Kabrita Goat vs Gerber GoodStart GentlePro (2026): Which Formula Is Better?
Two fundamentally different approaches to gentle formula feeding. Kabrita uses Dutch goat milk — naturally softer curd, naturally A2 protein — and keeps the protein intact. Gerber GentlePro takes cow's milk whey and breaks it down into smaller pieces, then adds a probiotic. Both aim to reduce digestive discomfort, but they get there by entirely different paths.
By TeachToddler Editorial Team · Updated April 11, 2026 · Formula Comparison
🍼 Quick Snapshot: Kabrita Goat vs Gerber GentlePro
Kabrita bets on the inherent properties of goat milk — naturally easier to digest, naturally A2 protein, naturally smaller fat globules. Gerber bets on technology — enzymatically breaking down cow's milk protein and adding a clinically-proven probiotic. Both strategies work for many babies, but they appeal to different parenting philosophies and solve slightly different problems.
- Kabrita Goat: ~$37 per 28 oz tub. Dutch goat milk whey protein (intact, not hydrolyzed). Naturally A2 beta-casein. Prebiotic GOS + FOS. DHA + ARA. Lactose + no corn syrup or maltodextrin. No probiotics, no HMOs.
- Gerber GoodStart GentlePro: ~$28 per 20 oz tub. 100% partially hydrolyzed cow's milk whey protein. Probiotic L. reuteri DSM 17938. 2'-FL HMO. DHA + ARA. Lactose + corn maltodextrin. No goat milk.
- Price per ounce: Kabrita = ~$1.32/oz. Gerber GentlePro = ~$1.40/oz. Kabrita is actually slightly cheaper per ounce due to the larger tub, though the tub cost is higher upfront.
- Core philosophy: Kabrita = use a naturally gentler milk source. Gerber GentlePro = modify a standard milk source to make it gentler.
🐐 Kabrita Goat: What Sets It Apart
Kabrita is made from Dutch goat milk sourced from farms in the Netherlands. Goat milk has several natural properties that differentiate it from cow's milk, and Kabrita's formula is designed to preserve and leverage these advantages.
- Naturally A2 protein: Goat milk contains predominantly A2 beta-casein protein, while most conventional cow's milk contains A1 beta-casein. A1 casein produces a peptide called BCM-7 during digestion that some research links to gut inflammation and discomfort. A2 casein does not produce BCM-7. This is the same science behind the A2 milk movement — but goat milk is naturally A2 without special breeding.
- Softer, smaller curd: Goat milk protein forms a smaller, softer, more friable curd in the stomach compared to cow's milk. This means it moves through the digestive system faster and causes less bloating and gas. The effect is similar to hydrolysis but achieved through the natural protein structure rather than enzymatic processing.
- Smaller fat globules: Goat milk fat globules are naturally smaller than cow's milk fat globules, which increases the surface area available for lipase enzymes. This means fat is digested more efficiently, potentially reducing the greasy stools that some babies experience on cow's milk formula.
- Prebiotic GOS + FOS: Kabrita includes galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides — prebiotic fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria. These are a different type of prebiotic than the HMOs in Gerber GentlePro, but they serve a similar function.
- Lactose-based, no maltodextrin: Kabrita uses lactose as its primary carbohydrate without corn maltodextrin. This is closer to the carbohydrate profile of breast milk.
- Dutch sourcing: Kabrita's goat milk comes from Dutch goat farms with high welfare standards. The Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of goat milk products, with decades of expertise in goat dairy production.
🌿 Gerber GoodStart GentlePro: What Sets It Apart
Gerber GentlePro takes a scientific-engineering approach to gentle feeding. Rather than changing the milk source, it modifies cow's milk protein through hydrolysis and adds functional ingredients (probiotic + HMO) to actively support digestion.
- Partially hydrolyzed whey: The cow's milk whey protein is broken into smaller peptides using enzymes. These peptide fragments are small enough to be digested more easily but large enough to retain nutritional value. This is Gerber's Comfort Proteins technology, clinically shown to reduce fussiness and gas.
- Probiotic L. reuteri: A live beneficial bacteria strain added directly to the formula. L. reuteri colonizes the infant gut and has been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce daily crying time, reduce spit-up episodes, and improve stool consistency. This is an active ingredient that Kabrita does not offer.
- 2'-FL HMO: A human milk oligosaccharide that acts as a prebiotic specifically designed to mimic the prebiotic compounds in breast milk. HMOs selectively feed Bifidobacterium species in the infant gut, which are the dominant beneficial bacteria in breastfed infants.
- Wide availability: Gerber GentlePro is stocked at Walmart, Target, Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, and virtually every grocery store in the US. Kabrita's distribution is more limited.
- FDA regulated: Manufactured in the US under full FDA oversight. Kabrita is also available in the US market but is a newer entrant with less retail penetration.
