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I learned quickly as a new mom that when it came time to feed my baby, I had to be picky about which formula I gave him. His tiny tummy was finicky about its food supply, and if I provided my baby with the wrong type of formula, the night was very long and tedious. But at the same time, I wanted to ensure that my baby was getting all the nutrients his growing body needed; it was something of a dilemma.
If you’re a parent, you can relate to this dilemma. You probably remember times when your baby could not be comforted because of an upset tummy, and you probably worried, as I did, that your baby was getting plenty of nutrition from the formula you chose.
Fortunately, many trustworthy formula companies have been working hard to design formulas for sensitive systems while still providing all the necessary nutrients for our precious little ones. If you’re struggling to find the right formula for your baby’s tummy, then keep reading. In this article, I am going to compare two different baby formulas so that you have all the information you need when you take your next trip to the grocery store.
Table of Contents
- 1 Bottom Line Up Front
- 2 Main Differences Between Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro
- 3 Key Features of Enfamil Gentlease
- 4 Key Features of Neuropro
- 5 Alternative Formulas to Consider
- 6 Happy Baby Organic Formula
- 7 Bobbie Organic Formula
- 8 Similac Pro-Total Comfort
- 9 Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease
- 10 FAQs
- 11 Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro: Final Thoughts
Bottom Line Up Front
Feel free to read the entire article, but if you’re a busy parent, here’s a chance to skip straight to the good stuff. My preferred formula choice is Enfamil Gentlease. Most babies get upset tummies from a formula, so I recommend this option to reduce the risk.
Enfamil Gentlease Infant Formula provides a gentle start for sensitive tummies. It’s designed to have easy-to-digest proteins & eases fussiness, gas, and crying in just 24 hours.
Main Differences Between Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro
The main differences between Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro are:
- Enfamil Gentlease is specially designed to ease colic and other tummy issues, whereas Neuropro is specially designed to provide long-term brain-building nutrients.
- Enfamil Gentlease is available only in powder form, whereas Neuropro is available in both liquid and powder forms.
Key Features of Enfamil Gentlease
Since the primary purpose of this formula is to ease little tummies struggling with gas, it is designed with ingredients that work toward that goal. A secondary purpose of this formula is to provide important nutrients for proper growth and development while reducing the need for artificial ingredients. Its key features are:
- A dual prebiotic blend to strengthen your baby’s immune system
- DHA and Choline for your baby’s brain development
- Designed to provide all the nutrition your baby needs for their first year
- The promise that no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners were included in the formula
Enfamil Gentlease Infant Formula provides a gentle start for sensitive tummies. It’s designed to have easy-to-digest proteins & eases fussiness, gas, and crying in just 24 hours.
Pros of Enfamil Gentlease:
- It contains no added sugar
- It contains proteins that are easy to digest even by sensitive tummies
- It does not contain artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners
- It is designed to provide all the nutrition a baby needs for the first year of their life
- It is easy to measure and prepare
- Its thin consistency helps it dissolve easily
Cons of Enfamil Gentlease:
- It contains corn syrup, vegetable oils, soy, and dairy
- It is not designed to deal with acid reflux
- It is not hypoallergenic
- It is not organic
Key Features of Neuropro
As a formula that is designed to support brain development and provide complete nutrition for a baby’s first year, Neuropro includes ingredients that work toward these goals. Its key features are:
- A triple prebiotic blend designed to strengthen your baby’s immune system
- Omega 3 DHA to benefit your baby’s brain development
- Naturally occurring MFGM (milk fat globule membrane) components from whey protein concentrate to benefit your baby’s brain development
Enfamil NeuroPro is the only leading formula that has Omega 3 DHA* in amount experts recommend and other essential nutrients your baby.
Pros of Neuropro:
- It does not contain any GMOs (trace amounts may be found due to cross-contamination during the manufacturing process)
- It includes a blend of prebiotics to support the immune system
- It is designed to provide nutrients that mimic breast milk
- It is simply to measure and blend
- Plenty of research has gone into this formula so that babies receive all the benefits they need for brain development
Cons of Neuropro:
- It contains palm oil which can cause constipation
- It is not hypoallergenic
- It is not organic
- It is often out of stock
Alternative Formulas to Consider
Perhaps neither of these formulas seem like they are just what your baby needs, and since babies have individual nutritional needs, it is always nice to have plenty of options to consider. As a busy parent myself, I understand that you can’t spend too much time sorting through every formula on the market, so let’s make this a quick survey of five of the best alternative formulas for your consideration.
