Key Differences Between Bobbie and Gentlease
| Key Differences | Bobbie | Gentlease |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Reputation | Trailblazer, organic formula mimicking breast milk, Clean Label Project Purity Award and Pesticide Free certification | Trusted brand with diverse formulas for many situations, potential allergens and ingredients should be considered |
| Protein Source | Organic cow’s milk with added whey protein (60:40 whey to casein ratio) | Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids |
| Carbohydrate Source | Organic lactose (natural sugar found in breast milk) | Corn syrup solids |
| Fats and Oils | Sunflower, coconut, and soy oils (no palm oil), contains essential omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA | Palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils, contains essential fatty acids like ARA and DHA |
| Prebiotics and Probiotics | None | None |
| Cost | Generally more expensive due to organic certification and focus on ingredient purity, nowadays around $1.66 per oz. | Similar price nowadays at around $1.66 per oz., but not organic |
| Availability | Available in the United States, potentially more challenging to find in other countries | Available in the United States, potentially more challenging to find in other countries |
| Best Alternatives | HiPP, Holle, Kendamil (organic options) | HiPP Comfort, HiPP HA, NannyCare, Kabrita (specialty formulas or organic goat milk options) |
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As a new parent, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is choosing the right baby formula for your little one. We know because we were where you are now, studying ingredients, and reading comparisons between baby formula brands.
In this article, we’ll be comparing two popular brands: Bobbie and Gentlease.
Which one is the better option for your baby?
Let’s find out together, as time is of the essence, and your baby’s nutrition is at stake!
Tip: Check out how Bobbie compares to other Enfamil formulas: Bobbie vs Enspire | Bobbie vs Gentlease | Bobbie vs Neuropro
Our Short Answer
The answer is evident in this comparison: Bobbie is the ideal choice for babies without significant digestive issues or allergies.
If your baby has more severe concerns, consider Gentlease or explore other organic formulas like HiPP specialty formulas or organic goat milk options from Holle, Kendamil, or Nannycare. (see below)
*Related: Similac Sensitive vs Enfamil Gentlease
Update: Bobbie has released a “Gentle” version, and it is your best option for digestive issues.
Organic nutrition for sensitive babies.
- Partially Hydrolyzed Proteins: Breaks down proteins into smaller peptides, supporting easier digestion and comfort for gassy or sensitive tummies.
- No Soy
- No Corn Syrup
- No Maltodextrin
- No Palm Oil
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Brand Reputation
When deciding between Bobbie and Gentlease, it’s essential to consider each brand’s reputation and philosophy.
Understanding the core values and approaches behind each brand will help you make a more informed decision about what you’re feeding your baby.
For us, this factor is quite essential.
Bobbie is a trailblazer, offering high-quality, organic formula mimicking breast milk, prioritizing natural ingredients. Bobbie has Clean Label Project Purity Award and Pesticide Free certification.
Enfamil is a trusted brand with diverse formulas for many situations, but potential allergens and ingredients should be considered.
Bobbie Reputation
Bobbie is a trailblazer in the baby formula industry, priding itself on offering a high-quality, organic, and EU-inspired infant formula that meets all FDA requirements.
Bobbie’s core philosophy revolves around providing the best possible nutrition for babies while ensuring transparency in ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.
With a focus on simplicity and quality, Bobbie’s infant formula is designed to closely mimic breast milk, prioritizing natural ingredients and avoiding additives like corn syrup, palm oil, and maltodextrin. This dedication to excellence has earned Bobbie the Clean Label Project Purity Award and Pesticide Free certification, ensuring peace of mind for parents like you.
Enfamil (Gentlease) Reputation
Enfamil is a trusted brand in the US known for its diverse range of baby formulas designed to meet the nutritional needs of infants.
Backed by scientific research and collaborations with healthcare professionals, Enfamil continuously strives to improve its formulas.
Enfamil adheres to strict safety and quality standards throughout its manufacturing processes, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and undergoing regular inspections.
