Frequent Questions about HiPP Formula
Do you have a question about HiPP Organic milks?
We may have already answered your question! There are MANY comments below, so please use “Ctr+F” to search the page for your keyword(s). If your question has not been answered, please know that we received a large volume of inquires each day and depending on your question it may take considerable time for your response.
The content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional.
I recently purchased Hipp Stage 1 formula and am excited to try it. To prepare it I have boiled a kettle of water, let it cool for approximately 30 minutes, and then mixed in the appropriate amount of powder. My question relates to the fact that I have read lots of articles stating that the powdered formula itself is not sterile; how does boiling the water and then letting it cool address this? I do understand that preparing the formula with boiling water is not advised as it will kill the beneficial properties, but I am confused by the literature about doing everything one can to prevent bacteria/illness that stems from a contaminated powder.
Hi, thank you for the question. It can be confusing, but boiling the water and letting it set is only treating the water, not the powder. And most often boiling water is really not necessary. We have a detailed page about preparing the formula if you click on the link “PREPARATION” in the top menu. This will give you a full explanation about when boiled water is needed and the risk for harmful bacteria in all baby formulas.
So is boiling necessary….I’m using purified bottle water? My 4 week old is really hungry and it’s hard to wait until water is cooled down to feed him. I’ve been following these instructions but 30 minutes is long! I’m also using the organic infant hungry formula.
Hi, thank you for the message. We have a very detailed page answering your question in our menu bar under PREPARATION. Additionally, you can pre-mix the formula if you like and store it in the refrigerator for use. The time intervals for storage are on our PREPARATION page as well.
Hello, can hipp goodnight jars can be replaced instead of the bottle milk at night ? My baby is 8 months and having it at 7 pm which is helping her sleep through the night
Please advise
Hi, thanks for the question. Good Nigh Milk can certainly replace one feeding, however HiPP recommends that it only be used once a day.
Hello, I am interested in purchasing your formula. Because I do not know if I will be formula feeding or breast feeding, can you please provide me some options in terms of # of boxes/cans that need to be ordered?
Thank you for your time!
Hi, the best thing to do is to have a box on hand to make sure you are good to go when you make the decision. One box will last a newborn roughly 2.5 weeks.
Is there a difference in the Germany vs UK formulation? Also, I’ve read about issues with the aluminum in the formula. Can you provide details this?
Thank you for your question. Yes, there is a substantial difference between the German and UK formulation. The German Bio line of HiPP is similar to the Combiotic line but is a slightly different formulation with no prebiotics and no probiotics. The Bio line contains starch solids, whereas the Combiotic line (at least the British formulation) does not. The British version of HiPP contains NO STARCHES, which is why we feel it is the gold standard.
The German Bio Combiotik version also contains starch solids. You can view the actual panel of Bio Combiotik on our websiteAT THIS LINK.
Regarding the news articles on aluminum content in infant milks, please go to the article we have authored on the subject: http://hippformulausa.com/hipp-formula-aluminum-study/
Hi, just wondering why starch in the formula may be less desirable. Do you have any links I can read on the topic? Thank you!
Hi, thank you for the question. Certainly, starch is not harmful in any way. It is just not a necessary component of infant milk. There are many studies on how glucose consumption affects insulin levels, but none would be relevant here. Simply, the best infant milk is that closest to the composition of breastmilk, which does not contain starch solids.
The German Bio line contains NO corn starch. It has 100% lactose sugar for carbohydrates….unless they changed the formula in the last 6 months. Where did you get this information?
Hi, actually is is the UK version that does not contain starch. The standard German Bio formula contains corn starch. Most of HiPP’s formulations contain starch, making the UK version unique in this regard.
I’m sorry you are correct. Do you know what quantity of corn starch is used? Is it just a thickening agent or are they using it to replace carbohydrates that would normally be in the form of lactose? We have given our now 8 month old both the UK and the German versions. Originally, she had the German version. We haven’t noticed too much difference between the two.
Hi , i just bought the hipp bio combiotik german version , can I add more probiotics to this formula if I wanted to or one should not add more probiotics given the formula already has some ?
Hi, thank you for your question. An additional probiotic supplement will not have any adverse effect to the use of the formula. If you are using the German version of HiPP, this will contain Lactobacillus Fermentum. There are many probiotics, and all have different functions, although the science is still catching up on their roles. The HiPP probiotic is the same strain of Lactobacillus that is contained in breastmilk.
