Key Differences Table Between Enfamil Soy and Gerber Soy
| Features/Aspect | Enfamil ProSobee (Enfamil Soy) | Gerber Good Start Gentle Soy |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal For | Babies with lactose sensitivity, vegetarians, Kosher diets | Babies with lactose sensitivity, vegetarians, Kosher diets |
| Type | Soy-based formula | Soy-based formula with hydrolyzed protein |
| Primary Protein Source | Soy protein isolate | Hydrolyzed soy protein isolate |
| Carbohydrate Source | Corn syrup solids | Corn maltodextrin |
| Fats and Oils | Palm olein, coconut, soy, high oleic sunflower oils | Palm olein, soy oil, coconut oil, high-oleic safflower/sunflower oils |
| Nutritional Support | Complete nutrition, Omega 3 DHA | Essential fatty acids, DHA for brain and eye health |
| Ease of Digestion | Yes | Yes+ |
| Special Dietary Needs | Lactose-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, Kosher | Milk-free, lactose-free, Kosher and Halal certified |
| Prebiotics/Probiotics | None mentioned | None mentioned |
| Specific Benefits | Lactose & Dairy-Free, Plant-Based Protein, Omega 3 DHA | Lactose & Dairy-Free, Plant-Based Protein, Omega 3 DHA + hydrolyzed protein and maltodextrin |
This article will compare two popular Soy Formulas in the US: Enfamil ProSobee vs Gerber Gentle Soy.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional composition to help you make the best decision for your little one.
Let’s get after it!
***Important: Soy formulas are not recommended for infants younger than six months of age due to estrogen content and should not be used to treat CMPA unless a pediatrician gives the okay.
Related read: Parent’s Choice Soy vs Enfamil Soy
Our Short Answer
The winning formula is Gerber Soy, hands down in this case.
This is due to these two main reasons:
- It uses hydrolyzed protein, which makes it easier to digest (Enfamil uses soy protein isolate, not hydrolyzed).
- It uses corn maltodextrin instead of corn syrup solids like Enfamil. It is better because it is lower in simple sugars and has a more neutral taste.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Enfamil ProSobee (Enfamil Soy) offers lactose-free, dairy-free nutrition with soy protein, Omega 3 DHA, catering to vegetarians or Kosher diets, and is recommended by pediatricians.
Gerber Soy is also milk and lactose-free, with partially hydrolyzed soy protein for easy digestion, nourishing fats, DHA for brain and eye health, and is Kosher and Halal certified.
Enfamil Soy
Also known as Enfamil ProSobee, this soy-based formula is designed for infants with sensitive tummies, particularly for those who experience fussiness or gas when fed milk-based formulas. Here are some notable points about this formula:
- Lactose & Dairy-Free: A key feature of Enfamil ProSobee is its lactose-free and dairy-free profile, making it suitable for babies who are intolerant to lactose.
- Complete Nutrition: Even without the dairy components, this formula provides complete nutrition for a baby’s first year.
- Plant-Based Protein: The protein in ProSobee is sourced from soy, which can be easier on some infants’ digestive systems than cow’s milk protein.
- Omega 3 DHA: Included at levels comparable to other standard Enfamil formulas, Omega 3 DHA supports healthy brain development.
- Special Dietary Needs: It’s appropriate for families seeking vegetarian or Kosher nutritional products.
- Widely Trusted: Enfamil boasts of being the #1 infant formula brand recommended by pediatricians and trusted by parents.
Gerber Soy
Marketed simply as “Gerber Soy,” this product also targets infants who may not tolerate lactose well or whose parents prefer a non-dairy formula. Here’s what makes Gerber Soy stand out:
- Milk & Lactose-Free: Gerber Soy provides an easy digestion alternative designed to cater to babies with sensitivities towards milk and lactose.
- Partially Hydrolyzed Protein: The soy protein in Gerber’s formula is enzymatically hydrolyzed for easier digestion—a process that breaks down protein into simpler forms.
- Nourishing Fats: The mixture of vegetable oils in Gerber Soy includes palm olein, soy oil, coconut oil, and high-oleic safflower or sunflower oils that contribute to the required fat content in an infant diet.
- DHA Content: Like the Enfamil option, Gerber includes DHA, which aids cognitive development and eye health according to expert recommendations.