Happy Baby Organic Formula
If an organic lifestyle defines your lifestyle, then you need to try this formula. Happy Baby Organic Formula was designed to provide little ones with all the nutrition they need without any fillers. Plus, its ingredients are combined to create a formula that closely resembles breast milk while still tasting great.
Every parent’s feeding journey is different, yet the goal is the same: give your little one the best nourishment possible. Breast milk offers ideal nutrition, and we encourage breastfeeding as the best option, but when it’s not possible Happy Family wants to offer a great organic formula to get all little ones off to the best start.
Pros of Happy Baby Organic Formula:
- The company provides its customers free access to diet and lactation specialists to answer any questions or concerns
- The formula includes essential fatty acids, ARA and DHA
- The formula includes prebiotics, FOS, and GOS, which can help alleviate gas and aid in digestion
- The formula is free from any added sweeteners and corn syrup
- The formula is free from GMOs
- The formula is made from organic cow’s milk
- The founders and operators of the Happy Baby company are moms who know all about baby formula
Cons of Happy Baby Organic Formula:
- The formula contains processed palm oil, which can inhibit the absorption of calcium and DHA
- The formula is difficult to blend
- This is a pricey formula
Bobbie Organic Formula
This is a European-style formula that is made and sold in the U.S. It meets the European standards for iron and DHA and is FDA approved, so you can be sure your little one isn’t getting anything subpar.
Bobbie is always made from non-GMO ingredients and never has corn syrup, palm oil or maltodextrin.
Pros of Happy Baby Organic Formula:
- The company is in the U.S., so shipping issues should be reduced
- The formula includes organic milk from pasture-raised cows
- The formula is sweetened only with lactose
- The formula includes whey protein to aid with digestion
- The formula does not include palm oil or GMOs
Cons of Happy Baby Organic Formula:
- The formula does not include added probiotics or prebiotics
- The formula includes soy
Similac Pro Advance
As a main competitor of Enfamil, the Similac company has proven that they can make a formula that provides all the nutrition that babies need for their first year of life. This formula was designed with your baby’s immune support and body development needs in mind.
Similac Pro-Advance is the first infant formula with 2’ FL HMO designed to be closer than ever to breast milk.
Pros of Similac Pro Advance:
- The formula does not include GMOs, corn syrup, artificial growth hormones, or added sugar
- The formula consists of a combination of prebiotics, vitamins, and nutrients that support your baby’s immune system and help with their eye and brain development
- The formula is specially designed to mimic breast milk
Cons of Similac Pro Advance:
- The formula contains vegetable oil, lactose, and dairy
Similac Pro-Total Comfort
Babies with finicky tummies need a little extra care. If your little one suffers from gas, acid reflux, constipation, or any tummy issues, try this formula from Similac. It is designed to ease a finicky tummy and provide excellent nutrition.
Similac Pro-Total Comfort is themost gentle formula with 2’-FL human milk oligosaccharide† (2’-FL HMO), an immune-nourishing prebiotic like that found‡ in breast milk that supports baby’s developing immune system.
Pros of Similac Pro-Total Comfort
- The formula has less lactose than other milk-based formulas, which makes it ideal for babies who cannot handle lactose
- The formula includes prebiotics, which aids in digestion and can boost the immune system
- The formula is designed to combat acid reflux and constipation
- The formula is free from GMOs
- The formula provides all the nutrition your baby needs for their first year
Cons of Similac Pro-Total Comfort
- The formula may cause constipation and gas instead of relieving them
- The formula may cause diaper blowouts
- The formula must be used within one month of opening
- This is a pricey option
Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease
If you love the idea of providing your little one with a prebiotic immune boost and brain-boosting nutrients all while caring for their sensitive tummy, then try this combination formula. With Enfamil Neuropor Gentlease, you can combine the best of both formulas in one easy-to-measure and blend product.