Hi,
I would like to order two boxes of the hipp formula for my new born coming in May. How long does shipment take?
Hi, shipping from BritishSuperStores generally takes 3-4 days and an extra day for handling if necessary. If you place an order on a Friday, however, your order will go out the next business day (Monday). Thank you!
Curious about making a big batch of Hipp in the Dr. Browns pitcher. This might be a silly question, but if I fill the pitcher with 28 oz of water, would I add 28 scoops of Hipp before mixing? Thanks!
Hi, yes indeed. Make sure you fill with water first and then add the formula to ensure your ratio is accurate.
On box it says not to make big batches in advance, but our day are requires we provide prepared bottles. With other formulas, prepared batches last 24 hours. Is it the same with HIPP. Based I response here to lady using Dr. Brown’s mixer (which we use too) seems to be ok but want to confirm.
Hi, the manufacturer’s directions comply with the requirements in place by the FSA (Food Standards Agency) Health Department of the UK for labeling infant milk. It is always best practice to mix your formula freshly, however HiPP can be mixed in advance. If you have to mix in advance, take precautions to ensure your preparation area is very clean and your pitcher and bottles have been sterilized. It may be more difficult to pour the water first, and then add the scoops, but this will give you the most accurate measurement of your formula–and this becomes more important as you mix larger batches.
How many ounces of prepared formula does each box make total?
Hi, thanks for the question. There are roughly 186 scoops of formula in the box (total for both pouches). HiPP is a 1-1 ratio with water, making you roughly 186oz of prepared formula, so about 23 bottles (8oz bottles).
The stage 2 has a bigger scooper. Is it still 1-1. If so, how many ounces of formula would tit now make.
Hi, thanks for the message. Yes that’s correct, the scoop has a higher gram weight for Stage 2 but the ratio is still 1:1 when mixing according to instructions.
where is the SHOP HIPP link? i don’t see it.
we are definitely interested in ordering when the shopping site is up and running, please let us know when it is, thanks!
Hi, thanks for the message. We have added a Buy HiPP link to the menu in case your browser can’t see the Shop button on the sidebar.
I’m interested in ordering HIPP stage 1 for my baby. Would the product be that of UK or Germany? Thanks!
Hi, British Superstores provides the British formulation of the product. Thanks!
I am wondering if HIPP has made any changes in the past year to minimize the aluminum content in their formula? A 2013 study indicated that high aluminum content in HIPP formula is a concern. I am looking for a good quality organic formula, and HIPP seems great for its nutritional content. But the aluminum level has me concerned.
We reviewed this issue in depth, contacted the study authors, and just wrote up a very detailed white paper on the aluminum content and the study that unfortunately was responsible for scaring parents into believing there is a health risk. You can read it here: http://hippformulausa.com/hipp-formula-aluminum-study/ Essentially, not only is there no confirmed health risk, the study cannot confirm the validity of the results. We also have HiPP’s official statement on the matter.
I bought a “Formula Pro” machine by Baby Brezza. What is the setting please for the “first infant milk” formula?
Thank you.
Hi, it doesn’t appear that Baby Brezza has an insert setting for HiPP, but looking at the selection chart, it appears the Brezza would work best with an insert #5 in comparing it’s consistency with the other US brands. If you’ve had success with another inset, please share!
Brezza customer support says that Hipp 1 -setting five, which worked just fine, but for hungry infant they suggest setting 9 but it diesnt seem to work ! Help please!
Thanks for the question. We’ve had a few parents ask about Brezza and yes, setting 5 is what matches with HiPP Stage 1 looking at their formula manual. The Hungry Infant isn’t substantially different than Stage 1 so try a lower setting which should work.
Hi, So which exact setting would you suggest for the Hungry Infant formula?
Hi, Baby Brezza does not have a suggestion for the European milks, but according to their charts and comparing to US formulas, it appears that insert 5 would be used. Make sure you measure exactly with the machine just as you would mixing a bottle by hand. Baby Brezza can clog and can change the ratio, making your formula watery. Also remember that HiPP does not contain artificial emulsifiers, and since the Hungry Infant is a bit thicker, you might find it clumpier to mix in the Brezza. It’s always important to mix formula as precisely as possible and while these machines are a great concept, they can be prone to error. Thanks for the question!
