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

Key Differences Between Hipp and Aptamil Stage 1 Formulas

Features/Aspect	Hipp Stage 1	Aptamil Gold 1
Organic	Yes, EU certified organic	No
Main Protein Source	Organic skimmed milk and whey	Milk solids and whey protein
Carbohydrate Source	Organic lactose	Lactose
Fat Blend	Organic vegetable oils (palm, rapeseed, sunflower), fish oil for DHA, Mortierella alpina for ARA	Non-organic vegetable oils (canola, corn), emulsifiers like soy lecithin, fish oil for DHA
Probiotics	Probiotic lactic acid cultures from breast milk, specifically Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum®	Bifidobacterium breve M-16V
Prebiotics	GOS (galactooligosaccharides) from lactose	GOS (galactooligosaccharides) and FOS (fructooligosaccharides)

Parents often find themselves torn between leading brands when choosing the perfect baby formula.

This article will compare two popular formulas: Hipp vs Aptamil.

We have chosen Hipp Stage 1 and Aptamil Gold as the two contenders, as they are the most popular of each brand and are made for babies without any specific digestive needs.

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

Let’s get after it!

Our Short Answer

After analyzing both formulas, Hipp is the clear winner, but Aptamil is a proud second.

Hipp is a better formula for the following reasons:

• It’s organic (it matters in the long run)
• Its fat blend is more nutritious and healthier
• It uses probiotics extracted from real breast milk
• It’s easy on the tummy

The only reason we find to choose Aptamil is its availability and price, but this depends on where you live.

Overview of the Two Formulas

Hipp Dutch Stage 1 mimics mother’s milk with organic ingredients and probiotics for digestion and immune support, lactose as the main carb, and is EU organic certified.

Aptamil Gold 1 offers complete nutrition inspired by breast milk research, with prebiotics, probiotics, and essential nutrients.

Hipp Dutch Stage 1

Hipp is a formula that tries its best to mimic mother’s milk.

It uses organic skimmed milk and other natural ingredients, ensuring your baby’s food is free from harmful chemicals.

It stands out because it includes probiotic lactic acid cultures from real breast milk. This helps to create a formula that is as close to breast milk as possible, supporting your baby’s digestion and immune system.

The main carbohydrate in Hipp is lactose, like in breast milk, meaning there’s no added starch.

Hipp takes pride in being certified EU organic, which means they follow strict rules for animal welfare and look after the environment too.

Their formula does not have artificial sweeteners or GMOs, and it avoids common allergens such as gluten, soy, peanuts, and eggs.

To top it off, Hipp includes important nutrients like prebiotics (GOS), essential fatty acids (DHA and ARA), along with vitamins A, D, and C.

Aptamil Gold 1

Aptamil has been around since 1968 and, according to Euromonitor International Limited, is considered the #1 formula brand in Europe.

It’s designed for babies from birth up to 12 months old.

Aptamil Gold+ Infant Milk bases its approach on over 50 years of breast milk research, offering complete nutrition inspired by nature’s model.

This formula features a blend of prebiotics (GOS & FOS) and the probiotic B. breve to aid digestive health and DHA (Omega-3) for brain and eye development.

Aptamil also contains important vitamins and minerals, mirroring those found in breast milk, to support a strong immune system, emphasizing Vitamin D.

The blend of nucleotides is added to mimic the nutritious composition of breast milk further. With cow’s milk as its base, it also contains fish oil and soy ingredients.

Nutritional Composition

Hipp features organic skimmed milk and whey with essential amino acids for growth, using organic lactose and vegetable oils including palm oil for fats, plus DHA and ARA.

Aptamil uses milk solids and whey protein, with lactose for carbs and a mix of non-organic oils and emulsifiers for fats.

Protein Content

Hipp: This formula uses organic skimmed milk and whey products as the primary protein sources. It includes essential amino acids like L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, and L-histidine to support your baby’s growth and development.

Aptamil: Aptamil’s protein comes from milk solids and whey protein (milk), which also aims to mimic the protein composition of breast milk for balanced growth. Including nucleotides such as cytidine-5’-monophosphate and uridine-5’-monophosphate supports dietary nucleotide intake – an important aspect of infant nutrition.

