What is HiPP HA Stage 1 formula?
HiPP HA Stage 1 is a German hypoallergenic infant formula for babies from birth to 6 months, made with partially hydrolysed whey protein to help reduce the risk of a cow's milk protein allergy developing in babies from allergy-prone families. One 600g box makes about 153 fl oz of prepared formula — roughly 30 five-ounce bottles.
The "HA" stands for hypoallergenic, and it is worth being precise about what that word means on a formula box. The whey protein has been broken down by hydrolysis into smaller fragments — HiPP publishes a figure of roughly 86–87% — so an infant immune system is less likely to react to it. Everything else is the same Combiotik system HiPP uses across its organic range: a GOS prebiotic plus the Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum culture, with DHA and ARA at 13.4mg each per 100ml.
A partially hydrolysed formula is not a treatment for a diagnosed milk allergy. HA formula is for allergy-risk reduction in babies who are currently healthy but come from families with a history of allergy, eczema, asthma or hay fever. If your baby has already been diagnosed with cow's milk protein allergy, or a doctor suspects one, this is the wrong box: that needs an extensively hydrolysed or amino-acid formula prescribed by a doctor, and no partially hydrolysed formula substitutes for one.
HiPP HA is not EU Organic certified. There is no organic leaf on this box and we will not imply one. On its Bio Combiotik range HiPP marks every farmed ingredient as organic; on the HA range it marks none of them, so we cannot tell you the milk here is organically farmed — we checked HiPP's own ingredient declarations rather than trust the brand name.
What you are buying instead is the hydrolysis. The whey protein is broken into smaller fragments before the formula is made, and the specific hydrolysate HiPP uses has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority for infant use. HiPP's certified organic line contains no hydrolysed product. If the certificate matters more to you than hydrolysed protein, buy HiPP Bio Combiotik instead.
The palm oil in the vegetable oil blend is separately certified sustainable and independently inspected — that is one ingredient's certification, not the product's.
Use HiPP HA Stage 1 from birth to around 6 months, on its own or alongside breastfeeding. The follow-on step in the same German line is HiPP HA 2 Combiotik, from 6 months. Start an HA formula on the advice of your paediatrician or health visitor: it is a preventive choice with a specific purpose, not a general-purpose gentle formula.
0–6 moFrom birth
600gOne box
~153 fl oz≈ 30 × 5oz bottles
~86–87%Whey protein hydrolysed
What's in HiPP HA Stage 1 per 100ml?
Prepared as directed, every 100ml provides 67 kcal, 3.6g fat (of which 1.5g saturated), 1.3g partially hydrolysed whey protein and 7.1g carbohydrate, of which about 7.0g is lactose. It also provides 0.3g of GOS prebiotic, 13.4mg DHA and 13.4mg ARA. The probiotic is the Limosilactobacillus fermentum hereditum culture from HiPP's Combiotik system.
- Carbohydrate 7.1 g
- Fat 3.6 g
- Protein 1.3 g
| Per 100ml prepared | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 67 kcal |
| Fat | 3.6 g |
| — saturated | 1.5 g |
| Protein (hydrolysed whey) | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 7.1 g |
| — lactose | ~7.0 g |
| GOS prebiotic | 0.3 g |
| DHA | 13.4 mg |
| ARA | 13.4 mg |
| Probiotic | L. fermentum hereditum |
Allergens: milk and fish. Calcium and iron are not published per 100ml for this box — check the nutrition panel on your pack.
What is not in HiPP HA Stage 1?
There is no intact milk protein in this box — the whey is hydrolysed — no added maltodextrin, and the carbohydrate is led by lactose at about 7.0g of the 7.1g total. What is also not on the box is an organic certificate: HiPP HA Stage 1 is not EU Organic certified, and HiPP marks no ingredient in it as organically produced. The palm oil in it is separately certified sustainable.
- No intact milk protein
- No added maltodextrin
- Lactose-led carbohydrate
- Certified sustainable palm oil
- GOS prebiotic included
- Probiotic culture included
How does HiPP HA Stage 1 compare to Aptamil HA 1 and HiPP HA Dutch Stage 1?
