5 Tips for Toddler Nutrition from Aussie Bubs Founder Kristy Carr

Many parents rely on formula for their toddlers’ nutrition. When she had her first daughter 17 years ago, however, Bubs Australia and Aussie Bubs founder Kristy Carr remembers a surprising gap in the baby food and formula market. “As I walked down the grocery store aisle, I realized the options for clean, organic nutrition were simply not available on store shelves,” Carr says. 

“The concept of food being medicine always made a lot of sense to me,” she explains. “So when it came time to nourish my daughter with solids, it was clear that the biggest gift I could give her, after cuddles and joy, was clean, nutrient-rich, organic foods.” She began making her daughter’s first meals herself, using ingredients like organic sweet corn, pumpkin, chia, and other nutrient-dense whole foods that are typically or thought to be gentle on young bellies.

Carr knew that she was onto something with her homemade whole foods, which led her to create Bubs, the first line of superfood baby food pouches in Australia (she chose the name ‘bubs’ because it’s an Australian term of endearment for babies). The brand soon grew to include an infant and toddler formula range, known in the US as Aussie Bubs.

Nutrient-Dense Formulas for Toddlers’ Sensitive Tummies

Carr created Aussie Bubs’ goat milk-based toddler formula made with fortified Australian goat milk when her daughter developed a sensitivity to cow’s milk. According to Carr, goat milk is naturally easy to digest, even for sensitive toddlers. “The unique structure of the proteins and lipids found in goat milk result in softer casein curds, which make it easier for little bodies to break down,” she explains. “Less digesting provides quick access to abundant nutrients without additional stress on your baby’s digestive system.” Carr noticed a difference almost immediately when she switched her daughter to goat’s milk. “I think that was when we all slept through the night for the very first time.”

The brand soon added a formula made with organic cow’s milk as well, made with ACO and NASAA certified organic milk from New Zealand and sourced from free range cows that graze outdoors 365 days a year, helping them produce high-quality milk that is richer in CLA, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and Beta-carotenes.

All of Aussie Bubs’ ingredients are independently tested for purity. The brand recently received a Clean Label Project® Purity Award, which provides verification of pure nutrition free from heavy metals, pesticide residues, plasticizers, and other chemicals and toxins. Aussie Bubs is also dedicated to sustainability, focusing on bettering the health of the planet along with the health of its young customers. “We’re committed to driving a culture of continuous environmental improvement,” Carr says. “[We] focus on sustainable packaging, reducing resource consumption, waste and pollution in our operations.”

It’s important to nourish toddlers with nutrient-rich foods while they’re growing, and according to Carr, it all starts with simple, homemade formulas made with real, whole ingredients. “Because it was life-changing for our family, I wanted to share it with others,” she says.  

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Aussie Bubs’ Nutrition Tips for Toddlers 

• Pack snacks along with your kids’ lunch. “I always make sure to pack healthy snacks in the lunchboxes—and lots of them! Whether it be for them to enjoy at school or on their way home, as I found my kids were always hungry at the end of the day,” Carr says. 
• Try goat milk. “Many toddlers have a cow milk protein sensitivity,” Carr explains. If you notice symptoms like bloating, constipation, colic, diarrhea, acid reflux, skin irritation, rash, or congestion, you may want to try switching to goat’s milk (but Carr recommends always seeking advice from your pediatrician before switching). 
• Look for prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics promote the growth of healthy, “good” gut bacteria and a healthy digestive system. Prebiotics act as food for the probiotics; they’re both important, as they work together to support your child’s microbiome. Look for snacks that contain both pre- and probiotics. 
• Choose ingredients that support brain development. Many Aussie Bubs products contain the long-chain fatty acids Omega-3 (DHA) and Omega-6 (ARA), which are important components in retina and brain development and help support visual and cognitive development. The DHA and ARA used in Aussie Bubs are sourced from plants rather than fish oil, which improves the taste and removes fish as a possible allergen.

• Get toddlers a full profile of amino acids. According to Aussie Bubs, “There are 20 amino acids which act as the building blocks of protein, nine of which are essential that our bodies cannot produce.” Aussie Bubs products (such as the Goat Milk-Based Formula Powder) contain a full amino profile plus a high concentration of whey protein, which aids in muscle growth, and are packed with antioxidants to relieve digestive issues and reduce tissue inflammation.

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Kristy Carr’s Blueberry Blitz Smoothie Recipe

“Mornings can be stressful! Getting little ones dressed, packing lunches, remembering to prepare for their extracurriculars—who has time to make a lavish breakfast? This smoothie is packed full of vitamins and minerals, plus the added antioxidants from the blueberries, to give parents peace of mind their children are getting the nutrition they need to get through their busy day.”
-Aussie Bubs Founder Kristy Carr 

Active time: <5 minutes

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients

1 ½ cups of water
2 scoops of Aussie Bubs Grass Fed Milk-Based Formula or Australian Goat Milk-Based Toddler Formula
½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)⠀

Instructions

Combine ingredients and blend on high until well combined. ⠀

Taste the mixture and add extra water or Aussie Bubs Grass Fed toddler milk powder if needed.⠀

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before changing your diet or healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Thrive Market does not represent or warrant that the nutrition, ingredient, allergen, and other product information on our website is accurate or complete, since this information comes from the product manufacturers. On occasion, manufacturers may improve or change their product formulas and update their labels. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented on our website and that you review the product’s label or contact the manufacturer directly if you have specific product concerns or questions.