What is HiPP Anti-Reflux (AR) formula?
HiPP AR is a German anti-reflux infant formula for babies from birth, thickened with locust bean gum so that feeds are less likely to come back up. It is a food for special medical purposes, meant to be used on the advice of a doctor or health visitor rather than chosen as an everyday formula. One 600g box makes about 164 fl oz of prepared formula — roughly 33 five-ounce bottles.
The mechanism is physical rather than nutritional. Locust bean gum, also called carob bean gum, is a plant fibre that swells once the bottle has been mixed and left to stand for a few minutes. The prepared feed becomes thicker and heavier, and a heavier feed stays down more easily. The protein in HiPP AR is ordinary, intact cow's milk protein — this is not a hydrolysed formula and it does nothing about allergy risk.
That places it in a different category from the rest of HiPP's functional range. HiPP Comfort changes the carbohydrate, HiPP HA changes the protein structure, and HiPP AR changes only the texture of the prepared bottle. If your baby's problem is colic, constipation or a family history of allergy rather than frequent regurgitation, one of those is the better fit and we stock both.
HiPP Anti-Reflux is not EU Organic certified. There is no organic leaf on this box. On its Bio Combiotik range HiPP marks every farmed ingredient as organic; on this one it marks none, so we cannot tell you the milk here is organically farmed — that comes from reading HiPP's own ingredient declaration, not from the brand name.
HiPP's own explanation is that legislation does not allow specialist milks such as anti-reflux to be certified organic. This is a food for special medical purposes with one job: to thicken in the bottle with carob bean gum so feeds stay down. You are choosing that function over the certificate — and it is still made by HiPP, under the same EU infant formula law as everything else we sell.
Frequent spit-up is common in the first months and usually settles on its own, often without any formula change at all. Anti-reflux formula belongs in a feeding plan agreed with a health professional. Ask your paediatrician or health visitor before you start, and ask them again before you stop.
0+ moFrom birth
600gOne box
~164 fl oz≈ 33 × 5oz bottles
GermanyGerman version, not UK
What's in HiPP Anti-Reflux formula per 100ml?
Prepared as directed, every 100ml provides 66 kcal, 3.6g fat, 1.25g protein, 6.9g carbohydrate, 51mg calcium, 0.7mg iron and 13.2mg DHA sourced from fish oil. All 6.9g of the carbohydrate is lactose. The thickener is locust bean gum, and the formula carries HiPP's Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum probiotic culture.
- Carbohydrate 6.9 g
- Fat 3.6 g
- Protein 1.25 g
| Per 100ml prepared | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 66 kcal |
| Fat | 3.6 g |
| Protein (intact) | 1.25 g |
| Carbohydrate | 6.9 g |
| — lactose | 6.9 g |
| Calcium | 51 mg |
| Iron | 0.7 mg |
| DHA (from fish oil) | 13.2 mg |
| Thickener | Locust bean gum |
| Probiotic | L. fermentum hereditum |
Allergens: milk and fish. Figures as published for the German 600g box.
What is not in HiPP Anti-Reflux formula?
There is no starch, no maltodextrin and no added sugar — all of the carbohydrate in the box is lactose — and the thickener is a plant fibre rather than a synthetic additive. What is also not there is an organic certificate: this German 600g box is not EU Organic certified, and it is not Demeter or Bioland certified either. It does contain palm oil and fish oil.
- Plant-derived thickener only
- Full-lactose carbohydrate
- No starch or maltodextrin
- No added sugars
- Probiotic culture included
- Not a hydrolysed formula
How does HiPP AR compare to Aptamil AR and HiPP UK Anti-Reflux?
