Key Differences Between Enfamil and Kirkland
| Aspects | Enfamil NeuroPro | Kirkland ProCare |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Reputation | (Favored by Pediatricians, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free) | (Breastmilk-like, Dual HMO, No Palm Olein, Gluten-Free, Halal, Kosher, Reliable Sourcing) |
| Protein Source & Content | Nonfat milk & Whey protein (2g per serve, Whey:Casein = 60:40) | Nonfat milk & Whey protein (2.5g per serve, Whey:Casein = 52:48) |
| Carbohydrate Source & Content | Lactose (11.3g per serve) | Lactose (10.75g per serve) |
| Fat Source & Content | Palm Olein, Coconut, Soy, High Oleic Sunflower Oils, MFGM & DHA Oil (5.3g per serve) | High Oleic Safflower/Sunflower Oil, Soy Oil, Coconut Oil & Algae Oils (5.3g per serve, No Palm Olein) |
| Probiotics & Prebiotics | GOS | (2’FL HMO) |
| Availability | (Target), (Walmart) | (Costco) |
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This article will compare two popular formulas in the US: Enfamil vs Kirkland.
We’ve chosen Enfamil Neuropro and Kirkland ProCare because they are the most popular among the two brands.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional compositions to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Let’s get started!
*Related read: Similac vs Kirkland
Our Short Answer
This is another close comparison, but we never leave you unanswered.
If we had to choose a formula for our baby, we’d go with Enfamil Neuropro, but only by a bit.
Here are the strengths and weaknesses of comparing the two formulas:
Enfamil Neuropro:
+ It has the perfect whey-to-casein ratio (60:40).
+++ Adds MFGM, or Milk Fat Globule Membrane
– Adds palm olein to its formulaKirkland ProCare:
+++ Adds 2′-FL HMO, a probiotic found in breast milk, highly beneficial to babies’ microbiota.
As far as other ingredients are concerned, both formulas are virtually the same. So comparing strengths and weaknesses, we believe Enfamil Neuropro is slightly ahead of Kirkland.
However, if we were to compare Kirkland ProCare to any other Enfamil formula, such as Enfamil Advance, Kirkland would come out on top.
We recommend you read about the alternatives below in the article.
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Brand Reputation
Enfamil is a reputable brand, favored by pediatricians, known for brain-building and immune support. Some babies may experience digestion issues. It’s certified non-GMO and gluten-free.
Kirkland earned a solid reputation, offering breast milk-like nutrition, dual HMO for immunity, DHA for the brain, and no palm olein oil. Their formula is halal, kosher, gluten-free, and sources ingredients from reliable markets.
Enfamil Reputation
Enfamil is a heavyweight in the baby formula industry and is known for its credibility and expertise.
It’s the number one infant formula brand suggested by pediatricians in the US, which speaks volumes about its reputation.
Enfamil products, like NeuroPro Infant Formula, are famous for their brain-building nutrition and immune support.
Their formulas not only contain DHA for cognitive development but also prebiotics for immune health.
It was important to note that some people reported their babies having digestion issues like gas or colic with Enfamil.
Everyone is unique, so it’s not unusual for some babies to react differently to certain formulas.
One selling point that parents appreciate is that Enfamil products are certified as non-GMO and gluten-free, offering an added piece of mind about what they’re feeding their little ones.
Kirkland Reputation
Kirkland may not be as widely recognized as Enfamil, but it has quickly earned a solid reputation among parents.
Kirkland Signature ProCare Infant Formula strives to replicate breast milk as closely as possible, offering wholesome nutrition for babies during their first year.
What parents appreciate about Kirkland’s offering is the formula’s dual HMO composition designed specifically for immune support, along with DHA and Lutein for brain and eye development, respectively.
Interestingly, Kirkland stands out from many competitors by not using palm olein oil in their formula, a component associated with lower bone mineral density in infants.
The brand also boasts its gluten-free formula being certified halal and kosher suitable for various dietary needs.
Regarding sourcing ingredients, Kirkland ensures high-quality control by gathering dairy elements from reliable dairy markets like USA, Canada, and New Zealand.
Knowing where ingredients come from can encourage more trust between the brand and consumers.
Nutritional Composition
Enfamil and Kirkland use similar protein sources: nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate. Kirkland provides slightly more protein.
Both have lactose as the main carbohydrate, and their fat contents are the same.
