In this post, I provide excellent comparisons of Nutramigen vs Alimentum vs Elecare vs PurAmino vs Neuro Pro. Nutramigen appeared in a number of our lists of recommendations including the best formula for constipation and gas, coming second behind Gerber Good Start.
Let’s start the comparisons with Nutramigen vs Alimentum;
Nutramigen Vs Alimentum
When it comes to hypoallergenic formulas Nutramigen and Alimentum are the two most popular brands. Nutramigen is from Enfamil while Alimentum is from the Similac brand.
Both formulas are #1 recommended by pediatricians to provide the right nutrients for growth and development during the first year of a baby.
Both are designed to help babies with colic and milk protein allergies. The proteins are extensively hydrolyzed and easy for babies with milk allergies to digest and absorb fast. However, Alimentum is designed safe for babies with even other types of food allergies besides milk proteins. For example, some babies are allergic to corn and therefore react to corn syrup solids, a source of carbs in many formulas, including Nutramigen.
Both infant formulas contain a long list of essential nutrients needed for growth and development for the first year, including DHA for brain development and vitamin E for eye health. But Alimentum is not iron-fortified, and neither does it have probiotics, unlike Nutramigen. Iron is normally added because it plays a key role in red blood formation, muscle growth, brain development, and other body processes in infants.
In terms of ingredients, Nutramigen has corn syrup solids while Alimentum uses corn maltodextrin and a bit of sugar, so neither formula is healthier in this sense. Fats in Nutramigen are sourced from palm olein, coconut, soy, and sunflower oils, while Alimentum gets them from safflower oils, medium-chain triglycerides (MTC oil), and soy oil. MTC oils are easily digested and absorbed than ordinary vegetable fats, like those found in Nutramigen, so Alimentum has better fats. Fats are essential because they help the body to absorb vitamins.
Both infant formulas can be used for the first year, but Enfamil also has Nutramigen formula for toddlers from 9 to 36 months. Alimentum nutritional composition is intended for babies up to a year. However, most babies overcome milk allergies by the time they are a year old and some even earlier, so you might be able to supplement your child’s diet with regular formula even earlier.
Both infant formulas come in powder and ready-to-drink form which is convenient but you will not like how smelly and expensive they are. It is said that there aren’t many options from Enfamil and Similac to help parents reduce how much money they spend on these expensive formulas. Both brands have a reward system in place that when you subscribe or join, they send you a case of formula for free, but after that, parents wish the companies gave more coupons and discounts.
Conclusion
Both formulas are effective for allergies and lactose intolerance. However, if your baby has other food allergies, Alimentum is more suitable. Nutrition-wise both are great, although we would prefer Nutramigen because of the probiotic LGG, which helps with digestion and builds strong immunity to fight future allergies. As for taste and smell, they will make you gag. Both formulas cause babies to spit up and poop to smell awful, but they are wonderful on little tummies.
Nutramigen Vs Elecare
Nutramigen and EleCare are hypoallergenic formulas from Enfamil. However, EleCare is an amino-based formula. Meaning it contains proteins that are totally broken down into the most basic form; amino acids.
Because amino acids have the least potential to cause an allergic reaction, the EleCare formula is usually recommended for babies with severe allergies to cow milk proteins and other foods like soy. Babies with severe milk allergies cannot tolerate even hydrolyzed proteins like those found in Nutramigen or Alimentum.
Both formulas are nutritionally complete with carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that your babies need to grow strong and healthy in the first year of life. They contain DHA, ARA, and iron for brain development, but Nutramigen also has probiotic LGG for immunity and digestion, in addition.
Like all other hypoallergenic formulas, both are smelly. But, some reviewers also mentioned that EleCare is surprisingly much thinner and harder to mix.
Conclusion
If your baby has allergies, Nutramigen is a good place to start. It works well for cow milk allergies and helps the baby develop immunity against allergies like asthma, Eczema, and others that would occur later in life.
EleCare is many times more expensive than Nutramigen, but if your baby suffers from severe allergies that can’t even tolerate hydrolyzed formulas, then it is the only choice to go with here. But you can check with your health insurance to see if they can cover the cost for you. Some parents have been able to get the formula free.
You can check prices for Nutramigen(link) and Elecare(link) on Amazon.
Nutramigen Vs PurAmino
Both are hypoallergenic formulas from the Enfamil brand. Nutramigen is suitable for babies with milk allergies, whereas PurAmino is for infants and toddlers with severe multiple foods allergies and other gastrointestinal issues.
The main difference between the two formulas is that Nutramigen uses extensively hydrolyzed protein while PurAmino is made of amino acids like EleCare.