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease formula is clinically proven to reduce fussiness, gas and crying within 24 hours and has Omega 3 DHA* in amount experts recommend.
Pros of Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease:
- It is designed to provide nutrients that mimic breast milk
- The formula includes prebiotics, which aids in digestion and can boost the immune system
- The formula is free from GMOs
- The formula provides all the nutrition your baby needs for their first year
Cons of Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease:
- The formula contains lactose
FAQs
Question: Is It Possible to Make Homemade Formula?
Answer: While there are plenty of online recipes and YouTube videos touting nutritious and delicious baby formula straight from your home kitchen, you should be aware that these are not a very safe alternative. Here are four good reasons why you should reconsider making your baby formula:
• Many recipes call for raw milk, which can lead to foodborne illnesses when consumed. Babies are especially susceptible to this.
• Nutritional balance is hard to achieve with homemade formula. Babies need a proper balance of nutritional ingredients in their diet, especially during the first year of their life, so they can develop and grow properly. It is difficult to determine if a homemade formula contains all the necessary nutrients for this critical time in a baby’s life, and they may suffer from malnutrition, unhealthy weight gain, or slow growth and development. Nutritional imbalance can also lead to toxicity, hypocalcemia, and stress on immature kidneys.
• Contamination of supplies and ingredients is easy. When formula companies create their products, they do so under strict safety regulations to prevent sickness. To create a homemade formula, you must purchase ingredients from multiple sources that may not keep those ingredients in hygienically safe environments. Remember, even the slightest lapse in cleanliness can cause your baby to get sick from consuming the homemade formula.
Question: What Ingredients to Avoid in a Formula?
Answer: Over time, you will discover what ingredients do not work for your baby’s diet. They may not care for the taste of a particular formula because it includes an odd ingredient, or they may get an upset tummy from a different ingredient. You know your baby best, and you will certainly learn how best to feed them. However, several ingredients should be avoided. When you go shopping for a package of formula, ensure that none of the following are on the list of its ingredients:
• Heavy Metals
• Preservatives
• Added sugars
• GMOs
• Synthetic nutrients
*Always consult with your pediatrician about any feeding concerns you may have. They have excellent resources and experience helping parents find the best food for their babies.
Question: What Are the Benefits of Using a Formula?
Answer: While we all agree that breast milk is best, there are still plenty of good reasons to feed a baby formula instead of or in conjunction with breast milk. If you are on the fence about whether you should add a formula into your baby’s diet, consider the following benefits for doing so:
• Tracking your baby’s food intake is much easier with formula. Download your favorite baby tracking app or grab a baby tracker journal and jot down the ounces your little one had for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. With a bottle and a measuring scoop, there’s no more wondering what they ate or if it was enough.
• Feeding your baby is no longer the sole responsibility of the mom. With formula and a bottle on hand, everyone in the family is welcome to enjoy feeding their favorite little one, and mom can get some much-needed rest.
• Meals are further apart, and naptimes can last much longer. The formula takes longer to digest than breast milk, so babies who get a bottle before bed tend to stay asleep longer. This gives their parents some free time for themselves.
Enfamil Gentlease vs Neuropro: Final Thoughts
Certainly, I would have loved to have given my son only breast milk for his first year, but that was not an option for me. Because of this, I was so thankful to have access to nutritionally complete baby formulas that kept him happy and healthy. Both Enfamil Gentlease and Neuropro provide excellent nutrition, and therefore, I recommend them both.
Neuropro is an excellent choice if your baby doesn’t have tummy troubles. You won’t have to worry about your baby’s growth and development since it will provide them with excellent nutrition.
If, however, you have a baby with a sensitive tummy, like mine, then try Enfamil Gentlease. Using this formula was an easy choice in my situation. It provided my baby with the nutrients he needs for growth and development while being gentle on his finicky tummy. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
So, there you have it – a comparison of two great baby formulas. If your nursery is stocked with either of these options, you and your baby will be happy and able to enjoy many pleasant moments together.
Enfamil Gentlease Infant Formula provides a gentle start for sensitive tummies. It’s designed to have easy-to-digest proteins & eases fussiness, gas, and crying in just 24 hours.