Is Japanese Baby Formula Good?

In the baby formula market, Japanese brands consistently rank high in popularity among Vietnamese parents. Japanese baby formula offers many outstanding advantages, making it a great choice for your baby’s development.

Advantages

• Japanese formula brands strictly adhere to production standards, resulting in high-quality products that ensure maximum food safety.
• Japanese formula is known to be gentle on the digestive system, minimizing constipation.
• Its flavor closely resembles breast milk, providing a familiar taste for babies.
• Japanese formula provides balanced nutrition for optimal brain and physical development.
• Beyond nutrition, Japanese formula helps protect and improve a child’s immune system.
• Babies are less likely to experience overweight or obesity when using Japanese formula due to its excellent nutritional balance.
• Besides powdered formula in cans, Japanese companies also produce convenient single-serving sticks for trial before purchasing larger cans.

Meiji Step Raku Raku Cube Mild Flavor Powdered Milk (1-3 years)

Disadvantages

• Most Japanese formulas are designed to prevent constipation and promote easy digestion and nutritional balance. Therefore, they may not support weight gain as effectively as some other formulas on the market.
• Japanese formula is susceptible to counterfeiting in Vietnam. Many brands lack official distributors, relying on import, thus leading to higher prices.

Glico Icreo Stage 0 Mild Flavor Stick Pack (0-12 months)

Should I Buy Domestic or Imported Japanese Formula?

The market offers many Japanese brands with both domestic and imported formulas, such as Meiji and Morinaga. The main differences between domestic and imported Japanese formula lie in packaging, minor ingredient variations, expiration dates, and pricing—adjustments made to suit specific regional markets.

Parents can confidently choose either domestic or imported Japanese formula, as both provide comparable nutritional value for their babies. If possible, allow your baby to try both types and select the one they prefer.

Top 6 Best Japanese Baby Formulas

Morinaga Milk

Morinaga milk, from the Morinaga Corporation of Japan, has earned the trust of parents in Japan and many other countries, including Vietnam, due to its long-standing experience in the dairy industry.

The market offers both domestic and imported Morinaga milk with comparable quality and pricing. Imported Morinaga milk comes in three stages based on the baby’s age:

• Morinaga Stage 1: For babies 0-6 months old.
• Morinaga Stage 2: For babies 6-36 months old.
• Morinaga Stage 3: For babies over 3 years old.

Key Features:

• Morinaga is known for being a very gentle formula, containing ingredients like lactulose and raffinose that help prevent constipation.
• Its nutritional profile closely mirrors that of breast milk.
• It’s enriched with lactoferrin and nucleotides to bolster the immune system.
• DHA and ARA support brain development, improving intelligence and vision.
• Provides essential vitamins and minerals for healthy overall development.

Meiji Milk

Meiji powdered milk is produced by the Meiji Co., Ltd. of Japan. Established in 1917, Meiji is a leading Japanese company in the production of maternal and infant milk, boasting over 100 years of experience. Researched based on the taste of breast milk, Meiji milk is a popular choice for mothers transitioning their babies to formula.

Depending on origin, Meiji milk comes in imported and domestic versions. Besides the traditional can, Meiji also offers convenient single-serve tablets. Meiji baby formula is categorized by age group:

• Meiji 0-1: For babies 0-12 months old.
• Meiji Stage 1-3: For babies 1-3 years old.
• Meiji 3-10: For children 3-10 years old.

Key Features:

• Meiji offers some of the highest calcium content among Japanese formulas, promoting optimal height growth.
• Meiji products are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of babies in different developmental stages, providing essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins.
• It has a naturally sweet and pleasant taste that babies find easy to drink.
• Meiji formula is rich in DHA for brain and vision development.
• It contains fructooligosaccharides, nucleotides, and FOS (fructooligosaccharides) to improve digestion, enhance immunity, and prevent constipation.

Glico Icreo

Glico Icreo is a brand of the Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. (Japan). In 2015, SNB Distribution Co., Ltd. officially introduced domestic Glico formula to the Vietnamese market.

