Frequently asked questions

Nara Organics was created by our founder, Esther. When her daughter (Nara!) was born 8 years ago, Esther had trouble breastfeeding and had to research formula options quickly. She couldn't find an infant formula she felt confident feeding her baby. Why skim milk? Why soy? Why corn syrup solids? 

Determined to find a solution, Esther spent over seven years collaborating with scientists, pediatricians, and nutritionists to create an organic infant formula based on whole milk. Nara’s formula is simple, clean, and nutritious. Every ingredient is carefully sourced and our formula meets both U.S. and EU food safety standards. 

7 years in the making, Nara Organics is the first whole milk formula (with no skim milk!) that’s USDA organic certified. 

A can of Nara is 700 grams and makes around 181 fluid ounces of formula, which is approximately 45 4-ounce bottles. 

Our starter bundle is two smaller cans, each 400 grams. A small can makes about 104 fluid ounces of formula, which is approximately 25 4-ounce bottles.  

For Nara, our general rule of thumb is that the 6 pack is great for babies who are fully formula feeding, and the 4 pack is great for babies who are combo feeding (50/50 formula and breastmilk) at any age between 0-12 months. To see more details on our recommendation, take a look at our feeding chart. 

Every baby eats differently, so always talk to your pediatrician if you have questions. If you’re ever running low on Nara, you can edit your subscription to receive it sooner, or place a one-time order. 

We’re a U.S. formula and we meet all FDA requirements. Esther is an American mom who struggled to find a formula she felt confident feeding her daughter. 

Our formula is made in a state-of-the-art facility in Germany. Why? Because we’re setting a new standard in baby formula, and the EU has some of the strictest formula food safety standards in the world. Simply put, our facility in Germany is an incredible place to make formula, and we perform 2,000+ safety and quality tests on our formula. We think this gives Nara babies the best of both worlds. 

Learn more about our quality standards. 

When developing Nara Organics, we visited facilities all over the United States and the world, and we chose a state-of-the-art facility in Germany. Simply put, this is an incredible place to create formula. The EU has some of the strictest formula food safety standards in the world and we perform 2,000+ safety and quality tests on our formula.

Learn about our quality standards. 

Our customers won’t see any price changes because of tariffs or because Nara is made in Europe. In fact, our price per ounce is lower than other whole milk formulas made in the U.S. We’re happy to talk more if you have questions! 

Yes! Nara Organics meets all FDA requirements. Nara is a U.S. formula, which means we’re regulated by the FDA. The FDA process is extremely rigorous (as it should be) and ensures all formulas sold in the U.S. meet mandatory nutritional and safety requirements. We also meet all EU food safety standards — some of the strictest standards for infant formula in the world. 

Learn about our quality standards. 

Yep, our formula is USDA organic certified. We’ve gone beyond organic milk to make sure our formula is USDA certified organic. Nara is the only certified organic whole milk formula in the U.S. with no skim milk. Read more about our ingredients. 

The Clean Label Project is a nonprofit that independently tests foods and consumer products for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides. Their organization is “dedicated to bringing truth and transparency to food and product labeling.” 

The Clean Label Purity Award is a mark of excellence, showing that Nara Organics has been deeply tested for hidden contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides, and shows that our formula goes beyond minimum requirements to create truly clean nutrition for your baby. 

The Nara app is an intuitive, fuss-free way to track your pregnancy, your baby, and your postpartum health. Some of the most loved features include a pumping timer, combo feeding, and weekly sleep trends. If your baby drinks Nara formula, you can also order right from the app. Our app is always free and ad-free. 

Over 1 million parents have used the Nara app to keep their babies (and families!) on a schedule, and our app has 4.9 stars. Download for iOS or Android. 

Visit our ingredients page for the whole story. The quick overview is that Nara Organics is made up of carefully sourced fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Together, these ingredients provide 100% of your baby’s nutritional needs in their first year of life. 

Fat 

We use the most whole milk fat of any formula sold in the U.S., then we add a blend of organic plant-based oils that provide essential fatty acids. We also add DHA and ARA oils, which bring the fatty acid profile closer to breastmilk. Because we use a higher amount of milkfat, we're able to add less vegetable oils. 

Carbohydrates

Lactose is the primary carbohydrate source in our formula providing the energy your baby needs to grow (just like breastmilk). We never add carbs like corn syrup solids, maltodextrin, or glucose syrup.

Protein

Organic whey and casein, the proteins in our formula, come from our carefully sourced organic milk and whey ingredients. Our whey/casein is balanced at 60:40, an easy-on-tummies protein ratio patterned after mature breastmilk.

