Frequently Asked Questions

We are sharing a very positive announcement that the FDA is now allowing the use of a qualified health claim for 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula.

FDA concluded that the current scientific evidence is appropriate for consideration of a qualified health claim regarding the relationship between the consumption of 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula and a reduced risk of atopic dermatitis. The complete claim language can be found below.

Claim language which FDA has permitted is as follows:

For healthy infants who are not exclusively breastfed and who have a family history of allergy, feeding a 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula from birth up to 4 months of age instead of a formula containing intact cow’s milk proteins may reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis throughout the first year of life. FDA has concluded that the relationship between 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formulas and the reduced risk of atopic dermatitis is uncertain, because there is little scientific evidence for the relationship.

Partially hydrolyzed formulas should not be fed to infants who are allergic to milk or to infants with existing milk allergy symptoms. If you suspect your baby is already allergic to milk, or if your baby is on a special formula for the treatment of allergy, your baby's care and feeding choices should be under a doctor's supervision.

Health claims are part of an FDA initiative to provide Americans with information to help them make healthier dietary choices. A health claim “characterize[s] a relationship between a substance and its role in reducing the risk of a disease or health-related condition.” Usually, a health claim is visible to consumers as a benefit statement on the product label. A qualified health claim is one which such a benefit statement must include qualifying language indicating any limitations on the degree to which the science supports the claim.

In reviewing a qualified health claim (QHC) petition, the FDA carefully reviews each scientific study that has been submitted in support of the claim. Their goal is to determine the certainty of the relationship between a substance (100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula, in this case) and a disease (like atopic dermatitis). In this case, the FDA concluded “that the current scientific evidence is appropriate for consideration of a QHC.”

Once the FDA has assessed the strength and relevance of the science to support the specific claim, they determine the most appropriate “qualifying” language to use to describe their level of comfort with the science regarding the relationship between the substance and disease. Examples of these qualifiers of the scientific support for previously granted qualified health claims include “Highly unlikely evidence”, “very limited and not conclusive evidence”, “Very limited and preliminary”, “Limited but not conclusive”.

A qualified health claim (QHC) describes a relationship between a substance and disease that has not yet reached an absolute level of certainty. In such a case, the FDA determines the appropriate qualifiers (e.g. limited, inconclusive, uncertain, preliminary, etc) that can be used to describe the level of evidence for the claim. For the relationship between 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula and atopic dermatitis, FDA concluded “that the current scientific evidence is appropriate for consideration of a QHC,” as long as the claim language makes clear that the evidence to establish this relationship is not absolutely certain.

Yes. GERBER GOOD START milk based formulas are the first and only routine infant formulas that meet the criteria for a qualified health claim.

Yes, as indicated in the qualified health claim language. Gerber submitted scientific evidence and clinical studies to support its petition for a qualified health claim. The FDA concluded that the current scientific evidence is appropriate for consideration of a qualified health claim regarding the relationship between the consumption of 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula and a reduced risk of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is a persistent, itchy, red skin rash that is the most common allergic disease in infants. In the U.S., nearly one in five infants will develop atopic dermatitis.

Whey protein is a protein component of milk. Milk has two primary proteins – whey and casein – of which whey has a higher nutritional quality.

100% whey protein relates to the fact that the only protein used is whey.

Hydrolyzed proteins are proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces (peptides) in a way similar to how a baby’s digestive system would break down the proteins. “Partial hydrolysis” refers to the degree to which the proteins are broken down. Partially hydrolyzed proteins are used in GOOD START infant formulas. “Extensively hydrolyzed proteins” (broken into even smaller pieces) are used in specialty formulas used to treat existing allergy in infants.

We hydrolyze the proteins for two primary reasons. First, cow proteins are harder to digest than human-milk proteins. We break down (hydrolyze) the proteins to make them easy for baby to digest. The second reason to hydrolyze the protein is to make it less likely to be recognized by baby’s immune system as coming from a cow. Recognition as a non-human protein may lead to an allergic response.

GERBER GOOD START Gentle and GERBER GOOD START Protect milk-based formulas are the only routine infant formulas that are made with 100% whey protein, partially hydrolyzed. While other routine infant formulas may contain some partially hydrolyzed whey protein, they also contain casein, and these formulas do not have published data demonstrating the same benefits relating to the risk of atopic dermatitis.

No. Risk for atopic dermatitis is affected by several factors, including family history of allergy. There are steps you can take to help reduce the risk, such as breastfeeding. Or, if not exclusively breastfeeding, initiating formula feeding with certain hydrolyzed infant formulas may also provide a benefit according to the AAP and the American Association of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

No. GERBER GOOD START formulas should not be used for treatment or for feeding infants with allergies. They will not cure or prevent atopic dermatitis.