Both formulas provide wholesome nutrition your child needs to grow healthy. They are both iron-fortified, and also contain DHA and ARA.
The other difference besides the proteins is the fat source. Fats are very important for your baby because they aid in the absorption of certain vitamins necessary to stay healthy. PurAmino’s has better quality fats that include medium-chain triglyceride oils, which we said earlier are easily digested and absorbed more than ordinary vegetable fats, like those found in Nutramigen. But Nutramigen also shines with its probiotic LGG, which helps with digestion and provides immune support to prevent allergies as your child grows.
Conclusion
If your baby has cow milk allergies, you may want to try the Nutramigen first as it is cheaper and gives visible improvement within 48 hours. It will also help your child build strong immunity to beat the milk allergy and even other allergies years down the line.
PurAmino is usually prescribed as a medical food only for babies with severe food allergies. It’s pricey if you are buying on your own but if you have insurance, it is delivered to you free of charge, which is such a blessing for parents with babies with severe allergies and gastrointestinal diseases. Parents who have used it say the crying and discomfort reduced drastically within 24 hours, which is impressive.
You can check prices for Nutramigen(link) and PurAmino(link) on Amazon.
Nutramigen Vs NeuroPro
Both Nutramigen and NeuroPro both recommended as # 1 for infant nutrition because they are nutrient-dense and easy on tiny tummies. They have a lot in common and only a few differences.
Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic formula for babies with milk protein allergies and lactose intolerance. It uses extensively hydrolyzed milk proteins that are easy for sensitive systems to digest and absorb. Also, it does not include lactose, which often causes tummy troubles for immature digestive systems.
On the other hand, NeuroPro is designed for babies with lactose sensitivity/ intolerance. So it contains partially broken milk proteins that are gentler and easier for sensitive tummies to digest and no lactose.
Both infant formulas provide high-quality ingredients to support cognitive development, muscle growth, a healthy digestive system, and immune support. Nutramigen has DHA, ARA, iron, for brain development, and probiotic LGG for digestion and immunity. NeuroPro, on the other hand, has brain-building Omega 3 DHA and MFGM and higher amounts of vitamin C, E, and selenium for promoting immunity.
Both formulas use corn syrup solids as a source of carbs and the same vegetable oils for fats (palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils), so there is not much difference in nutritional composition other than the nature of proteins.
Conclusion
These are both excellent infant formulas. But we would only choose Nutramigen over NeuroPro for a baby with milk allergies. NeuroPro is great for lactose sensitivity problems and a step closer to regular formula. Not to mention much less cheap and better flavor compared.
You can check prices for Nutramigen(link) and NeuroPro(link) on Amazon.
Nutramigen Vs Hippa Ha
Both of these are excellent hypoallergenic formula brands to bring relief for little ones suffering from cow milk protein allergies. They share a lot of ingredients in common, even though Hippa Ha is a European brand while Nutramigen is American.
There is Hipp HA pre, stage 1, and stage 2. Pre is for preterm babies, Stage 1 is for babies up to 6 months, while stage 2 is for babies above 6 months.
Nutramigen is available for infants up to a year and Nutramigen Toddler for babies from 9 to 36 months.
Both use extensively hydrolyzed cow milk proteins and a boost of probiotics to help reduce allergic reactions and bring comfort.
Both are nutrient-dense formulas containing DHA, ARA, and iron, along with numerous essential vitamins and minerals that infants need for immunity, bone strength, and eye and brain development.
Hippa HA has a few differences from Nutramigen. It is an organic formula, so it uses only naturally sourced ingredients with no additional sugar, corn starch, or maltodextrin. It uses lactose, the sole source of carbohydrate, while Nutramigen uses corn syrup solids.
The second difference is that it contains a combination of prebiotics and probiotics, which promotes healthy digestion, aids in healthy gut flora, and helps maintain overall healthy immunity. Nutramigen only has a probiotic but is very helpful with digestion and strengthening immunity to kick allergies.
Conclusion
Hipp HA is a good choice for those looking for a hypoallergenic formula with clean ingredients. But you have to be sure that your baby does not have lactose intolerance or galactosemia in addition to milk allergies because Hipp HA contains both lactose and galactose. But, parents say it tastes better, so if your baby has completely refused to touch Nutramigen, you might try Hipp HA.
On the other hand, Nutramigen contains the least reactive ingredients compared to Hippa Ha, so it works for most babies with allergies and food intolerances. Not to mention, it has probiotic LGG that will help your child fight off potential allergies in the future.
