What is Aptamil Pepti 2?
Aptamil Pepti 2 is a specialised European follow-on formula for babies from 6 months who are continuing the dietary management of a diagnosed or strongly suspected cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Like Pepti 1, its whey protein is extensively hydrolysed. This listing is a single 800 g box, roughly 169 fl oz of prepared formula.
This is a clinical product, not a premium upgrade. Aptamil is made by Nutricia, Danone's clinical nutrition division, and in the UK Pepti 2 is ACBS-approved and prescribable on FP10 — doctors write it for babies whose milk allergy is confirmed. If nobody has diagnosed your baby yet, the right next step is your paediatrician or an allergy dietitian, not a different box of powder.
The age rule here is firm and worth repeating: Nutricia's own clinical guidance states Pepti 2 is only suitable from 6 months, as part of a mixed diet — not before. A baby under six months with a milk allergy stays on Aptamil Pepti 1, which is a complete food on its own. Pepti 2 assumes solids are part of the picture.
Where it sits in the feeding journey: this is the stage after Aptamil Pepti 1, for a baby who has started weaning but still needs extensively hydrolysed nutrition. Moving from Pepti 1 to Pepti 2 is not automatic at six months — some babies stay on stage one longer, and some are ready to trial ordinary milk protein again under supervision. Your care team decides, not the calendar. Breastfeeding, where possible, remains the first option throughout.
From 6 moAs part of a mixed diet
800 gSingle box
~169 fl oz≈ 34 × 5 oz bottles (est.)
eHFExtensively hydrolysed whey
Note on this page's web address: the URL for this listing contains the words "stage-1" because it was created by duplicating the Pepti 1 page. The product on this page is Aptamil Pepti Stage 2, as the title says. The yield figure is our own calculation from a scoop weight of about 4.8 g, not a manufacturer-published number.
What's in Aptamil Pepti 2?
Aptamil Pepti 2 is built on 100% extensively hydrolysed whey protein with a vegetable oil blend, Aptamil's GOS/FOS prebiotic in a 9:1 ratio, fish oil for omega-3 LCPs, and nucleotides. It is fortified with the calcium, iron and vitamin D levels appropriate to an older infant, and it is Kosher approved. The declared allergens are milk and fish.
| What's inside | Aptamil Pepti 2 |
|---|---|
| Protein source | Hydrolysed whey protein, 100% whey |
| Degree of hydrolysis | Extensive — the same clinical tier as Pepti 1 |
| Prebiotic | GOS/FOS, 9:1 ratio |
| Omega-3 LCPs | Yes, from fish oil |
| Nucleotides | Yes |
| Fortified with | Calcium, iron, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium |
| Vitamins | A, C, D3 and the B-complex group |
| Kosher approved | Yes |
| Allergens | Milk, fish |
- 100% hydrolysed whey
- GOS/FOS 9:1 prebiotic
- Omega-3 LCPs
- Calcium, iron, vitamin D
- Nucleotides included
- Kosher approved
We do not publish a per-100ml energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate panel for Pepti 2 here, because the source material we hold for this stage does not carry one. The panel printed on your own box is the figure to work from.
What does "extensively hydrolysed" actually mean?
Hydrolysis uses enzymes to cut whole milk proteins into shorter peptide chains. In an extensively hydrolysed formula, the cutting goes much further than in a partially hydrolysed "HA" milk — far enough that the immune system of most allergic infants no longer recognises the fragments as the protein it reacts to.
Moving to stage two does not step that down. Pepti 2 is extensively hydrolysed, exactly like Pepti 1 — the change between the stages is the micronutrient profile for an older infant, not a softening of the hypoallergenic function. That is worth knowing because a baby with a confirmed milk allergy cannot simply move across to a standard Aptamil follow-on milk at six months the way other babies do.
One honest warning. Extensively hydrolysed formulas taste and smell noticeably stronger and more bitter than ordinary milk — savoury, sometimes described as broth-like. This is normal and expected, not a sign of spoilage. A six-month-old who has been on Pepti 1 since birth is already used to it; a baby meeting it for the first time at this age usually needs several days of gradual mixing.
Extensively hydrolysed · Aptamil Pepti
Partially hydrolysed · HA formulas
The difference is degree, and it decides who the formula is for. Long fragments can still carry the shape an allergic immune system reacts to, which is why HA milks are for risk reduction only and not for a diagnosed allergy.
Extensively hydrolysed
Intact protein · standard formula
Schematic illustrations of protein size, not to scale and not microscopy. No formula removes the need for a medical diagnosis and a feeding plan from your care team.
What is not in Aptamil Pepti 2 — and what is?