Hi, would setting #5 on the Baby Brezza work for Hipp Stage 2 and 3 formulas as well?
I heard that every food that comes to US go through X-RAY and which might not be safe for infants to consume. Does Hipp products go through X-RAY? Could you please provide your comments on safety of the product
Hi, thank you for the question. It seems that a lot of parents are reading the same blogs online. We’ve received this question several times but have not been able to determine the actual source of the information other than anecdotal variations on the web. If you have any light to share on actual literature, please send it our way so we can review it. We are always looking intensely at research and so far the empirical evidence suggests that the x-rays do not get retained by foods at these low levels of exposure.
Regarding radiation itself, the process of food irradiation is very different than cabinet radiation which happens under the security scanner (like at the airport). They vary in levels of exposure by an order of magnitude. We cannot say whether your specific package or not went through the cabinet, but we can provide source information regarding the radiation issue.
The United States Food & Drug provides the following information.
Q8: Is it safe to eat food, drink beverages, use medicine, or apply cosmetics if any of these products have gone through a cabinet x-ray system?
A8: There are no known adverse effects from eating food, drinking beverages, using medicine, or applying cosmetics that have been irradiated by a cabinet x ray system used for security screening.
The radiation dose typically received by objects scanned by a cabinet x-ray system is 1 millirad or less. The average dose rate from background radiation is 360 millirad per year. The minimum dose used in food irradiation for food preservation or destruction of parasites or pathogens is 30,000 rad.
For more detailed information on radiation used for food inspection or food treatment, see Title 21 CFR 179.
The UK Food Standards Agency agrees with the US:
Is it safe to eat food that has been through a X-ray scanner, for example at airports?
Yes, it is. X-ray scanners used at airports for baggage control operate at very much lower energy and give rise to radiation levels very much lower than radiation sources used in food irradiation facilities. The radiation doses used to process food can be as high as 10,000 gray, whilst X-ray scanners operate at less than 0.5 gray. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to detect changes to food once it has been through an X-ray scanner.
The Food Irradiation Regulations 2009 specifically excludes X-ray surveillance devices which impart a radiation dose of less than 0.5 gray and operate at less than a maximum energy of 10 MeV (for example the ones used in ports and airports, which would include those used for commercial cargo). If the devices operate above these levels, they fall within the scope of food irradiation legislation, but the FSA is not aware of any devices currently in use which do exceed these limits. In fact many of these X-ray machines (at airports for example) operate at such a low dose that they don’t affect photographic film.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published an article(1) on the subject of x-ray machines for airport security that contains the following:
Will the x-ray examination of medicines inactivate them? No, nor will these levels of radiation affect food.
The Health Physics Society addressed the issue in one of their “Ask the Experts” columns:
Answer to Question #6115 Submitted to “Ask the Experts”
Category: Security Screening
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q If I place my breakfast, lunch, snacks, and water into the x-ray screening machine at work, is this safe when I will need to do this five times a week, times 52 weeks a year, for the next 25 years? What long-term effects could this have?
A Thank you for your question. Sending food items through a screening machine, whether at the airport or in your workplace, will not do anything to the food and the food will not contain radioactivity after it passes through the x rays. There are no short-term or long-term effects on the food or for you.
Hi. I received my formula yesterday and made sure to follow the instructions for preparation precisely. However, when I mixed 7 scoops of powder into 7oz of water the end result was a volume greater than 7oz. Am I doing something wrong or is that amount accurate since the added powder raised the total amount in the bottle to approximately 8oz or so? Thanks, in advance!
Hi, thanks so much for the good question. You are doing it exactly right! Your mixture (formula plus water) should exceed the 7oz line on the bottle. It should look like 8+ oz after shaking. If you have 7oz or less when you look at the bottle after making it…you likely didn’t put in enough water–or alternately didn’t measure in enough formula.
If my baby doesn’t finish their bottle can I use the leftover amount for the next feeding? If yes, should the leftover be stored in the fridge or can it be left at room temperature? Would I then be able reheat the remaining formula again before feeding? Thank you.
Hi, thank you for the question. You can use a room-temperature prepared bottle of formula for up to 2 hours outside of refrigeration. If you have just mixed the formula, have some left over after a feeding and immediately refrigerate, it can stay out up to 2-3 hours when you take it out (roughly the same). Essentially, once the formula warms up to room temperature, you have 2 hours for its use. As parents, of course, we don’t always follow these things exactly, but that’s the recommendation.