All three are thickened with locust bean gum, all three are regulated as foods for special medical purposes, and none of the three is organic certified. The differences that matter in practice are the probiotic culture, the pack size, and how clearly each manufacturer publishes its preparation rules.
| Anti-reflux · from birth | HiPP AR (German) | Aptamil AR | HiPP AR (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic certified | No | No | No |
| Regulatory category | Food for special medical purposes | Food for special medical purposes | Food for special medical purposes |
| Thickener | Locust bean gum | Locust bean gum | Locust bean gum |
| Protein | Intact, 1.25 g / 100ml | Intact, 1.3 g / 100ml | Intact, 1.25 g / 100ml |
| Energy | 66 kcal / 100ml | 66 kcal / 100ml | 66 kcal / 100ml |
| Probiotic culture | L. fermentum hereditum | None | L. fermentum hereditum |
| Halal certified | Not certified | Halal certified | Not confirmed |
| Thickening rest before feeding | About 7 minutes | About 5 minutes | About 5–7 minutes |
| Bottle warmer or machine | Not addressed by HiPP | Manufacturer says do not use | Not addressed by HiPP |
| Pack size | 600g box | 800g tin | 800g tin |
| Prepared yield | ~164 fl oz | ~210 fl oz | ~189 fl oz |
Being straight with you: Aptamil AR beats this box on three counts. It comes in an 800g tin against this 600g box, so comparing pack prices is misleading — compare cost per prepared ounce instead, and at roughly 210 fl oz per tin against about 164 fl oz here, Aptamil usually comes out ahead. It is Halal certified, which HiPP is not. And Aptamil's manufacturer publishes an explicit instruction not to use bottle warmers or formula machines with its thickened feed, where HiPP does not address the question at all — silence is less helpful than a clear rule, not safer than one. What HiPP AR has that Aptamil AR does not is the Combiotik probiotic culture. HiPP UK Anti-Reflux is the same probiotic in a larger 800g tin, if pack size is what you are after.
How many boxes of anti-reflux formula will my baby need per month?
A baby fed on HiPP AR typically uses roughly 3 to 5 boxes per month, depending on age and feed volume. One 600g box makes about 164 fl oz of prepared formula, which is around 33 five-ounce bottles.
Anti-reflux feeding is usually a stage rather than a whole first year. Many babies move back to an ordinary infant formula once reflux settles, often well before 12 months. Buy in smaller quantities until you know how long your baby will be on it, and keep that decision with your health professional rather than making it from the shelf.
Estimates for exclusive formula feeding. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
How do you prepare HiPP Anti-Reflux formula?
Sterilise everything, boil fresh water and let it cool to about 40–50°C, pour the measured water into the bottle first, add one level scoop for every 30ml, shake thoroughly, then leave the bottle to stand for 7 minutes so the locust bean gum can thicken. Shake again, test the temperature on your wrist and feed. Prepare HiPP AR by hand — a thickened formula is not suited to a bottle warmer or an automatic formula machine.
40–50°CWater temperature
1 : 30mlOne level scoop per 30ml
7 minutesThickening rest before feeding
1 hourDiscard after feeding starts
1
Sterilise everything
Sterilise the bottle, teat, ring and cap, and wash your hands before you start.
2
Boil and cool
Boil fresh drinking water, then let it cool to roughly 40–50°C before you mix.
3
Water into the bottle first
Pour the measured water into the sterilised bottle before you add any powder — never the other way round.
4
Add level scoops
Add one level scoop for every 30ml of water, following the feeding chart on your box. Never heap or press a scoop.
5
Shake, then wait 7 minutes
Shake until the powder dissolves, then leave the bottle to stand for 7 minutes. Feeding before the thickener has worked defeats the purpose of an anti-reflux formula.
6
Shake again, test, feed
Shake once more until the feed is evenly thick, check a drop on the inside of your wrist for about 37°C, and feed within the hour.
Never microwave a thickened formula — it heats unevenly and can scald your baby. Never use artificially softened water or water that has been boiled more than once. Prepare a fresh bottle for every feed, never reheat, and discard anything left 1 hour after your baby starts drinking.
Please read before buying
HiPP AR is a food for special medical purposes and should be used on the advice of a doctor, paediatrician or health visitor, and under their supervision. It is made from intact cow's milk protein and is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy. Breastfeeding is best for your baby — talk to your health visitor or doctor before starting or changing a formula.
Store boxes in a cool, dry place. Once opened, use the powder within 3 weeks. Never reheat or microwave prepared formula.
Prepare by hand, not by machine
Locust bean gum only thickens if the mixed bottle is left to rest and then shaken a second time. That is why manufacturers of thickened anti-reflux formula caution against preparing it in a bottle warmer or an automatic formula machine, and it is why we publish no machine setting for this product. Mix it by hand, give it the full 7 minutes, and shake it again before you feed.