Vitamins & minerals

Nara has all the required vitamins and minerals your baby needs in their first year, including vitamins A, C, D, E, selenium and zinc for immune support. We also include choline and inositol to support brain and neural development.

The simple answer: We use organic whole milk because it’s filled with naturally occurring, nutritious fats that support your baby’s growth and brain development. Other formulas use skim milk and 100% vegetable oils as their fat, which means they miss out on providing those good milk fats. 

The longer answer: Whole cows’ milk and breastmilk (but not skim milk or vegetable oils) naturally contain fats in the form of fat globules; each globule is enveloped by a layered membrane.The membrane —called the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) — consists of many different components that may play a role in infant health outcomes, including neurodevelopment benefits, immune system, and gut health benefits, just to name a few.

Whole cows’ milk and breastmilk (but not skim milk or vegetable oils) naturally contain fats in the form of fat globules; each globule is enveloped by a layered membrane. The membrane, called the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) consists of many different components that may play a role in infant health outcomes.

Researchers are still exploring the role of various components that are responsible for positive outcomes in infants, including brain development, immune system support, and gut health benefits.

We're proud that our infant formula has more milkfat than any other infant formula in the U.S. and also provides naturally occurring MFGM. Fat is very important for growing babies, and we believe in the goodness of organic whole milk. 

Our infant formula is a complete food for babies 0-12 months. The organic whole milk we use in our formula is wholesome and safe, and is combined with other ingredients to ensure your baby is getting the complete nutrition they need. Most infant formulas use skim cow’s milk — we use whole. 

Cows’ milk on its own (straight from the carton) can’t provide complete nutrition for infants and isn’t recommended for babies in their first year as a sole source of nutrition. 

Yes, our formula is designed to be easy on tummies. We use an easy-to-digest whey:casein ratio of 60:40 that mimics mature breastmilk.

Also, lactose is the primary carbohydrate in our formula and acts as a prebiotic to support healthy bacteria in your baby's gut. 

DHA and ARA are conditionally-essential fatty acids, meaning babies need these nutrients in certain conditions. We add DHA, as well as ARA, at levels found in breastmilk (average worldwide levels) to support the brain, immune and cardiovascular systems. 

Breastmilk has prebiotics, and we add them to our formula to support healthy bacteria in your baby’s gut, which can aid with digestion and help with soft poops. 

Nope, you won’t find any of these in our formula. 

• No skim milk
• No palm oil
• No soy
• No corn syrup
• No GMO ingredients
• No artificial sweeteners
• No gluten

Nara Organics is the first whole milk formula (with no skim milk!) that is USDA organic certified. We’ve gone beyond just organic milk to make sure our formula is certified organic. 

Nara is also an American formula that’s made in a state-of-the-art facility in Europe. We think this is the best of both worlds for your babe because our formula meets both U.S. and EU food safety standards.

Yep, our formula is USDA organic certified. We’ve gone beyond just organic milk to make sure our formula is certified organic. Nara is the only certified organic whole milk formula in the U.S. with no skim milk. Read more about our ingredients. 

Yes, we won the Purity Award and the Pesticide-Free Award from the Clean Label Project. 

The Clean Label Project is a nonprofit that independently tests foods and consumer products for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides. Their organization is “dedicated to bringing truth and transparency to food and product labeling.” 

Yes! Nara Organics is certified kosher dairy. 

Yes, Nara Organics is gluten free. 

Yes, all of our ingredients are non-GMO. Here’s our full no list.

• No GMO ingredients
• No skim milk
• No palm oil
• No soy
• No corn syrup
• No artificial sweeteners
• No gluten

Every infant formula (0-12 months) in the U.S. and EU contains some amount of seed oils in order to provide the necessary fatty acids and calories for growing babies. Fatty acids are a critical part of infants’ brain development and overall growth — babies require nearly 50% of their calories from fat. 

We use the most whole milk fat of any formula sold in the U.S., then we add a blend of plant-based oils rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Because we use a higher amount of milkfat, we're able to add less vegetable oils. The oils in our organic vegetable oil blend are organic, non-GMO, and extracted without the use of hexane.

This blend of organic milk fat and organic oils makes Nara special and brings the fatty acid composition in our formula closer to breastmilk. 

Yes, we test extensively for heavy metals and other environmental contaminants. We meet both U.S. and EU food safety standards, performing 2,000+ safety and quality tests on every batch of formula. We’re also independently tested by the Clean Label Project and have won the Purity Award, which also includes additional testing on heavy metals, including lead and arsenic. 