While Enfamil formulas cater to various infant needs, it’s important to be aware of potential allergens, such as milk and soy, in their formulas.
If your baby has known allergies or sensitivities, read all labels and consult your pediatrician.
Nutritional Composition
The source of the ingredients and the nutritional composition are the most important factors when choosing a formula.
Let’s take a look at how Bobbie and Gentlease compare to each other:
Bobbie formula uses organic cow’s milk with added whey protein, organic lactose as the carbohydrate source, and high-quality fats like sunflower and coconut oil. It avoids palm oil.
Gentlease formula uses nonfat milk, whey protein concentrate solids, corn syrup solids as the carbohydrate source, and palm olein in the fat blend.
Protein Content
Proteins are essential for your baby’s growth and development:
Bobbie: Bobbie’s protein comes from organic cow’s milk with added whey protein. The formula has a 60:40 whey to casein ratio, mimicking the protein ratio in mature human breast milk. This balance supports gentle digestion and is ideal for little tummies.
Enfamil Gentlease: This formula uses partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids. Partially hydrolyzed proteins are designed to be easier to digest for sensitive tummies, potentially easing fussiness, gas, and crying.
Bobbie has a purer and simpler protein source, using organic cow’s milk and adding a small amount of whey protein to achieve the proper ratios.
Gentlease uses partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids. This blend is designed to make digestion much easier for the baby, but it involves a lot of chemical processes in its manufacture and is not organic.
Carbohydrate Content
Carbohydrates are a vital energy source for your baby’s growth. Here’s a comparison of the carbohydrate content and sources in each formula:
Bobbie: The only carbohydrate source in Bobbie is lactose, which is the primary sugar found in breast milk. This natural sugar fuels your baby’s growth without the need for any additional sugars or sweeteners.
Enfamil Gentlease: Gentlease uses corn syrup solids as its primary carbohydrate source.
The carbohydrate source could not be more different.
Bobbie uses organic lactose exclusively, which we want to see in a formula.
Gentlease’s main carb is corn syrup solids, a controversial ingredient, but this is done on purpose for babies who can’t digest lactose.
Bobbie is clearly superior for most babies, and Gentlease is designed for very specific cases.
Fats and Oils
Fats are crucial for your baby’s brain development and overall growth. Let’s compare the fats and oils in each formula:
Bobbie: Bobbie’s fat blend includes high-quality sources like sunflower, coconut, and soy oils. The formula does not contain palm oil and provides essential omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA.
Enfamil Gentlease: The fat blend in Gentlease consists of palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils. It also contains essential fatty acids like ARA and DHA, which support brain development.
Bobbie easily wins this round, and that’s because Gentlease uses palm olein, which is essentially highly processed palm oil, and it is not organic, which means it is not sustainable.
While organic palm oil is acceptable, non-organic palm oil is not, and palm olein is even worse.
Palm Oil vs Palm Olein
| Problems | Palm Olein in Baby Formula | Palm Oil in Baby Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Fat absorption | Lower fat absorption due to higher oleic acid content, which may lead to reduced nutrient uptake | Better fat absorption due to more balanced fatty acid composition |
| Calcium absorption | Lower calcium absorption, which could affect bone mineralization | Better calcium absorption, promoting healthy bone development |
| Palmitic acid (a similar fat to breastmilk) | Higher percentage of palmitic acid esterified in the sn-2 position (beta-palmitate), which is not efficiently absorbed by infants | More balanced palmitic acid distribution, better absorption |
| Impact on gastrointestinal system | May cause harder stools or constipation due to lower absorption of fatty acids | Less impact on stool consistency, promoting a healthy gastrointestinal system |
| Nutritional profile | Less balanced nutritional profile due to higher oleic acid content | More balanced nutritional profile, closer to human milk |
| Environmental concerns | Similar environmental concerns as palm oil, including deforestation and loss of biodiversity | Similar environmental concerns as palm olein, including deforestation and loss of biodiversity |
Probiotics and Prebiotics
No prebiotics or probiotics in Bobbie and Gentlease.
