Kendamil vs Gerber: Which Baby Formula Is Better?

Key Differences Between Kendamil and Gerber

Key Differences	Kendamil	Gerber
Organic	✅ Yes	❌ No
Milk Base	Whole cow’s milk	Enzymatically hydrolyzed whey protein
Prebiotics	Naturally occurring HMOs & organic GOS	2′-FL HMO
Probiotics	❌ No	✅ Yes, B. lactis cultures
Added Sugars	✅ No	❌Yes, corn maltodextrin
Palm Oil	✅ No	❌Yes, palm olein
Plant-based DHA	✅ Yes, derived from algae	❌ No, derived from M. alpina oil and C. cohnii oil
Cost	Higher due to organic ingredients & importing	Generally more affordable
Availability	More difficult to find, varies by region	Widely available
Best Alternative Brands	Bobbie, Holle, Hipp	Bobbie, Holle, Hipp

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If you are here, you already are a great parent, looking for the best nutrition possible for your baby.

In this article, we will compare two leading brands, Kendamil and Gerber, to help you decide which formula to choose.

Specifically, we will focus on the Stage 1 formulas for both brands, but keep in mind that the comparison can still be applied to follow-on formulas, as they are very similar.

Our Short Answer

I swear, we are not biased, but Kendamil wins again.

We have to recommend Kendamil over Gerber for its clean, organic ingredients, whole milk base, and absence of undesirable formula components.

Gerber can be a suitable alternative if budget or availability is a concern. And still, in those cases, you should still consider European brands like Holle and Hipp or the US-based Bobbie.

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Brand Reputation

Kendamil prides itself on developing an organic formula, including naturally occurring HMOs and using EU-certified organic milk with high nutritional standards.

Gerber focuses on being the closest formula to breast milk with probiotics, DHA, and Comfort Proteins®, but fails to do so.

Kendamil Reputation

Kendamil is a brand that prides itself on providing the best of nature for your baby.

They have developed an organic formula that contains essential nutrients naturally found in breast milk.

Kendamil’s one-of-a-kind formula is the only one on the market to include naturally occurring Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are crucial in supporting infant immunity.

Kendamil processes their EU-certified organic milk at their own facilities, ensuring that no unnecessary heat treatments degrade the milk’s vitamin and protein content.

They prioritize high-quality milk by using whole cream milk from happy cows, providing a more natural source of fat with the same Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) found in breast milk, known to aid in babies’ cognitive development.

Kendamil’s commitment to high nutritional standards means their formula is free of cheap additives like palm or fish oil. Instead, they use a sustainable vegetable oil mixture and plant-based DHA derived from algae, creating a healthy vegetarian-friendly formula.

Gerber Reputation

Gerber® Good Start® GentlePro formula aims to be the closest formula to breast milk. However, it is not organic.

It is the first infant formula with 2′-FL HMO, a prebiotic similar to one found at significant breastmilk levels, and probiotics promoting soft stools.

Gerber has carefully selected probiotics to improve the good bacteria in babies’ tummies, similar to the ones found in breastmilk.

Gerber’s formula features Comfort Proteins®, small proteins that are easy for tiny tummies to digest. The formula also includes a blend of DHA, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with essential components found in breastmilk.

With expert-recommended DHA to support brain and eye development and everyday probiotics to help support a healthy digestive tract, Gerber focuses on providing a well-rounded formula for your baby’s growth and development.

Nutritional Composition

Kendamil uses organic whole cow’s milk, lactose, high-quality milk fat, and a sustainable vegetable oil mixture with plant-based DHA.

Gerber uses enzymatically hydrolyzed whey protein, lactose, corn maltodextrin, palm olein, and soy oil.

Kendamil is the more natural and less processed option with no added sugars.

Protein Content

Kendamil Stage 1 formula uses organic whole cow’s milk, which naturally contains a mix of casein and whey proteins. The formula has a higher whey-to-casein ratio (60/40), similar to mature breast milk, which promotes rapid growth by providing fast-absorbing, easily digestible proteins.

