Key Differences Between Enfamil AR and Nutramigen
| Feature/Concern | Enfamil AR | Nutramigen |
|---|---|---|
| Main Purpose | Spit-up & Reflux Reduction | Lactose Intolerance & Cow’s Milk Allergy |
| Important Ingredient | Rice Starch | Extensively Hydrolyzed Casein |
| Brain & Eye Development | Contains DHA and ARA | Contains DHA and ARA |
| Probiotics & Prebiotics | Contains Prebiotics (Galactooligosaccharides) | Contains Probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) |
| Allergens & Sensitivities | No | Designed for babies with CMPA |
| Consistency | Thick (For Reflux) | Regular |
| Suitability Age | Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months |
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This article compares two popular sensitive formulas: Enfamil AR vs Nutramigen.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional information to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Let’s get after it!
*Related read: Enfamil AR vs Hipp AR
Our Short Answer
We cannot pick a winning formula in this comparison as each is designed for different types of needs.
Choose Enfamil AR if your baby:
– Suffers from Spit-up and Reflux.
– Is not lactose intolerant, but may have some mild sensitivity.
– Is not allergic to cow’s milk protein and has no problems digesting it.Choose Nutramigen if your baby:
– Has cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).
– Is lactose intolerant or has severe sensitivities.Before changing formula, consult your pediatrician, especially regarding special formulas.
That said, we recommend reading about the alternatives we propose below in the article.
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Overview of the two formulas
Enfamil AR: Reduces spit-ups with rice starch. Clinically proven over 50% reduction in a week. DHA for brain-eye development, prebiotics for immunity. Thick consistency for reflux. Comprehensive nutrition up to 12 months.
Nutramigen: Hypoallergenic, lactose-free for food allergies, cow’s milk allergy. Extensively hydrolyzed protein reduces immune response. Rapid relief for colic due to allergy. Contains LGG probiotic for allergy management, DHA, and ARA for brain-eye development. Complete nutrition for 12 months, ideal for allergies.
Enfamil AR
Enfamil AR is designed to reduce spit-ups in infants, thanks to the gentle milk powder made with rice starch in its composition.
This formula claims to be clinically proven to reduce frequent spit-ups by over 50% in just one week.
It is also tailored to mirror the nutrition babies can receive from breast milk, including brain-nourishing DHA, which supports brain and eye development. This formula also contains prebiotics, which have been proven to help overall immunity.
Enfamil A.R. is also recognized for its thick consistency, made specifically to combat reflux in babies.
It provides comprehensive nutrition during your baby’s first 12 months.
Nutramigen
Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic, lactose-free infant formula crafted to cater to babies who suffer from food allergies, including cow’s milk allergy.
It’s made with extensively hydrolyzed casein protein, significantly reducing the prospect of an immune response by reducing allergen exposure.
This formula can offer rapid relief to babies suffering from colic due to cow’s milk allergy, with improvements notable as early as the first feeding.
Studies have suggested that 90% of babies show improvement within 48 hours of using Nutramigen.
Nutramigen also includes LGG, a probiotic extensively researched for allergy management and productive for supporting the digestive health of infants. This formula also includes DHA and ARA, nutrients found in breast milk that support your baby’s brain and eye development.
Nutramigen provides complete nutrition suitable for infants’ first 12 months, particularly those with food allergies and sensitivities.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil AR: Protein from nonfat milk. Uses industry-standard skimmed milk. Complete protein for growth and development. Carbs from lactose, maltodextrin, and rice starch. Reduced lactose, thicker formula, less reflux. Fats from Palm Olein, Coconut, Soy, High Oleic Sunflower Oils, ARA, DHA.
Nutramigen: Protein from extensively hydrolyzed casein. Easier digestion for allergies. Ideal for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy. Carbs from corn syrup solids, modified corn starch. Lactose-free, safe for intolerances, but not optimal carb sources. Same fats and oils.
Palm olein is a concern due to processing.
Protein Content
Enfamil AR‘s protein content per serving (5.0 fl oz) is 2.5g. This formula utilizes nonfat milk as its primary source of protein. Nonfat milk is a complete protein, meaning it supplies all the essential amino acids your baby needs for proper growth and muscle development.
