Key Differences Between Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Advance
| Feature | Enfamil Gentlease | Similac Advance |
|---|---|---|
| Target User | Babies with a hard time digesting cow’s milk protein, or lactose intolerance. | Babies with no or mild digestive problems. |
| Nutrition | Eases fussiness, gas, and crying. Essential nutrients for cognitive growth. | Vital nutrients for brain and eye development, supports excellent calcium absorption. |
| Probiotics/Prebiotics | Not included. | Includes Galactooligosaccharides as a prebiotic. |
| Palm Olein Oil | Included. | Not included. |
| Protein Content | 2.3g per 5.0 fl oz. Partially hydrolyzed protein for easier digestion. | 2.07g per 5 fl oz. Contains whey protein and non-fat milk. |
| Carbohydrate Content | 10.8g per 5.0 fl oz. Main source: Corn syrup solids. | 10.7g per 5 fl oz. Main source: Lactose. |
| Fat Content | 5.3g per 5.0 fl oz. Contains palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic sunflower oils. | 5.6g per 5 fl oz. Contains high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil. |
| Alternatives | Hipp HA and Hipp Comfort. | Kendamil Organic and Bobbie. |
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This post aims to compare two popular formulas in the US: Enfamil Gentlease vs Similac Advance.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional compositions to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Let’s get started!
*Related read: Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease vs Similac Advance
Our Short Answer
We cannot give you a winner in the comparison between Gentlease and Advance, as they are two formulas designed for different types of babies.
Choose Enfamil Gentlease if:
– Your baby has a hard time digesting cow’s milk protein.
– Your baby has trouble digesting lactose or is lactose intolerant.Choose Similac Advance if:
– Your baby does not have digestive problems, or if he/she does, they are mild or completely normal
Our advice, however, is to read about the alternatives mentioned below in the article, below you make any purchasing decisions.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Enfamil Gentlease is designed for sensitive tummies, relieving fussiness and promoting cognitive development. It is free from added sugar, artificial growth hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs.
Similac Advance supports brain and eye development, excludes palm olein oil, and includes prebiotics. Also free from all the controversial ingredients as Gentlease.
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease is a baby formula designed to offer a gentle start for sensitive tummies. Scientifically formulated, it claims to ease fussiness, gas, spit-up, and crying within 24 hours.
It has expert-recommended DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). Enfamil Gentlease provides basic nutrients and elements essential for cognitive brain development through the first 12 months.
It contains no added table sugar, corn, artificial growth hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. It is gluten-free and ready to mix.
Ingredients include soy, milk, coconut oil, corn syrup solids, partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids (soy), vegetable oil, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Similac Advance
Similac Advance, a nutritionally complete, milk-based, iron-fortified infant formula, helps support your baby’s brain and eye development through its exclusive blend of ingredients. It’s designed not just for a baby’s first year.
One unique feature of Similac Advance is that it has no palm olein oil, supporting excellent calcium absorption. It’s also Kosher and Halal.
Similac Advance is composed of Nonfat Milk, Lactose, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Oil, Coconut Oil, Galactooligosaccharides (a prebiotic), essential vitamins, minerals and nucleotides.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil Gentlease uses partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids.
Similac Advance uses nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate.
Gentlease has a whey-to-casein ratio closer to breast milk.
Both formulas have similar carbohydrate content, with Gentlease using corn syrup solids and Similac Advance using lactose.
Regarding fats and oils, Gentlease includes palm olein oil, while Similac Advance does not.
Protein Content
Enfamil Gentlease
Each serving (5.0 fl oz) of Enfamil Gentlease provides 2.3 grams of protein. The primary protein sources in this formula are partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids, making it easy-to-digest for babies.
Similac Advance
Similac Advance offers slightly less protein compared to Enfamil Gentlease. Each 100-calorie serving (approximately 5 fl oz) offers 2.07 grams of protein. The main source of protein is nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate.
Gentlease uses partially hydrolyzed protein, which is easier to digest because it’s broken down beforehand. This is perfect for babies with problems digesting cow’s milk protein. It is not suitable however, for babies with diagnosed CMPA. *Learn more: Hydrolyzed Baby Formulas
Similac Advance uses whey protein and non-fat milk, the common protein sources for conventional formulas.
Gentlease has a whey-to-casein ratio of 40:60 and Advance of 18:82. This makes Enfamil’s formula closer to breastmilk, which is 60:40. *Learn more: Whey-to-casein ratio in infant formulas
Carbohydrate Content
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease offers 10.8 grams of carbohydrates per serving (5.0 fl oz). The main carbohydrate source in Enfamil Gentlease is corn syrup solids. This carbohydrate source is easy-to-digest for babies.
Similac Advance
Similac Advance, in comparison, offers a similar carbohydrate content at 10.7 grams per 100-calorie serving (approximately 5 fl oz). The primary carbohydrate source is lactose.
For a sensitive formula like Enfamil Gentlease, corn syrup solids are a suitable alternative to lactose ( though there are better alternatives with less sugar). This is because Gentlease is also for babies with lactose sensitivity or intolerance.
Similac Advance uses lactose exclusively, precisely what we expect in a conventional formula.
Fats and Oils
Enfamil Gentlease
Each serving (5.0 fl oz) of Enfamil Gentlease contains 5.3 grams of total fat. Its fat content is derived from palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic sunflower oils. It has good sources of DHA and ARA (Omegas 3 and 6)
Similac Advance
Similac Advance provides a slightly higher amount of fat, 5.6 grams per 100-calorie serving (approximately 5 fl oz). It derives its fat content from high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil. It also adds the same sources of Omega 3 and 6.
In terms of fat content, Similac Advance has the victory because it does not add palm oil to its formula. *Learn more: Palm Oil in Baby Formula
Apart from that, both formulas have the same fatty acids and sources.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Enfamil Gentlease does not contain prebiotics or probiotics.
Similac Advance includes Galactooligosaccharides as a prebiotic.
Probiotics and prebiotics are not essential ingredients in baby formulas, but they could benefit some babies.
Enfamil Gentlease has no specific prebiotics or probiotics included in the formula.
Similac Advance includes Galactooligosaccharides, a prebiotic that nourishes the beneficial bacteria in your baby’s gut, promoting a balanced gut microbiome.
Best Places to Buy Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Advance
Enfamil Gentlease
Buy Enfamil Gentlease at Target
Buy Enfamil Gentlease at Walmart
Similac Advance
Buy Similac Advance at Walmart
What are the best alternatives to Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Advance?
Enfamil Gentlease
Hipp HA is a fantastic alternative because of its organic ingredients. It also includes prebiotics and probiotics, facilitating a healthy gut environment for your little one. *Read: Hipp HA vs Gentlease
Hipp Comfort is a suitable option for babies showing signs of lactose sensitivity as it contains reduced lactose content to make digestion easier. *Read: Hipp Comfort vs Hipp HA
Similac Advance
Kendamil Organic uses whole milk and real human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs are prebiotics found in breast milk and are vital in supporting your baby’s immunity. *Read: Kendamil vs Gentlease
Bobbie is an impressive alternative as it is the top US organic formula with a simple and pure ingredients list. *Read: Bobbie vs Similac
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Advance has helped you make an informed decision for your baby.
We strongly advise you to read about the alternatives above before purchasing.
Leave a comment below if you have further questions.
See you around!
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!