While prebiotics and probiotics are not essential ingredients in baby formulas, they can provide added benefits to your baby’s gut health.
Prebiotics are more commonly found in formulas, while probiotics are less common.
We recommend choosing a formula with probiotics only if advised by your pediatrician.
Neither Bobbie nor Enfamil Gentlease specifically mention the inclusion of prebiotics or probiotics in their formulas.
Cost and availability
Both Bobbie and Enfamil Gentlease formulas are available in the United States, but finding them in other countries may be more challenging.
Bobbie is generally more expensive due to its organic certification and the manufacturing practices prioritizing ingredients’ purity.
However, at the moment of writing this article, they have the same price: 1.66$ per OZ, approximately.
Best Places to Buy Bobbie and Gentlease
Bobbie´s Official Website
Less is more. That is the saying of Bobbie.
Crafted with care, focussed on essential, high-quality ingredients.
Bobbie is your go-to if you want a US-based product with an Organic European Formula quality.
- Organic American Grass-Fed Milk: Sourced from Organic Valley cows
- Iron meets FDA and EU standards
- Perfect Whey:Casein Ratio
- Organic Expeller-Pressed Fat Blend
- Organic Lactose
Enfamil Gentlease: TARGET OR WALMART
What are the best alternatives to Bobbie and Gentlease?
If you’re looking for alternatives to Bobbie or Gentlease, here are some recommendations:
Bobbie’s best alternatives:
Holle, a popular organic baby formula brand known for its high-quality ingredients and commitment to sustainability. *Read: Holle vs Bobbie
HiPP, a leading German organic baby formula brand offering a wide range of products tailored to different nutritional needs and stages of development. *Read: Hipp vs Bobbie | Hipp HA vs Gentlease
Kendamil, a well-known British baby formula brand known for its commitment to using locally sourced ingredients and avoiding the use of palm oil. *Read: Kendamil or Bobbie?
Check out more Bobbie comparisons: Bobbie vs Baby’s Only | Bobbie vs Kirkland | Bobbie vs Enspire
Gentlease’s best alternatives:
HiPP Comfort, a specialized formula designed for babies with digestive issues, providing gentle relief and easier digestion.
HiPP HA, a hypoallergenic formula suitable for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance, providing essential nutrients while being easier to digest. *Read: Hipp Comfort vs HA
Any organic goat milk formula. We recommend NannyCare or Kabrita as the top two choices because goat milk formula is easier to digest than cow’s.
Conclusion
Bobbie and Gentlease are two distinct formulas, each serving a different purpose.
Bobbie is an excellent formula for normal feeding if your baby has no diagnosed issues or allergies to cow’s milk or lactose. As an organic formula inspired by European organic formulas, it’s a fantastic option for your baby.
Gentlease, on the other hand, is tailored for babies with high allergies or intolerances.
Bobbie is the clear choice if your baby does not have any significant issues or their digestive problems are mild.
However, if your baby has more severe issues, Gentlease could be a suitable option.
That said, we recommend trying other organic formulas focused on specific issues, like HiPP specialty formulas or an organic goat milk formula such as Holle’s, Kendamil’s, or Nannycare’s.
We’re Maria and Alberto, a married couple and educators who are nutrition enthusiasts. Even before we had kids, we were already crazy about nutrition.
We’d read scientific articles, watch videos from nutritionists, and spend hours listening to nutrition podcasts.
Today, we continue doing this, but in a different way, as we’ve learned to sift through the noise and trends. Nutrition, like any other field of knowledge, the more you read and learn, the more you develop a comprehensive understanding of reality, and that’s what has happened to us.
Before having our first child, we focused on learning everything we could about child nutrition, using the same techniques we had already employed, backed by our extensive knowledge in nutrition.
Our mission is to help other parents with their children’s nutrition, to help them become the best versions of themselves.
If we are what we eat and drink, which is absolutely true, let’s do it right!