- Kosher & Halal Certified: Suitable for families observing these dietary guidelines.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil Soy uses soy protein isolate for its protein source, while Gerber Soy features enzymatically hydrolyzed soy protein, making it easier to digest.
Gerber Soy’s use of maltodextrin for carbohydrates is preferable over Enfamil’s corn syrup solids, offering a better sugar profile.
Both formulas have similar fat blends with essential fatty acids, making it a tie in terms of fat content.
Protein Content
Enfamil Soy: This formula gets its protein solely from soy protein isolate, which constitutes 15% of the ingredients. The isolation process removes most of the fats and carbohydrates present in soy, leaving behind a high-quality, plant-based protein that’s relatively easy for babies to digest.
Gerber Soy: With protein also sourced from soy, Gerber Soy uses enzymatically hydrolyzed soy protein isolate. Hydrolysis breaks down the proteins into smaller units, potentially making it even gentler on an infant’s immature digestive system.
Gerber soy has the upper hand regarding protein content because it uses hydrolyzed soy protein. Compared to soy protein isolate, which is what ProSobee uses, it’s easier to digest. There are no cons in using hydrolyzed protein, so Gerber wins.
Carbohydrate Content
Enfamil Soy: The chief carbohydrate source in Enfamil ProSobee is corn syrup solids, which provide energy that infants need for rapid growth. It is an alternative to lactose found in milk-based formulas and might be easier for lactose-intolerant babies to tolerate.
Gerber Soy: Gerber Soy uses corn maltodextrin as its primary carbohydrate source. Maltodextrin is an easily digestible polysaccharide and serves as an alternative energy source to lactose.
Gerber wins again thanks to using maltodextrin instead of syrup solids. Maltodextrin has less simple sugar content, is easier to digest, and has a milder flavor, which is what we want for a formula.
Fats and Oils
Enfamil Soy: This formula includes vegetable oils such as palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils. These oils provide essential fatty acids for brain development, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and overall growth.
Gerber Soy: Similarly, Gerber Soy contains a mix of palm olein, soy oil, and coconut oil, as well as high-oleic safflower or sunflower oils. In addition to providing essential fatty acids like those in Enfamil’s mixture, these oils offer some diversity in the sources of fat, which can benefit an infant’s diet.
There are not any important differences regarding fat content. Both formulas use the same blend: palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils. They add DHA and ARA as well. It’s a draw.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
When evaluating infant formulas, an increasingly discussed factor is the presence of probiotics and prebiotics, which support digestive health and immunity. These components encourage a healthy balance of gut bacteria, benefiting infants’ overall well-being.
With regard to Enfamil Soy (ProSobee) and Gerber Soy, there are no specific mentions of added probiotics or prebiotics in their ingredients. Both formulas prioritize easing digestion for infants with sensitivities.
It’s important to have discussions with a pediatrician before choosing a soy formula, as they can provide advice on whether supplementation with probiotics or prebiotics might be beneficial for your child.
Best Places to Buy Enfamil Soy and Gerber Gentle Soy
Enfamil ProSobee
Gerber Gentle Soy
What are the Best Alternatives to Enfamil Soy and Gerber Soy?
- Similac Isomil: Similac’s soy infant formula is designed to comfort babies who experience fussiness and gas. As another lactose-free option, Isomil aims to provide complete nutrition while being gentle on an infant’s stomach. *Read: Similac Soy vs Enfamil Soy | Similac Soy vs Gerber Soy
- Nutramigen: A hypoallergenic formula by Enfamil designed for babies allergic to cow’s milk protein. It contains extensively hydrolyzed protein, where milk proteins are broken down into small particles to avoid allergic reactions.
- Alimentum: Similar to Nutramigen, Alimentum from Similac is also hypoallergenic with an extensively hydrolyzed protein source—Nutramigen and Alimentum suit infants with severe milk protein allergies or digestive issues.
If soy-based formulas aren’t suitable due to allergies or if your baby doesn’t tolerate soy well, both Nutramigen and Alimentum can offer alternatives as they are derived from extensively hydrolyzed cow’s milk protein.
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Enfamil Soy and Gerber Soy has helped you make an informed decision for your baby.
If you have further questions, please leave a comment or contact us and we’ll be happy to assist 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!
