If you are looking for the right infant formula, you've come to the right place. The number of options for infant formulas have increased drastically in recent years, thus making it complicated when it comes to choosing the right one.
With so many options and varieties, choosing a baby formula that's best for your child can be as difficult as it is important. Your decision on what to use will hinge on several factors, from your baby's health needs to cost, and many things in between including baby's poor weight gain. But most of all, it will depend on what your child will accept.
Breast milk or formula should be your baby's exclusive source of nutrition for the first six months of life and the primary source (supplemented with solid food) for the first year. If you formula feed, know your options so you can buy wisely.
Two leading brands of baby formula are Similac and Enfamil, and you might find yourself comparing Similac vs. Enfamil in the baby formula aisle at Walmart. Is one better than the other?
Both brands also carry a wide range of products, including hypoallergenic formula, lactose intolerance friendly formulas, and a toddler formula.
In this article, we will cover the pros and cons of Enfamil and Similac.
All Formula Brands Are Safe
It's always helpful to ask your child's pediatrician for specific recommendations, but generally speaking, all baby and infant formula brands sold in the United States—generic or brand-name—are safe to use. Every formula is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and must meet the minimum nutritional requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the "Infant Formula Act").
This means that every major brand, such as Enfamil, Similac, Gerber Good Start, or Earth's Best, plus all store brands from Walmart, Target, or Kroger, etc., are safe to use and will meet your baby's basic nutritional needs.Enfamil vs Similac: Main Similarities & Differences
Enfamil and Similac are both among the most popular milk brands in the US. Many of their products have similar content or are formulated to meet the specific needs of your baby.Similarities
- Both Enfamil and Similac offer a wide range of baby formula milk products.
- Both have a non-GMO version of their sensitive formulas.
- Both brands are declared by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as safe to be used by babies.
- Both brands offer loyalty programs: Similac StrongMoms Rewards and Enfamil Family. Beginnings Program.
Differences
- Enfamil costs more than Similac when comparing similar products.
- Enfamil has more natural ingredients compared to Similac.
- Enfamil uses less sugar compared to Similac.
- Enfamil has higher amounts of iodine, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Enfamil contains more vitamins C, B12, E, and K.
- Enfamil has more choline, pantothenic acid, folic acid, and inositol.
- Similac is a better source of copper. Similac has higher levels of thiamin, vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, and biotin.
- Enfamil currently has 15 baby formula products, whereas Similac has 20
General Nutritional Comparison of Enfamil vs Similac
Both brands have cow milk-based, lactose-containing formulas enriched with iron, vitamins, and other minerals. For lactose intolerant babies, there are soy-based formulas as well.
Milk Proteins
Similac - Whey and casein proteins
Enfalac - Whey and casein proteins
DHA & ARA
Both brands contain DHA and ARA (Except Nestle Nourish Plus)
Similac - Contains Prebiotics
Enfalac - Contains Prebiotics
Probiotics
Enfalac - Contains Prebiotics
Probiotics
Similac - No Probiotics
Enfalac - No Probiotics
Antioxidants
Enfalac - No Probiotics
Antioxidants
Similac - Contains Antioxidants
Enfalac - No Antioxidants
Fat Source
Similac - Soy and Coconut Oil
Enfalac - Palm Olein Oil
Enfalac - No Antioxidants
Fat Source
Similac - Soy and Coconut Oil
Enfalac - Palm Olein Oil
Comparison of Enfamil vs Similac
1. Best Milk Formulas for Overall Nutrition
1. Best Milk Formulas for Overall Nutrition
- Both have added ingredients usually only found in breastmilk.
- Babies with cow’s milk aversion or are extra colicky should get a different option.
Differences
- Enfamil contains 50% more DHA and AHA for neural, brain, and eye development
- Enfamil has partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk to make digestion easy
- Similac has added Lutein for eye health
- Similac avoids GMOs
- Similac may use allergenic milk protein isolate and more sugars for a tastier formula
2. Infant Formulas
- Both have about the same calories, fats, carbohydrate and protein contents.
- Both are milk-based and use a mixture of high oleic safflower oil, soy oil, and coconut oil.
- Neither uses extra added sugars.
- Both use DHA, choline, and vitamin K along with a prebiotic.
Enfamil
- Contains more vitamins B12, C, E, and K.
- Has more pantothenic acid, folic acid, choline, and inositol.