HiPP Anti-Reflux formula: frequently asked questions
Is HiPP Anti-Reflux formula organic?
No. The German 600g HiPP AR box is not EU Organic certified, and it is not Demeter or Bioland certified either. HiPP's own explanation is that legislation does not allow specialist milks such as anti-reflux to be certified organic. HiPP does not mark any ingredient in this box as organically produced, where on its Bio Combiotik range it marks every farmed ingredient as organic — so we cannot tell you the milk here is organically farmed. If organic certification is what you are looking for, HiPP's Bio Combiotik range is the certified line.
Why do you have to wait 7 minutes before feeding HiPP AR?
Because the thickener needs time to work. Locust bean gum is a plant fibre that only swells and thickens once it has been mixed into liquid and left to stand. Shaking the bottle and feeding straight away gives your baby a normal-thickness feed with a little extra fibre in it, which is not what an anti-reflux formula is for. Mix, shake, leave the bottle for a full 7 minutes, then shake again before you check the temperature and feed.
Can I prepare HiPP Anti-Reflux in a bottle warmer or an automatic formula machine?
Prepare it by hand. A thickened formula needs a measured resting period and a second shake, and a warmer or an automatic dispenser is not designed to give it either. Manufacturers of locust bean gum thickened anti-reflux formula caution against machine and bottle-warmer preparation for exactly this reason, and Bonpek Baby publishes no machine setting for this product. Never microwave a thickened feed, as it heats unevenly and can scald.
Is HiPP AR the same as HiPP Comfort or HiPP HA?
No, and they solve different problems. HiPP AR thickens the prepared bottle with locust bean gum to reduce spit-up, and leaves the protein and carbohydrate intact. HiPP Comfort changes the carbohydrate, blending starch and maltodextrin with reduced lactose for colic and constipation. HiPP HA changes the protein structure through hydrolysis, for babies in families with a history of allergy. Choosing between them is a conversation to have with your paediatrician, not a guess.
How much prepared formula does one box of HiPP AR make?
One 600g box of HiPP Anti-Reflux makes approximately 164 fluid ounces of prepared formula, which works out at about 33 five-ounce bottles. Depending on your baby's age and how much they take at each feed, that generally translates to somewhere between 3 and 5 boxes a month for a baby who is exclusively formula fed.
Can I use HiPP AR if my baby has a cow's milk allergy?
No. HiPP AR is made with intact, non-hydrolysed cow's milk protein and is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed or suspected cow's milk protein allergy. Thickening changes the texture of the feed, not its protein, so it offers no protection against an allergic reaction. A baby with diagnosed CMPA needs an extensively hydrolysed or amino-acid formula prescribed by a doctor. It also contains fish oil.
How long should my baby stay on anti-reflux formula?
That is a decision for your doctor or health visitor rather than one to make at home. Reflux and frequent spit-up very often settle on their own during the first year, and many babies move back to an ordinary infant formula well before 12 months. HiPP AR provides complete nutrition from birth to 6 months and can continue as part of a mixed diet with solid food after that, but it is intended for use for as long as the symptoms need managing, not by default.
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
- Aptamil AR Anti-Reflux 800gThe same thickening approach in a larger tin, Halal certified.
- HiPP UK Anti-Reflux 800gHiPP's UK-market anti-reflux milk, from birth, in an 800g tin.
- HiPP Comfort (German)For colic and constipation rather than spit-up.
- HiPP HA Stage 1Hydrolysed protein, for families with a history of allergy.
- HiPP Stage 1 Bio CombiotikThe organic everyday formula to move back to when reflux settles.
- All baby formulasBrowse every European formula we stock, by brand and stage.
Why parents buy from Bonpek Baby
- Authentic from Europe for 8+ years
- US stock — no shipping or customs delays
- Same-day pickup & delivery for locals
- Always fresh — receiving weekly
- Best prices, or we'll match and add a free gift
- Trusted by 9,000+ parents in the US
- Prompt customer support text line
Product information last reviewed by the Bonpek Baby team in September 2026 against the manufacturer's current published ingredient and nutrition data. Always check the label on your tin, as manufacturers reformulate from time to time.
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