No. GERBER GOOD START is competitively priced with other routine infant formulas such as Similac® Advance® and Enfamil® Premium®.

No. Long-known for its easy digestibility, GERBER GOOD START has always been a 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed formula.

No. The claim would apply only to our routine milk-based formulas, GOOD START Gentle and GOOD START Protect, which are all made with 100% whey protein, partially hydrolyzed.

Gerber recommends breastfeeding as the ideal entry point into its Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Nutrition System and supports the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Breastfeeding is the best way to reduce the risk of allergies in infants. This is just one of the reasons why Gerber believes that breastfeeding is the best way to nourish infants.

GERBER® GOOD START® Formula provides a one-time complimentary gift for moms of twins, triplets, and other multiples. Please call us toll-free for more information at 1-800-284-9488.

Participating hospital nurseries are the only place the backpacks are available. The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy backpack and GERBER® GOOD START® formula are free to the nursery, but sometimes a hospital system may only be able to offer one formula and the gift from that formula manufacturer or do not offer any formula manufacturers gifts at all. We do not have the capability of sending the backpacks. To find out if a hospital near you carry’s the backpack, click here.

We distribute our money-saving checks for discounts on GOOD START formulas only through the START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center. It's FREE for expectant and new moms, and provides many benefits, including booklets tailored to key stages of your pregnancy and your baby's first months. Each mailing includes expert advice on pregnancy and/or infant care, nutrition tips, quick-and-easy recipe ideas, and valuable partner offers. If you haven't had a chance to enroll for the FREE Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Resource Center, click here to sign up now.

At the present time, samples are available only for medical professionals. (Ask if your pediatrician carries samples of our GERBER® GOOD START® formulas.) You can receive valuable checks for GOOD START formulas by registering for the START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center.

Many new moms have questions about preparing a bottle. The best way to heat a bottle of formula is to heat a bowl of water in the microwave, then place the prepared bottle in the hot water for a few minutes to warm. Gently shake the bottle to distribute the warm formula, and before feeding it to baby, put a few drops on your wrist to make sure the formula is only barely warm. This will ensure that your baby will not be burned. Never heat a bottle of formula in the microwave because it can cause hot spots that may scald your baby’s mouth and throat.

Gerber does not recommend the use of product beyond its use by date. In the best interest of your baby, we recommend that you discard the formula (if the can is opened) and purchase another can.

The use by date is set based upon nutritional and other stability data. A product does not become "spoiled", lose all of its nutritional value, or become unhealthy merely by passing its "use by date". However, product may lose some of its "freshness" and the relationships between the nutrients may not be exactly as they were when the product was originally formulated.

You should try to feed prepared formula immediately, within 1 hour at room temperature, or immediately refrigerate prepared formula up to 24 hours. Discard any remaining formula left in the bottle within 1 hour after feeding begins, because once a baby has fed from a bottle, microorganisms are introduced into the formula. Neither refrigeration nor reheating completely prevents these microorganisms from growing.

After opening a can of powdered formula, cover and store the can in a cool, dry place. Use any remaining powder in the can within one month. Avoid extreme storage temperatures.

After opening a can of liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula, cover the can and store it in the refrigerator. Use it within 48 hours.

After you prepare concentrate or powdered formula, use it immediately. Or refrigerate the formula, and feed it to Baby within 24 hours. Remember never to leave formula at room temperature for too long. Be sure to refrigerate the formula, or feed it within one hour. After feeding, discard any formula left in the bottle.

Call 1-800-811-7500 to find GOOD START Gentle formula and other Nestlé Infant Nutrition products in a store near you. Or click here for store information and to order products online.

GOOD START Gentle and GOOD START Protect formulas both contain DHA & ARA for brain and eye development, as well as easy-to-digest 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS®. All GOOD START milk-based formulas are made with COMFORT PROTEINS. The main difference is that GOOD START Protect is the first and only infant formula brand, with the added protective benefit of beneficial cultures, like those naturally found in breastmilk, to help support Baby's healthy immune system.

GOOD START Protect is the first and only infant formula brand that offers complete nutrition and the added benefit of beneficial cultures like those naturally found in breastmilk. Beneficial cultures can help support Baby’s healthy immune system in many ways, including increasing levels of key antibodies. GOOD START Protect formula provides what some experts might consider the most advanced feature of any infant formula on the market today.

Additionally, GOOD START Protect contains gentle 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS®, specially designed, using our patented two-step process, to be easy for Baby to digest. Other formula brands, such as Enfamil® LIPIL® and Similac® Advance®, contain varying combinations of whole casein and whole whey proteins rather than the broken-down 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS in GOOD START milk-based formulas.¹

And GOOD START Protect contains DHA & ARA for Baby’s brain and eye development. No other formula can claim this unique blend of beneficial cultures, COMFORT PROTEINS, and DHA & ARA.