Enfamil has MFGM for added benefits.
Kirkland avoids palm olein oil.
Protein Content
Enfamil uses nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate as its sources of protein. Each serve gives your baby 2 grams of protein. Whey protein concentrate is a high-quality protein from milk, like the kind we might drink.
Kirkland also uses nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate for their protein source, but they provide slightly more with 2.5 grams per serving. Like Enfamil, these are excellent sources of protein that are very similar to what a nursing baby would get from breast milk.
Both formulas have the same protein sources: skimmed milk and whey protein concentrate.
These two sources are the standard option for conventional formulas.
Enfamil Neuropro has a better whey-to-casein ratio, closer to breast milk (60:40), while Kirkland has a 52:48.
*Learn more: Whey to casein ratio in baby formula
Carbohydrate Content
In Enfamil NeuroPro, the main source of carbohydrates is lactose which comes directly from milk. Each serving contains 11.3 grams of carbs which help keep your baby full and satisfied between feedings.
Kirkland ProCare also uses lactose as its primary carbohydrate. Each serving gives your baby 10.75 grams of carbohydrates, just slightly less than Enfamil.
Same as with protein, both formulas are quite the same in carbohydrate content.
Lactose is the main ingredient in both, which is what we expect from a conventional formula.
No starches, maltodextrin or syrups.
Fats and Oils
Enfamil’s fat sources are a blend of vegetable oils – palm olein, coconut, soy, high oleic sunflower oils – and MFGM (a fat-protein blend found in breast milk). The total fat content per serving is 5.3 grams. It also adds DHA and ARA.
Kirkland opts not to use palm olein oil in its blend because some studies suggest it can negatively affect infant bone density. Instead, Kirkland uses high oleic oil (from either safflower or sunflower), soy oil, coconut oil, along with two types of algae oils (Schizochytrium sp) for a total fat content of 5.3 grams per serve – exactly like Enfamil!
Even though Enfamil Neuropro uses palm olein, a controversial ingredient that is a more processed version of palm oil (learn more here), we genuinely think that regarding fat content, Enfamil has the upper hand.
Neuropro adds an ingredient called MFGM, or Milk Fat Globule Membrane, a fatty acid known for providing plenty of benefits for babies.
Adding this high beneficial ingredient outweighs the fact that it has palm olein in our experience and opinion.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Prebiotics and probiotics benefit digestion. Enfamil NeuroPro has GOS prebiotics, while Kirkland includes 2′-FL HMO for immune health.
Neither formula contains probiotics.
Prebiotics are like ‘food’ for the good bacteria in our tummies. Probiotics, on the other hand, are these good bacteria themselves.
*Learn more: Prebiotics and probiotics in baby formula
Although these are not must-have ingredients in baby formula, they can benefit some babies’ digestive systems.
Enfamil NeuroPro does contain GOS, a common prebiotic found in plenty of formulas.
On their side, Kirkland has added 2′-FL HMO, a prebiotic found in breast milk that supports immune health, to their formula.
No probiotics in either formula.
Best Places to Buy Enfamil and Kirkland Formulas
Enfamil Formulas
Kirkland Formula
What are the best alternatives to Enfamil and Kirkland?
Even though Enfamil Neuropro and Kirkland ProCare are high-quality formulas, there are better alternatives.
These are the ones we recommend checking out:
Kendamil Organic: Our top pick! We like Kendamil Organic because of its unique approach to baby formula. They use whole milk instead of skimmed and add real HMOs (human milk oligosaccharides), which are special nutrients found in breast milk. *Read: Kendamil vs Enfamil | Kendamil vs Kirkland
Bobbie: Bobbie is our favorite American brand that also gets high marks from us. They use only organic ingredients and keep the list simple, which means fewer chances for something unknown or unwanted sneaking into your baby’s diet. *Read: Bobbie vs Enfamil | Bobbie vs Kirkland
Holle: If you’re seeking organic baby formula with the strictest purity standards, Holle might be an excellent fit for you. It has Demeter certification, which means they use biodynamic farming practices – even better than organic! *Read: Holle vs Enfamil
Last Words
We sincerely hope this comparison between Enfamil and Kirkland has helped you make an informed decision.
As always, we strongly encourage you to read about the alternatives above before you decide.
If you have further questions, we’ll be happy to answer them, just leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you in less than 24 hours.
See you around!
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!