Among Japanese formulas, Glico Icreo is known for its creamy texture and high nutritional density, making it ideal for supporting weight gain. The product is currently available in two stages:

• Glico Stage 0: For babies 0-12 months old.
• Glico Stage 1: For babies 1-3 years old.

Key Features:

• Glico has a mildly sweet and pleasant taste with a light yellow color, similar to breast milk.
• The formula contains perilla oil to optimize DHA absorption.
• Glico formula is enriched with five nucleotides and palmitic acid to support holistic development of the brain, body, and digestive system.
• It contains GOS (galactooligosaccharides) to promote beneficial bifidobacteria, improving digestion and nutrient absorption.
• The β-carotene in Glico formula acts as an antioxidant to maintain a strong immune system.

Wakodo Milk

Wakodo milk is produced by Wakodo, a food brand under Asahi Group Foods, with over 100 years of experience in producing high-quality nutrition for children.

Despite its competitive pricing, Wakodo maintains high-quality standards and nutritional value. Wakodo milk is available in three stages to match a child’s developmental needs:

• Wakodo Stage 1 (Wakodo Haihai 1): For babies 0-12 months old.
• Wakodo Stage 2 (Wakodo Gungun 2): For babies 1-3 years old.
• Wakodo Stage 3 (Wakodo Gungun 3): For babies over 3 years old.

Key Features:

• Wakodo has a mild aroma and a slightly sweet taste similar to breast milk, making it highly palatable for babies.
• The lactoferrin in Wakodo helps reduce infections and prevent common childhood illnesses.
• DHA and ARA support brain and visual development.
• Wakodo formula improves digestion in infants due to its GOS fiber content, which promotes beneficial bacteria.
• It’s rich in calcium for strong bones and teeth, and contains high levels of iron to support neurological development.

Wakodo Stage 1

Snow Baby Milk

Snow Baby milk is a brand of Megmilk Snow Brand, a leading dairy producer in Japan. The Snow Baby line is based on over half a century of research on breast milk by the company.

Snow Baby formula is available in two main stages:

• Snow Baby Stage 0: For babies 0-12 months old.
• Snow Baby Stage 9: For babies 9-36 months old.

Key Features:

• Snow Baby is formulated to include breast milk nutrients such as DHA, GOS, and nucleotides for holistic development.
• The sialic acid in the formula supports immune system function.
• Snow Baby is known for being very easily dissolved, with a pure milk flavor that’s readily accepted by babies.
• The formula contains plenty of iron to support balanced height and weight gain.
• It has a pure taste, free from added sucrose and artificial flavors.

Snow Baby: Flavorless, Pure, and Easy to Drink

Beanstalk Milk

Beanstalk is the final Japanese formula we highlight. Developed by Snow Brand Milk Products, a subsidiary of Megmilk Snow Brand, a leader in children’s products.

Megmilk Snow Brand is also a pioneer in breast milk research, aiming to create powdered milk formulas that mirror both the taste and nutritional content of breast milk. Beanstalk is available in two main stages:

• Beanstalk Stage 0: For babies 0-12 months old.
• Beanstalk Stage 9: For babies 9-36 months old.

Key Features:

• Beanstalk is made from cow’s milk protein but remains gentle on digestion, promoting easy absorption and preventing constipation.
• Beanstalk formula is designed to support brain development with its high DHA content and added calcium.
• Its mildly sweet taste is similar to breast milk, making it easy for newborns to drink.
• The added fiber supports healthy digestion and prevents constipation.
• It dissolves easily without clumping or foaming, ensuring safe and convenient use.

Beanstalk: Nutrition Similar to Breast Milk

Japanese baby formula offers high quality and reliability for your child’s development. We hope this article has provided a comprehensive overview to help you choose the right formula for your baby. If you have any questions, please visit avakids.com or contact our hotline at 1900.866.874 (7:30 AM – 10:00 PM) for assistance and order placement!