The main difference is that Hipp uses organic milk. Both formulas have the same whey: casein ratio: 60:40. Milk solids are essentially powdered milk. This means it has milk fats, which is a pro in our opinion, having to rely less on vegetable oils (more in the fat section).

Carbohydrate Content

Hipp: The main carbohydrate in Hipp is lactose, derived from milk. This choice reflects the carbohydrate composition of breast milk, offering a natural energy source that is gentle on your baby’s stomach.

Aptamil: Similar to Hipp, Aptamil uses lactose as its primary carbohydrate source, aligning with the carbohydrate profile found in breast milk.

There are no differences in carb content except that Hipp uses organic lactose.

Fats and Oils

Hipp: The fats in Hipp come from a blend of organic vegetable oils, including palm oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil, which are chosen to provide a fat profile similar to breast milk. This formula also includes fish oil for DHA (an important omega-3 fatty acid) and Mortierella alpina oil for ARA (an omega-6 fatty acid), essential for brain development and overall health.

Aptamil: Aptamil utilizes a mix of non-organic vegetable oils (canola and corn) and emulsifiers like soy lecithin to deliver the necessary fats. Like Hipp, it contains DHA-rich fish oil and unique additions such as sodium caseinate (milk) within its fat blend for an optimized fat composition geared toward development needs.

Hipp is ahead in fat content thanks to using better vegetable oils. Palm oil might have a bad rep, but only if it’s not organically grown or if it’s the refined version (palm olein). Organic palm oil is among the most nutritious vegetable oils, including coconut. Hipp uses ordinary sunflower oil, not its high-oleic version. Aptamil uses canola and corn oils, along with soy lecithin. While not amongst the worst, these oils are less nutritious than Hipp’s.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Hipp’s formula contains probiotics from breast milk for healthy gut flora and uses GOS for prebiotics.

Aptamil features Bifidobacterium breve M-16V for digestion, with a prebiotic mix of GOS and FOS, supporting a balanced digestive system.

Hipp includes natural probiotic lactic acid cultures originally extracted from real breast milk, specifically Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum®. This probiotic promotes a healthy gut flora, mirroring the protective effects found in breastfed babies. Hipp uses galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) derived from lactose for prebiotics. These feed the good gut bacteria, helping maintain a balanced digestive system.

Aptamil, on the other hand, features the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, which is added to support gut health and overall digestion. It complements this with a dual prebiotic mix of GOS (galactooligosaccharides) and FOS (fructooligosaccharides).

Best Places to Buy Hipp and Aptamil

Hipp

If you live in the US, you have to purchase Hipp through an online retailer.

Some are: Mommy Formula, Organic Baby Food 24, Organic’s Life Start, etc.

The two we usually recommend are Organic’s Best and The Milky Box, which you can find below:

Aptamil

You may purchase Aptamil at Walmart or in your local stores.

What are the Best Alternatives to Hipp and APtamil?

While Hipp and Aptamil are excellent options for baby nutrition, we always recommend exploring other brands before deciding.

Each baby is unique, and finding the right formula might require some research.

Here are our favorite alternatives:

Holle: Known for its Demeter certification, Holle is one of the most eco-friendly and ethical brands in the market. Their formulas contain some of the most natural ingredients available globally. Holle is an excellent choice for your family if you prioritize organic farming practices and sustainability. *Read: Holle vs Hipp | Holle vs Aptamil

Bobbie: Many parents, including us, say Bobbie is the best US-based baby formula. It offers an organic infant formula designed to meet every nutritional need of your baby. Their approach to mirroring breast milk’s composition makes them a favorite among American families. *Read: Bobbie vs Hipp | Bobbie vs Aptamil

Kendamil: Unique for its use of whole milk and inclusion of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), Kendamil stands out for its commitment to using natural sources. Their milk comes from Red Tractor Farms, ensuring high-quality ingredients from ethically managed farms.

Last Words

We hope this comparison between Hipp and Aptamil has helped you make an informed decision.

If you have any further questions, we’ll be happy to help you, just leave a comment or contact us at [email protected]

Happy feeding!