Best Stage 3 Formula Milk Singapore: Top Brands to Supplement Growth

Every mother wants only the best for their precious child. They would do anything to support the growth and development of their little baby. Proper nutrition and a healthy diet are paramount when it comes to helping your little one reach their fullest potential.

When your child turns 1 year old, they are ready to transition to stage 3 formula milk. At this age, formula milk is meant to supplement a conventional healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat.

Step 3 formula will provide additional essential nutrients that ensure your toddler gets everything they need to grow. But with so many options to choose from, how do you pick the best stage 3 formula for your toddler?  

Worry not mummies! We’ve curated a list of the best stage 3 formula brands available in Singapore. These top formula milk have essential nutrients like DHA, iron, zinc, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals to support your tot’s overall development. 

How is Stage 3 Formula Milk different?

Stage 2 formula milk vs Stage 3 formula milk

A toddler above the age of 1 year old should consume a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains and meat.

As such, Stage 3 formula is designed to supplement your child’s diet with additional nutrients not obtained from conventional foods.  

According to Healthhub Singapore, toddlers over 1 year of age will require additional calcium and vitamins as a supplement to aid in their development. Stage 3 formula milks will have many of the same nutrients as Stage 2 formulas.

However, according to Dr. Alan Greene MD, most stage 3 formulas contain a higher amount of calcium and phosphorus that is formulated to similar levels found in cow’s milk. 

Cow’s milk vs Stage 3 formula milk

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that cow’s milk lacks vitamin E, iron, and essential omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Stage 3 formula milk contains these essential nutrients missing in cow’s milk. 

However, do take note that some stage 3 formula milks may contain additional sugars and may be energy-dense. As such, they may potentially interfere with your baby’s appetite for conventional food.

To find out more about whether to switch to a growing-up formula, check out this article by TheAsianParent.

How to Choose the Most Suitable Stage 3 Formula

Providing adequate nutrition to your baby is essential during their growing years. Stage 3 formula will provide your child with additional nutrition to support brain health, immune health, growth and height, gut health and vision.

According to a study conducted in 7 countries in 2021 by Little Étoile Nutrition, parents are most concerned about their baby’s brain development (29.1% of parents) and proper development of their child’s immune system (27.8% of parents).

In addition, 40.8% of Singaporean parents state that they are looking for formula milk that helps to boost the immune health of their child.

When further surveyed, 83.9% of mothers with toddlers mentioned that they were looking for toddler milk that played a protective role in seasonal infections, such as colds and flu in children.

However, with so many brands on the market offering similar benefits, how should parents choose the best one for their baby? When choosing a Stage 3 formula milk, consider a few criteria before settling on a brand.

Allergies

If your little one faces allergies, consult your paediatrician for recommendations on the type of formula milk you should use. 

Sugar level 

Although the additional sugar in your child’s formula milk will help your child accept the formula more easily, according to Healthhub Singapore, the additional sugar may put your baby off trying conventional foods and negatively impact your child’s health.

Added sugars include glucose, sucrose, fructose, dextroses, syrups and starches.

Nutrition

Formula milks needs to meet strict nutritional guidelines. As such, every brand is likely to meet the base required nutritional thresholds.

Healthhub Singapore recommends that for a toddler to meet their Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) for nutrition they require: 

Source: Healthhub Singapore

However, each brand will have different formulations targeted towards meeting different nutritional needs of your baby.

To make this choice a little easier for you, we have summarised the nutritional benefits of the major brands on the market and benchmarked them against the RDA by Healthhub. 

Best Stage 3 Formula Available in Singapore

Dumex Dugro Stage 3 Growing Up Baby Milk Review

Best Growing Up Milk for Growth and Development

The cost of raising a child in Singapore is high, and it is estimated to increase as the years go by.

As such, balancing the affordability of growing up milk and providing your precious baby with all their nutritional requirements is one of the biggest concerns for parents.

Luckily, one of Dugro’s brand commitments is to provide affordable milk to parents in Singapore. Compared to other brands on our recommendations list, Dumex Dugro is the most affordable at $2.6 per 100g.