Aptamil Pepti 2 is a clinical formula rather than a clean-label one, and we would rather set that out plainly. It contains no intact cow's milk protein and no casein. It does contain vegetable oils and fish oil, and it is not organic certified — EU rules do not permit an organic claim on extensively hydrolysed protein.
| In this box | Aptamil Pepti 2 |
|---|---|
| Intact cow's milk protein | None — 100% extensively hydrolysed whey |
| Casein | None — whey only |
| Prebiotics | Yes — GOS/FOS 9:1 |
| Probiotic strain | None — see Pepti SYNEO for that |
| Fish oil | Yes — the omega-3 source |
| Organic certified | No |
| Kosher approved | Yes |
| Halal certified | See product page |
| Allergens | Milk, fish |
Halal status is not confirmed for this stage in the material we hold, so we make no halal claim. The Pepti range is produced using a trypsin enzyme of porcine origin during hydrolysis; the enzyme is not present in the finished powder, but if this matters to your family, ask us before you order.
How does Aptamil Pepti 2 compare to Aptamil Pepti 1 and Aptamil HA 2?
Pepti 2 and Pepti 1 are the same clinical tier at two different ages — extensively hydrolysed, for a diagnosed cow's milk allergy, from six months and from birth respectively. Aptamil HA 2 sits in a different tier entirely: it is only partially hydrolysed and is meant to reduce allergy risk in babies who do not have an allergy.
| Specialised Aptamil | Aptamil Pepti 2 | Aptamil Pepti 1 | Aptamil HA 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Diagnosed or suspected CMPA | Diagnosed or suspected CMPA | Allergy risk reduction only |
| Hydrolysis | Extensive | Extensive | Partial |
| Suitable with a diagnosed allergy | Yes, under medical advice | Yes, from birth | No |
| Age | From 6 months, mixed diet | From birth | From 6 months (see note) |
| Protein | 100% hydrolysed whey | 1.6 g · 100% hydrolysed whey | Partially hydrolysed whey |
| Carbohydrate | See product page | Maltodextrin | Lactose |
| Probiotic strain | None | None | Bifidobacterium breve M-16V |
| Prebiotic | GOS/FOS 9:1 | GOS/FOS 9:1 | GOS/FOS |
| Kosher approved | Yes | See product page | See product page |
| Organic certified | No | No | No |
| Pack size | 800 g | 800 g | 800 g |
Being straight with you: all three are 800 g boxes, so comparing price per prepared ounce between them is fair — across the wider Aptamil specialised range it often is not, because pack sizes run from 400 g to 800 g, so always check the weight before you compare. On the merits, Aptamil HA 2 genuinely beats Pepti 2 on two counts: it is lactose-based and tastes much closer to ordinary formula, and it carries the Bifidobacterium breve M-16V probiotic strain that Pepti 2 does not. But it is the wrong tier for a diagnosed milk allergy, and no amount of better taste changes that. One more honest note on HA 2: its stated starting age differs between sources, from five to seven months, so treat six months as the conservative floor and ask your health visitor. If your baby is under six months, Aptamil Pepti 1 is the stage you need instead of this one.
How many boxes of Aptamil Pepti 2 will my baby need per month?
A baby from six months who is still taking most of their nutrition as formula typically uses about 4 to 4.5 boxes of this 800 g size per month, easing toward roughly 3.5 to 4 boxes a month later in the stage as solid food takes over more of the diet. One 800 g box makes approximately 169 fl oz of prepared formula, or about 34 bottles of 5 fl oz.
The direction of travel is downward, which is the opposite of what happens in the first six months. As weaning progresses, formula volume falls even though total intake rises. If your dietitian has set a daily volume in millilitres, work from that — it is specific to your baby and this range is not.
Estimates converted from published 400 g figures. Every baby feeds differently — use these for planning, not as a target.
How do you prepare Aptamil Pepti 2?
Sterilise the bottle, boil fresh water and let it cool for no more than 30 minutes, pour the measured water into the bottle first, then add one level scoop for every 30ml of water, shake for about 25 seconds until fully dissolved, cool to body temperature and feed straight away.
≤ 30 minCooling time after boiling
1 : 30mlOne level scoop per 30ml
~4.8 gApproximate scoop size
1–2 hrsDiscard after feeding starts
1
Sterilise everything
Wash and sterilise the bottle, teat, ring and cap, and wash your hands before you start.
2
Boil and cool
Boil fresh drinking water and leave it to cool for no more than 30 minutes before you use it.
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, using only the scoop in this box and never packing or heaping it.
5
Cap and shake
Cap the bottle and shake vigorously for about 25 seconds until the powder has completely dissolved.
6
Cool, test, feed
Cool the bottle under running water, test a drop on your wrist so it feels body temperature, and feed straight away.
