Kendamil vs. Bobbie: Which Baby Formula Is Better?
If you’ve recently become a mom in the United States, you are fully aware of the formula crisis that’s taken place in recent years. In response, the U.S. Government rolled out Operation Fly Formula. This allows the import of baby formula from other countries.
As a result, we’ve seen a number of international baby food brands come on the market. This includes the British-based Kendamil. But how does Kendamil baby formula compare to Bobbie, it’s US counterpart? Our team compared ingredients, nutrition, cost and more to help you decide which to buy. Keep reading for our Kendamil vs. Bobbie comparison.
It’s important to speak with your doctor before switching your baby’s formula.
About Kendamil
Kendamil is a British brand that has been producing infant formula out of the English Lake District for over 60 years. Their organic baby formula is made with whole milk from grass-fed cows sourced from Red Tractor farms. Two versions of Kendamil formula have recently been made available in United States: Kendamil Classic First infant formula, Kendamil Organic First infant formula. In this article, we’ll mainly focus on Kendamil Organic First.
About Bobbie
Bobbie is a new organic baby food brand founded in 2019. It was created by Laura Modi & Sarah Hardy who were unhappy with formula options available in the United States. They wanted to provide a healthier option corn syrup, fillers, and palm oil, so they created Bobbie. It’s received both the Clean Label Project Purity Award and the Clean Label Pesticide-Free Certification.
Bobbie vs. Kendamil Comparison
Ingredients
Both brands use high-quality, organic whole milk from grass-fed cows. Both formulas also meet the nutritional requirements set by the European Union for infant formula. However, there are some key differences between the two brands.
Kendamil
The first ingredient in Kendamil Organic First is whole milk. It’s supplemented by sunflower, coconut, and rapeseed oils as a source of fat in the formula. This formula substitutes vegetable and palm oil for milk fat, preserving fats which are essential for baby brain development. It also includes whey protein as a supplement.
Because of this, it includes naturally occuring MFGM (Milk Fat Globule Membrane). This have shown promising results with regard to neurodevelopment and defense against infections in recent studies.”
It also sources it’s Omega 3’s from plants, which means it’s vegetarian and good for the environment. It’s an excellent option for infants who are allergic to fish oils as well.
Bobbie
Bobbie uses organic nonfat milk as it’s carbohydrate. This makes it easy to digest for your baby and promotes brain development. This milk is sourced from Organic Valley, and comes from 45 family owned co-op farms located in Vermont and Ohio. It doesn’t include any corn syrup, Palm Oil, added sugars, soy, or artificial flavors.
This brand includes added sunflower, canola, coconut, and safflower oils as additional fat sources.
Category Winner
The brands contain similar ingredients, but the difference lies in the organic standards each brand follows. First, Kendamil Classic is not certified organic, while Organic First follows EU standards for organic foods. This means it does allow antibiotic medicines in dairy cows who make the milk.
Bobbie, on the other hand, follows both US and EU standards. This means it does not allow the use of antibiotics. This brand also does not offer a “classic” version, only organic. For this reason, our winner in this category is Bobbie.
Nutritional Content
Both brands are very similar in terms of nutritional content. They both meet nutritional requirements for a growing infant, and meet FDA requirements for infant formula. Both formulas contain DHA, have a similar Whey to Casein ratio (60 to 40), and are Palm Oil-free. However, there are some slight differences between these two brands as well.
Kendamil
As we mentioned previously, this formula uses whole milk as it’s main carbohydrate. Kendamil Organic First contains Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMOs) which is a prebiotic that can help strengthen an infant’s immune system. It has a 60/40 whey to casein ratio, which is the same as a mother’s breast milk.
It is also high in DHA with 20 mg per 100 calories, and 1g of iron per 100 calories.
Bobbie
This brand sources it’s protein from nonfat milk and has a 60/40 whey to casein ratio. It is also high in DHA with 20 mg per 100 calories, and 1.2mg of iron per 100 calories. as well Omega-3 fatty acids.
Category Winner
When it comes to nutrition, the main thing that sets these two brands apart is HMO content. Kendamil includes HMOs, and Bobbie does not. The former is also slightly higher in DHA, while the latter is higher in iron. Because of this, Kendamil formula is the winner in the nutritional category.
Variety
There are distinct differences between Kendmil and Bobbie baby formulas when it comes to variety.
Kendamil
This brand provides a range of options designed for different stages of a baby’s development. This includes
- Kendamil First Infant Milk for newborns up to 6 months
- Kendamil Follow On Milk for babies 6-12 months old
- Kendamil Toddler Milk for toddlers 1-3 years old
Bobbie
This formula brand currently offers two options:
- Bobbie Organic Infant Formula for newborns up to 12 months old
- Bobbie Organic Toddler Formula for toddlers 1-3 years old
Category Winner
In terms of variety, Kendmil takes the win. This brand offers a better variety of options for the stages of baby growth.
Price
Kendamil
Costs $39.99 for a 28.2oz can, which is equivalent to $1.42 per ounce.
Bobbie
Costs $25.99 for a 14oz can, which is equivalent to $1.42 per ounce.
Category Winner
When it comes to price, both formulas are similar in cost, but Bobbie is slightly more expensive. If you are looking to save a few dollars over the course of your baby’s development, this brand is a bit cheaper. Therefore, Kendamil is the winner in the price category.
Availability
Both brands are available for purchase online on their websites, in Target stores, and on Target.com.
Reviews
Both brands have received positive reviews from customers. However, there is some nuance in terms of what customers have to say.
Kendamil
Kendamil Organic Infant Formula Powder has a 5 star rating on Target.com with over 3,500 reviews. Positive kendamil formula reviews claim that their baby had less gas, spit up, and constipation. Contrary to positive feedback, negative reviews about Bobbie formula claim that their infants experienced increased gas and spit-up.
This suggests that every baby reacts differently to this formula.
Bobbie
Bobbie Baby Organic Powder Infant Formula has a 5 star rating on Target.com with over 3,500 reviews. One Bobbie formula review says it’s great for sensitive babies. Negative reviews show that it’s more costly and often runs out of stock. Overall, moms seem to love Bobbie.
Category Winner
Both brands have 5 star reviews on Target.com, but negative reviews for Bobbie mainly relate to it being out of stock. This means people must really like it, so Bobbie is our winner in the review category.
Overall Pick
Ultimately, the decision between these formulas will depend on a baby’s individual needs and feeding journey. Both brands offer high-quality, organic formulas that are FDA regulated and free from harmful ingredients. However, Kendamil may be a better choice for parents who want to include HMOs in their baby’s diet, while Bobbie may be a better choice for parents looking for an option without corn syrup and want to steer clear of milk source from cows treated with antibiotics.
Having said that, our team thinks Bobbie is the better choice for organic baby formula. This brand follows both EU and USDA organic guidelines, which is key. This mean the cows from which the formula is sources are fed an antibiotic free diet. Check out our full review here.