Nutramigen Vs Gerber Extensive HA: Which One is The Best?

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The hypoallergenic formula consists of chopping the protein (whey or casein) into small pieces so the baby’s immune system can’t detect it; the range size of protein in the hypoallergenic formula is 3 KiloDalton whereas the normal protein size is from 14 to 67. Moreover, it’s lactose-free.

In case your baby has been tested for a cow or dairy allergy and he was positive then your baby will need a hypoallergenic formula. But, you probably have been confused about which hypoallergenic formula to choose Nutramigen or Gerber Extensive HA.

In this article, we will see a detailed comparison between Gerber Extensive HA and Nutramigen to choose the right one for you. Stay with me!

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Gerber Extensive HA Vs Nutramigen: Which one is better?

When it comes to choosing between Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive HA it depends on what situation your baby has, if you want a cheap formula to help with your baby’s poop, constipation, eczema, or want a palm oil-free formula, Gerber Extensive HA will be the right choice. Nutramigen will be a good choice for babies with acid reflux, eczema, or if you want a sucrose-free formula and you want your baby to return to milk protein as soon as possible.

If it’s your baby’s first hypoallergenic formula, I recommend starting with Nutramigen because it shows better results than Gerber Extensive HA

Price and Where to Buy?

Enfamil NutramigenGerber Extensive
HA
12.6 oz
33.2 $
2.64 /oz
Buy HERE

19.8 oz
40.23 $
2.03 /oz
Buy HERE

27.8 oz
49.99 $
1.80 /oz
Buy HERE
14.1 oz
26.47 $
1.88 /oz 
Buy HERE
12.12 $
32 fl oz
37.9 ¢/fl oz
Buy HERE
No Liquid Version

Gerber Extensive HA vs Nutramigen Ingredients :

Protein:

Both formulas use the extensively hydrolyzed protein, which is broken into very small pieces (3 KiloDalton) to skip from the immune system so it won’t elicit any allergic response. The normal protein range size is from 14 to 67 KiloDalton and 1 KiloDalton for amino acid formulas.

However, Nutramigen uses casein and Gerber Extensive HA has whey. the difference between them is the digesting time in the body; the whey protein is digested quickly.

Also, Gerber Extensive HA uses whey protein isolate which is different from whey protein because it’s extracted from skim milk powder.

Related: Nutramigen Vs Puramino: Mom’s Reviews, Ingredients, and Price

Carbohydrate:

Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive HA are both sucrose-free and lactose-free. Thus, as a carbohydrate source, Gerber Extensive HA has corn maltodextrin, whereas Nutramigen has corn syrup. There is no big difference between them.

Fat:

Enfamil Nutramigen has palm oil among the fat sources which can be a problem for some parents because it reduces fat and calcium absorption, which can lead to hard poop and can cause constipation. But, it’s not always the case, most babies are on Nutramigen and have no health issues.

Related: Nutramigen Vs EleCare: Full Comparison (With Charts)

Gerber Extensive HA does use Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) which are known of accelerating fat absorption.

Prebiotics/Probiotics:

* Enfamil has LGG Probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) which are good bacteria found naturally in our bowls, they have many benefits for a baby’s digestive and immune system, and they reduce the incidence of diarrhea and risk of eczema and may also help with colic.

** Bifidobacterium Lactis is a probiotic (good bacteria) that prohibits pathogens from causing diseases in your baby’s gut. According to internationalprobiotics.org, it helps with constipation, diarrhea, excessive crying, and more.

Gerber Extensive HA and Nutramigen have no prebiotics (food for probiotics).

Related: Alimentum Vs Gerber Extensive HA: Which Formula is The Best?

Gerber Extensive HA vs Nutramigen Generic Brands:

In case you want to save some money for traveling or shopping, generic brands will be the best choice. There is 9 hypoallergenic formula off brands to choose from, they are approved by the FDA and have the nutrient value and quality ingredients your baby needs.

Where to Buy Them?

Where to Buy?
Enfamil NutramigenBuy HERE
Gerber Extensive HABuy HERE
Up&Up
(Target)
Buy HERE
Parent’s Choice
(Walmart)
Buy HERE
Mama Bear
(Amazon)
Buy HERE
Meijer
brand
Buy HERE
Tippy ToesBuy HERE
Well
Beginnings
Buy HERE
Kroger
Comforts
Buy HERE
CVS
Health
HEB BabyBuy HERE
Nutramigen vs Gerber Extensive HA generic brands)

Almost all generic hypoallergenic are the same as Nutramigen in terms of carbohydrate source, fat source, and probiotics. Therefore, if your baby is on Nutramigen and you want to try some generic brands; you have 9 choices!!

