Key Differences Between Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen
| Enfamil Reguline | Nutramigen | |
|---|---|---|
| Intended For | Babies with mild digestive problems, either due to cow’s milk protein or lactose sensitivities | Babies with a diagnosis of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) or severe lactose intolerance |
| Protein Source | Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and soy-derived whey concentrate | Extensively hydrolyzed casein |
| Carbohydrates | Contains reduced lactose content | Completely lactose-free |
| Prebiotics & Probiotics | Contains a blend of two prebiotics (PDX and GOS) | Contains the probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus (LGG) |
| Promotes Stool Softness | Yes | No |
| Manages Colic | No | Yes |
| Price | Generally cheaper | Generally more expensive |
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This article aims to compare two popular formulas for sensitive babies in the US: Enfamil Reguline vs Nutramigen.
We will analyze their nutritional compositions and ingredients to help you make an informed decision.
Let’s get started!
*Related read: Enfamil Reguline vs Similac 360
Our Short Answer
We cannot choose an absolute winner between Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen, as both formulas are designed for different types of needs.
Choose Nutramigen if:
– Your baby has a diagnosis of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).
– Your baby is severely lactose intolerantChoose Enfamil Reguline if:
– Your baby suffers from mild digestive problems, either due to cow’s milk protein or lactose sensitivities
That said, we believe being informed about the alternatives we recommend below in the article is essential before you make any purchasing decisions.
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Overview of the two formulas
Enfamil Reguline relieves constipation, supports brain and immune development, and promotes gut health with prebiotics.
Nutramigen targets infants with cow’s milk allergy, relieving colic and reducing allergen exposure. It includes DHA and ARA for brain development and is lactose-free for those intolerant.
Both formulas offer specialized benefits for different baby needs.
Enfamil Reguline
Enfamil Reguline is an infant formula designed to help promote soft and comfortable stools within the first week of use while supplying your baby with complete nutrition for the first 12 months.
This infant formula is specialized to relieve constipation, a common concern among babies.
It also contains expert-recommended DHA to support your little one’s brain development. Remember those Omega-3s you keep hearing about? DHA is one of them, and it’s crucial for healthy brain growth in infants and toddlers.
Furthermore, this formula has a blend of vitamins for immune support plus 30 other nutrients that complement your baby’s diet during his or her first year.
It also includes prebiotics-approved ingredients thought to assist gut health.
In summary, if you need an everyday formula that supports brain & immune development and helps keep poop soft (yes, poop matters!), Enfamil Reguline could be worth your consideration.
Nutramigen
Unlike its sibling above (Reguline), Nutramigen targets a specific group of infants—those with food allergies, specifically cow’s milk allergy.
Ever heard about colic? It’s a severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen that occurs in infants but can be managed early as the first feeding with Nutramigen—90% of infants show improvement within 48 hours!
This hypoallergenic infant formula is designed to lessen the chance of an allergic response by reducing allergen exposure—it does this by using extensively hydrolyzed casein protein (a big word meaning they broke down the protein so tiny that your child’s immune system doesn’t recognize it as an allergen).
It aids brain development since it contains both DHA and ARA nutrients in breast milk.
Its lactose-free formulation further assists those babies intolerant to lactose or sucrose—a double win! So if food allergies are causing a ruckus in your little one’s world (and yours!), give Nutramigen serious thought.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil Reguline contains 2.3g of protein from partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and soy-derived whey concentrate.
Nutramigen has 2.8g of protein from extensively hydrolyzed casein, suitable for babies with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).
Reguline has 11.1g of carbohydrates with reduced lactose, while Nutramigen is lactose-free, making it ideal for severe lactose intolerance.
Both formulas have 5.3g of fat, including DHA and ARA from plant-based oils, but they use palm olein, which may have calcium absorption concerns.
Protein Content
Babies need protein—the building block of their rapidly growing bodies.
In one 5 fl oz serving of Enfamil Reguline, your little one gets a dose of 2.3g protein from partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids (soy-derived).
On the other hand, Nutramigen swings in with a slightly higher protein content—2.8g per 5 fl oz serving—and its proteins come from extensively hydrolyzed casein (milk).