On the other hand, a serving of Nutramigen (5 fl oz) contains 2.8g protein. The protein in this formula comes from extensively hydrolyzed casein. Hydrolyzed casein is a form of protein broken down into smaller parts to make it easier for babies (especially those with allergies) to digest and absorb. It significantly lowers the odds of triggering an allergic reaction.
While Enfamil AR uses skimmed milk, the industry standard for conventional formulas, Nutramigen uses extensively hydrolyzed milk.
Nutramigen is designed for babies with a risk of allergies or those diagnosed with CMPA (cow’s milk protein allergy).
Learn more: Extensively hydrolyzed vs partially hydrolyzed formulas
Carbohydrate Content
The main carbohydrate content in Enfamil AR comes from lactose, maltodextrin, and rice starch. Each serving has 11.3g of carbohydrates.
Nutramigen, in contrast, has 10.3g of carbohydrates per serving and uses corn syrup solids and modified corn starch as its carbohydrate sources. This formula is lactose-free; therefore, it turns to other safe carbohydrate sources for lactose-intolerant babies.
Enfamil AR reduces lactose content without eliminating it completely and adding maltodextrin and rice starch. This makes the formula thicker and reduces spit-up and reflux.
Nutramigen, however, eliminates lactose completely, which is perfect for babies with lactose intolerance or severe sensitivities. It mainly uses corn syrup solids, a common alternative to lactose in the US, but not optimal.
*Learn more: Corn Syrup in Baby Formula
Fats and Oils
In Enfamil AR, each serving provides 5.1g total fat. The formula derives its fats and oils from vegetable oil (palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils), and significant fatty acids like Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) from Mortierella Alpina Oil and Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil.
Nutramigen, on the other hand, contains 5.3g of total fat per serving. The sources of its fats and oils are the same as Enfamil AR. Also, it derives its essential fatty acids ARA and DHA from Mortierella Alpina Oil and Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil.
Using the same vegetable oils, there are no relevant differences in the fat content of both formulas.
The only thing we do not like is the fact that they use palm olein, a more processed version of palm oil that has been linked with poor calcium absorption.
We would only consider this ingredient if it is pure palm oil that is organically grown.
*Learn more: Palm oil in Infant Formula
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Enfamil AR: Prebiotic Galactooligosaccharides for gut health, no probiotics.
Nutramigen: Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus for gut health, no prebiotics.
Enfamil AR has galactooligosaccharides as the prebiotic to promote a healthy gut environment conducive to beneficial bacteria. No probiotics.
Nutramigen formula boasts the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus. This probiotic is well-studied for its supportive role in gut health, aiding digestion, and enhancing the immune system. No prebiotics though.
Best Places to Buy Enfamil AR and Nutramigen
Enfamil AR
Nutramigen
What are the best alternatives to Enfamil AR and Nutramigen?
While both Enfamil AR and Nutramigen are excellent formulas, some parents (including us) prefer alternatives that offer similar benefits, mainly from organic sources.
For Enfamil AR, we recommend Hipp AR and Hipp Comfort. Both are organic and feature pre and probiotics that support a baby’s digestion while providing essential nutrients for growth and development. Like Enfamil AR, Hipp AR offers specialized formula to manage reflux and regurgitation in infants. Hipp Comfort, meanwhile, provides a solution to dietary problems like colic, constipation, and other digestion-related issues. *Read: Hipp Comfort vs Anti-Reflux
For Nutramigen, an excellent alternative is Hipp HA. Like Nutramigen, Hipp HA is a hypoallergenic formula designed to suit babies with allergies and sensitivities. It contains partially hydrolyzed proteins and is made from organic sources, featuring a blend of pre and probiotics for optimal digestion and immune support. *Read: Hipp HA vs Similac Alimentum
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Enfamil AR and Nutramigen helps you make an informed decision.
We strongly encourage you to keep learning about the alternatives above before making a purchasing decision.
If you have further questions, leave a comment or contact us and we’ll get back to you in less than a day.
Happy feeding!
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!