Key Distinction: Kabrita uses an inherently gentler milk source with intact protein — the goat milk itself does the work. Gerber GentlePro modifies a standard milk source by breaking down the protein and adding probiotics — technology does the work. Neither approach is superior in all cases. Some babies thrive on goat milk's natural digestive advantages. Others respond better to the targeted action of hydrolyzed protein plus a probiotic. If one doesn't work, the other is worth trying.
⚖️ Head-to-Head Comparison
Here is how these two gentle formulas compare across the dimensions parents care about most.
- Digestibility approach: Kabrita relies on goat milk's naturally softer curd and A2 protein. Gerber relies on enzymatic hydrolysis and probiotics. Both reduce gas and fussiness — through different mechanisms.
- Protein type: Kabrita = intact goat whey (whole protein, naturally gentle). Gerber GentlePro = partially hydrolyzed cow whey (broken-down protein, engineered gentle).
- Gut health support: Gerber GentlePro has the edge here with probiotic L. reuteri + HMO prebiotic (a synbiotic combination). Kabrita offers GOS + FOS prebiotics but no live probiotic.
- Carbohydrate quality: Kabrita wins with lactose-only carbohydrate (no maltodextrin). Gerber GentlePro uses lactose + corn maltodextrin.
- Allergy suitability: Neither is suitable for cow's milk protein allergy. Goat and cow milk are highly cross-reactive. Gerber's partial hydrolysis also does not break protein down enough for true allergy.
- Price: Roughly comparable. Kabrita ~$1.32/oz vs Gerber ~$1.40/oz. Kabrita's larger tub (28 oz vs 20 oz) means fewer shopping trips but higher per-purchase cost ($37 vs $28).
- Availability: Gerber GentlePro wins. It is available everywhere. Kabrita is available online (Amazon, kabrita.com) and at select retailers like Whole Foods, but is not as ubiquitous as Gerber.
- Taste: Kabrita tastes milder and slightly sweeter due to its intact protein and lactose-only carbohydrate. Gerber GentlePro can have a subtle bitterness from the hydrolyzed protein. Most babies started from birth accept either without issue.
✅ Which Formula Should You Choose?
The decision comes down to your baby's specific digestive profile and your family's preferences.
- Choose Kabrita Goat if: You prefer a whole-food approach using a naturally gentler milk source rather than engineered protein modification. Your baby tolerates dairy but seems more comfortable with goat milk products. You want a lactose-only carbohydrate source without corn maltodextrin. You are interested in A2 protein benefits.
- Choose Gerber GoodStart GentlePro if: Your baby has notable gas, fussiness, or colic that needs targeted intervention. You want a formula with a clinically-proven probiotic (L. reuteri) actively working in the gut. Budget and availability are priorities — you need a formula you can pick up at any store. You prefer an FDA-regulated, US-manufactured formula.
- Try Kabrita after Gerber GentlePro if: Your baby improved somewhat on Gerber GentlePro's hydrolyzed protein but still seems uncomfortable. Some babies respond to goat milk's natural A2 protein and softer curd when hydrolyzed cow's milk is not quite enough — but before escalating to a specialty formula.
- Try Gerber GentlePro after Kabrita if: Your baby is still gassy or fussy on Kabrita. The probiotic and hydrolyzed protein may address the discomfort more aggressively than goat milk's natural gentleness alone.
⚠️ Important Limitations to Understand
Both of these formulas are "gentle" options for mild digestive discomfort — they are not medical-grade solutions for allergy or severe intolerance.
- Not for CMPA: Neither Kabrita nor Gerber GentlePro is suitable for babies with diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy. Goat milk cross-reacts with cow milk in ~90% of allergic babies. Partially hydrolyzed cow whey still contains peptide fragments large enough to trigger allergic responses.
- Not for severe reflux: If your baby has severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with weight loss, neither formula specifically addresses this. Specialized anti-reflux formulas (thickened with rice starch) or medical intervention may be needed.
- Not for lactose intolerance: Both contain lactose as a primary or sole carbohydrate. True lactose intolerance is extremely rare in infants (congenital lactase deficiency affects fewer than 1 in 60,000 births), but if your pediatrician has diagnosed it, neither formula is appropriate.
- Transition gently: When switching between goat milk and cow's milk formula (or vice versa), introduce gradually over 3 to 5 days. The different protein structures can temporarily affect stool consistency and gas as your baby's gut adjusts.
Bottom Line: Gerber GentlePro is the more practical first choice for most families — it is affordable, available everywhere, and its probiotic + hydrolyzed protein combination actively targets digestive discomfort. Kabrita is the better choice for families who prefer goat milk's natural gentleness, want to avoid hydrolyzed protein, or whose baby has not fully responded to cow's milk-based gentle formulas. Both are quality formulas that help many babies with mild digestive issues.