Yes, you could also reheat a refrigerated formula with no problems. If you check out the “PREPARATION” button on the site, at the very bottom of the page we have a breakdown of the hour intervals for room-temperature vs. refrigeration.
How long after a feeding can the bottle of formula be kept in the fridge before it’s not safe to reuse again?
What is the shelf life for Hipp Combiotic Stage 1? I’m not due for a few more months but planned on ordering fairly soon. What is the time frame for shipping to Ohio? I’ve read that some people add pre/probiotics. Would you recommend this and if so does Hipp make this?
Hi, thank you for the question. BritishSuperstores sells the freshest HiPP, the same batches that are found on the shelf in the UK at the time you purchase. So the expiration is well into 2016.
Hello,
Our four month old has been exclusively breastfed and we are considering supplementing with formula soon. We are shopping around for the right product. Do you provide samples or can you make a recommendation for a good formula to begin with?
Hi, thanks for your message. If you contact British Superstores directly, they might be able to assist with finding a way to try the formula. 1 box lasts a newborn about 2 weeks.
Hello, I am planning on switching my 3 month old boy from Enfamil to Hipp next week and I was wondering about the following: I have purchased both Milk 1 and 2 (Hungry Baby) because he still feeds 7-9 times in 24 period, including 3 times overnight/early AM. Can I use Milk 1 during the day and Milk 2 overnight or should I first use the Milk 1 I have and then move over to Milk 2? Also – is there a special way of moving him over, such as one bottle a day? Any other recommendations? And last question: do you plan on importing the liquid formula in the cartons or just powder for now?
Hi, thank you for your message. Because you are switching brands, you would want to start your little one off on just Stage 1, making a few transitional bottles over the course of the first day with Enfamil. Frequent feedings at 3 months is very normal, as well as eating during the night. Once you know that he is good with HiPP, you can supplement with Stage 2 for nighttime feedings or an early evening bottle of Stage 2. If he seems more satisfied with Stage 2, you can indeed switch completely to Stage 2.
Stage 2 can serve as his formula until the age of 1–or you can move to Stage 3 after 6 months of age. There is also a Good Night Milk that can be used once he is 6 months old. It contains organic cereal as well as formula and is a richer drink before going to bed. One bottle of this right before retiring can help with the night feedings. Nighttime feeding is a bit tricky to wean. Parents tend to have more success doing this earlier than later. A long feeding before bed can help with this, as well as a pacifier and being close to your body for soothing measures.
We can look into having the liquid formula packs available, but generally the powder tends to be easier to use.
Hi,
I am about to place an order and realize the product expiration date is not specified. How do I know the approximate expiration date of the formula I will be receiving so I don’t overstock them? Thanks!
Hi, thank you for your message. The batch number and expiration dates are on the packages themselves. Expiration depends on the date of production, so this varies with each batch created. HiPP formula generally has about a 1 year expiration.
Hi there. For a 3 month old that drinks 6 oz each feeding, will an 800g stage 1 last 2 weeks or less?
Also when using the scoop, do we fill the scoop to the top and level it or to the line that is inside the scoop?
Hi, thank you for your message. The box should last just about 2 weeks, perhaps slightly less depending on the number of feedings. It’s good to keep about 4 boxes around.
With the scoop, you will want to level the scoop literally at the top of it. The absolute perfect measurement would be to scoop into the formula and then use a butter knife to level off the formula. Leveling against the side of the box or a bin is alright but not quite as accurate since you are compacting the formula in that motion. It’s always good to make one “perfect” bottle so you can see with your eyes what the volume should approximate.
Hello
My baby is almost 9 months old. I started breastfeeding from birth to 6 months. He’s been on Earth’s Best Sensitive formula from 6 months beyond since I no longer have breastmilk. He’s been having issues with constipation, so we wanted to try a new formula Here are my questions:
1. Do you have smaller packs/samples for purchase; that way we are not stuck with such a large amount if my baby rejects the formula?
2. Other than the bulk discount, do you have any other discount offers, coupons or frequent purchase discounts?
3. Since my baby is almost 9 months and has been on a different brand formula since 6 months, what stage do you recommend I purchase? He currently drinks between 24 – 30 ounces of milk each day accompanied with pureed fruits/vegetables three time per day.