Gerber Good Start GentlePro, on the other hand, uses enzymatically hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate from milk. This protein source consists of smaller proteins, known as Comfort Proteins®, that are easy for tiny tummies to digest.

Kendamil gets closer to breastmilk thanks to its whey-to-casein ratio and it is also the more natural and less processed option.

While Gerber uses hydrolyzed whey protein, which is very easy to digest, does so by processing its formula more. That, and the fact that it does not use organic ingredients, gives Kendamil the gold medal.

Carbohydrate Content

Kendamil formula relies on the lactose present in whole organic cow’s milk as its primary carbohydrate source. There is no added starch or maltodextrin, or any other added sugar.

Gerber formula, in contrast, uses lactose and corn maltodextrin as its carbohydrate sources. While lactose is a natural sugar found in breast milk, maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate that serves as a filler and provides energy.

Kendamil wins again, thanks to its use of whole organic cow milk and lactose exclusively.

Gerber unfortunately adds non-organic maltodextrin, which is better to avoid. 

*The only reason why you would choose a formula with maltodextrin is if your baby is really hungry all the time, and even then, we would try to find another option, or feed them more.

Fats and Oils

Kendamil prioritizes high-quality milk fat, using whole cream milk. This formula does not contain palm or fish oil. Instead, it uses a sustainable vegetable oil mixture and plant-based DHA derived from algae, making it a vegetarian-friendly option.

Gerber’s formula contains a blend of vegetable oils, including palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic safflower or sunflower oil. It also contains DHA and ARA from M. alpina oil and C. cohnii oil.

Another clear victory for Kendamil.

Kendamil uses whole milk as its main fat source + organic vegetable oils from plants.

Gerber has non-organic palm olein (which is a more processed version of palm oil) and non-organic soy oil. It is better to avoid these two ingredients, there are much better options.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Both Kendamil and Gerber formulas contain prebiotics. Kendamil includes naturally occurring HMOs and organic GOS.

Gerber includes 2′-FL HMO and probiotics, specifically B. lactis cultures, similar to those found in breast milk.

Gerber is superior in terms of probiotics, but they are an extra additive, and you should always check with your pediatrician to check if your baby needs them.

Prebiotics and probiotics are not essential components in baby formulas, but they may be beneficial for some babies who need them.

Both Kendamil and Gerber formulas contain prebiotics, but their sources differ.

Kendamil includes naturally occurring Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and organic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). These components support infant immunity and promote a healthy gut.

Gerber Good Start GentlePro contains 2′-FL HMO, a prebiotic similar to one found at significant levels in breast milk. It also includes probiotics, specifically B. lactis cultures, similar to the probiotics found in breast milk and help support a healthy digestive tract.

Cost and availability

Kendamil may be slightly more challenging to find than Gerber, particularly in the United States.

However, there are reputable retailers that generally have it in stock (see the best ones below). The higher price tag associated with Kendamil can be attributed to its organic ingredients and the need to import the product.

If you live in Europe, availability and cost will likely be less of an issue.

Best Places to Buy Kendamil and Gerber

What are the best alternatives to Kendamil and Gerber?

If Kendamil or Gerber doesn’t seem like the right fit for your baby, there are other alternatives worth considering:

• Bobbie: A US-based formula that adheres to European standards and offers a high-quality, clean ingredient list. *Read: Bobbie or Kendamil and Bobbie vs Gerber

• Holle: A German brand known for its organic, biodynamic ingredients and various formula options. *Read: Holle or Kendamil

• Hipp: A popular European brand offering organic, high-quality formulas with a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices. *Read: Hipp or Kendamil

Check out more comparisons: Kendamil vs Bellamy | Kendamil vs Happy Baby | Kendamil vs Gentlease

Conclusion

In our comparison, Kendamil emerges as the clear winner due to its organic ingredients, whole milk base, and absence of undesirable formula components.

We recommend Kendamil 90% of the time, and for good reason.

However, Gerber still has its place, particularly for those who cannot afford Kendamil or have difficulty sourcing it.

In such cases anyway, we suggest opting for another European brand or Bobbie if you prefer a fantastic US-based product.