Folic acid and folate are both forms of vitamin B9. Folate naturally occurs in foods like leafy greens and beans. Folic acid is a more stable form of folate that can be added to multivitamins and infant formula. 

Both forms are crucial for cell growth and development, which is why it’s so important to take folic acid supplements during pregnancy (this helps prevent neural tube defects). The folic acid form is also better absorbed than the folate from food sources — 85% vs. 50%, respectively.¹

During infancy, it’s important for babies to get enough vitamin B9 to support rapid growth and development and to produce red blood cells. We add folic acid to our infant formula to ensure that the nutrient profile meets the recommendations set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. 

If you have specific concerns about the form of folate in infant formula, you should chat with your doctor and/or pediatrician about what form of folate may be best for you or your baby.

Our formula is based on organic whole cows’ milk, so it's not recommended for babies who have been diagnosed with a cows’ milk protein allergy (CMPA) or if you suspect a CMPA. We always recommended that you speak to your baby's pediatrician to determine the best infant formula choice for your little one.

Nara Organics Infant Formula is a routine milk-based formula containing lactose, therefore it is not a lactose-free formula and would not be acceptable for a baby who is lactose intolerant.

Just like breastmilk, our formula is based on lactose as a primary source of carbohydrate. Lactose is a beneficial and effective source of both energy and prebiotics and most babies can tolerate lactose without any problem, including breastfed babies.

Lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, naturally lives in our intestines. Most infants are born with an adequate amount of this enzyme to digest lactose, however there are some instances in which a baby may not be able to digest lactose properly and may need a lactose-free formula. Lactose intolerance is not the same as having a cows’ milk protein allergy   (CMPA), so discussing with your baby’s pediatrician is key. 

At Nara Organics, we know that every baby has different feeding and nutritional needs. For general guidelines, you can check out our feeding chart for both formula feeding and combo feeding (50/50 formula and breastmilk).

The amount of formula your baby needs depends on several factors, including their age, their weight, and whether they're drinking all formula or combo feeding. If you’re fully formula feeding, your baby should take in about 2½ ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight on average (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics). 

For Nara, our general rule of thumb is to start with the 6 pack for babies who are fully formula feeding, and to start with the 4 pack for babies who are combo feeding (50/50 formula and breastmilk) at any age between 0-12 months. 

This is just a guide, and you should always talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s specific needs!

You can always find detailed directions for mixing a bottle on your can of Nara Organics, right where you need it. 

Here are the steps:

Directions for preparation & use: Proper hygiene, handling and storage are important when preparing infant formula. Ask your baby’s doctor if you need to use cooled, boiled water and if you need to sterilize bottles, nipples and rings before use. 

1. Wash hands, surfaces, and bottle before preparing.
2. Pour water into bottle. Measure and add powder to water (see below for amounts).
3. Return dry scoop to can. Cap bottle and shake well. 
4. Feed baby within one hour and discard any leftovers. 

Once you open a can of Nara, you should use the powder within one month, and always use your formula powder before the “use by” date found on the bottom of the can. 

After opening a can, keep the lid tightly closed and store at room temperature in a dry area. Avoid extreme temperatures. To keep powder fresh and prevent bacterial growth, make sure the scoop and lid are clean and completely dry. Store the scoop on the provided storage hook, on the inside lip of the can.

When you add formula powder to the water, the powder takes up some space and makes it look like the level is higher than before (this is called displacement). For example, for a 4 ounce bottle, fill the bottle with 4 ounces of water then add 4 unpacked level scoops of powder. Shake well to mix. You’ll end up with a bottle that contains slightly more than 4 ounces of formula. 

Our formula uses a 1:1 water to powder ratio, so you’ll use one unpacked level scoop of powder for each ounce of water. 

If you have questions, be in touch! We’re here to help. Or you can always chat with your pediatrician to determine the best feeding amounts for your baby.

You should ask your baby’s doctor if you need to use cooled, boiled water to mix your formula bottles, and if you need to sterilize bottles, nipples and rings before use. 

The quality of your water can often affect the answer to this question, which depends on many factors, including where you live. We recommend always using clean bottles and nipples and washing your hands before preparing the formula. For further information, we recommend discussing this with your doctor.

You can keep a bottle of prepared formula in the refrigerator for 24 hours (put it in the fridge immediately after mixing), then use the bottle or discard. Once the baby starts feeding, finish the  bottle within an hour and discard the remaining formula, if unfinished. Never use the microwave to warm formula! Serious burns can occur. 

