Key Differences Table Between Enfamil Sensitive and Gentlease
| Features/Aspect | Enfamil Sensitive | Enfamil Gentlease |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal For | Babies with difficulty digesting lactose, but no sensitivities to cow’s milk protein | Babies with trouble digesting cow’s milk protein and lactose |
| Type | Lactose-sensitive formula | Partially hydrolyzed formula for easier digestion |
| Primary Protein Source | Milk Protein Isolate | Partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate |
| Carbohydrate Source | Corn Syrup Solids | Corn Syrup Solids |
| Fats and Oils | Palm Olein, Coconut, Soy, High Oleic Sunflower oils with ARA and DHA | Identical to Enfamil Sensitive |
| Easy-to-Digest Proteins | Yes, suitable for lactose sensitivity | Yes, designed for protein and lactose sensitivities |
| Brain-Building Nutrition | DHA, Vitamins C & E, Selenium for immune health | DHA and Triple Health Guard blend |
| Non-GMO Ingredients | Yes | Not specified |
| Prebiotics | 2′-Fucosyllactose (HMO) | None |
| Specific Benefits | Supports cognitive development, immune health | Clinically proven to reduce fussiness and gas within 24 hours |
This article will compare two popular Enfamil Formulas: Sensitive vs Gentlease.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional composition to help you choose the best one for your little one.
Let’s get after it!
Related read: Enfamil Gentlease vs Gerber Gentle
Our Short Answer
The choice between Enfamil Sensitive and Enfamil Gentlease will depend on your baby’s needs.
Choose Enfamil Sensitive if your baby:
- Does not have sensitivities to cow’s milk protein
- Has difficulty digesting lactose
Choose Enfamil Gentlease if your baby:
- Has trouble digesting cow’s milk protein
- Has difficulty digesting lactose
If you want our advice, start with Enfamil Sensitive and if your baby continues to experience stomach difficulties switch to Gentlease, but we recommend you go straight to the Neuropro version. *Read: Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro Gentlease
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Enfamil Sensitive, designed for lactose sensitivities, includes Milk Protein Isolate and 2′-Fucosyllactose, supporting easy digestion and cognitive development with non-GMO ingredients.
Enfamil Gentlease features partially hydrolyzed milk proteins for easier digestion, clinically proven to reduce fussiness and gas, enriched with DHA and a Triple Health Guard blend.
Enfamil Sensitive
Enfamil Sensitive is crafted to be gentle on developing digestive systems, particularly helpful for babies with lactose sensitivities. This formula is a standout as it includes components such as Milk Protein Isolate and 2′-Fucosyllactose (a human milk oligosaccharide), which aim to nourish your baby while being easy on their tummy.
Noteworthy Highlights:
- Easy-to-Digest Proteins: The formula’s proteins are specially tailored to not overwhelm your little one’s digestive system.
- Brain-Building Nutrition: With expert-recommended DHA levels, Enfamil Sensitive supports cognitive development during those critical first months.
- Immune Health Support: Packed with Vitamins C & E and Selenium, it aids in bolstering your baby’s immune system.
- Non-GMO Ingredients: Parents can rest assured knowing the product avoids genetically modified organisms and artificial growth hormones.
- Pediatrician Recommended: Being highly endorsed by pediatricians gives this product an extra seal of trust among parents.
Enfamil Gentlease
Enfamil Gentlease is designed for babies experiencing fussiness and gas, which may stem from a sensitivity to the proteins found in traditional milk-based formulas. Its partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids help in easing digestion, making it a potential solution for discomforted infants.
Key Points:
- Ease of Digestion: Its formulation contains broken-down proteins, which are easier for tiny stomachs to process.
- Clinically Proven Comfort: Enfamil Gentlease has been shown to soothe common discomforts like gas and crying within 24 hours of use.
- Nutritional Advantages: In line with Enfamil’s dedication, this formula also has DHA—vital for brain development—and other essential nutrients reflecting the goodness of breast milk.
- Triple Health Guard Blend: This unique blend encompasses nutrients for growth, DHA for brain health, and a prebiotics mix aimed at supporting the immune system.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil Sensitive uses Milk Protein Isolate for easy digestion in babies with lactose sensitivities, while Gentlease features partially hydrolyzed proteins for infants with protein and lactose sensitivities.
Both contain corn syrup solids as the primary carbohydrate, a common lactose alternative.
