Hipp Dutch vs. German vs. UK: Which Formula Is Better?

Hipp Dutch

HiPP Dutch formula stands out due to its dedication to mimicking breast milk as closely as possible.

It includes natural probiotic lactic acid cultures taken from real breast milk.

The main carbohydrate is lactose, similar to what you’d find in mother’s milk, which means no starch is added.

Certified EU organic, this formula comes from farms focusing on animal welfare and environmental care.

With no artificial sweeteners, GMOs, or common allergens like gluten and soy, it’s a top-tier choice for babies.

Added nutrients like prebiotics (GOS), fatty acids (DHA and ARA), and essential vitamins promote a healthy digestive system and immune function.

Hipp German

The HiPP German formula is known for aiding digestion.

Unlike some formulas, it has a lower lactose content and excludes maltodextrin, making it easier on little stomachs struggling with colic or gas.

This version includes mild organic starch for a creamy texture that provides the necessary energy.

Like the Dutch version, it boasts high-quality EU organic ingredients but uniquely includes probiotics directly cultivated from breast milk for enhanced digestion support.

With prebiotics, ARA (Omega-6), and DHA (Omega-3), and without artificial sweeteners or GMOs, HiPP German is excellent as a complete food source or a breast milk supplement.

Hipp UK

For parents seeking a formula gentle on sensitive tummies, HiPP UK offers an organic combiotic option without starch – its primary carbohydrate is lactose.

Like its counterparts, this formula benefits from EU organic certification, which ensures that no harmful chemicals or pesticides are used in its production.

It’s allergen-free and filled with essential nutrients like prebiotics (GOS), fatty acids (DHA and ARA), and vitamins crucial for your baby’s health and development.

Designed to mimic breastmilk, it supports digestion and overall immunity in babies from birth onwards, with its various stages tailored to different age groups.

Protein Content

Proteins are fundamental to your baby’s growth and development. All HiPP formulas — Dutch, German, and UK — primarily use skimmed milk and whey product as their protein sources, closely resembling the protein makeup of human breast milk. This composition ensures the proteins are easily digestible for babies, efficiently supporting muscle growth and overall development.

• HiPP Dutch: Relies on skimmed milk and a whey product to provide a balanced mix of proteins.
• HiPP German: Uses skimmed milk and whey products, too, but includes L-phenylalanine and L-histidine, amino acids crucial for infant growth.
• HiPP UK: Follows suit with organic skimmed milk and whey product as the main protein sources, ensuring an easily digestible blend.

There are no big differences in protein content between the three formulas. They even have the same whey-to-casein ratio (60:40). The only one would be the addition of L-phenylalanine and L-histidine in Hipp German, but this should not be the main factor for your choice.

Carbohydrate Content

Carbohydrates are crucial for providing energy to your growing baby. The type of carbohydrates in baby formula can affect digestion and overall comfort.

• HiPP Dutch: The main carbohydrate is lactose, derived from milk. This choice makes the formula closer to mother’s breast milk, facilitating easier digestion without adding starch.
• HiPP German: Lactose is also primary in HiPP German, supplemented with starch to provide a creamy texture and ensure sustained energy release. This can be particularly helpful for babies needing gradual energy supply.
• HiPP UK: Like HiPP Dutch, HiPP UK focuses on lactose as its sole carbohydrate source.

Here the choice is simple. Dutch and UK only use lactose as their carbohydrate source, which is what we want from a conventional formula. Hipp German adds some starch. This can be great for babies with mild lactose sensitivities or those who benefit from a more gradual energy supply (hungry babies). There is no right or wrong answer since the starch used by Hipp is organic, so choose depending on your baby’s needs.

Fats and Oils

Fats are a critical component of baby formula, providing the essential fatty acids for brain development, vision improvement, and overall growth. HiPP formulas recognize this importance by including a mix of vegetable and fish oils to mimic breast milk’s fat composition as closely as possible.

The three formulas share the same fat blends.

They all use an organic blend of vegetable oils, including palm oil, rapeseed, and sunflower. They also add fish oil as their DHA source and Mortierella alpina oil as their ARA source.

While Hipp’s fat blend is not the best we have seen, it is nutritionally complete. Palm oil can seem controversial; however, it is organically grown, which means it does not harm the environment. It also contains palmitic acid, a fatty acid very similar in structure to breast milk. Hipp does not use high-oleic, canola, or soy oils, which you should try to avoid.

All Types of Hipp Formulas: Dutch, German, and UK

Hipp Dutch Formulas

Hipp Dutch offers Bio Combiotik (the conventional one) and an HA version designed for babies with potential allergies, keeping nutrition wholesome and digestion-friendly.

Hipp German Formulas

HiPP German features a more extensive range, including Bio Combiotik, an HA version for allergies, Comfort for digestive problems, Anti-Reflux for those with regurgitation issues, Ready to Feed for convenience, a Goat Milk version for alternative nutrition, and Kindermilch for toddlers.

Hipp UK Formulas

HiPP UK primarily provides the Combiotik Organic formula (the conventional one), focusing on simplicity while ensuring comprehensive nutrition and offering Stages 1 (0-6 months), 2 (6-12 months) and 3 (12+ months)