Key Differences Table Between Enfamil Gentlease and Gerber Gentlepro
| Features/Aspect | Enfamil Gentlease | Gerber GentlePro |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal For | Babies with sensitivities to cow’s milk protein and lactose | Babies with sensitivities to cow’s milk protein |
| Type | Partially hydrolyzed protein | Partially hydrolyzed protein |
| Protein Source | Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein from soy | Partially hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate |
| Carbohydrate Source | Corn syrup solids (ideal for lactose sensitivities) | Lactose (closer to breast milk) |
| Fats and Oils | Blend of vegetable oils (palm olein, soy, coconut, high oleic sunflower) | Blend of vegetable oils (palm olein, soy, coconut, high oleic safflower or sunflower) |
| Nutritional Support | ‘Triple Health Guard’ blend with 30 nutrients, DHA, prebiotics | Probiotic B. lactis, 2′-FL HMO, DHA |
| Ease of Digestion | Designed for relief from fussiness, gas, and crying within 24 hours | Enzymatically hydrolyzed for simpler digestion. Better for babies without lactose sensitivities |
| Prebiotics/Probiotics | None mentioned in the ingredients | 2′-FL HMO and probiotic B. lactis for digestive and immune health |
| Specific Benefits | Tailored for sensitive tummies, reduces discomfort | Supports softer stools, mirrors breast milk’s gastric emptying time |
This article will compare two popular sensitive formulas: Enfamil Gentlease vs Gerber Gentlepro.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional composition to help you choose the best one for your baby.
Let’s get after it!
Related read: Enfamil Gentlease vs Parent’s Choice Gentle
Our Short Answer
The choice between these two formulas will depend largely on your baby’s needs.
Choose Enfamil Gentlease if your baby:
- Has sensitivities to cow’s milk protein
- Has lactose sensitivities
Choose Gerber GentlePro if your baby:
- Has sensitivities to cow’s milk protein.
- Does not have lactose sensitivities
If you are debating between one of the two, we strongly recommend trying GentlePro first. If after a few days, you notice that your baby has symptoms of poor digestion, then you can try Gentlease.
On paper, GentlePro is better than Gentlease, but if your baby has a hard time digesting lactose, Gentlease is a better choice.
That said, we recommend you continue to explore the alternatives below in the article.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Enfamil Gentlease, designed for sensitive tummies, offers partially hydrolyzed proteins and a ‘Triple Health Guard’ blend with 30 nutrients, DHA, and prebiotics for immune support.
Gerber GentlePro uses hydrolyzed whey protein for easy digestion, includes probiotic B. lactis, 2′-FL HMO for digestive and immune health, and DHA for brain and eye development.
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease is a formula crafted for infants with sensitive tummies, aiming to provide relief from fussiness, gas, and crying within 24 hours. This formula contains proteins that have been partially hydrolyzed or broken down into smaller pieces, which can be easier for little ones to digest compared to whole proteins found in traditional formulas.
This formula embodies a ‘Triple Health Guard‘ blend tailored after extensive breast milk research, carrying 30 nutrients instrumental in growth along with DHA—a fatty acid crucial for brain development—and a unique prebiotics mix intended to fortify an infant’s immune system.
Gerber GentlePro
Gerber Gentle follows a similar approach but focuses on offering high-quality 100% whey protein that has been enzymatically hydrolyzed into smaller structures for simpler digestion. This particular process plays a pivotal role in promoting softer stools and matching a breastfeeding infant’s gastric emptying time at around 30 minutes post-feeding.
Adding onto its easy-digest attributes, Gerber Gentle also includes the probiotic B. lactis to underpin digestive health and help establish a balanced microbiota. With the addition of 2′-FL HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharide), an important prebiotic found in significant levels within breast milk, this formula is crafted to support both digestion and immune maturation effectively. The included DHA serves the essential purpose of aiding in brain and eye development, analogous to recommendations from child health experts.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil Gentlease uses partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein from soy for easy digestion, suitable for protein sensitivities. Gerber Gentle uses partially hydrolyzed whey protein, better for general digestibility without soy protein.
Gentlease has corn syrup solids for carbohydrates, ideal for lactose sensitivities, while Gerber Gentle includes lactose, closer to breast milk.
Both formulas feature similar fat blends with essential fatty acids, including ARA and DHA, for cognitive and eye development.
Protein Content
Enfamil Gentlease: The protein source in Enfamil Gentlease comes from partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids. The partial hydrolyzation process breaks down the protein molecules into smaller peptides, making them easier to digest. This can be particularly beneficial for infants who are prone to digestive issues or allergies.
