg
Vitamin E	0.70 mg	1.7 mg
Vitamin K	5.1 µg	4.5 µg
Vitamin C	8.9 mg	12.8 mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	0.036 mg	0.058 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.14 mg	0.1 mg
Niacin (B3)	0.34 mg	0.51 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.34 mg	0.38 Mg
Vitamin B6	0.023 mg	0.058 mg
Folic acid (Folate for Loulouka)	10 µg	16.6 µg
Vitamin B12	0.12 µg	0.19 µg
Biotin (B7)	1.5 µg	1.9 µg
Inositol	4.2 mg	9 mg
L-carnitine	1.8 mg	1.54 mg
Choline	25 mg	23 mg
GOS (Galacto-oligosaccharides)	300 Mg	260 mg

Probiotics and Prebiotics

HiPP formula includes natural probiotics from breast milk and prebiotics (GOS) to support digestion and immunity. Loulouka doesn’t specify unique probiotic or prebiotic strains.

A crucial part of an infant’s diet, probiotics and prebiotics support a healthy digestive system and improve gut health. Here’s how HiPP and Loulouka incorporate these elements into their formulas:

HiPP: One of the standout features of HiPP formula is the inclusion of natural probiotic lactic acid cultures (Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum®), which were originally extracted from breast milk. These probiotics play a vital role in promoting a healthy gut flora, which is essential for digestion and immunity. It also contains prebiotics in the form of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) derived from lactose. GOS mimic the function of oligosaccharides found in breast milk, acting as food for beneficial gut bacteria and further enhancing digestive health.

Loulouka: Loulouka doesn’t specify the presence of unique strains of probiotics or prebiotics like HiPP.

Best Places to Buy Hipp and Loulouka

If you are in the US and want to buy Loulouka, I’m afraid that it’s quite challenging, as many of the European Formula providers are sold out.

Hipp however, is readily available in many, but Organic’s Best and The Milky Box are our top recommendations.

What are some alternatives to Hipp and Loulouka?

If you’re considering other baby formula options, some popular alternatives include Bobbie, Byheart, Holle, and Kendamil. 

• Bobbie: A US-based organic formula brand that aims to provide European-quality ingredients and nutritional composition, with the convenience of being available in the United States. *Read: Bobbie vs Hipp

• Byheart: A newer brand that focuses on clean ingredients and a nutritionally complete formula, based on the latest scientific research in infant nutrition. *Read: Byheart vs Hipp

• Holle: A well-established European organic formula brand that offers a range of cow’s milk and goat’s milk formulas, and has a strong focus on sustainability and biodynamic farming practices. *Read: Holle vs Hipp

• Kendamil: A UK-based formula brand that prides itself on using locally sourced, high-quality ingredients, and offers both organic and non-organic options. *Read: Kendamil vs Hipp

Last Words

We hope this comparison between Hipp and Loulouka has helped you choose the best formula for your little one.

As always, if you have any questions you can leave a comment or contact us at [email protected].

Happy feeding!