Enfamil Vs. Similac: Which Baby Formula Is Better?

Which baby formula is better? Enfamil or Similac formula? Is the Enfamil formula better? Both Enfamil and Similac are good options. Let’s learn more.

Enfamil Baby Formula

• Enfamil is a baby formula brand made by Mead Johnson Nutrition.
• Enfamil was the first company to make a baby formula in the United States. Enfamil formulas have been around since 1922 and are one of the most popular brands for babies, especially for those with milk allergies such as cow’s milk allergy or lactose intolerance.
• The Enfamil company also makes other formulas such as Enfagrow, Enfamil Nutramigen, and Neosure. Enfamil Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic formula for fussy babies with a cow’s milk protein allergy, incorporating arachidonic acid and corn maltodextrin to closely mimic breast milk’s nutritional profile. This particular Enfamil formula is available in both powder and liquid form, catering to various preferences and needs.
• Enfamil NeuroPro has a milk fat globule membrane. If you’re not aware of the milk fat globule membrane, it can be found in breast milk or human milk oligosaccharides. The milk fat globule membrane can help support a baby’s cognitive development. As a result, these milk formulas mimic breast milk more precisely and have slightly more significant quantities of specific fatty acids.

Is This Milk Safe For Kids With Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy?

Cow’s milk protein allergy is the most common in babies. Worry not, allergy to cow’s milk will eventually go away, the brand is known to be the closest formula to breast milk because Lactoferrin and MFGM are found in breast milk which they managed to include in their formulation. Even though we all know that nothing beats the nutrition of breast milk and that it’s still the best for babies, it’s important to know that we have a close option for breast milk benefits.

Similac Baby Formula

• Similac is another popular brand of baby formula that’s been around since 1934, and it has been in more households than any other infant formula on the market today.
• Similac offers a wide range of products, including Similac Advance Infant Formula, Similac, and Soy Isomil.
• Similac Advance infant formula is a nutritionally complete, milk-based infant formula good for a baby’s first year.
• Similac Advance baby formula is easy to digest and supports brain and eye development. Similac soy Isomil is an easy-to-digest powdered formula for infants with fussiness and gas. It is the only soy formula clinically proven to help the immune system.
• The Similac soy Isomil powdered formula is designed for babies with lactose intolerance and galactosemia. Similac Soy Isomil is a specialized formula designed for infants with soy protein sensitivity, providing a suitable alternative to cow’s milk-based formulas. Similac Soy Isomil is a popular choice for parents seeking a soy-based formula option for their infants who may have lactose intolerance or sensitivity to cow’s milk protein.

 

In this article, Family Hype will take an in-depth look at Enfamil’s formulas and Similac products to help you decide which is the best baby formula brand for your baby.

Benefits Of Cow’s Milk Formula

• Cow’s milk formula is a popular choice for babies who do not have any specific dietary restrictions or allergies.
• One advantage of cow’s milk formula is its similarity to breast milk in terms of nutritional composition.
• Cow’s milk is a common and widely consumed beverage worldwide, known for its rich source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that support bone health and overall growth and development in individuals of all ages.

Enfamil Vs. Similac

Is Enfamil baby formula better than Similac? Which one to pick for your baby? Both are two of the most popular baby formula brands in the United States. However, they have a lot of differences in their formulas, ingredients, and packaging.

• Similac states that its formula milk lowers spit-up episodes by 54%, whereas Enfamil asserts that its baby formula reduces spit-up episodes by 50%.
• Both Enfamil and Similac formulas for picky babies use different protein sources—Pro-Total Similac Comfort has 100 percent whey protein concentrate solids, while Enfamil Gentlease milk formula contains 60 percent whey protein concentrate and 40 percent casein.
• Enfamil Gentlease also has some corn syrup solids. This Enfamil formula has roughly 10g of corn syrup solids per 5 oz. Corn syrup solids are recognized by the FDA as safe to use in baby formulas. 

Both Enfamil and Similac offer a wide range of options to meet the diverse needs of infants.

More Comparison Between Similac And Enfamil

Both Are Great Brands Which Met The FDA Standards

Regardless of brand, all baby formulas marketed in the United States must meet certain nutrient criteria specified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to guarantee your infant gets the nutrients they require to grow and flourish. Both Enfamil baby formula and Similac baby formula are great for your baby.

Both Have Impressive Composition Delivering Essential Nutrients To The Infant

Many mothers often wonder, “Is Enfamil infant formula better than Similac?” when considering the best baby formula for their little ones. This comparison between Enfamil and Similac Alimentum encompasses various factors such as the composition of infant formulas, including partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk, milk fat globule membrane, corn syrup solids, whey protein concentrate solids, and vegetable oils. The milk fat globule membrane is a protective layer surrounding the fat droplets in breast milk and plays a vital role in delivering essential nutrients to the infant.

Both Brands Offer Many Benefits

Mothers also weigh the benefits of breast milk against these commercially available formulas. Both brands offer a range of options, including hypoallergenic formulas like Enfamil Nutramigen and Similac Alimentum for babies with severe food allergies or specific dietary needs. Factors such as cow’s milk, soy formula, rice starch, whey protein concentrate solids, and artificial growth hormones are also taken into consideration.

