Choosing the right baby formula for your newborn is no easy task. If you happen to choose Holle Organic Baby Formula, you might run into another question: Holle Organic Stage Pre Formula or Holle Organic Stage 1?
A Closer Look at Holle Stage Pre vs Stage 1 Formula
European organic baby formula is divided by stages, depending on the age of your baby. For instance, for Holle Organic (Bio) Formulas, the different stages are:
- Holle Organic Formula Stage Pre: Suitable from birth until 6 months old
- Holle Organic Formula Stage 1: Suitable also from birth until 6 months old
- Holle Organic Formula Stage 2: Suitable for babies starting at 6 months up to 10 months
- Holle Organic Formula Stage 3: Suitable for babies starting at 10 months and upd
- Holle Organic Formula Stage 4: Suitable starting at 12 months and up
While this is a simple way to know exactly which organic formula to feed your baby, you might have noticed that Holle Organic Pre and Holle Organic Formula Stage 1 are both suitable starting at birth until 6 months of age.
The Difference Between Stage Pre & Stage 1
The main difference between Holle Pre and Holle Stage 1 Organic (Bio) Formulas is the source of carbohydrates. In accordance with the strict European Union (EU) regulations, organic (or bio) baby formulas cannot contain sugar in its pure form. Though Holle has always avoided making their formulas too sweet, the company has gone to great lengths to make their formulas resemble breast milk as closely as possible in both nutrition and taste.
Breast milk is naturally sweet and also provides the level of necessary energy for babies, which is why Holle adds starch sugars (like those found in carbs) to their baby formulas, the most common ones being Maltodextrin and Lactose.
The Difference Between Lactose and Maltodextrin
Lactose is a sugar composed of glucose and found in milk. Maltodextrin is a starch that is produced through the hydrolysis of plants and wheat. As a starch, Maltodextrin has a slower release than Lactose. This means that if you choose to feed your newborn an organic formula with Maltodextrin, your baby will probably have fewer feedings since they'll stay full for longer periods of time.
As newborns need regular feeding for healthy growth and development, Maltodextrin is usually found in formulas after the newborn stage.
This is why Holle Organic Stage Pre includes Lactose but not Maltodextrin (Starch) while Holle Organic Stage 1 Formula includes both.
The formula you choose to feed your newborn is a personal choice; but no matter which option you decide on, you can't go wrong with Holle Organic Formulas. We recommend starting with Holle Organic Stage Pre and going from there - but there's no wrong way to do it.
Get all Holle Organic Formulas here for the very best prices. Organic Baby Food Shop has offices and warehouses in New Jersey, Illinois, California, and Texas for the fastest shipping possible plus local customer service!
Happy feeding :)
Comments (2)
Hi Mona,
The Pre Holle formula is designed specifically for babies under 3 months, as it doesn’t contain any starch. However, it’s perfectly fine to use for older babies, too (and some parents prefer to use the no-starch option longer anyway) – as long as it’s not expired! Thanks for reaching out, and let us know if you have any other questions :)
I bought 2 boxes of Holle bio pre when my child was born but since he had milk protein sensitivity I never opened them. Now he is 7.5 months and I want to start cow based formula. What’s the difference between pre and stage 2? Can I still use the pre ones I have.