Hipp vs SMA: Which Baby Formula Is Better?

Key Differences Between Hipp and SMA

Feature	HiPP Dutch	SMA PRO
Organic Certification	Yes, EU organic	Non organic
Primary Protein Source	Skimmed milk, whey product (60:40 whey:casein ratio)	Skimmed milk, whey protein (70:30 whey:casein ratio)
Carbohydrate Source	Lactose	Lactose
Fat Blend	Organic palm oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, fish oil	Sunflower, rapeseed oils, DHA from algae
Probiotics	Yes, from real breast milk	None
Prebiotics	Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose	2’-Fucosyllactose (2’FL)
DHA Source	Fish oil	Algae (plant-based)

This article will compare two popular European formulas: Hipp and SMA PRO. (We have chosen Hipp Dutch for this comparison, but the verdict also applies to Hipp German and Hipp UK)

*Read: Hipp Dutch vs. German vs. UK

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

Let’s get after it!

Our Short Answer

After analyzing both formulas, if we had to choose one for our little one, it would be Hipp for the following reasons:

• It uses organic ingredients with European organic certification.
• Contains organic palm oil (this reason may seem controversial, but palm oil is the second best vegetable oil nutritionally speaking of those used in infant formulas, behind coconut oil. The ones to avoid are soy and canola oils).
• It has probiotics taken from real breast milk, super beneficial for a strong intestinal flora.

These differences apply to Hipp German, Hipp UK, as well as Hipp Comfort or Hipp HA, so whichever you choose, you will be making the right decision.

Overview of the Two Formulas

HiPP Dutch formula closely mimics breast milk, featuring organic oils and special ingredients like galacto-oligosaccharides and probiotics for gut health. Certified EU organic, it’s free from artificial sweeteners, GMOs, common allergens, and includes essential nutrients for development.

SMA PRO, offering a plant-based DHA source and suitable for Halal diets, has been trusted since 1919, emphasizing strong, healthy growth without palm oil.

Hipp Dutch

HiPP is a baby formula known for being very close to breast milk.

It uses skimmed milk and a special whey product.

It also has organic oils like palm, rapeseed, and sunflower oils.

But what makes HiPP special? It includes galacto-oligosaccharides from lactose and probiotics from real breast milk. These ingredients help your baby’s gut to thrive and be healthy.

A big plus about HiPP is that it’s certified EU organic. This means the milk comes from farms that care about animals and the earth. They don’t use bad chemicals.

HiPP doesn’t have artificial sweeteners or GMOs (which we don’t want). And if your baby can’t have gluten, soy, peanuts, or eggs, no worries, HiPP doesn’t have those either.

It also has important DHA and ARA (good fats for brain development), plus vitamins A, D, and C to help keep your baby healthy and happy.

SMA PRO

SMA® PRO First Infant Baby Milk is another good choice for babies from birth onwards. It replaces or complements breast milk well. SMA’s mix includes whey protein, skimmed milk, and a blend of vegetable oils but no palm oil.

What’s great about SMA? It contains DHA, too, but gets it from algae, which is plant-based – good news if you prefer plant sources. Plus, SMA is suitable for Halal diets, which might be necessary for some families.

SMA has been around since 1919. They’ve learned a lot about what babies need to grow strong and healthy. This formula also comes with AA (a kind of fat important for health) without palm oil involved.

So, if your family needs something proven over time with attention to modern health trends like plant-based DHA, SMA could be a good pick.

Nutritional Composition

HiPP and SMA both prioritize easy-to-digest proteins close to breast milk’s composition, with HiPP slightly closer due to its whey:casein ratio and organic milk source.

Both use lactose as their sole carb source.

HiPP’s fat blend includes organic oils and fish oil for brain development, while SMA opts for plant-based DHA, highlighting HiPP’s more comprehensive and environmentally conscious approach.

Protein Content

HiPP: This formula uses skimmed milk and whey product as its main protein sources and a whey:casein ratio of 60:40. These are great because they are close to what’s found in breast milk. This means HiPP is easy for babies to digest and good for their tummies.

SMA: SMA also uses whey protein and skimmed milk for its protein with a 70:30 whey:casein ratio. Like HiPP, SMA’s focus on these proteins makes the formula gentle for babies.

The main and most important difference is the source of the milk used, which Hipp clearly wins thanks to being certified EU Organic. In terms of protein, both are very similar, with the only difference in their whey-to-casein ratio, Hipp being slightly closer to breast milk than SMA.

Carbohydrate Content

HiPP: The main source of carbohydrates in HiPP is lactose, which comes from milk. Lactose is also a big part of breast milk, making HiPP similar to what Mom produces naturally.

SMA: SMA also uses lactose exclusively. No traces of other artificial sugars.

Both formulas can help keep your baby’s energy levels up naturally thanks to using lactose exclusively as their carb content. This is what we want to see in conventional formulas.

Fats and Oils

HiPP: The fats in HiPP come from a blend of organic vegetable oils, including palm oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil. There’s also fish oil, which provides DHA – important for brain development – and Mortierella alpina oil for ARA, another beneficial fatty acid.

