Q: Why is GOOD START Soy unique?
A: GOOD START Soy is part of Gerber's premium line of formulas. It's a soy-based formula for babies 0 to 12 months old and is specially designed to be easy to digest. GOOD START Soy is the only soy-based standard DHA & ARA formula that contains SOY PROTEINS, which are gentle soy proteins broken down into smaller pieces to be easy to digest. DHA & ARA are nutrients that support healthy brain and eye development.
Q: Why would I choose a soy-based formula?
A: Your doctor might recommend a soy-based formula if:
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Your baby has a hereditary or temporary lactase deficiency, which makes processing milk sugars difficult.
- Your baby is sensitive to cow's milk.
- You want a vegetarian-based diet for your full-term baby.
In such situations, GOOD START Soy is an excellent choice. It provides milk-free, lactose-free complete nutrition for baby’s first year plus easy digestion—a combination that helps make feeding time a gentle, joyful experience for both you and your baby.
Q: What are SOY PROTEINS?
A: GOOD START SOY PROTEINS are gentle soy proteins that have been broken down to be easy to digest. GERBER GOOD START Soy is the only soy-based older-baby formula that contains GOOD START SOY PROTEINS. In contrast, other soy-based formulas contain whole or intact soy proteins.
Q: How can I help my baby make the transition to GOOD START Soy?
A: Talk to your doctor before switching to a soy-based formula. He may recommend giving your baby a short transition period to allow her immature digestive system a chance to adjust to the new formula. This also allows babies time to adapt to a new taste. However, most babies will accept a wide variety of flavors. View transition chart.
Q: What forms of GOOD START Soy are available?
A: The chart below shows the various forms and sizes available for GOOD START Soy.
| GERBER GOOD START Soy Formulas |
Form |
Size |
Buy Now |
| GOOD START Soy |
Ready to Feed |
3 fl oz. |
Buy Online |
| GOOD START Soy |
Powder |
12.9 oz. |
Buy Online |
| GOOD START Soy |
Ready to Feed |
32 fl oz. |
Buy Online |
| GOOD START Soy |
Concentrate |
13 fl oz. |
Buy Online |
Q: What are DHA & ARA?
A: DHA & ARA are fatty acids, or lipids, found naturally in breastmilk. They’re important components of Baby’s healthy brain and eye tissues. During the third trimester of pregnancy, Mom passes DHA & ARA to Baby. After Baby is born, Mom can provide DHA & ARA to Baby by breastfeeding or giving her formula with added DHA & ARA.
Q: How will my baby get the DHA & ARA he needs if I choose not to breastfeed?
A: Breastmilk is best for babies because it offers all the nutrition your baby needs. But if you decide not to breastfeed, your baby's body will make DHA & ARA from the fatty acids (linolenic acid and linoleic acid) in any iron-fortified baby formula. Some experts believe infant formulas with added DHA & ARA, such as GERBER GOOD START Gentle, may provide additional support for formula-fed infants' brain and eye development.
Q: How should I decide whether to use a DHA & ARA-supplemented formula?
A: Consult Baby’s doctor about whether to use a DHA & ARA-supplemented formula. Together, you can decide what's best for your baby.
Q: ¿Hay materials español en el START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center (centro de recursos Start Heathy, Stay Healthy)? (Does the Start Heathy, Stay Healthy Resource Center have materials in Spanish?)
A: Sí. Usted puede llamar este número (1-800-284-9488) o mandarnos un e-mail. (Yes, you can call our Spanish-speaking baby experts toll-free at 1-800-284-9488, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, or contact us via e-mail.)
Q: Do you have a special program for moms of multiples?
A: Nestlé provides a one-time complimentary gift for moms of twins, triplets, and other multiples. We will send you a gift upon receipt of a copy of your babies' birth certificates or a letter from your doctor confirming that you are having or have given birth to multiples. Please call us toll-free for more information at 1-800-284-9488.
Q: Can you take my name off your mailing list?
A: If you registered online at gerber.com to receive mailings from the START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center you can easily unsubscribe online by signing in and updating your profile information. You also can call our baby experts toll-free at 1-800-284-9488, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. (Please note that it can take from four to six weeks to process the information, so you may receive one more mailing. But after that you should not receive any more.)
Q: What products make up the GERBER® family of formulas?
A: The GOOD START family of formulas includes:
- GOOD START® Protect: Specially designed to help support Baby's healthy immune system with beneficial cultures like those found in breastmilk. GOOD START Protect also has gentle 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS® to be easy to digest, plus DHA & ARA, nutrients naturally found in breastmilk to support Baby's brain and eye development.
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GOOD START® Gentle: Our first formula with both gentle 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS to be easy to digest and DHA & ARA for Baby's brain and eye development.
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GOOD START®: Our original milk-based formula, made with gentle 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS to be easy to digest.