You may want to see a detailed article about The Best 9 Generic Brands For Nutramigen Formula

Nutramigen Vs Gerber Extensive HA For Eczema:

eczema in babies
Image source: Medical News Today

There are many possible reasons for eczema (atopic dermatitis) including food allergies, the most common is cow’s milk. Hypoallergenic formulas have an extensively hydrolyzed protein so they don’t elicit any allergy responses (the protein is broken down into very small pieces).

Therefore, Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive HA will both help with eczema in case your baby has a cow’s milk allergy. Especially the Gerber brand.

About 10% of babies’ immune systems can detect the extensively hydrolyzed protein. Therefore, the last choice will be the amino acid formulas like Puramino and Neocate which can help with eczema. However, consult your pediatrician before switching to them because they are very expensive.

Food allergies are not always the reason, the eczema could show up because of inheriting dry, sensitive skin or because of skin contact with irritating substances. The cold weather is also one of the causes, it’s a trigger you must discover. Until discovering it, use cremes like tubby todd it helps!

Related: Gerber Extensive HA VS Neocate: What’s The Difference?

Nutramigen Vs Gerber Extensive HA For Acid Reflux:

Acid reflux happens when the sphincter (a muscle at the lower end of the food tube) is opened. Therefore, the liquid goes back from the stomach to the food tube. This situation happens frequently in babies under 1 year old.

Image source: Medical News Today

I found in moms’ reviews that Enfamil Nutramigen helps better than Gerber Extensive HA with acid reflux, especially the ready-to-feed version of Nutramigen because it doesn’t contain LGG probiotics.

Nutramigen vs Gerber Extensive HA For Constipation:

When babies are being very fussy and spitting up more often or they have hard/dry stools or have pain during BM, it could be constipation. Baby formula has an important role in relieving the baby from constipation.

Gerber Extensive HA will help better than Nutramigen with constipation because it doesn’t contain palm oil (the main reason for hard poop). In fact, Gerber Extensive makes poop a little loose and watery.

Nutramigen Vs Gerber Extensive HA For Colic:

Colic causes are unknown. However, experts have found some possible causes as dairy product allergies and the non-mature of the digestive system that can’t digest the big size of proteins in cow’s milk. Thus, hypoallergenic formulas will help.

Both Formulas help to reduce colic and crying in infants, Nutramigen claims that it reduces colic in 48 hours whereas Gerber doesn’t have a study about excessive crying and colic.

You may want to see The Best Formula For Babies With Colic

Nutramigen vs Gerber Extensive HA Taste and Smell:

When it comes to taste and smell, both formulas have bad taste and smell because they contain predigested protein. However, most babies like Gerber Extensive HA taste over Nutramigen taste because.

Many moms pity their babies because they are obliged to drink that awful formula and sometimes they rejected it like they say “what are you giving me mom!?”. But, after a few weeks, the baby will get used to the taste.

Gerber Extensive HA Vs Nutramigen Poop:

hypoallergenic formula poop

The best hypoallergenic formula for baby poop is Gerber Extensive HA, the poop is green to dark green, has a loose consistency, and the frequency is once to twice a day which is great although the smell is bad. 

Whereas babies on Nutramigen have a yellow/beige poop, a chunky peanut butter consistency, it has chunks like curdled milk. Sometimes the poop could be loose. The frequency is almost every feeding and after 2 weeks it becomes 1 to 2 poops a day with a horrible smell.

You may want to see What Does a Hypoallergenic Formula Poop Looks Like?

Can you switch back and forth between Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive HA?

Yes, you can switch back and forth between Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive because they are of the same type of formula (hypoallergenic) and they are lactose-free. Also, you can mix and match them as long as you are following standard mixing instructions. However, it’s better to consult your pediatrician before any switching.

How to Switch?

There are two ways to switch between those two hypoallergenic formulas. The first way is switching gradually by mixing Enfamil Nutramigen and Gerber Extensive HA until your baby drinks 100% new formula, this switching is better to be over 2 weeks to get the baby used to the new taste, or you can throw away the old formula and switch cold turkey. The two ways are safe.

Final Thoughts:

Every baby is different, if a formula doesn’t work for other babies it doesn’t mean it won’t work for your baby and vice versa. You can’t decide until you try. Then you will become the pediatrician of your baby.

I recommend starting with Nutramigen because it shows better results than Gerber Extensive HA and is available in stores in different sizes and in ready-to-feed-version.

Credits :

Image: Versus Vectors by Vecteezy

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