Alfamino and Elecare are both amino acid-based formulas, but are made by different manufacturers and have some key differences. Both contain small amounts of soy oil, though it is broken down so much that many babies with severe allergies are able to handle it. Alfamino contains more MCT oil, which is better for babies who struggle to gain weight. Elecare has a more mild taste and more flavor options in their line of Junior formulas (for babies over one year old).
Amino acid-based formulas are a great alternative to traditional milk-based baby formulas for babies and toddlers with cow’s milk protein allergy, other severe food allergies, or severe eczema. There are several great brands of amino acid-based, hypoallergenic formulas, but how do you choose which one will work best for your baby?
Some of it will come down to trial and error, and what works for one baby may not work for another, but you should know that there are some differences between the different brands. I’ve got an excellent article that breaks down the differences between several of the major formulas here, but this article focuses on the differences between two specific formulas; Elecare and Alfamino.
| Alfamino | Elecare | |
| Manufacturer | Nestlé Health Science | Abbott |
| Amino Acid-Based? | Yes | Yes |
| Free from Dairy and Soy? | Contains soy oil, dairy free | Contains soy oil, dairy free |
| Contains DHA/ARA? | Yes | Yes |
| Infant and Junior Formulas Available? | Yes | Yes |
| Flavor options | Infant – Unflavored Junior – Unflavored, Vanilla | Infant – Unflavored Junior – Unflavored, Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana |
| Pros | -Available on Amazon -Contains DHA/ARA -Taste is fairly mild, some babies take it just fine -Alfamino website claims that it contains 10% more MCT oil than competitors, giving it a higher fat content. This may be better for babies who are underweight for their age, but check with a doctor or nutritionist to see if this would work for your child. -Approved for WIC & Medicaid | -Contains DHA/ARA -Taste is fairly mild, some babies take it just fine – Comes in more flavors for kids over 1 year of age. -Approved for WIC & Medicaid |
| Cons | -Not Halal or Kosher-Contains soy oil-Spit up will stain clothes | Not Halal or Kosher-Contains soy oil-Spit up will stain clothes |
| Ingredients | See below | See below |
| Does Insurance Cover it? | Varies from state to state, see below | Varies from state to state, see below |
The Full “Scoop” on Alfamino
Alfamino vs. Alfamino Junior
Nestle makes two versions of Alfamino; an infant version, and a Junior version for babies over 1 year of age. There are no flavor options to choose from, but many people say that this is the best tasting of the hypoallergenic formulas, so it’s not a huge dealbreaker. The difference in the junior and the infant varieties is the fat and nutritional content. The infant version is more targeted toward the needs of a baby under the age of 1, and it contains DHA/ARA to mimic breast milk, while the junior version has a higher percentage of MCT (medium chain triglycerides) to help a growing toddler get enough fat content from the formula. Both the infant and the junior formulations contain soy and potato starch, so be aware of that if your child is very sensitive to either of those things.
Where Can You Buy Alfamino?
Some of my local pharmacies and my local Walmart carry elemental formulas, but I don’t usually see Alfamino on the shelves there. This is a formula that is harder to find in a local store (at least where I live) and may need to be purchased online through Amazon or through Nestle directly.
Ingredients:
Corn Syrup Solids, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Vegetable Oils (Soybean, High Oleic Sunflower, and High-2 Palmitic Vegetable Oil), Potato Starch, L-Arginine L-Aspartate, and Less than 2% of: L-Lysine Acetate, Calcium Glycerophosphate, L-Leucine, Citric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides (Citrem), Calcium Citrate, L-Proline, L-Valine, L-Glutamine, Glycine, L-Isoleucine, Potassium Chloride, L-Threonine, L-Serine, L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, Sodium Phosphate, L-Histidine, L-Alanine, L-Cystine, Potassium Citrate, L-Tryptophan, Magnesium L-Aspartate, Choline Bitartrate, L-Methionine, M. Alpina Oil*, C. Cohni Oil**, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Inositol, Sodium Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Taurine, Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Magnesium Chloride, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin K7, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenate, Biotin, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12.
**Ingredients can always change, check Nestle’s website for the most current ingredient list.
Mixing Instructions for Alfamino
Mix one unpacked, level scoop for each fl oz of water. Each can will make 94 fl oz when mixed as directed.