In terms of nutritional value, Dumex Dugro Stage 3 formula milk is no slouch. It is formulated to meet a child’s nutritional RDA according to Singapore’s requirements.

Dugro contains key ingredients such as DHA, Prebiotics, Omega 3, Iron and Calcium. Each ingredient was chosen to aid in a specific component of your child’s development and growth. 

Mummies, you now have the best of both worlds. If you are looking for a value-for-money formula milk that is able to supplement the nutritional requirements of your baby, then Dugro is the one for you.

Key product highlights:

• Sucrose-free.
• Formulated to meet Singapore’s Recommended Daily Allowance. Contains Omega 3, DHA, iodine, folic acid, prebiotics, calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals.
• Value for money. Most affordable brand on our recommended list at $2.60 per 100g.

Little Étoile Nutrition – Premium Toddler Formula 1 – 3 Review

Best in Stage 3 Formula Milk for Optimized Nutrition

The best source of nutrients for your little star comes from breast milk. Paying homage to this fact, Little Étoile Nutrition is enriched with all the essential nutrients required for your child’s development in a similar ratio to what is naturally found in mummy’s milk.

This is one of the main reasons why Little Étoile is right at the top of our list of recommendations. 

As parents, we want only the very best for our little ones. According to a survey conducted by Little Étoile, Singaporean mothers look to formula milk to help their child develop in 5 key health areas: Cognitive function (Brain), Vision (Eye), Immune system, Digestive Health, as well as Growth and Height.

This all starts with nutrition. This is why, Little Étoile Nutrition is created around the Opti-5 System, which provides the essential nutrients needed to help your child develop.

When it comes to the ability of Little Étoile Nutrition to meet your child’s nutrient requirements, Little Étoile provides one of the highest levels of omega-3 DHA, EPA, protein and other nutrients essential for your baby’s development.

On top of that, it is the only formula providing Australian dairy-sourced lactoferrin and Wellmune® Beta-glucan in one formula, together with the antioxidant benefits of lutein and prebiotic support from galactooligosaccharides (GOS).

For the health-conscious mummies, Little Étoile Nutrition also contains no added sugars and is 100% made with milk from happy grass-fed Australian cows. Therefore, you can rest easy knowing that your baby is drinking only the best ingredients. 

Lactoferrin

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that toddlers receive iron supplements daily.

This is because toddlers seldom receive sufficient iron in their diet resulting in iron deficiency as one of the highest nutrient deficiencies in the world. 

One of the key ingredients found in Little Étoile Nutrition is Lactoferrin. Found naturally in breast milk, it is the main source of iron for babies. In addition, Lactoferrin is essential in supporting proper neurological development.

With its antibacterial properties, it helps to fight infections and is considered the first line of immune defence for babies. Lastly, Lactoferrin also reduces the symptoms and duration of digestive symptoms due to viral infections in babies.

Most importantly, Little Étoile Nutrition uses lactoferrin derived from clean Australian dairy sources, so you can rest assured of its quality, freshness, and reliability.

Wellmune® Beta-Glucan

If your baby is facing digestion problems, Little Étoile Nutrition also contains Beta-glucans. Beta-Glucans are derived naturally and have a prebiotic effect which helps to support a healthy digestive system through their gut microbiome.

Little Étoile Nutrition uses a patented form of Beta-glucan called Wellmune® (~35mg/day in Little Étoile Nutrition toddler milk levels). In clinical trials, Wellmune®  has been shown to reduce cold duration, frequency of episodes and the need for antibiotics in 1-4-year-old toddlers.

This is because, Beta-glucans help support the immune system of your baby by activating immune cells in the large intestine of your baby, which makes up around 70% of the immune system!

As a result, your baby will start to develop responsive immune cells that help to combat viral infections. 

Lastly, Wellmune® is produced using a proprietary process. As such, from the time it enters your baby’s mouth to the time it gets digested in your baby’s tummy, the process helps to preserve the stability of the glucans. Highly purified, Wellmune is also naturally gluten-free.