All three reduce allergy risk the same way — by hydrolysing the whey protein — and none of the three is organic certified. The real differences are the probiotic strain, the oil blend, and the pack size you are paying for.
| HA Stage 1 · from birth | HiPP HA 1 (German) | Aptamil HA 1 | HiPP HA Dutch 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic certified | No | No | No |
| Protein | Partially hydrolysed whey (~86–87%) | Partially hydrolysed whey | Hydrolysed whey (~86–87%) |
| Protein per 100ml | 1.3 g | See product page | 1.3 g |
| Energy | 67 kcal / 100ml | See product page | 67 kcal / 100ml |
| Carbohydrate | Lactose-led, ~7.0 of 7.1 g | Lactose with GOS and FOS | Lactose, ~7.0 of 7.1 g |
| Prebiotic | GOS, 0.3 g / 100ml | GOS + FOS | GOS |
| Probiotic culture | L. fermentum hereditum | Bifidobacterium breve M-16V | L. fermentum hereditum |
| DHA | 13.4 mg / 100ml, fish oil | Fish oil, amount not published | 13.4 mg / 100ml, fish oil |
| Palm oil | Yes, certified sustainable | Not listed — sunflower, coconut, rapeseed | Yes, organic palm |
| Pack size | 600g box | 800g tin | 800g tin |
| Prepared yield | ~153 fl oz | ~185–195 fl oz (estimate) | ~209 fl oz |
Being straight with you: Aptamil HA 1 wins two rows outright. Its oil blend is sunflower, coconut and rapeseed with no palm oil listed, and it runs two prebiotics (GOS and FOS) where HiPP runs one. It also comes in an 800g tin against this 600g box, so comparing pack prices is misleading — work out the cost per prepared ounce instead. HiPP HA Dutch Stage 1 is the same Combiotik system in a larger 800g tin, which usually costs less per ounce than this box does. What you get here is HiPP's L. fermentum hereditum culture, a published DHA figure, and a smaller box — which is genuinely the right size if you are trialling an HA formula rather than committing to one.
How many boxes of HA formula will my baby need per month?
A newborn to 6-month-old who is exclusively formula fed typically uses 4 to 7 boxes of HiPP HA Stage 1 per month, depending on appetite. One 600g box makes about 153 fl oz of prepared formula, which is around 30 five-ounce bottles.
That range is wide because feed volumes climb steeply in the first half-year. A two-week-old and a five-month-old are not drinking anything like the same amount. Plan at the lower end for the newborn weeks and at the upper end as you approach 6 months, and reorder before you get to the last box rather than after.
Estimates for exclusive formula feeding. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
How do you prepare HiPP HA Stage 1?
Boil fresh water and let it cool to about 40–50°C, pour the measured water into a sterilised bottle first, then add one level scoop (about 4.6g) for every 30ml of water, shake firmly until fully dissolved, cool to about 37°C, test a drop on your wrist and feed. Discard anything left one hour after your baby starts drinking.
40–50°CWater temperature
1 : 30mlOne level scoop per 30ml
~4.6 gScoop size in this box
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, about 4.6g, for every 30ml of water. Level each scoop against the edge of the box — never heap or press it.
5
Cap and shake firmly
Hydrolysed powder can be slower to dissolve than standard formula, so shake until no grains are left before you check the temperature.
6
Cool, test, feed
Cool to about 37°C, test a drop on the inside of your wrist, and feed straight away.
Never use artificially softened water or water that has been boiled more than once. Prepare a fresh bottle for every feed, never reheat, never microwave, and discard anything left 1 hour after your baby starts drinking.
Please read before buying
HiPP HA Stage 1 is designed to reduce the risk of allergy in babies who do not have one. It is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed or suspected cow's milk protein allergy, who needs an extensively hydrolysed or amino-acid formula prescribed by a doctor. Start an HA formula on the advice of a health professional. 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 the window printed on the pack. Never reheat or microwave prepared formula.