Never use artificially softened water or water that has been boiled more than once. Never add an extra scoop or change the dilution unless a dietitian has told you to. Make a fresh bottle for every feed, never reheat, never microwave, and discard anything left 1–2 hours after your baby starts drinking.
A note on water temperature. Aptamil specifies water that has been freshly boiled and left to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so it is still hot enough to kill bacteria in the powder. That matches NHS and WHO guidance for powdered formula — powder is not sterile, and water at that temperature kills bacteria that can occasionally be present. Let the bottle cool to body temperature before feeding, and always test a drop on the inside of your wrist first.
A note on water temperature. Aptamil specifies water that has been freshly boiled and left to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so it is still hot enough to kill bacteria in the powder. That matches NHS and WHO guidance for powdered formula — powder is not sterile, and water at that temperature kills bacteria that can occasionally be present. Let the bottle cool to body temperature before feeding, and always test a drop on the inside of your wrist first.
Please read before buying
Aptamil Pepti 2 is a specialised formula for the dietary management of diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy, intended to be used under medical supervision, and only from 6 months as part of a mixed diet — not before. It is not a general-purpose sensitive-tummy milk. If your baby has not been diagnosed, see your doctor or an allergy dietitian first. Contains milk and fish. 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 within the period stated on the pack. Never reheat or microwave prepared formula.
Using it in food
From six months, Pepti 2 is often used as the milk in cooked dishes and in drinks as part of a cow's-milk-free weaning diet, not only in a bottle. Follow the same measuring instructions, and keep any strong taste in mind when you choose what to mix it into.
Aptamil Pepti 2: frequently asked questions
What age is Aptamil Pepti 2 for?
Aptamil Pepti 2 is for babies from six months, as part of a mixed weaning diet. Nutricia's own clinical guidance is explicit that it is not suitable before six months. A baby under six months who needs an extensively hydrolysed formula should be on Aptamil Pepti 1, which is designed to work as a complete food on its own.
Why does this page's web address say "stage 1"?
Because this listing was originally created by duplicating our Aptamil Pepti Stage 1 page, and the copied web address kept the old wording. The product itself is Aptamil Pepti Stage 2, as the product title states, and everything on this page describes the Stage 2 formula for babies from six months. The address is cosmetic and does not affect what you receive.
Can my baby move from Pepti 2 to a standard follow-on milk at 6 months?
Not on the strength of turning six months old. A baby with a confirmed cow's milk protein allergy still reacts to the intact milk protein in a standard follow-on formula, which is why Pepti 2 keeps the same extensive hydrolysis as Pepti 1. Whether and when to trial ordinary milk protein again is a decision for your paediatrician or allergy dietitian, usually with a planned reintroduction.
What is the difference between Aptamil Pepti 2 and Aptamil HA 2?
Pepti 2 is extensively hydrolysed and is for the dietary management of a diagnosed or strongly suspected cow's milk protein allergy. HA 2 is only partially hydrolysed and is intended to reduce the risk of an allergy developing in babies who do not have one. A baby with a confirmed allergy should not be moved onto an HA formula, even though it is cheaper and tastes better.
Is Aptamil Pepti 2 organic or kosher?
It is Kosher approved according to the manufacturer, but it is not organic certified, and it is not eligible to be — EU organic rules do not permit an organic claim on extensively hydrolysed protein. Halal certification is not confirmed for this stage in the material we hold, so we do not claim it. Aptamil's strength here is clinical formulation, not certification.
How much prepared formula does one 800 g box make?
One 800 g box makes approximately 169 fluid ounces of prepared formula, roughly 34 bottles of 5 fl oz. That number is our own calculation from a scoop weight of about 4.8 g rather than a manufacturer-published figure, so treat it as an estimate and check the feed table on your own box. Expect about 4 to 4.5 boxes a month while formula is still most of the diet.
Why does Aptamil Pepti 2 smell and taste so strong?
Because the whey protein has been broken down extensively by enzymes, which releases bitter, savoury-tasting peptides. Every extensively hydrolysed formula shares this, whatever the brand. It is normal and not a sign of spoilage. A baby who has been on Pepti 1 since birth will already be used to it; one meeting it for the first time at six months usually needs a gradual introduction.
Related formulas at Bonpek Baby
- Aptamil Pepti 1The from-birth stage in the same extensively hydrolysed range.
- Aptamil Pepti SYNEOSame hydrolysis, plus a prebiotic and probiotic synbiotic blend.
- Aptamil Pepti MCTFor babies with fat malabsorption, on a clinician's direction.
- Aptamil HA 2Partially hydrolysed follow-on — for allergy risk reduction, not a diagnosed allergy.
- Aptamil AR 800 gThickened anti-reflux formula, if frequent spit-up is the problem.
- 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 box, as manufacturers reformulate from time to time.
You may also like
More from Aptamil
Recently viewed