Gerber Gentle: With Gerber Gentle, the formula also utilizes partially hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate derived from cow’s milk. Similar to Enfamil Gentlease, these smaller proteins are engineered to facilitate digestion and reduce the likelihood of discomfort associated with protein sensitivity.
The main difference between both formulas is that Gentlease uses whey from soy protein and Gerber does not. Soy protein has less bioavailability than cow’s milk protein, so in terms of protein, we would prefer Gerber. However, if your baby has problems digesting cow’s milk protein, Gentlease would be a better option.
Carbohydrate Content
Enfamil Gentlease: The primary carbohydrate in Enfamil Gentlease is corn syrup solids. While not identical to the lactose found in breast milk, corn syrup solids serve as an energy source that is less likely to cause discomfort in babies with lactose sensitivities.
Gerber Gentle: In contrast, Gerber Gentle includes lactose as its main carbohydrate component, mirroring the natural sugar found in breast milk. For infants capable of tolerating lactose without severe gassiness or fussiness, this can offer a carb source that’s closest to what they would receive from breastfeeding.
Big difference in carb content. Gentlease does not include lactose, because it’s suitable for babies with lactose sensitivities. Gerber however, uses lactose, which is better overall, but babies with lactose sensitivities would not do very good.
Fats and Oils
Enfamil Gentlease: This formula features a blend of vegetable oils including palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic sunflower oils. These oils are selected to replicate the fatty acid profile of breast milk which is crucial for cognitive development and cellular functions.
Gerber Gentle: Gerber Gentle also contains a mix of fats such as palm olein, soy oil, coconut oil, along with either high oleic safflower or high oleic sunflower oil. Much like Enfamil Gentlease, this blend aims at providing beneficial fats that serve as an important source of energy while contributing to healthy growth patterns.
Both formulas contain added Mortierella Alpina oil and Crypthecodinium cohnii oil (Schizochytrium sp. Oil), which are sources of Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) respectively – vital fatty acids present in breast milk known for their role in eye and brain development.
There are no important differences in their fat content, with both formulas offering the same vegetable oils and DHA and ARA sources.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
The inclusion of probiotics and prebiotics in infant formula can play a vital role in the development of a healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics are live bacteria that add to the population of good bacteria in your baby’s digestive tract, while prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that act as food for these beneficial bacteria. Together, they are important for promoting digestive health and supporting the immune system.
Enfamil Gentlease: Gentlease does not specifically emphasize on the label or ingredient list that this product contains probiotics, the focus remains on using easy-to-digest ingredients.
Gerber Gentle: In addition to having a prebiotic similar to those found in breastmilk (2′-FL HMO), Gerber Gentle includes probiotic B. lactis, which supports digestive health and has been clinically shown to aid in the development of a balanced microbiota. This probiotic, when taken regularly, has also been associated with an increase in IgA antibodies—an essential part of the immune system.
Best Places to Buy Gentlease and GentlePro
Enfamil Gentlease
Gerber Good Start GentlePro
What are the Best Alternatives to Enfamil Gentlease and Gerber Gentle?
Even though Gentlease and GentlePro are good formulas, there are better options in the market. Here are our favorite options for sensitive babies:
Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive: This formula is a top alternative from Similac aimed at sensitive tummies. It is specially crafted with smaller protein molecules for easier digestion and includes a unique blend of five types of HMOs (Human Milk Oligosaccharides), not just 2’-FL, providing comprehensive support for immune functions, digestive health, and cognitive development. *Read: Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive vs Gentlease
Hipp Comfort: Recognized for its gentle formula suitable for sensitive infants, Hipp Comfort incorporates a special blend of reduced-lactose milk to minimize gassiness and fussiness. Beyond its modified whey proteins for easier digestion, it offers an impressive array of prebiotics and probiotics aimed at promoting a robust gut microbiome.
Hipp HA: Another splendid option from Hipp is Hipp HA (Hypoallergenic), which provides hydrolyzed proteins further broken down than standard formulas—ideal for children with allergies or heightened sensitivities. Like Hipp Comfort, it also boasts superb pre- and probiotic blends along with high-quality ingredients pointedly chosen for their purity. *Read: Hipp HA vs Gentlease
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Enfamil Gentlease and Gerber GentlePro has helped you make an informed decision.
If you have further questions please don’t hesitate to comment below or contact us. 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!