SMA: SMA chooses a mix of sunflower and rapeseed oils. It includes DHA from algae (a plant-based source) and AA from Mortierella alpina oil, like HiPP.

The most important difference is that Hipp uses organically sourced oils; this is extremely important with palm oil, which has been flagged as environmentally dangerous. Palm oil, however, is very nutritious thanks to having palmitic acid, a fatty acid very similar in structure to one found in breast milk. Additionally, Hipp uses organic fish oil and SMA algae. This difference is not as important unless you want a vegetarian formula. Overall, we think Hipp has a more bioavailable and complete fat blend.

Nutritional Facts Comparison

Nutrient	Hipp (per 100ml)	SMA Pro (per 100ml)
Energy (kJ / kcal)	276 / 66	280 / 67
Fat (g)	3.6	3.6
Saturated Fatty Acids (g)	1.5	0.3
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (g)	1.6	2.3
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (g)	0.5	0.65
Linolenic Acid (Omega-3) (mg)	60	49
DHA (mg)	13.2	17
Linoleic Acid (Omega-6) (mg)	400	555
Carbohydrates (g)	7.0	7.5
Sugars (g)	7.0	7.5
Protein (g)	1.28	1.24
Sodium (mg)	20	21
Potassium (mg)	66	85
Chloride (mg)	51	50
Calcium (mg)	51	43
Phosphorus (mg)	30	24
Magnesium (mg)	45	5.7
Iron (mg)	0.5	0.67
Zinc (mg)	0.5	0.48
Copper (mg)	0.053	0.05
Manganese (mg)	0.005	0.02
Selenium (µg)	3.8	3.5
Iodine (µg)	15	13.6
Vitamin A (µg)	54	58
Vitamin D (µg)	1.5	1.5
Vitamin E (mg)	0.7	1.8
Vitamin K (µg)	5.1	5
Vitamin C (mg)	8.9	13
Thiamin (mg)	0.036	0.08
Riboflavin (mg)	0.14	0.18
Niacin (mg)	0.34	0.52
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0.023	0.04
Folic Acid (µg)	10	19
Vitamin B12 (µg)	0.12	0.22
Biotin (µg)	1.5	1.68
Pantothenic Acid (mg)	0.34	0.54

Probiotics and Prebiotics

When it comes to keeping your baby’s tummy happy and healthy, probiotics and prebiotics play big roles. Think of probiotics as good little helpers living inside the gut, helping digest food. Probiotics are food for those helpers, ensuring they stay strong and plentiful.

HiPP: This formula shines when it comes to probiotics. HiPP includes natural lactic acid cultures originally extracted from real breast milk. This is amazing because it means the probiotics are similar to what a baby would get from natural feeding. These helpers are great for a baby’s digestion and help build a robust immune system.

The prebiotics in HiPP are galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which come from lactose. GOS helps feed the good gut bacteria, ensuring your baby’s digestive system is as healthy as possible.

SMA: SMA also takes the health of a baby’s gut seriously by including 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’FL), a type of oligosaccharide found in breast milk, acting as a prebiotic. However, SMA doesn’t specifically list probiotics among its ingredients.

Best Online Stores to Buy Hipp and SMA

If you live in Europe, you should have no issues finding Hipp or SMA formulas in your local stores, but if you want to purchase online or live outside the EU, these are the places we recommend.

Hipp

We always recommend buying European Formulas through Organic’s Best and The Milky Box. They are the two most trustworthy and safest stores for purchasing infant formulas.

SMA PRO

For SMA PRO, we recommend BritSuperstore as our go-to store for purchasing UK products safely and trustworthy.

What are the best alternatives to Hipp and SMA?

We always recommend that parents learn about other formulas in case they need a second or third option.

These are the ones we recommend for most babies:

Kendamil is a UK-based brand offering a range of infant formulas, including options made from whole milk instead of skimmed milk, which is commonly used in other brands. The whole milk formula provides a creamier taste and a more natural fat composition. Kendamil also emphasizes using locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients and avoids palm oil in its formulations. It offers both regular and organic options to cater to different preferences. *Read: Kendamil vs SMA and Kendamil vs Hipp

Holle is a European brand that, like HiPP, focuses on producing organic infant formulas with high-quality ingredients and strict production standards. They offer cow’s milk and goat’s milk-based formulas, suitable for babies with cow’s milk protein sensitivities. Holle’s formulas are made with Demeter-certified biodynamic milk, and they prioritize sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. *Read: Holle vs Hipp and SMA vs Holle

Bobbie is a US-based brand offering European-style infant formulas that adhere to high-quality standards. Their products contain non-GMO ingredients, and they avoid using corn syrup solids and palm oil. Bobbie’s formulas include prebiotics, DHA, and ARA, which support gut health and brain development. They are designed to be gentle on the baby’s digestive system while providing complete nutrition. *Read: Bobbie vs Hipp

Last Words

We hope this comparison between Hipp and SMA helps you make the best decision for your little one.

If you have further questions, do not hesitate to leave us a comment or contact us at [email protected].

Happy feeding!