Disclaimers/Notes: ¹Enfamil® and Similac® are registered trademarks owned by entities unrelated to Nestlé.

Experts agree that breastmilk is the ideal source of nutrition and protection for your baby during the first year, and it’s naturally gentle on Baby's developing tummy. While no infant formula ever can replicate breastmilk, the ingredients in GOOD START Protect formula are specially designed to try to help achieve some of its benefits.

• GOOD START Protect formula contains beneficial cultures like those naturally found in breastmilk to help support Baby’s healthy immune system. This formula is specially designed to help bring the balance of cultures in the digestive tracts of formula-fed babies closer to that of breastfed babies. Higher levels of beneficial cultures can help support Baby’s healthy immune system in many ways, including increasing levels of key antibodies. And a healthy immune system provides Baby with important natural defenses.
• GOOD START Protect, like all GOOD START milk-based formulas, is made with our easy-to-digest 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS®.
• Gentle 100% whey protein formula empties from Baby's tummy at a rate similar to breastmilk and faster than other routine formulas. This may reduce the potential for spitting up.
• Babies fed GOOD START milk-based formulas may tend to have soft stools more like those of breastfed babies.

GOOD START Protect formula has DHA & ARA, fatty acids found naturally in breastmilk that help support Baby’s brain and eye development.

GOOD START Protect is only available in powder form. In the powder form, the beneficial cultures remain inactive, which allows a much longer shelf life for the formula.

• Nestlé uses a special process to incorporate cultures into the powder formula. They do this in a way that assures the right amount of beneficial cultures will be present throughout the shelf life of the product.
• Once water is added to the powdered formula, the cultures become "active." This means that the beneficial cultures are now capable of working within Baby's digestive system.

Most milk-based formulas, such as Similac® Advance® and Enfamil® LIPIL®, contain whole whey and casein proteins.¹ GOOD START milk-based formulas are made of gentle 100% whey protein that’s broken down into smaller pieces called COMFORT PROTEINS®. It may help to introduce the new formula gradually to minimize the notice of any changes in taste and easy the switch on your baby’s digestion.

To wean or switch your baby to a GOOD START formula, do so over about a week's time. This will help minimize any changes in taste and ease the switch on your baby's digestive system. View and print our transition charts to help your baby make a gentle transition to a GOOD START formula.

Disclaimers/Notes: ¹Enfamil® and Similac® are registered trademarks owned by entities unrelated to Nestlé.

To start supplementing with formula, we recommend the following:

• First talk with your baby’s doctor about formula choices.
• Have your baby breastfeed for a shorter period at each breast.
• Offer your still-hungry baby a formula bottle. (Some parents find that Baby may smell breastmilk on you, and she may be more receptive if Dad or someone else offers that first taste of formula.)
• If your baby fusses and refuses the bottle, calm her down by returning her to the breast. If she still is not taking the bottle, try again at the next feeding.

GERBER® GOOD START® formulas are an excellent choice to supplement breastmilk. They are the only infant formulas made with gentle COMFORT PROTEINS®, specially designed using Nestlé’s patented two-step process to be easy to digest. The process starts with gentle 100% whey protein, the highest-quality protein available in infant formula. This gentle protein is then broken down into smaller pieces to be easy to digest in your baby's developing tummy. No other infant formula takes these extra steps for your baby.

And there is no better formula choice than GOOD START® Protect. It is the first and only formula with beneficial cultures, like those found in breastmilk, to help support your baby's healthy immune system. Plus, like all GOOD START milk-based formulas, GOOD START Protect contains easy-to-digest COMFORT PROTEINS as well as DHA & ARA, nutrients naturally found in breastmilk that support brain and eye development.

For more information on how to supplement breastmilk with formula, click here.

Introduce single-grain cereal when baby weighs at least 13 pounds, has doubled birth weight and is hungry after 8 to 10 breast feedings or drinks more than 32 ounces of formula a day. Baby also would be able to lift and support head, would smile spontaneously, and would be following objects (6 inches away) with eyes.

For the first feeding, mixing four or five tablespoons of liquid with one tablespoon of cereal would be best. Over the next few days of feeding cereal, less liquid could be added to the cereal so that it is not quite as thin. Eventually it should be a smooth, feedable consistency (much like the jarred food) for each feeding.

2nd Foods are pureed, and many 3rd Foods have more texture to encourage chewing. 3rd Foods also offer new flavors and some contain light seasonings.

While your baby may be ready for some table foods, 3rd foods provide a good transition to eating table foods. Feeding 3rd Foods helps your baby learn to chew and swallow new and different textures while still eating the variety of foods he needs for growth and development.

