Is Enfamil Gentlease Baby Formula Worth It?
By Hannah Whitmore, baby & nursery · updated 2026-07-27
Worth it if the problem is digestion, not preference
Worth it, if fussiness and gas are the actual problem
around $50price at time of review — check Amazon for current
- Worth it ifYour baby is fussy, gassy, or spitting up after feeds and you want to rule out the protein
- Skip it ifYour baby feeds and sleeps comfortably on their current formula
Amazon shoppers rate it 4 out of 5 across 1,948 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
Affiliate link. Opens Amazon in a new tab.
As an Amazon Associate, Is It Worth It Reviews earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra, and it has never changed a verdict.
You're standing in the kitchen at two in the morning, bottle in hand, watching your baby pull away mid-feed and arch their back like something hurts. The crying isn't hunger, it's after the meal, and you're starting to wonder if it's the formula itself doing this to that little belly. That's usually the moment someone hands you a tub of Enfamil baby formula and says try this one.
Here's the bit the box doesn't spell out. Regular formula uses whole milk proteins, which are long, complex chains that a newborn's immature gut has to work hard to break apart. Gentlease starts that job for the baby: the proteins are partially hydrolyzed, meaning they're already broken into smaller pieces before they ever hit the bottle. Smaller pieces are simply easier for a tiny digestive system to process, which is the whole mechanism behind less gas, less spit-up, and less of that after-feed crying, and Enfamil says you should see a difference within a day of switching. Alongside that, this formula adds lactoferrin, a protein naturally found in colostrum and breast milk that plays a role in immune support, plus a prebiotic blend (2'FL and LnNT) and DHA for brain development, the same categories of nutrients you'll see compared across Similac and Enfamil formula charts. None of that changes digestion directly, it's the hydrolyzed protein doing that work, but together it's built to get as close to breast milk's actual composition as a powder can, which matters whether you're feeding full-time or combo feeding alongside nursing.
So you're not really buying a different flavor of formula, you're buying an easier digestion process for a gut that hasn't caught up yet. If the fussiness and gas are coming from how hard those proteins are to break down, this is the lever that actually moves. If your baby's already comfortable and thriving, there's nothing here to fix.
Worth it if
- Your baby is fussy, gassy, or spitting up after feeds and you want to rule out the protein
- You're combo feeding and want something closer to breast milk's nutrient profile
- You want lactoferrin, DHA, and prebiotics in the daily formula without switching brands
Skip it if
- Your baby feeds and sleeps comfortably on their current formula
- You suspect a diagnosed allergy rather than general fussiness
- You're only choosing based on brand loyalty rather than a specific issue
Not for babies with a diagnosed milk protein allergy, this is a gentler standard formula, not a hypoallergenic one.
If you're dealing with real fussiness, gas, or spit-up and want to rule out the protein as the cause, this is a quiet yes worth trying for a few days. If your baby feeds calmly and sleeps fine on what you're already using, switching won't add anything, so save the tub. And if you suspect an actual milk protein allergy rather than ordinary fussiness, that's a conversation for your pediatrician, not a formula swap.
Check price on Amazon · around $50 or Add it to your Amazon cart to sit on it
Before you go
Is Enfamil a good formula for babies?
Yes, it's a widely used, complete infant formula with standard nutrition plus added lactoferrin, DHA, and prebiotics for immune and brain support.
Which Enfamil is closest to breast milk?
Enfamil Optimum Gentlease is positioned as their closest match, largely because it's the first Enfamil line to include lactoferrin, an immune protein found in breast milk and colostrum.
Which is better, Similac or Enfamil?
Neither is universally better, they're both complete formulas with similar nutrient categories, so the right pick usually comes down to how your specific baby tolerates the protein blend.
More baby reviews.