Resources for parents to get through the challenges.

  1. Home
  2. Food & Feeding

Gerber Good Start Gentle vs Soothe: The Best Baby Formula

Choosing the right formula for your baby is such a difficult choice. The market is flooded with different brands all stating that they are the best choice for your baby. And even when you have chosen a brand and you think you are sorted, there are still more choices to make. As each brand has a plethora of choices within its brand from its original formula, hypoallergenic to soy! We are going to look at one of the long-standing brands in the baby food market, specifically two of their options Gerber Gentle vs Soothe – Which is the best choice for your baby?

Gerber started out as a producer of canned fruit and vegetables back in 1927. At the suggestion of a pediatrician, Gerber’s wife began making hand strained foods for their seven-month-old daughter. By 1928 he had developed a few products in the baby food market and this quickly snowballed into a profitable business. They now produce everything from formula, supplements, to snacks and meals.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

The Main Differences between Gerber Gentle vs Soothe

gerber-gentle

  • Gerber Gentle is designed specifically for small tummies, which makes it ideal for newborns but the milk proteins have not been completely broken down.
  • Gerber Soothe, on the other hand, has been designed for babies who have trouble with colic, gas, and fussiness. The milk proteins have been completely broken down so little ones with sensitive tummies can process them.
  • Gerber Soothe has a strange smell and taste this is due to the milk proteins being broken down.

gerber-soothe

 

 

Gerber Gentle

Gerber Gentle is the formula from this range that is recommended for most newborn babies. It is modeled on breastmilk for babies up to 12 months old and contains all the fat, carbohydrates, and protein that a growing baby needs. The Gerber Gentle contains 20 ounces in one container this will make approximately 16 4 ounce bottles.

Features

Gerber Gentle contains comfort proteins which are small proteins that are easy for little tummies to digest. It claims that it is the only powder infant formula that contains a blend of DHA, prebiotics, and probiotics. Both of these are important components that are found in breastmilk as they support the development of healthy brains and eyes.

Gerber Gentle is non-GMO meaning that their formula has not been made from any genetically modified crops or organisms.

This formula also contains 2′ – FL HMO which is prebiotic similar to one found at large levels in breastmilk.

Nutrition

Gerber Gentle contains the fat, protein, and carbohydrates per 100 calories that your baby needs to ensure that they are thriving and meeting all developmental milestones. The formula does contain milk proteins that have not been completely broken down, so this may cause babies who suffer with colic and gas problems are more likely to get gas with this formula.

gerber-gentle-1

This formula contains DHA which is very important to helping a child’s brain development, allowing them to learn new things and hit those developmental milestones. It helps to develop skills such as motor both fine and gross, speech, and thinking skills. It also contains Probiotics, these are important in helping the digestive system maintain a healthy function and preventing them from getting sick by ensuring that there is plenty of good bacteria.

Gerber Gentle contains all the usual vitamins and minerals that you would expect to find in most infant formulas. This particular formula also has a formulation that helps to promote soft stools so that your baby can be more comfortable going to the toilet and avoid constipation.

Gerber Gentle Pros

  • Good price
  • Closest formula to breastmilk
  • non-GMO
  • Packaging is recyclable
  • Contains 2′ FL HMO
  • Contains DHA

Gerber Gentle Cons

  • Some issues with causing fussiness in some babies
Buy on Amazon

 

Gerber Soothe

Gerber Soothe is the formula that is recommended for babies having issues with colic, excessive crying, fussiness, and gas. It contains 2′ -FL HMO and probiotics L.reuteri which are designed to ease these symptoms, which are often associated with sensitivity to milk protein. This contains 19.4 ounces in one container so it will make approximately 16, 4-ounce bottles. It also contains all the fat, carbohydrates, and protein that your baby requires for healthy growth and development.

Features

Gerber Soothe contains a carbohydrate blend with 30% lactose this is designed to help ease fussiness and gas. Along with comforting probiotics, L.reuteri which have been clinically proven to reduce crying by up to 50%.

The proteins in Gerber Soothe have been thoroughly broken down so that babies with sensitive tummies can process them better and help reduce the occurrence of symptoms associated with milk protein sensitivity.

Gerber Soothe does not contain any ingredients that are non-GMO meaning that none of their ingredients have been genetically modified or engineered.

 

Nutrition

Gerber Soothe contains the fat, protein, and carbohydrates per 100 calories that your baby needs to ensure that they are thriving and meeting all developmental milestones. It contains milk proteins that have been thoroughly broken down to ensure that babies with milk sensitivity can process them. This means that symptoms such as colic, gas, fussiness and excessive crying should be greatly reduced by this formula.

 

gerber-soothe-1

Gerber Soothe contains DHA to support the healthy development of the brain and eyes. This helps your baby to learn new things and develop skills such as motor both fine and gross, speech, and thinking. It also contains comfort proteins that help to provide comfort to little tummies. Along with probiotics that ensure there is plenty of good bacteria in the digestive system to keep your baby healthy and able to fight off illness.

Gerber Soothe also contains all the vitamins and minerals that your growing baby will need to thrive and reach all developmental milestones.

Gerber Soothe Pros

  • Affordable
  • non-GMO
  • Contains 2′ -FL HMO
  • Contains DHA
  • Packaging is recyclable
  • Reduces symptoms associated with milk sensitivity
  • Reduces crying by 50%

Gerber Soothe Cons

  • The smell is quite strong
  • Some babies do not like the unusual taste
  • Some reviews claim that it made their babies gas and fussiness worse
Buy on Amazon

 

Gerber Gentle vs Soothe – The winner is

Both of these formulas have some great features that are unique to a specific baby’s needs. If you have a baby that has no issues with gassiness, colic, or excessive crying then Gerber Gentle will provide them with all the nutritional balance that they need to grow and reach all their relevant growth and developmental milestones. However, if you do have a child that suffers from milk sensitivity, gas, colic, and excessive crying then Gerber Soothe is the formula that will best suit your baby’s needs. Although it does have an unusual smell and taste that may take some getting used to.

Taking into account these points I feel that there is no real winner and one formula is not better than another. The formula that wins will be subject to the individual needs of your baby. I have provided all the information for you to make an informed choice based on your baby’s needs!