Breast Milk vs. Formula Chart: Nutrient Comparison

Breast Milk vs. Formula, Nutrient by Nutrient

Nutrient	Breast Milk	Formula	Why It Matters
Fats	Rich in DHA, an omega 3 fat tied to brain and eye development Levels shift on their own as your baby grows Contains cholesterol and lipase, an enzyme that helps break fat down Nearly all of it gets absorbed	No DHA or cholesterol unless it’s added in Doesn’t adjust as your baby’s needs change No lipase Not fully absorbed	Fat is arguably the most important nutrient in breast milk, and DHA plays a big role in how your baby’s brain and nervous system develop. The fat that formula fed babies don’t absorb is a big reason their stools tend to smell stronger.
Protein	Mostly soft, easily digested whey protein Contains lactoferrin, which supports gut health, and lysozyme, which has antimicrobial properties Rich in growth factors and proteins linked to sleep	Mostly casein, a protein that’s harder to digest and creates more waste Puts more work on a newborn’s kidneys Little to no lactoferrin or lysozyme Fewer growth factors	Babies don’t have allergic reactions to the proteins in human milk the way some do to proteins in formula, which is worth knowing if your baby seems fussy after feeds.
Carbohydrates	Mostly lactose Rich in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), a type of carbohydrate unique to breast milk	Most standard formulas use lactose too, though some use corn syrup solids or other sugars instead Naturally low in HMOs, though some brands now add synthetic versions or prebiotics	HMOs feed the good bacteria in your baby’s gut and help crowd out harmful germs. If that matters to you, check the label since more formulas are adding HMOs than they used to.

A few things worth keeping in mind. Plenty of parents combine breastfeeding and formula, or switch between them for all kinds of reasons, work, milk supply, medication, or just what works for their family. None of that is a failure. If breastfeeding itself is the hard part right now, whether it’s a painful latch or wondering if your baby’s getting enough, our guides on getting a proper latch and is my baby getting enough milk walk through the most common snags.

If you’re troubleshooting something more specific, like clogged ducts, sore or cracked skin, or low supply, our common breastfeeding problems page covers the usual culprits and what tends to help. A couple of persistent myths are worth clearing up too, our breastfeeding myths page tackles the ones we hear most often.

Whichever way you feed your baby, what matters most is that they’re growing, gaining weight, and thriving. The chart above is meant to help you understand the differences, not to keep score.