Once your baby starts feeding, you can use the same formula bottle for an hour, then you need to toss any leftovers. Once a baby drinks from a bottle, it’s more likely that bacteria can grow, so you don’t want to keep using that bottle for more than an hour. If your baby isn’t finishing bottles on a regular basis, you can consider mixing smaller bottles. 

No, formula should never be frozen. 

You can mix a batch of formula and immediately put it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. After 24 hours, you should discard any leftover formula that hasn’t been consumed. 

We always recommend following the instructions for preparation that are on the label of the Nara Organics infant formula can. For automated formula dispensers, we recommend reaching out directly to the manufacturer of that particular formula dispenser. You may also want to check with your baby's pediatrician and discuss the best methods for safely preparing your infant's formula.

Nara Organics is a routine infant formula that was created to meet the nutritional needs of full-term infants up to 12 months of age. 

Always talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about what infant formula would be best for your baby. 

Sometimes babies aren’t tolerating their current formula and need to try a different infant formula. If this is the case, we always recommend that you speak with your pediatrician about your baby’s unique needs before trying a new formula. 

If your baby is tolerating their current formula, it’s generally fine to switch to a similar recipe. For instance, if your baby is drinking a cows’ milk formula, they should be fine with a new cows’ milk formula. If they’re drinking a gentle formula, they might need to stay with a gentle formula. 

We know this can be tricky, and we’re happy to talk with you! Reach out to us. 

Always consult your baby’s doctor before you consider using or switching formula. Starting a new formula can feel overwhelming, but often it’s very simple, so let’s start there! 

Many babies can start drinking a new formula right away with no fuss. It’s always worth trying a bottle and seeing how it goes. They might make faces or spit/dribble a bit at first because babies are predisposed to sweet tastes (like breastmilk) and this is a new flavor. Babies also have a general tendency to reject something new (just wait until they start solids!). 

If your babe wasn’t thrilled about a new formula, fret not. Some babies may take more time to get used to a new taste. One way to ease the transition is to mix prepared Nara infant formula with breastmilk.  If you do mix them together, it’s recommended that you carefully prepare the formula before mixing with breastmilk.

Babies have gas (no matter what they’re eating), and their poop changes with their diet, so as you introduce Nara, your babe’s poop may look or smell different. This is normal! Our infant formula includes prebiotics which supports healthy digestion and may help with soft poops.

If you suspect that your baby isn’t tolerating the formula well, be sure to address this with your pediatrician immediately.

The amount of formula your baby needs depends on several factors, including their age, their weight, and whether they're drinking all formula or combo feeding (50/50 formula and breastmilk). 

See our feeding guide for more detail. 

If you’re fully formula feeding, your baby should take in about 2½ ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight on average. This is just a guide, and you should always talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s specific needs!

The best sign is that they are drinking bottles! Some gassiness or changing poops are normal as you introduce new foods (and formula is food!). Nara has prebiotics, which we add for healthy digestion. 

If your baby develops a rash or itchy skin, has frequent diarrhea or vomiting, or seems unusually lethargic, they may have a formula intolerance or allergy. Always talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns. 

It’s normal for babies to have gas (a lot of it!), so some gassiness is just a part of normal digestion. It can also be due to your babe naturally swallowing some air from feeding. 

Your baby’s poop may look or smell different after starting a new formula. Our formula also has prebiotics that support healthy bacteria in your baby’s gut and may promote soft poops. 

As you introduce Nara, some gassiness or changing poops are normal. Our formula has prebiotics for soft poops, which should help avoid any constipation.   

If your baby develops a rash or itchy skin, has frequent diarrhea or vomiting, or seems lethargic, they may have a formula intolerance or allergy. Always talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns. 

First, every baby is unique! And that includes the amount they eat. 

The amount of formula your baby needs depends on several factors, including their age, their weight, and whether they're drinking all formula or combo feeding (50/50 formula and breastmilk). See our feeding guide for more detail. 

If you’re fully formula feeding, your baby should take in about 2½ ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight on average (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics). This is just a guide, and you should always talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s specific needs. 

When developing Nara Organics, we visited facilities all over the United States and the world, and we chose a state-of-the-art facility in Germany. Simply put, this is an incredible place to create infant  formula. The EU has some of the strictest formula food safety standards in the world. We perform 2,000+ safety and quality tests on our formula. Learn about our quality standards. 

Yes, we rigorously test for heavy metals. We follow EU safety standards for heavy metal testing and have been awarded the Purity Award from the Clean Label Project.

Yes, all infant formulas are required to be tested for Cronobacter. Our testing for Cronobacter exceeds the minimum sample requirements under both US and EU regulations.