Elecare
Elecare vs. Elecare Junior
Elecare comes in two different versions for kids of different ages. There’s an infant version, and a Junior version for babies over 1 year of age. Elecare Infant only comes in one unflavored option. Elecare Junior, however, has several flavor options to choose from. This is helpful because elemental formulas do not taste as good as regular baby formulas. For kids (and adults) on Elecare Junior, flavor options include Unflavored, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Banana.
The difference in the junior and the infant varieties is the fat and nutritional content. The infant version is more targeted toward the needs of a baby under the age of 1, and it contains DHA/ARA to mimic breast milk, while the junior version has a higher percentage of MCT (medium chain triglycerides) to help a growing toddler get enough fat content from the formula.
Where Can You Buy Elecare?
Elecare was actually the first Amino Acid based formula in my area to be sold at local stores, and our pediatrician even had samples of Elecare to share with us. Our Walmart used to sell it in the baby formula aisle, and I’ve seen it in many pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. However, because of the formula recall and subsequent shortage, it’s been harder to find in the last couple of years. It’s finally back in stores and online as normal now, and there are actually fairly good sales on it via Amazon from time to time.
Ingredients:
Corn Syrup Solids (55%), High Oleic Safflower Oil (9%), Medium Chain Triglycerides (8%), Soy Oil (7%), L-Glutamine (2%). Less than 2% of: C. Cohnii Oil, M. Alpina Oil, L-Asparagine, L-Leucine, L-Lysine Acetate, DATEM, Calcium Phosphate, L-Valine, Potassium Phosphate, L-Isoleucine, L-Arginine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Tyrosine, L-Threonine, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, L-Proline, L-Serine, L-Alanine, Glycine, L-Histidine, L-Methionine, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, L-Cystine Dihydrochloride, L-Tryptophan, Salt, Choline Chloride, Inositol, Ferrous Sulfate, Taurine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Zinc Sulfate, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Biotin, Phylloquinone, Chromium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Molybdate, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin B12.
**Ingredients can change, always check Abbott’s website for the most updated ingredient lists.
Mixing Instructions for Elecare
Infant: Mix one unpacked, level scoop of powdered formula for each 2 oz of water. Each can will make 95 fl oz when mixed as directed.
Elecare Jr. Mixing Instructions: Unflavored & Vanilla:
For 5 oz of water, mix 4 unpacked, level scoops of powder.
For 7.5 oz of water, mix in 6 scoops of powder.
Elecare Jr. Mixing Instructions: Chocolate
For 6 oz water, add 5 Scoops of powder
For 8 oz water, add 7 scoops of powder
Elecare Jr. Mixing Instructions: Banana
For 6 oz water, add 5 Scoops of powder
For 7 oz water, add 6 scoops of powder
Does Insurance Cover Alfamino or Elecare?
Some insurance companies provide coverage for elemental formulas like Alfamino or Elecare. It’s up to each individual insurance company, and it can also vary from state to state (in the USA). Some states require coverage for formula as an essential benefit for babies with allergies, while other states leave that decision up to the insurance companies.
Many insurance companies limit this benefit to only a small handful of diseases and if your child doesn’t have the specific disease on their list, you may not qualify for insurance to cover the cost of the formula. Check out my full post here to see if your state requires coverage for prescription formulas.
Abbott also has a program called Pathway Plus that is designed to help you navigate the insurance approval process if needed.
Alfamino has a similar program called Formula 4 Success, where they can help you see if you qualify for insurance coverage or reimbursement.
Alfamino or Elecare, Which Is Right for My Baby?
Check with your doctor to see if one of these brands is recommended over the other for your baby based on their specific needs. Elemental and amino acid based formulas should always be trialed under a doctor’s supervision.
If your doctor doesn’t have a preference, it may just come down to which one your baby tolerates the best. There are different ingredients between Elecare and Alfamino, so if your baby doesn’t tolerate any amount of potato, they may do better with Elecare, which doesn’t have potato starch. Both formulas contain soy, but the protein is already very broken down, so it should work for most babies. For babies that do not tolerate any amount of soy, you might consider Neocate instead, as it’s the only formula I know of that’s completely free of soy or soy oil.
Unfortunately, when it comes to elemental formulas, there is a lot of trial and error involved. If you are able, try both for several weeks and see which one your baby does well with.
