Organic Formula - Earth Best vs Babys Only vs Bellamys

Baby J is 6 months now, she's one cute bubbly baby who is always grinning. She loves to play and laugh with her cousins. She is the tiniest amongst them even though she is not the youngest.

Baby J was breastfed exclusively for about 5+months and it was a difficult transition to bottle feeding then formula. She much prefer the real thing; she prefers to be fed formula when she is asleep.

So here it comes when her mommy becomes paranoid about wanting to give her only the best and for this case formula. After researching for a good organic formula by reading customer reviews, we decided to buy Earth Best (EB) infant formula. They have EB food jars and other teething rusks but there aren't any EB formula in Singapore so we ordered in from Diapers.com in US. Yes! All the way from US! Talk about dedication and bourgeois!

It took some time to receive our EB so by the time I needed to supplement with formula, I bought a can of Bellamys from Singapore. My sister-in-law recommended Bellamys as it has a smooth texture and easy to digest. Baby J had no problem with Bellamys.

However, Baby J's tummy reacted badly with our newly arrived, expensive and imported EB. She had loose stools at first then diarrhea for days. Her first lab test didnt detect any bacteria or parasite then her second came out with amoeba bacteria. Meanwhile, she still does her usual activities - grinning, playful and alert, with no signs of sickness albeit making faces when she pooped.
When we flew to Singapore for check-up, our pediatrician highly doubted about the amoeba and we did another lab stool test. Meanwhile, doctor told us to feed Baby J with Soy formula or lactose-free formula. I actually thought that I should stop feeding Baby J breastmilk as it has lactose! I froze all expressed breastmilk and my supply lessened more.

We tried Isomil and Prosomil and Baby J hated the smell. She grimaced during her sleep when the bottle went near her. I web browse on my Blackberry for a non-smelly Soy formula and preferably organic. Then I remembered reading that Babys Only Dairy formula has a vanilla shake smell and taste so I was ecstastic when I saw Baby's Only is available in Singapore Vitakids in Paragon (through coincidence! They are not direct distributor for Babys Only) and ordered the organic Soy formula from another branch in Forum. Dedication for the best for my baby :) Baby J still continue to have her diarrhea even though she recovered slightly.

After the new year holidays, we return back to Jakarta and went to see Dr. X, an old and experienced doctor, since Baby J had not recover from her diarrhea for 20 days! Dr X recommended lactose-free formula and I was desperate for Baby J's health that I just bought whats available - Bebelac, a local manufactured brand. Baby J reacted well with Bebelac although I had my doubts, she accepted it and drank well and best, she recovered.

Within 1.5 month, Baby J had gone through Breastmilk, Bellamys, Earth Best, Isomil, Babys Only, and Bebelac.So here's my verdict.
1. Earth Best - US, Organic, high DHA and ARA, has Iron smell, does not mix well, has some weird alien small flecks (visible since its drak grey) caused my baby diarrhea. Baby J's cousins tried too, her cousin W, 7months old when he tried EB had shown mild allergies like skin rash on his face. Her other cousin G, 5months old when she tried was fine, she didn't enjoy her first taste but slowly accept EB and she is still taking it now.
2. Isomil and Prosomil - Soy formula, smells terrible, Baby J will only take it when she starved herself. Baby W takes Isomil fine, it is very sweet.
3. Babys Only- US, Organic, Soy formula smells slightly better. Dairy mix and smell okay. Grainy.
4. Bebelac - smells good, bubbly when mix, leaves stains if mouth not wiped properly, tongue has to be clean after 2 feedings minimum. Mild on tummy.
5. Bellamys - Australian, Organic, smells fine, mix best compared to other formula, smooth texture, easy to accept, has iron but no trace smell of iron compared to Earth Best. Baby J is still happy with her Bellamys formula.