- GERBER® GRADUATES® Protect: The only older-baby formula specially designed to help support Baby's healthy immune system with probiotics like those found in breastmilk. It's specially designed to meet the changing nutritional needs of older babies and young toddlers 9 to 24 months old—especially if there's a gap between what they eat and what they need. It contains more calcium than standard milk-based formulas and more iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E than whole cow's milk.
- GERBER® GRADUATES® Gentle: The only formula for older babies and young toddlers with both gentle 100% whey and DHA & ARA for brain and eye development. This formula is specially designed to meet the changing nutritional needs of older babies and young toddlers 9 to 24 months old—especially if there's a gap between what they eat and what they need. It contains more calcium than standard milk-based formulas and more iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E than whole cow's milk.1
- GOOD START® Soy: The only soy-based formula that combines easy-to-digest SOY PROTEINS with DHA & ARA for Baby's brain and eye development. SOY PROTEINS are gentle soy proteins that have been broken down to be easy to digest in Baby's developing tummy.
- GERBER® GRADUATES® Soy: The only soy-based older-baby and young-toddler formula made with easy-to-digest SOY PROTEINS and DHA & ARA. This formula is specially designed to meet the changing nutritional needs of older babies and young toddlers 9 to 24 months old—especially if there's a gap between what they eat and what they need. It contains more calcium than standard milk-based formulas and more iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E than whole cow's milk.1
Disclaimers/Notes: 1Standard formulas provide adequate nutrition for the first year. GERBER® GRADUATES® Protect, GERBER® GRADUATES® Gentle and GERBER® GRADUATES® Soy provide extra nutrition insurance.
Q: How long has Nestlé been making infant formula?
A: Our company’s roots stretch all the way back to 1867—to the town of Vevey, Switzerland—where Henri Nestlé created the world’s first commercial infant food.
Henri’s discovery marked the beginning of a long tradition of caring and innovation that Nestlé continues today. Nestlé has thousands of research and development professionals worldwide. Which means that every minute of the day, a Nestlé scientist is working to advance the science behind infant nutrition. Our commitment to ongoing research has led to innovations like GOOD START infant formulas.
Q: Why do GERBER® formulas have a lighter texture than other formulas?
A: The appearance and consistency are lighter, because of the 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS used in all GOOD START milk-based formulas. Whey is a naturally gentle protein that doesn’t form curds in Baby’s tummy. Our gentle 100% whey COMFORT PROTEINS are broken down to be easy for Baby to digest. If you prepare and refrigerate a GOOD START milk-based formula ahead of time, it may separate into layers, like breastmilk does. Mix the layers by gently shaking the bottle.
Q: Are green stools normal for babies fed GOOD START?
A: Because our GOOD START milk-based formulas contain gentle 100% whey protein, you may notice that your baby's stools become soft and yellowish or greenish in color. This change is perfectly normal—in fact the texture is similar in appearance to the stools of breastfed babies.
Q: Are GERBER® formulas kosher?
A: GOOD START milk-based formulas are not kosher, but soy-based GOOD START formulas are designated as kosher.
- To make GOOD START milk-based formulas, Nestlé uses a naturally occurring enzyme, trypsin, and heat treatment as processing aids to break down the milk protein into smaller pieces for our proprietary COMFORT PROTEINS.
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Although it is FDA-authorized and safe, trypsin doesn't meet kosher criteria.
- In accordance with FDA regulations, formula labels don't specifically list trypsin because it's not an ingredient in our infant formula. Instead, we list the result of the trypsin processing: "Enzymatically hydrolyzed reduced minerals whey protein concentrate (from cow's milk)."
- Our milk-based GOOD START Formulas include GOOD START® Protect, GERBER® GRADUATES® Protect, GOOD START® Gentle, and GERBER® GRADUATES® Gentle.
- Our GOOD START soy-based formulas— GOOD START® Soy and GERBER® GRADUATES® Soy—are made by a slightly different process. They don't use the enzyme trypsin and are designated "kosher pareve" (powder forms) or "kosher pareve ingredients that are manufactured on dairy equipment" (liquid forms). GOOD START Soy and GERBER® GRADUATES® Soy are milk-free, lactose-free formulas.
Q: Does Nestlé follow the World Health Organization (WHO) Code?
A: The best-known infant formula marketing guidelines are the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, developed by the World Health Organization in 1981. These guidelines are known as the WHO Code. We abide by the Code in every country where it is law, and follow the aim of the Code where it is not, such as in the United States, where we affirm our belief that breastmilk is best within consumer communication.
We encourage moms to breastfeed as long as possible, with consideration for their life circumstances. If a mom chooses not to breastfeed, we believe that iron-fortified formula is the best alternative to breastmilk.
For information about how Nestlé complies with the WHO Code in developing countries and in other countries where the code is law, visit www.babymilk.Nestle.com
Q: Where can I buy GERBER® formulas?
Q: How can I get coupons for GERBER® infant formulas?
A: 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, health and 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, sign up now.