Nara carefully monitors the supply chain for ingredients used in our formula. We also have full control over our manufacturing, and our partner in Germany has a lot of capacity for making infant formula. We’re confident that we can keep delivering wholesome, whole milk formula to you and your baby. Monthly subscribers also have priority access to Nara formula — an extra layer of security.

Our formula is FDA registered, USDA organic certified, meets both U.S. and EU food safety standards, and Nara won the Purity Award from the Clean Label Project. We go above and beyond to create the best possible formula for your baby. 

Nara Organics is a routine formula designed for healthy, full-term infants. If you have specific questions around your baby’s nutritional needs because of allergies or other concerns, you should always talk to your baby’s pediatrician. 

Nara Organics is a truly unique, built-from-scratch formula, and we performed an independent clinical trial in order to be FDA registered. With a talented group of scientists and pediatricians, as well as the participation of parents and babies, we conducted a double blind randomized controlled hybrid trial showing that our formula is safe, supports healthy growth, and is well-tolerated by babies.

At this time, our formula is only available on our website and we can’t accept EBT. When Nara is available in stores, including stores that accept EBT, we will let our customers know. 

Right now, our formula is only available at nara.com. We're excited to provide more options in the future, including national retailers. We're working on it and will let you know as soon as it happens! 

We ship Nara Organics with the major carries, i.e. FedEx, UPS, and USPS. The majority of our formula is shipped via FedEx. We have warehouses on the East and West coasts, which allows us to ship our formula quickly to you. 

We ship across the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. We also ship to all U.S. territories and APO and FPO locations (overseas military locations). At this time, we are unable to ship internationally for all other countries.

Yes, we ship to all APO and FPO addresses as well as all domestic military bases. 

Nope! We have warehouses on the East and West coasts, which allows us to ship our formula quickly. All first orders will be delivered within 2 days. Subscription orders will arrive 3-5 days after your chosen order date. For one-time orders, you can choose your shipping speed at checkout. 

Starter Bundles and monthly subscription orders always come with free shipping! If you place a one-time order for a 4-pack or 6-pack, economy shipping (5-8 business days) is $7.50 (to continental U.S. states) and express shipping (1-2 business days) is $20 (to the contiguous U.S.). 

For any order placed before 1:30pm local time:

• Economy shipping: 5-8 business days (to continental U.S. states)
• Express shipping: 1 - 2 days business days (to continental U.S. states)

First orders (both Starter Bundle and subscription) are sent by 2 day shipping (for free!). Shipping times are dependent on the carrier, but we always do our best to get Nara to you quickly. 

Due to the safety requirements of infant formula, we are unable to accept returns or issue credit or refunds. However, if an issue arises, please email us at hello@nara.com and we will work to make things right.

We recommend that parents and/or caregivers speak with their baby's pediatrician or healthcare practitioner before donating infant formula or using a donated formula. For safety reasons, you should only donate or use unopened cans of infant formula.

Be sure to check the expiration dates on the can, as well. If an infant formula is expired, it may become a potential health risk, as the nutrients in the formula may be degraded and would no longer provide the required nutrition vital to an infant’s growth and development. Additionally, if an infant formula container is opened or improperly stored, it may also pose a significant safety risk for the infant.

We created a simple, flexible subscription plan, so you can keep formula on hand while saving brainspace and money. These are the reasons we love a monthly subscription for our formula. 

✨10% off every month

📦Free, fast shipping

🍼Priority access to formula

📅Skip, update, or cancel anytime

Questions? Be in touch! Or go ahead and subscribe & save → 

Visit your account to cancel your subscription. Click/tap “Manage subscription” and you’ll have the option to cancel. You can also pause your subscription if that works better for you. If we can help in any way with your feeding journey, be in touch. 💙

Life happens! We very much get it. You can pause your subscription for 1, 2 or 3 months by visiting your subscription page and choosing “Cancel.” Then you’ll be given the option to pause instead of canceling. 

Yep, go to your account and click/tap “Skip” at the top of the page. Easy peasy. 

No fear! You have a few options and we can help. 

1. Go to your account and choose “Send now” at the top of the page to get your order sooner
2. If you’re low every month and you’re subscribed to the 4-pack, you can always move up to a monthly 6-pack
3. Or you can place a one-time order for an extra 4 or 6 pack to tide you over
4. If you’re stressed and these options aren’t working, be in touch asap and we’ll help you out! 

Monthly subscribers have priority access to our formula. If there’s ever a risk of a shortage, we’ll reserve formula for our active subscribers first.