No Artificial Growth Hormones

Artificial growth hormones are not used in the production of these reputable infant formula brands to ensure the safety and well-being of babies. Rice starch, derived from rice grains, is commonly used as a thickening agent in various food products, including sauces, soups, and puddings.

Customer Support Services

No one is greater than the other in terms of customer support. Both have dedicated customer support services to assist parents with any questions or concerns regarding their formulas.

The Decision Ultimately Rests On The Preferences And Needs Of Each Baby

• While both Enfamil Nutramigen and Similac Alimentum provide a powder formula that strives to mimic the nutritional qualities of human milk, the decision ultimately rests on the preferences and needs of each infant.
• Consulting with healthcare professionals can help determine the most suitable choice between Enfamil and Similac, taking into account factors such as infant allergies, cow’s milk formula tolerability, and overall nutritional requirements.
• Ultimately, the goal is to provide infants with a milk formula that meets their nutritional needs, supports healthy growth, and ensures their well-being. In trying to answer if Enfamil is better than Similac, it’s important to remember that individual babies may respond differently to different formulas, so what works best for one infant may not be the same for another.

Is Enfamil Superior To Similac?

Most parents in the U.S. feed their infants with standard infant formula when they are not nursing. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests giving iron-fortified, milk-based formulations to formula-fed babies.

Similac

Similac Advance is an iron-fortified milk-based infant milk that also contains lutein, vitamin E, and the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to support infant neurodevelopment. It has an exclusive blend of ingredients for a baby’s brain and eye development. Similac Advance is also easy to digest and has no palm olein oil. Aside from that, Similac Advance also has no artificial growth hormones, making it the #1 brand that hospitals recommend.

Although studies demonstrate the ingredient naturally appears in breast milk or human milk and, therefore, has no adverse effects on developing newborns, the brand advertises that it excludes palm olein oil, intending to boost calcium absorption. Human milk is often considered the ideal source of nutrition for infants due to its unique composition and benefits. Breast milk provides numerous advantages for both the infant and the mother, as human milk contains essential nutrients and antibodies that support the baby’s immune system and overall health.

Human milk is custom-made for each infant, adapting its composition to meet the changing needs of the growing infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breast milk for the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by continued breast milk alongside the introduction of complementary foods.

Similac Advance’s key ingredients include nonfat milk, lactose, whey protein concentrate solids, corn syrup solids, high oleic safflower oil, soy oil, coconut oil, and galactooligosaccharides (prebiotics). Nonfat milk as an infant milk ingredient can be beneficial for babies since nonfat milk is a great source of protein and carbohydrates; the catch is without fat. It is only recommended to give nonfat milk to infants once their growth is steady because fat, which is not included in nonfat milk, is still important to be taken.

Enfamil

Enfamil NeuroPro stands apart because it focuses on fatty acids that support the brain and eyes. To promote brain health, the World Health Organization advises newborn formulae to contain between 3 percent and 5 percent DHA. This formulation has a 32 percent content.

Nonfat milk, lactose, vegetable oil (palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils), whey protein concentrate, and whey protein-lipid concentrate are Enfamil NeuroPro’s main ingredients. 

While the component lists for the Advance and NeuroPro infant formulas seem comparable, the Enfamil NeuroPro has an edge because of a milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) compound.

Understanding MFGM And Cow’s Milk Allergies

According to Delene P. Musielak, M.D., a doctor in St. Louis, MFGM is a chemical that naturally exists in breast milk fat globule membrane and aids in this formula’s ability to resemble the qualities of breast milk or human milk more precisely. In addition, according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, babies’ verbal, cognitive, and motor development were boosted by a milk formula that had added bovine MFGM and cow lactoferrin. There are a lot of options to choose from, such as Similac Alimentum, instead of going for a cow’s milk formula for your infant. Even though cow’s milk is well tolerated by most babies, some babies experience allergies upon taking a cow’s milk formula.

Infant Formula For Gas And Other Digestive Issues

Most pediatricians start babies out on standard non-fat milk-based infant formulas. Still, a doctor says that if parents report gas, digestive problems, colic and fussing, and lactose intolerance, they may suggest switching to gentle formulas. Gentle or partially hydrolyzed formulas are simpler for small stomachs to digest since the milk’s protein molecules have already been disassembled. The size of the proteins in a gentle milk will be more similar to those in breast milk or human milk.

• Similac’s Pro-Total Comfort milk utilizes just partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which may be easier for certain people’s stomachs. In addition, this milk has breast milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), prebiotics found naturally in breast milk that give immunological, gastrointestinal, and cognitive support.
• Meanwhile, Enfamil Gentlease contains partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate, making it gentler on small stomachs. This partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk formula is designed for infants experiencing digestive pain and aims to relieve gas and the fussiness that often accompanies it. Get partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk if your infant is experiencing discomfort in digesting. 
• Doctors recommend Pro-Total Comfort for lactose-intolerant babies. This version has HMOs and 2% lactose, compared to Gentlease’s 20%. In addition, Gentlease uses a partially hydrolyzed blend of 60% whey and 40% casein, whereas Pro-Total Comfort uses 100% partly hydrolyzed whey. Regardless of the comparison, both are great infant formulas for your baby. 