- Higher amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine, and selenium.
- Uses palm olein oil because it’s a fatty acid similar to breast milk, but it’s not gentle on tummies.
Similac
- Has higher levels of vitamin D, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and biotin.
- Better source of copper
- Has added lutein for better vision health
3. Milk Formulas for Babies who Spit Up Often
- Enfamil A.R
- Similac for Spit-Up
- Similac for Spit-Up
- Both use rice starch to thicken their formulas
- Both have a lot of sugars to help settle fussy stomachs
- Both have similar vitamin and mineral contents
Differences
- Enfamil A.R main ingredients are nonfat milk, vegetable oils, rice starch, lactose, and maltodextrin.
- Similac’s main ingredients are corn syrup, modified rice starch, milk protein isolate, vegetable oils and one prebiotic.
- Enfamil A.R. has two prebiotics, and overall has more prebiotic content than Similac.
- Similac for Spit-up has two different sugar sources to only one in Enfamil
- Similac for Spit-up has more sugars compared to Enfamil
- Similac for Spit-up has less milk products compared to Enfamil, which could help many babies with their spit-up
- Similac for Spit-up's formula does not contain GMOs.
4. Hypoallergenic Milk Formulas
- Enfamil Nutramigen (with Enflora LGG Hypoallergenic Formula for Cow’s Milk Allergy)
- For babies who are allergic or show colicky symptoms to cow's milk, which have proteins that are more difficult to digest than human breastmilk.
- Both use casein hydrolysate (milk), which are smaller, more digestible proteins derived from larger cow’s milk proteins.
- Both use sugars to aid in digestion
Differences
- Enfamil Nutramigen has been clinically proven to reduce colic caused by an allergy to cow’s milk in about two days.
- Enfamil Nuramigen claims to reduce future incidences of cow’s milk allergies.
- Similac Alimentum claims that their easy to digest formula can reduce colic symptoms in at least one day.
- Has no lactose, but still contains other milk products.
- Enfamil Nutramigen uses corn syrup
- Similac Alimentum uses corn maltodextrin sugar on top of other sugars, thus Similac has more sugars than Enfamil.
- Similac Alimentum has a higher level of Linoleic Acid than Enfamil Nutramigen
5. Lactose Free Formulas
- Both are for babies who cannot digest cow’s milk proteins.
- Suggested to try Enfamil’s Nutramigen or Similac’s Alimentum before switching to soy.
- Both formulas use corn syrup as the first ingredient.
- Both use soy protein isolate, completely avoiding milk-based products.
Differences
- Enfamil has soy protein as the third ingredient, after corn syrup and vegetable oils
- Similac uses soy protein as the second ingredient followed by oils
- Similac adds more sugar to their soy formula than Enfamil
- Similac has a higher Linoleic Acid levels
Other Enfamil & Similac Products
1. Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula with 2'-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) for Immune Support
This Similac baby milk formula has more than 6,000 customer reviews and is the no. 1 best seller in the powder baby formula category of Amazon Best Sellers.
Similac Pro-Advance Infant Formula with 2'-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) for Immune Support, 23.2 ounces > Check Price on Amazon
More about the baby milk formula
- #1 BRAND FOR IMMUNE SUPPORT*: Similac Pro-Advance is the first infant formula with 2’- FL HMO** designed to be closer than over to breast milk. (*IQVIA ProVoice Survey 12 months ending February 2020; **not from human milk)
- NO ARTIFICIAL GROWTH HORMONES: Similac is the first leading infant formula brand with no artificial growth hormones (No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST-treated and non-rbST-treated cows)
- REDUCED FUSSINESS: Parents reported reduced fussiness, gassiness, and spit-up after 1 day (After switching to Similac Pro-Advance)
- TRUSTED: Similac is the #1 infant formula brand chosen by moms* and the #1 brand fed in hospitals (*total US infant formula all outlets as of 3/31/18, Nielsen data)
- BRAIN & EYE DEVELOPMENT: Our exclusive blend of DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E – nutrients also found in breast milk – helps support baby’s overall growth and brain and eye development
2. Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula, Brain and Immune Support with DHA, Iron and Prebiotics, Infant formula
The Enfamil NeuroPro baby formula has more than 4,000 customer reviews and is the no. 2 best seller in the powder baby formula category of Amazon Best Sellers.