4. HIPP formula has a lower iron content. Should I supplement the iron?
5. Does HIPP formula have ARA?
Thanks for assisting me with the answers to my questions.
Hi,
Thank you for your message. Regarding which stage to start with, we will always recommend starting with Stage 1. It is nutritionally complete, and the closest formulation to breastmilk. It dissolves easily in the bottle and is really the mainstay formula of the Combiotic line. Even if your baby is at 6 months, you want to start with Stage 1. It may be all she needs. Stage 3 is calorically higher and does not contain the DHA fish oils. The DHA and ARA are organically derived, but they are only added to the Stage 1 and Hungry Infant formula.
Regarding iron, we don’t know all the political details regarding the recent iron fortification of baby formulas in the US, but the Food Standards Agency of the UK as well as the other western European countries have a difference of opinion on how much iron is needed, how much iron is actually absorbed, and how much is appropriate. In fact, there are studies on the opposite side of the argument, indicating that too much iron is not good for babies. We know as parents that an excessive iron content can lead to colic and constipation. The best thing to do is check with your Dr, and then trust your gut.
Keep in mind, HiPP has been feeding babies for longer than most US brands have existed.
The DHA and ARA added. What does organically processed mean? Do you use algae and fungi with Hexane? How is it processed? What is the source ?
Hi, thank you for your comment. If you go to the page “About the HiPP Company,” you can read about the process that is involved from the raw materials stage to production of HiPP products. HiPP Infant milks use natural sources of DHA and ARA, derived from fish oils. You can read in more detail about DHA and ARA on HiPP’s healthcare site.
Hi, i have been giving the hipp stage 1 since she’s 3 months, now she’s 14 months and I was wondering if you guys have formula for her age? And where can i buy it?
Thanks
Hi, thank you for your question. Yes, you would want to purchase HiPP’s Growing Up formula (Stage 4, but soon becoming Stage 3 as HiPP has rebranded their boxes recently). We usually have this in stock, however since we sell much less of this, it is good to let us know if you require it and we can make sure we have it available for you.
Hi
whats the difference between the UK Formula Vs The German Formula.?
Thanks.
Thank you for your question. The German Bio line of HiPP is similar to the Combiotic line but is a slightly different formulation with no prebiotics and no probiotics. The Bio line contains starch solids, whereas the Combiotic line (at least the British formulation) does not. The British Combiotic line is really a gold-standard formula. Because it contains no startch, infants have no constipation issues with this line of HiPP–if anything, it helps with constipation and colic for many parents.
The German Bio Combiotik version also contains starch solids, despite some online retailers removing this from their translation of the ingredients. You can view the actual panel of Bio Combiotik on our website. There is a formulation made in without starch, however it is difficult to obtain. All British milks are starch-free.
Hi
We are going to move to using the born free bottle dispenser (we are in the USA). I need to calibrate the machine. What is a scoop size in grams ie how many grams in one scoop.
Thank you
PS Love your product if you have to supplement or can’t breast feed its fantastic
Hi, thank you for your message–and so happy you love HiPP! It is certainly a gold-standard formula. Here are the corresponding measurements per scoop of the HiPP stages of formula (and remember Scoop Matters! The different stages have very slightly different sizes of scoops):
First Infant Milk: 4.3g per scoop
Hungry Infant Milk: 4.5g per scoop
Follow On Milk: 4.7g per scoop
Why does the formula need to be stored in the foil containers? Can it be stored in a steralised container? is it contamination or is there another reason such as it goes off?
Hi, thank you for the comment. Packing and storing formula in foil pouches is an industry standard. However, parents do choose store formula in other containers. For example, you can purchase a formula dispenser (such as the Born Free Bottle Genius) where you would pour the formula in the top plastic area for dispensing. Of course with any formula/breastfeeding items, you want to sterilize the containers before use. It is very important to keep your preparation area as well as clean as possible. As to why foil packaging is used in food and pharmaceutical packaging, aluminum foil provides a complete barrier to light, oxygen, moisture and bacteria.
my daughter is 5.5 months, 4.5 months adjusted and has been EBF and is still only about 13lbs b/c she was a preemie, my supply has dwindled since she has started to sleep through the night. which stage is right for her?