Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA & ARA Review

Baby Formulas are abundant with many manufacturers offering what they feel is the best formula in the bunch and the one most like actual breast milk. Many good formulas exist, and while they are very similar, there are some important differences between them. One formula that is okay but has a few shortfalls is Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron, a powdered baby formula with added DHA and ARA.

Baby Formula Commentary:

Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron is a dry formula; a white- colored powder that is packaged in an easy to open can. This formula is mixed like most others: Purified water is added to a clean bottle, formula is then added, the bottle is shaken, and the mixture is ready to serve. Once prepared, the formula is good for 24 hours. At that point, if it hasn't been consumed yet by your baby, it should be discarded.

Many people think that baby formulas are exactly alike, but I have noticed a few differences. Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula does have a few positive points, but also some that might be cause for concern. On the positive side, this formula does include DHA and ARA- two chemical compounds that are naturally found in human breast milk. These fatty acids are similar to the contents of breast milk and are almost equal in quality. They are so close, in fact, that some nutritionists have recommended using formulas containing DHA and ARA and giving up breast milk completely. Of course, there are other pediatricians who feel that breast milk is best and there is no good substitute. But even these critics agree that a formula with DHA and ARA is better than one without.

Exactly what is contained in Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula? Here is a full list of ingredients:

Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Reduced Minerals, Whey Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oils (Coconut, Palm Olein, Soy, and High-Oleic Safflower or High-Oleic Sunflower), Lactose, Corn Maltodextrin, less than 1.5% of: Potassium Citrate, Potassium Phosphate, Calcium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Sulfate, M. alpina Oil*, Vitamins (Sodium Ascorbate, Inositol, Choline Bitartrate, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Phylloquinone, Biotin, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin B12), C. cohnii Oil, Taurine, Nucleotides (Cytidine 5'-Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5'-Monophosphate), and L-Carnitine.

These ingredients are pretty typical for baby formula, but there are a few extras, like added iron. The nutritional level is pretty good overall, with plenty of vitamins and minerals for your baby's growth.

Another positive point to mention is the aroma of this formula. Many baby formulas have an odd smell that is somewhat difficult to describe and most definitely unpleasant. Spilling some on your baby's clothing or your own usually means a required change of attire to eliminate the bad smell. However, the smell of this formula isn't quite as nasty as others and I can tolerate the smell caused by a small amount dripping on my clothing more easily than with other baby formulas.

Now, let's talk about the bad points of Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron. This formula has one of the same problems common with other formulas: The problem with dissolving properly. If the water you use isn't hot enough or if you don't shake long enough, the powder will not dissolve completely. Boiling water might do the trick, but if you let the water get this hot, it will take even longer than usual for the formula to cool down before it can be served.  

Like I said before, this formula doesn't smell as bad as others. But one thing I noticed immediately is that it makes for a very unpleasant smell with it comes out in your baby's diaper. Not only that, it can also come out in different colors depending on the baby and the baby's eating habits. I can recall a few times after using Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron when I went to change my little girl's diaper only to discover that her poopy was green! I found out that this can happen when you switch formulas, but oddly enough, it didn't happen when I switched to other brands of formulas. It only happened with Good Start. Every baby is different, so what happened to me isn't necessarily an accurate prediction of what will happen to everyone else. But beware that your baby's diaper could end up looking like a St. Patrick's Day practical joke if you feed him/her this formula.

Good Start products are easier to find than other brands of formula. It is also slightly less expensive than others and if you search through the internet, you can find places to sign- up to get a free can of this formula each month. Even if you can't find the free can per month offer, it is still pretty easy to find coupons for $3 or $5 off of each can.  

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron, DHA, and ARA is a fairly good formula for infants and it has enough good points to recommend. I don't like it quite as much as some of the others, due to the problems with dissolving and the color changes that it causes in my baby's diaper. It also seems to upset my little girl's stomach more than others, in spite of the "Comfort Proteins" that are supposed to make it easier to digest. It isn't one of the best formulas but it is an acceptable brand and one worth trying if nothing better is available.