Enfamil NeuroPro Baby Formula, Brain and Immune Support with DHA, Iron and Prebiotics, Infant formula Inspired by Breast Milk, Non-GMO, Reusable Tub, 20.7 Oz > Check Price on Amazon
More about the baby milk formula
- MFGM and DHA - NeuroPro is the only formula that has a fat-protein blend of MFGM and DHA, previously only found in breast milk
- BRAIN-BUILDING NUTRITION - Get brain building nutrition inspired by breast milk from Enfamil
- SUPPORT FOR YOUR INFANT - Complete nutrition for babies through 12 months, easy-to-digest proteins and dual prebiotics for immune health
- No.1 PEDIATRICIAN RECOMMENDED INFANT FORMULA - The No.1 trusted brand for brain-building & immune support
- SNAP ELIGIBLE - Eligible to be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
3. Similac Pro-Advance Non-GMO Infant Formula with Iron
This Similac baby milk formula has more than 5,000 customer reviews and is the no. 3 best seller in the powder baby formula category of Amazon Best Sellers. Similac has one of the widest range of milk powders in USA.
The Best Sellers in Baby and Toddler Formula category of Amazon Best Sellers are updated hourly based on sales.
Similac Pro-Advance Non-GMO Infant Formula with Iron, with 2’-FL HMO, for Immune Support, Baby Formula, Powder, (One-Month Supply), 2.25 Pound (Pack of 3) > Check Price on Amazon
Similac Pro-Advance is their closest formula to breast milk. This baby milk formula is a well-formulated baby formula with 2’-FL human milk oligosaccharide that provides immune support to the baby by encouraging immune cells to release protective proteins in amounts more like the breastfed baby.
More about the baby milk formula
- 2'FL HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharide) adds another layer to Similac’s already proven immune support
- DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E for Brain & Eye Development
- Highly recommended by mothers
- No Artificial Growth Hormones
- Backed by more than 15 years of extensive research
4. Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Baby Formula
The Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease baby formula has more than 2,500 customer reviews and is the no. 2 best seller in the powder baby formula category of Amazon Best Sellers.
More about the baby milk formula
- Emerging evidence from a recent clinical study showed MFGM in formula supports cognitive development similar to breast milk
- #1 trusted brand for brain-building & immune support
- Get brain building nutrition inspired by breast milk from the formula brand that's #1 recommended by Pediatricians
- For easing fussiness, gas and crying within 24 hours
- The only formula that has a fat-protein blend of MFGM and DHA, previously only found in breast milk
- Complete nutrition for babies through 12 months, easy-to-digest proteins and dual prebiotics for immune health
5. Similac Pro-Sensitive Non-GMO Infant Formula with Iron, with 2’-FL HMO, for Immune Support
Another Similac baby milk formula best seller with more than 2,200 customer reviews and is currently the no. 6 best seller in the powder baby formula category of Amazon Best Sellers.
Similac Pro-Sensitive Non-GMO Infant Formula with Iron, with 2’-FL HMO, for Immune Support, Baby Formula, Powder, 2.18 Lb (Pack of 3) (One-Month Supply) > Check Price on Amazon
Description about the baby milk formula
- Similac Pro-Sensitive is the first infant formula for sensitive tummies with 2’-FL HMO;(Based on Pediatrician Recommendations and IQVIA ProVoice Survey 12 months ending February 2020; not from human milk)
- VALUE SIZE/SUBSCRIBE and SAVE: 1 Can provides 55% more powder than the 1.41-lb container; 3 cans provide a one-month supply or 189 4-fl-oz bottles; Choose Subscribe and Save for additional savings and convenience
- FOR SENSITIVE TUMMIES: Designed for fussiness and gas due to lactose sensitivity; Not for infants or children with galactosemia
- IMMUNE SUPPORT: Similac Pro-Sensitive is the first infant formula with 2’-FL human milk oligosaccharide (Not from human milk)
- TRUSTED: Similac is the No.1 infant formula brand chosen by moms and the No.1 brand fed in hospitals (total US infant formula all outlets as of 3/31/18, Nielsen data)
- OptiGRO: Our exclusive blend of DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E, nutrients also found in breast milk, help support baby’s brain and eye development
- Eligible to be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
- In select stores; The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assurance Program) name is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Agriculture;USDA does not endorse any goods, services, or enterprises
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