The small proteins in the formula reduce allergen exposure for babies’ immune responses.
Both formulas are hydrolyzed, meaning their proteins have been broken down, making them easier to digest.
The main difference is that Nutramigen is extensively hydrolyzed while Reguline is partially hydrolyzed.
*Learn more: Partially vs extensively hydrolyzed formulas
This difference means that Nutramigen is your best option if your baby has been diagnosed with CMPA (cow’s milk protein allergy).
*Learn more: Baby formula allergies
If that’s not your baby’s case, then a partially hydrolyzed formula like Reguline is a safe option.
Carbohydrate Content
Carbohydrates are essential for providing energy in your infant’s diet; it fuels that never-ending supply of baby energy we know so well.
Enfamil Reguline gives you 11.1g of carbohydrates per serving, sourced mainly from corn syrup solids and lactose.
In contrast, you’ll find 10.3g carbs in each Nutramigen serving, with corn syrup solids being its primary carbohydrate source too—but it’s lactose-free!
The only difference is that while Reguline has some lactose (reduced content), Nutramigen avoids it.
This means that if your baby has severe lactose intolerance or sensitivity problems, Nutramigen is your best bet.
For mild digestive issues, then Reguline is a better option, since lactose is the only carbohydrate found in breast milk.
Fats and Oils
Fats are a necessary part of your baby’s diet since they deliver vital fatty acids for brain development besides being a key energy source.
In both Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen formulas, each 5 fl oz serving gives you 5.3g total fat with sources being vegetable oils (palm olein, coconut, soy, high oleic sunflower oils).
These fats include DHA and ARA (which we’ve mentioned earlier) derived from Mortierella Alpina Oil and Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil—mostly alien words but very standard plant-based oils that help with your child’s brain development!
There are no differences in terms of fat when analyzing both formulas.
Our main concern is that both use palm olein, a more processed version of palm oil.
Even though palm oils has its benefits, we think it is better to avoid them since studies have linked palm oil consumption with a lack of calcium absorption.
Learn more: Palm Oil in Baby Formula
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Enfamil Reguline has a blend of two prebiotics (PDX and GOS) proven to promote softer stools.
Nutramigen includes the probiotic Lactobacillus Rhamnosus (LGG), extensively studied for allergy management.
Both formulas contribute to a healthy gut for infants.
Both probiotics and prebiotics are super important for maintaining a healthy gut, especially for our little ones.
Enfamil Reguline contains a clinically proven blend of two prebiotics, PDX (polydextrose) and GOS (galactooligosaccharides). These help to promote softer stools, making tummy troubles lesser of a concern.
Nutramigen, on the other hand, contains probiotics—specifically Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, aka LGG—the most extensively studied probiotic for allergy management.
Best Places to Buy Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen
Enfamil Reguline
Nutramigen
What are the best alternatives to Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen?
Even though both Enfamil formulas are good formulas, there are alternatives we consider better choices thanks to being more natural options. Here are our top picks:
Our top hypoallergenic formula is Hipp HA. This organic formula is designed specifically for babies with a higher risk of allergies. It also boasts a fantastic blend of pre and probiotics. *Read: Hipp HA vs Nutramigen
If your little one has slight digestion or lactose intolerance issues but nothing severe, consider Hipp Anti-Reflux or Hipp Comfort. These formulas come loaded with nutrition without the added fuss—their composition makes them more digestible compared to traditional cow’s milk formula. *Read: Hipp Comfort vs AR
And if cow’s milk just doesn’t sit well with your baby’s stomach, we recommend trying brands like Nannycare and Kabrita that offer fantastic goat milk-based alternative formulas. These formulas are more gentle on the baby’s tummy yet offer similar or better nutritional profiles. Do note these alternatives would work best with babies without Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) but experience difficulty digesting cow’s milk-based formula. *Read: Nannycare vs Kabrita
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Enfamil Reguline and Nutramigen has helped you make an informed decision.
We recommend you keep learning and reading about the alternatives above before making a decision.
Good luck and 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!