Their fat blends, including palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils with ARA and DHA, are identical.
Protein Content
Enfamil Sensitive: The protein content in Enfamil Sensitive comes from Milk Protein Isolate. This is a high-quality protein that has been isolated from milk, offering a pure and concentrated source of proteins without lactose traces. This choice helps to make the proteins in Enfamil Sensitive more manageable for infants with sensitive tummies.
Enfamil Gentlease: In contrast, Gentlease features partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate solids. Partial hydrolysis breaks down the proteins into smaller parts, which can help infants who might have difficulty digesting complex proteins found in regular formulas. These simplified proteins are intended to mitigate digestive discomfort such as gas or fussiness.
Both formulas use different types of protein. Sensitive is suitable for babies who don’t have issues with the digestion of cow’s milk protein but have lactose sensitivities. Gentlease is a better choice for babies with protein sensitivities and lactose sensitivities as well because of its use of partially hydrolyzed protein.
Learn more: Partially vs Extensively Hydrolyzed Formulas
Carbohydrate Content
Enfamil Sensitive: For carbohydrates, Enfamil Sensitive includes Corn Syrup Solids as the primary source. Corn syrup solids are a treated form of corn syrup crafted to provide an easily digestible energy source for babies.
Enfamil Gentlease: Similarly utilizes Corn Syrup Solids to yield an energy source that’s gentle on the stomach.
Corn Syrup Solids are the most common alternative to lactose in US-based formulas. While they are approved by the FDA because they are suitable for babies, they are high in sugar, and there are healthier alternatives.
Fats and Oils
Enfamil Sensitive: The fats present in Enfamil Sensitive are derived from a blend of vegetable oils including Palm Olein Oil, Coconut Oil, Soy Oil, and High Oleic Sunflower Oil. Additionally enriched with Mortierella Alpina Oil as a source of Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and Schizochytrium Oil for Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), these fats play a crucial role in visual and cognitive development.
Enfamil Gentlease: Shares a similar fat composition with its blend of palm olein, soy, coconut, and high oleic sunflower oils. The inclusion of ARA and DHA mirrors their commitment to promoting brain health alongside physical development. Their carefully selected oil blend aims at achieving a fatty acid profile resembling mother’s milk as closely as possible while avoiding digestive strains.
Both formulas have the exact same fat blend, so no differences whatsoever.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
The health of an infant’s gut microbiota is essential for their overall well-being, influencing digestion, immunity, and even the prevention of certain allergies. Probiotics and prebiotics play significant roles in developing a healthy digestive system.
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that can promote a healthy balance of gut flora. These are similar to the bacteria that may be found in a healthy human intestine.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are dietary fibers that serve as food for this friendly gut bacteria, encouraging their growth and activity.
Enfamil Gentlease does not include any prebiotics or probiotics in its blend. This happens sometimes in formulas that have pre-digested protein, because they are considered easy to digest already.
Enfamil Sensitive adds 2′-Fucosyllactose, an HMO prebiotic found in breast milk that is highly beneficial for babies.
Best Places to Buy Sensitive and Gentlease
Sensitive
Gentlease
What are the Best Alternatives to Enfamil Sensitive and Gentlease?
Even though Enfamil Sensitive and Gentlease are good formulas for sensitive babies, there are better options that you should know about. These are our favorites:
- Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive: Regarded as one of the top alternatives from Similac for sensitive tummies, this formula is designed with an easy-to-digest blend of carbohydrates and milk proteins that have been modified to reduce lactose content. The addition of human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) provides support for immune health, mirroring a component naturally present in breast milk. *Read: Enfamil Gentlease vs Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive
- Hipp Comfort: Our favorite sensitive formula from Hipp aims at reducing symptoms of colic and constipation through its special formulation. With reduced lactose content and a particular composition of fats designed to be easy on an infant’s digestive system, Hipp Comfort could be a comforting choice for sensitive babies.
- Hipp HA: As another strong player in the market, Hipp HA is specifically tailored for infants at risk of allergies. It offers hydrolyzed proteins which are simpler for babies to digest and can lower the chances of allergic reactions. Hipp HA also includes prebiotic oligosaccharides similar to those in breast milk supporting healthy gut flora. *Read: Hipp HA vs Gentlease
Last Words
We hope this article helps you make the best decision possible for your baby. If you have further questions, please leave a comment or contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.
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!