Key product highlights:

• Great for immune system development. The only product to combine the benefits of Lactoferrin and Wellmune® Beta-Glucan, which support the immune system and protect your baby from viral infections. Contains the added benefits of vitamins and minerals like zinc and vitamins A and C, which help the immune system stay fighting fit. 
• Promotes all-round development. Developed to have all the essential nutrients to support development in 5 key areas: Cognitive function (Brain), Vision, Immune system, Digestive Health, as well as Growth and Height.
• 40 micro and macronutrients. Scientifically formulated to provide the right nutrient levels required for the healthy development and growth of your little one.
• No added sucrose, fructose or other sugars.
• Back by 20 years of experience in Health and Nutrition.
• Made with 100% Australian grass-fed cow’s milk.

*Wellmune® is a registered trademark of Kerry Group. 

Enfagrow A+ Stage 3 Review

Best Growing Up Milk for Brain Development

Every mummy wants their little one to shine. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), your toddler’s nutrition during their early infancy will play a big part in how they develop and grow later in their life.

This is because of how fast the brain grows during the first 8 years of a child’s life. According to Harvard Health, crucial nutrients required to help your baby’s brain develop are Omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and ARA), Iron, Iodine and Choline. 

Enfagrow A+ Stage 3 is formulated to meet the recommended DHA intake for toddlers. Enfagrow A+ Stage 3 provides 63g of DHA per 100 grams, which is one of the essential building blocks for brain and eye development.

It is also formulated to help support your toddler’s brain development with all the necessary nutrients such as Iron, Iodine and Choline. 

Key product highlights:

• 360 DHA Plus. Formulated to meet the recommended DHA intake for toddlers. Great for helping you support your toddler’s brain development.

Bellamy’s Organic Step 3 Toddler’s Milk Drink Review

Best Organic Stage 3 Formula Milk

Worried about the ingredients in your toddler’s formula milk? If you are looking for a trusted organic formula milk, look no further.

Next on our list of recommended Step 3 formula milk is Bellamy’s Organic Step 3 Toddler’s Milk Drink. Bellamy’s Organic is made from cows which are raised in the best possible environment.

They are pasture-fed and not injected with growth hormones, fed with GMO grains or injected with antibiotics. Furthermore, their pastures are free of harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and are left to grow in their natural state.

As such, parents you can rest easy knowing that a great amount of care goes into ensuring that ingredients used are safe for your child. 

Bellamy’s Organic Step 3 Toddler’s Milk is enriched with DHA to support the brain development of your child. On top of that, prebiotics are also added to help develop the immune and digestive system. 

Bellamy’s Organic has won multiple awards in Australia, such as the Favourite Organic Brand and Organic Product of the Year in the Australian 2020 Organic Consumer Choice Award.

In addition, they have also managed to claim the Highest Rated Toddler Milk (Stage 3 & 4) in the Tell Me Baby Awards 2021. 

 Key product highlights: 

• Organic. Formulated with milk from organically raised cows.
• Multiple awards. Winner of Consumer Choice Award  2020 and Tell Me Baby Awards 2021.

Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 Review

Best Lactose-Free Stage 3 Formula Milk

Best Stage 3 Formula Milk Singapore: Top Brands to Supplement Growth

Is your baby spitting up, fussing and crying after feeding or even getting gassy?

Based on a study conducted in 2013, 91% of parents in Singapore face similar issues. These may be signs of intolerance to the brand of formula milk you are currently using.

According to WebMd, this could be due to a multitude of reasons such as lactose intolerance or an allergy to milk proteins which your little one’s developing digestive system is unable to break down. 

Fret not. The next brand on our list is gentle on the tummy of your toddler. This is because, Similac Total Comfort’s TummiCare system is hypoallergenic and lactose free.

In addition, Total Comfort’s formula is designed to form fewer air bubbles when preparing the formula to prevent colic and gas. 

Similac Total Comfort also contains the necessary ingredients to ensure healthy development and function of the immune system, brain and eyes of your child. 