How much does your baby weigh?
What is your baby currently eating?
Remember to tell the consumer to ask baby’s doctor for specific nutrition information, when doctor suggests to change baby’s diet.

• Breast Milk/Formula – 24 - 32 oz
• Infant Juice – 4 oz
• Dry, single grain cereal – (2) 4T servings
• Fruits – 2 -4 oz
• Vegetables or Veg/Meat Dinner – 2 – 4 oz
• Meat, Egg Yolks – 1 – 2.5 oz

Gerber labels the top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, egg, milk, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish) in all of our foods. These ingredients can be found in the ingredients statement by its common or usual name (i.e. milk). In addition, for infant foods, spices flavors and colors are required by the regulations to be broken out in the ingredient statement. If you have a specific allergy or concern about a certain ingredient or products, please contact us for more information.

Puree’s - 2 - 3 days in the refrigerator; Do not use 1 hour after opened – if not in the refrigerator.

Store in a cool, dry area that is not exposed to heat. Do not allow the product to freeze.

An example of a code is: 12Feb02 450F 0821. The 12Feb02 indicated the food is best used by February 12 of the year 2002. The number 450 identifies the product (Vanilla Custard Pudding), the “F” indicates the plant where the food was made and 0821 is the military time when the food was manufactured.

For serving size information, please refer to the actual package in the nutrition facts panel as different products (i.e. purees versus cereals) have different serving sizes. The nutrition facts panel lists the mandatory nutrients including calories, total fat, trans fat, sodium, total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugar, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium and iron. Other vitamins and minerals such as thiamin and riboflavin will be listed if they are added to a product as done with the infant cereals. Toddler and preschooler products also label calories form fat, saturated fat and cholesterol as required by the regulations. For infants, the % daily value for vitamins and minerals are based on values for ages 0-1, whereas the values for toddlers and preschoolers are based on ages 1-4.

Place the bottle in a container under hot running water, OR
The best way to heat a bottle of formula is to heat a bowl of water in the microwave, then place the prepared bottle in the hot water for a few minutes to warm. Gently shake the bottle to distribute the warm formula, and before feeding it to baby, put a few drops on your wrist to make sure the formula is only barely warm. This will ensure that your baby will not be burned. Never heat a bottle of formula in the microwave because it can cause hot spots that may scald your baby’s mouth and throat.

Generally the residue can be wiped off after soaking the bottles in white vinegar for several hours. A mineral deposit residue can be avoided to some extent by removing the bottles immediately after boiling.

Place items in boiling water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes and remove immediately after the allotted time.

Both are top-rack dishwasher safe; however, the extended heat cycle and the chemicals in the dishwasher detergent will result in breakdown of the rubber and may shorten the life of the product.

We do not recommend enlarging nipple holes, as it may pose a choking hazard.

Continual use of rubber nipples and pacifiers can cause them to swell. Constant sucking action, the acidity of a baby’s saliva, microwaving and excessive boiling are all contributing factors to the breakdown of the rubber. Swollen nipples and pacifiers should be discarded, as they are a choking hazard.

The oil on the nipples is food-grade oil that is used in the manufacturing process. It allows the nipples to be easily removed from the molds. The oil is not harmful and can easily be removed by washing the nipples in hot soapy water. We recommend washing all nipples and pacifiers before first use.

Pacifiers should be replaced when any type of wear is noticed. The strength of the pacifier should be tested by pulling on the bulb portion. If any tears, stickiness or swelling are noticed, the pacifiers should be discarded and replaced.

Place items in boiling water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes and remove immediately after the allotted time.

Both are top-rack dishwasher safe; however, the extended heat cycle and the chemicals in the dishwasher detergent will result in breakdown of the rubber and may shorten the life of the product.

We do not recommend enlarging nipple holes, as it may pose a choking hazard.

Continual use of rubber nipples and pacifiers can cause them to swell. Constant sucking action, the acidity of a baby’s saliva, microwaving and excessive boiling are all contributing factors to the breakdown of the rubber. Swollen nipples and pacifiers should be discarded, as they are a choking hazard.

The oil on the nipples is food-grade oil that is used in the manufacturing process. It allows the nipples to be easily removed from the molds. The oil is not harmful and can easily be removed by washing the nipples in hot soapy water. We recommend washing all nipples and pacifiers before first use.

Around 6 months is a good time to introduce your baby to a cup. He may not get the hand of it at first, but with practice, he’ll get used to it. Tips to introduce a cup:

• Fill it with a liquid that baby likes best
• Don’t force it, just set it on the highchair during mealtimes.

Remove the valve assembly from the lid. The valve assembly should be washed in hot water with a gentle detergent and then rinsed, or it may be washed in the top rack of a dishwasher. Nothing should be inserted into the valve, as this could cause damage to the membrane which in turn would cause leakage.