Nutramigen Review
We know a happy baby is a well-fed baby! But it is not always as easy as it sounds. A small percentage of babies are sensitive to cow milk proteins and lactose, which are major components of regular infant formulas. Exposure to these components usually causes the baby to have digestive distress with signs such as bloating, frequent spit-up, bloody poops, cramping, and excessive crying, scaly skin, and more. In babies with severe allergies, symptoms can be dramatic and scary, requiring you to rush your baby to the ER. That said, helping a baby with food intolerance and allergies is hard for any parent, but with guidance from your pediatrician, your baby can feel well again soon.
One of the most effective remedies that pediatricians recommend for these babies who suffer from milk protein allergies, lactose intolerance, and other digestive issues is switching to a hypoallergenic formula. Hypoallergenic formulas contain all the nutrients infants need for growth but without the allergens, which cause inflammation and digestion problems.
While there is no perfect hypoallergenic infant formula, Nutramigen is highly recommended by pediatricians and parents alike. In this article, we decided to compare Nutramigen and other hypoallergenic formulas in the market to help you see whatever differences exist between them to make an informed choice if you choose to buy either one.
But first, let’s see what Nutramigen has to offer.
Nutramigen
Nutramigen LGG is an excellent infant formula for kids suffering from cow’s milk allergies. If your baby is colicky from milk proteins, Enfamil claims that you should expect to see improvement within 48 hours of starting on it.
The formula is highly recommended because it’s very nutritious with tons of vital nutrients that your baby needs to grow healthy. It contains higher amounts of omega-3 DHA, ARA, and Choline, which are powerful nutrients for developing brains.
Also, it is one of the few formulas that contain lactobacillus GG, a high-quality probiotic that aids in breaking down the tough milk proteins, which cause allergies. Studies also show that this probiotic helps soothe the baby’s upset tummy and supports immunity to fight allergies like asthma and Eczema in the future.
Though it is a milk-based formula, it contains milk proteins that are extensively hydrolyzed (pre-digested), so your baby can be able to digest more easily than they would otherwise. Also, it is lactose and soy-free, making it suitable for babies who have lactose intolerance and soy protein allergies. Instead of lactose, it uses corn syrup solids. The fats come from vegetable oils, including palm olein, coconut, soy, and sunflower oils. Soy oil is not known to trigger allergies.
Usually, most babies need to take this formula for 6 months to a year to be able to tolerate milk proteins that are in regular formula. But, don’t rush to switch to regular formula, even if your baby no longer has symptoms, before you consult your pediatrician.
The formula is available for infants and toddlers, and you can also choose powder form or ready-to-use liquid bottles. A can of 12 ounces goes for $41.48.
Pros
- Pediatrician approved
- Lactose and soy free
- Contains probiotic LGG, which aids in digestion and strengthens baby’s immunity to overcome allergies
- Contains the recommended amounts of omega 3 DHA, ARA, Choline for brain development
- No artificial growth hormones
- Provides notable improvement within 48 hours
Cons
- More expensive than regular formula
- Awful taste and smell due to the pre-digested proteins
Comparison Table:
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Similac Alimentum with 2'-FL HMO Hypoallergenic Infant Formula, for Food Allergies and Colic, Suitable for Lactose Sensitivity, Baby Formula Powder, 19.8-oz Can (Case of 4) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
 | Enfamil Nutramigen Infant Formula, Hypoallergenic and Lactose Free Formula with Enflora LGG, Fast Relief from Severe Crying and Colic, Powder Can, 19.8 Oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
 | EleCare Hypoallergenic Formula, Complete Nutrition For Severe Food Allergies, Amino Acid-based Infant Formula, 14.1 oz, 1 Count | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
 | PurAmino Hypoallergenic Infant Drink, for Severe Food Allergies, Omega-3 DHA, Iron, Immune Support, Powder Can, 14.1 Oz | Prime | Buy Now |
 | Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive Baby Formula, Brain and Immune Support with DHA, Iron & Prebiotics, Lactose Sensitivity Infant Formula Inspired by Breast Milk, Non-GMO, Powder Can, 19.5 Oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
| Enfamil Nutramigen Infant Formula, Hypoallergenic and Lactose Free Formula with Enflora LGG, Fast Relief from Severe Crying and Colic, Powder Can, 19.8 Oz | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
- More info
Hi there! I am Ashley Davis, a mom of three kids and the editor here at Motherhoodhq.com. I have been a parent since 2011 and have been doing full-time consulting as a baby sleep expert since 2019. When I am not researching or testing the next baby gear hitting the market, you’ll find me teaching my toddlers a trick or two – especially over the last few months with the lockdown. I hope you’ll find my guides and reviews helpful as you make your next purchase decision. If you have any questions, you can reach me at ashley.d@motherhoodhq.com.