Key product highlights: 

• Lactose-free. 
• Hypoallergenic.
• Gentle on the Tummy. The proprietary TummiCare system supports gentle absorption of nutrients.
• Supports the development of toddlers. 2’-FL with nucleotides, EYEQ Plus, folic acid, prebiotics, DHA, lutein, essential vitamins and minerals.

Friso Gold Review

Best Stage 3 Formula Milk for Digestion

Is your child showing signs of formula intolerance? Research shows that only 2% – 15% of babies actually face formula milk intolerance.

Furthermore, only a small percentage of babies are lactose intolerant, and only 2 – 3% of toddlers have milk protein allergies.

As such, your toddler’s still-developing digestive system might be causing them to suffer from indigestion instead.

In this case, one alternative you can try is Friso Gold with its easy-to-digest formula. Friso Gold NOVAS Signature milk has a smaller and softer molecular structure.

Together with their LockNutri technology that locks in the milk protein in its natural form, your little one will have no more issues when it comes to digesting formula milk. 

Friso Gold is enriched with essential nutrients like DHA, prebiotics, and probiotics. To make its formula milk healthier, Friso Gold has recently changed its formula so that it now no longer contains sucrose and flavoring.

Key product highlights: 

• Easy Digestion. NOVAS Signature Milk has a small molecular structure when coupled with Friso’s LockNutri technology helps to make digestion easier for your little one. 

Pediasure Gold Review

Best Formula Milk For Growth

Are you looking for formula milk to help your child grow in height or weight? Pediasure Gold is our top recommendation for you! According to a study conducted by Kantar Singapore, 50% of parents in Singapore worry about their child’s growth.

In addition, approximately 25% of parents in Singapore are concerned that their child is underweight or short for their age.

This can occur when a child’s food intake is compromised especially if they are picky eaters or in the unfortunate event when they have fallen ill. 

Pediasure Gold provides the required nutrition for weight gain or growth. To meet the nutritional needs of the Singaporean child, Pediasure is formulated with more calcium and less sugar.

Furthermore, to support a healthy diet, it is fortified with Arginine, Natural Vitamin K2 and contains 34 essential nutrients. Lastly, Pediasure Gold is the most studied growth support formula milk with 30 years of clinical evidence.

It is also the No.1 Child Nutrition Supplement brand in the United States. Therefore, you can rest easy knowing that your child’s growth is well taken care of. 

Key product highlights: 

• Special formula for catch-up growth. Specially formulated for Singaporean children with 25% more calcium and 25% less sugar. Contains 34 essential nutrients to support weight gain and growth.
• Backed by scientific evidence to support growth. Has 30 years of clinical evidence in supporting growth in children.

Nestle Nan Review

Parents’ Choice Stage 3 Formula Milk

Nestlé NAN®OPTIPRO 3 is a brand of infant formula that is designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants from 0 to 6 months of age. It is made with high-quality proteins, including whey protein and lactose, and is formulated to support the growth and development of young infants.

The formula also contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals to support the immune system, as well as DHA and ARA, which are important for brain and eye development. It is intended for use as a breastmilk substitute and should be used under medical supervision.

NAN®OPTIPRO 3 also includes a unique protein blend known as OPTIPRO® in addition to a number of healthy components like Bifidus BL, Lipid Smart (DHA), Vitamins (A & D), and Minerals (Iron, Calcium, Zinc).

This component is particularly crucial since, according to experts, proteins are essential to the proper functioning of all biological systems, including the immune system, digestion, and metabolism. Some of the early-life proteins your child consumes have an effect on his health throughout the short- and long-term.

Key product highlights:

• Growing Up Milk
• Designed for toddlers from 1-3 years of age
• Milk Supplement For Children 1-3 Years Old

Price Comparison

Here’s a quick price comparison of the best Stage 3 Formula Milk in Singapore:

Editor’s Note: Prices accurate as of October 2023

Now that you have this well-researched list of Singapore’s best stage 3 formulas, go ahead, browse through and pick the one that best meets your requirements.

After all, it is for your most prized possession and you don’t want to miss out on the best!

Also read: Best Straw Cup for Baby: 6 Picks For Easy and Safe Drinking