The Best Baby Milk For Spit-Up Relief

Spit-up is a natural aspect of becoming a new parent. The culprit is tiny, growing digestive systems, but with appropriate weight gain and enough wet diapers (six to eight per day), pediatricians frequently find no reason for alarm.

Similac’s Effect On Spit-Up Relief

Compared to infants fed conventional nonfat milk-based formulas, Similac asserts that its spit-up formula decreases spit-up incidents in healthy, 2-month-old babies by 54%. In addition, this formula offers a combination of DHA, lutein, and vitamin E to boost newborn neurodevelopment and extra rice starch to help with spitting up. Babies can digest rice starch pretty well, which is why rice starch is used as an infant formula add-on for babies who suffer from frequent spitting up. Rice starch aids in digestion and thickens infant milk.

Enfamil’s Effect On Spit-Up Relief

Enfamil AR is a rice-starch-enriched formula that claims to reduce spit-up in babies by up to 50%. This rice starch-enriched milk choice contains the same amount of DHA and ARA as the brand’s other formulations, providing complete nutrition for growing babies.

Enfamil AR, enriched with rice starch, claims to reduce spit-up by up to 50%. This formula includes the same levels of DHA and ARA as Enfamil’s other products, providing complete nutrition for growing babies.

Which Brand Is Superior In Terms Of Spit-Up Relief?

While the two infant formulas are pretty similar, Enfamil vs Similac, particularly in decreasing spit-up, Similac’s higher efficacy, combined with its reduced price, propels it to the first position. Both aim to provide complete nutrition and support your baby’s growth and development.

Enfamil Vs. Similac: The Decision

Both products will supply your infant with the nutrition they require. Many considerations will determine the formula brand you choose, including pediatrician advice, kind (cow’s milk-based, lactose-free, preterm, etc.), form (powdered milk, liquid concentrate, ready-to-feed), what your baby will accept, and cost.

If you’re looking for hypoallergenic milk for your child, Similac has something for you. The Similac Alimentum Infant Formula with 2’-FL HMO is the first and only hypoallergenic infant milk with 2’-FL HMO, which is a unique immune-nourishing ingredient. The Similac Alimentum starts reducing colic symptoms due to protein sensitivity in most babies within 24 hours, which means that your infant can start feeling improved after taking Similac Alimentum.

Whatever infant milk you choose, Enfamil vs Similac, know that the FDA has a rigid set of nutritional guidelines that each certified product must follow. Finally, milk selection depends on you and your baby’s preference. Infant milk is a specially designed alternative to breast milk, providing essential nutrients for the healthy growth and development of babies. Choosing the right infant milk is important for meeting your baby’s nutritional needs when breastfeeding is not an option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Enfamil And Similac Safe?

Yes, both Enfamil and Similac are safe, adhering to FDA regulations and offering tailored formulations like Similac StrongMoms rewards for specific dietary needs.

Which Baby Formula Is The Best?

Enfamil vs. Similac: A comparison of these two popular infant milk brands helps parents choose the right option for their little one’s nutritional needs. When it comes to Enfamil vs. Similac, parents often weigh factors such as taste, ingredients, and affordability to make an informed choice for their baby. One key consideration in the Enfamil vs. Similac debate is the presence of prebiotics and probiotics, which can support a healthy digestive system in infants. Parents may also compare the different varieties offered by Enfamil and Similac to find the milk that best suits their baby’s specific dietary needs.

Which Infant Milk Is Closest To Breast Milk?

The infant formula closest to breast milk is the one from Similac 360. Similac claims that they are the closest infant formula to breast milk. Similac infant milk has a blend of DHA, lutein, and Vitamin E which are nutrients found in breast milk. Breast milk is the natural and optimal source of nutrition for newborns and infants. Breast milk provides a unique blend of antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and other beneficial components that support a baby’s immune system. Breast milk is easily digested and tailored to meet the changing nutritional needs of a growing infant. Breast milk promotes bonding and emotional connection between the mother and baby during feeding.

Can I Give My Infant Enfamil Instead Of Similac?

Enfamil vs Similac? If you’re still wondering what’s best between Enfamil and Similac, worry not because, both can be safely used for your infant.

Why Is Enfamil The Best?

Enfamil is considered one of the best due to its comprehensive nutritional profile, which supports the developmental needs of premature babies and adheres to the Enfamil Family Beginnings Program.

Why Do Doctors Recommend Enfamil?

Doctors often recommend Enfamil due to its balanced nutritional content, suitability for various infant needs, and support programs like the Enfamil Family Beginnings program.

What Are The Side Effects Of Enfamil?

Potential side effects of Enfamil can include digestive discomfort, which is why some infants might need sensitive formulas. Always consult a pediatrician if you have concerns.

Does Enfamil Help Brain Development?

Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by Rejie Salazar

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