What hydrolysed formula smells like
Hydrolysed protein has a noticeably stronger, slightly bitter smell and taste than standard infant formula, and the prepared bottle can look a shade darker. Both are normal and neither means the powder has spoiled. Some babies need a few feeds to accept the taste, so if you are switching from a standard formula, introduce it gradually rather than all at once.
HiPP HA Stage 1: frequently asked questions
Is HiPP HA Stage 1 suitable for a baby with a cow's milk protein allergy?
No. A partially hydrolysed formula such as HiPP HA Stage 1 is not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed or suspected cow's milk protein allergy. Partial hydrolysis makes the protein less likely to provoke an allergy developing in the first place, but the fragments are still large enough to trigger a reaction in a baby who is already allergic. A diagnosed CMPA needs an extensively hydrolysed or amino-acid formula prescribed by a doctor. If you suspect an allergy, stop and speak to your paediatrician before changing formula.
Is HiPP HA Stage 1 organic?
No. HiPP HA Stage 1 is not EU Organic certified, and it is not Demeter or Bioland certified either. HiPP marks every farmed ingredient as organic on its Bio Combiotik range and marks none of them on its HA range, so we cannot tell you the milk here is organically farmed. HiPP's certified organic line contains no hydrolysed product. The palm oil used in the vegetable oil blend does carry its own sustainable-sourcing certification, but that applies to one ingredient, not to the finished formula.
What does partially hydrolysed whey protein actually mean?
Hydrolysis is a process that breaks long milk proteins into shorter fragments before the formula is made. HiPP publishes a figure of roughly 86 to 87 per cent for the HA line. Smaller protein fragments are less likely to be recognised as a threat by an immature immune system, which is the basis for using an HA formula to reduce allergy risk in at-risk babies. The shorter fragments are also often easier to digest, which is why hydrolysed formulas are sometimes described as gentler.
Which babies is HA formula actually for?
HA formula is intended for babies from birth who are currently healthy but have an elevated risk of developing allergy, typically because a parent or sibling has an allergic condition such as eczema, asthma, hay fever or a food allergy. It is preventive, not therapeutic. It is not a colic formula, not a reflux formula and not an allergy treatment. If your baby is unsettled but has no family allergy history, a comfort or anti-reflux formula may be the more relevant option — ask your health visitor which question you are actually trying to answer.
Why does HiPP HA smell and taste different from ordinary formula?
Because the protein has been broken down. Hydrolysed whey has a stronger and slightly more bitter smell and taste than intact milk protein, and prepared bottles can look marginally darker. This is characteristic of every hydrolysed formula on the market, not a sign that a particular box is off. Babies who start on HA from birth usually accept it without difficulty; babies switching over from a standard formula sometimes need the change introduced gradually across several feeds.
How much prepared formula does one box of HiPP HA Stage 1 make?
One 600g box makes approximately 153 fluid ounces of prepared formula, which is about 30 five-ounce bottles. For a baby who is exclusively formula fed between birth and 6 months, that typically works out at 4 to 7 boxes per month, with the lower end applying to the newborn weeks and the upper end as feed volumes grow towards 6 months.
What comes after HiPP HA Stage 1?
The follow-on step in the same German line is HiPP HA 2 Combiotik, a 600g box for babies from 6 months, used alongside solid food. If allergy risk is no longer a concern at that point, your health professional may suggest moving to a standard follow-on formula instead, such as HiPP Stage 2 Bio Combiotik, which is EU Organic certified. HiPP HA Stage 1 itself provides complete nutrition from birth to 6 months and can be used alongside breastfeeding.
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
- HiPP HA 2 CombiotikThe German follow-on step from 6 months, same HA line.
- Aptamil HA 1800g tin, no palm oil listed, GOS and FOS prebiotics.
- HiPP HA Dutch Stage 1The same Combiotik system in a larger 800g Dutch tin.
- HiPP HA Pre CombiotikHiPP's hydrolysed starter milk for the newborn weeks.
- HiPP Stage 1 Bio CombiotikThe EU Organic standard formula, if allergy risk is not a factor.
- All baby formulasBrowse every European formula we stock, by brand and stage.
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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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