Anti-Reflux Baby Formula (AR)

Anti-reflux baby formula, usually labelled AR, is thickened so it is heavier in the stomach and less likely to come back up. The thickener is normally locust bean gum or a starch, and the formula is otherwise a complete infant milk.

This collection holds the anti-reflux formulas we stock, from HiPP and Aptamil.

Before you switch

🔴 Most spitting up is not a problem that needs a different formula. Bringing up milk after a feed is very common in the first months and usually fades on its own as a baby’s digestion matures. Smaller, more frequent feeds, a slower teat and keeping your baby upright afterwards often help more than switching. Talk to your pediatrician before moving to an AR formula, especially if your baby is uncomfortable, refusing feeds or not gaining weight — those need looking at, not a thicker milk.

Practical notes

• AR formula is thicker in the bottle and often needs a faster-flow teat.
• Follow the pack instructions exactly. AR formulas sometimes call for a different water temperature than a standard formula, because heat affects the thickener.
• It is a complete feed, not a supplement — it replaces the usual formula rather than being added to it.

Questions parents ask

Is spitting up the same as reflux? Not quite. Comfortable spitting up in a baby who is feeding and growing well is normal. Reflux that causes pain, feed refusal or poor weight gain is a medical matter.

Can I thicken a normal formula myself? No — not without medical advice. Adding cereal or thickener to a bottle changes its nutrition and carries a choking risk.

Everything here ships from our own stock in Burbank, California.