Although the ideal food for infants is breast milk, not all moms get in the position of nursing their toddlers. Therefore they must nourish their baby’s with infant formula.
Besides, infant food formulas are the preferred source of nourishment during the first 12 months of a baby’s life and are obligatory meeting a specific standard fixed by the health department.
However, Enfamil and Similac are two significant categories of toddler’s recipe. Knowing the differences and similarities between them will help someone decide on the best brand for you and your infant. Eventually, the final decision will come from your personal preferences and the budget.
Below are some of the differences and similarities between various Similac & Enfamil baby food products..
Similac Sensitive vs. Enfamil Gentlease
Besides, if your infant tends to be fussy, spit up a lot, or gassy, you may be required to switch to baby formula geared to sensitive stomachs. The Enfamil provides Gentlease while Similac provides responsive, and all made with stomach issues in mind.
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The Enfamil’s Gentlease has proven to decrease fussiness in a day, gas, and crying, and offer complete nourishment for health in the first decade. On the other hand, the Similac sensitive formulas still promise to avoid fussiness, mild spit-up, and gas.
Differences
(a) Similac has more Linoleic, and some added sugar. Besides, sugar is found in breast milk but contains 2’-FL HMO that serves as prevailing prebiotic. Remember, regular sugar might be delicate for infants to digest.
(b) Enfamil utilizes moderately hydrolyzed nonfat milk, whey’s protein concentration dense from soy to further help small tummies aptitude in digesting cow’s milk.
(c) Similac utilizes milk protein isolate to be among their easy-to-digest constituents, which can trigger indigestion and allergies in many people.
Similarities
(a) Both formula product provides a non-GMO version to their sensitive formulas
(b) Enfamil and Similac offers the same levels of fats, vitamins, proteins, water, and carbohydrates
(c) Both utilize the corn syrup solids that aids the toddlers in digesting cow’s milk simply
Similac Spit-up vs. Enfamil A.R [for reflux]
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Both spit-up and A.R formulas were made, especially for infants who tend to spit-up frequently. The Enfamil A.R baby formula has clinically proven to lower spit-up through a whopping 50%. Moreover, the parents will enjoy it, since the recipe typically stains and smells creeps to fabrics. It is also delivered equipped with two prebiotics preferred for digestive health; moreover, it is thicker enough to ease through the bottle nipple. On the other hand, the Similac does not provide in-depth details concerning their formula. They assure that their Spit-up formula intended to lower spit-up.
Differences
(a) Similac main constituents are milk protein isolate, corn syrup, one prebiotic, vegetable oil, and modified rice starch.
(b) Enfamil’s main constituents are rice starch, maltodextrin, nonfat milk, lactose, and vegetable oil.
(c) Similac formula has no GMOs
(d) Enfamil A.R contains two prebiotics, not like the other versions that contain only one.
Similarities
(a) Both formulas contain sugar to aid fussy tummies settle, though the Similaci’s got two diverse sugar sources to one in Enfamil’s
(b) Enfamil and Similac utilizes rice starch toward thickening their formulas
(c) Both formulas have extremely same mixtures of minerals and vitamins
Similac Alimentum vs. Enfamil Nutramigen
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The Enfamil Nutramigen is clinically proven to lower colic caused by an allergy due to cow’s milk in about two days. It also claimed to reduce the future occurrences of cow milk allergies, whereas still offering overall health for your kid. Many infants who have trouble digesting the milk might yet have those problems when they grow up—the Nutramigen considered easy-to-digest and hypoallergenic to assist rapidly remedy milk protein allergies.
The Similac’s Alimentum is still colic due to the sensitivity to cow’s milk protein. They assure that their formula is capable of reducing colic symptoms in a short duration of 1 day due to their easy-to-digest formula present, which also enhances the overall health. Also, they claim that their formula has no lactose.
Differences
(a) Similac puts sugar on top the corn Maltodextrin
(b) Enfamil uses improved corn starch that helps in thickening the formula and increasing the digestibility of their recipe.
(c) Similac got an advanced level of the Linoleic acid.
Similarities
(a) Both formulas use sugar to help indigestion. The Similac uses corn maltodextrin while the Enfamil uses corn syrup. However, both are glucose, that breaks down differently compared to lactose, infants naturally make the lactase enzyme break down the sugar, though not corn maltodextrin or corn syrup.
(b) Both Enfamil and Similac have casein hydrolysate (milk)
Similac Advance vs. Enfamil Infant
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Similac offers the advanced formula in the target of providing essential nutrients and fats to aid an infant to thrive. In contrast, the Infant formula is necessary for feeding your baby for the first year of their life. However, both produce is more base simulations.
Differences
(a) Similac contain Lutein for vision
(b) Enfamil has palm Olein oil, a fatty acid related to breast milk,
Similarities
(a) Both are milk-based formula selection, comprising lactose, nonfat milk, coconut oil, soy oil, and high oleic safflower oil
(b) Both delivered with DHA (fatty acid), a critical nutrient grouped with vitamin K and vitamin B as their primary ingredients.
(c) Both comprise a prebiotic
(d) Neither brand added additional sugars.
Similac Soy Isomil vs. Enfamil Prosobee
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Both Similac and Enfamil provide a complete milk-free formula to the babies who cannot digest cow’s milk proteins. For those infants, a soy-based recipe is a gentle and natural alternative for subtle stomachs sensitive to milk. Both Similac and Enfamil are lactose –free and easy in digesting for gassy babies and fussy.
Differences
(a) Similac puts sugar to the soy formula
(b) Enfamil got soy protein being their third ingredient after vegetable oils and corn syrup
(c) Similac have more Linoleic acid levels
(d) Similac utilizes soy protein as their second constituent followed by oils
Similarities
(a) Both provide complete nutrition right for infant thrive, embracing proteins, water, vitamins, and carbohydrates
(b) Both utilize soy protein isolate entirely to avoid milk-based products
(c) Both formula products use corn syrup being their first ingredient
Which is better to use? Enfamil or Similac?
This is an on-going debate among the community of infant formula using parents. Many blogs will chime in, but they both offer amazing benefits backed through science and clinical studies.
While Enfamil NeuroPro is great for brain development, Similac 2′-FL HMO Pro Advance is great for gut development and the immune system. For babies who are otherwise healthy, Enfamil is the better choice, but if you have problems with immune concerns, Similac is a winner.
via thebabyswag.com
Since they both offer great benefits, can you just use both or switch it up every once in awhile?
Choosing only one brand can be tough, they clearly both have their benefits and contain essential nutrients for proper development & growth. You may just want to switch it up on a monthly or weekly basis, or however you want to do it.
Despite the common belief that switching up infant formula may cause gastrointestinal problems like gassiness and also fussiness, this is actually not usually the case. I will not say this is not in the realms of possibility of happening, but normally this will not be a problem if you decide to switch up your baby food formula.
Switching between formula brands is not a problem, even though many parents wonder if doing so may cause fussiness or stool changes in their baby. In fact, you can even mix different brands of the same type of formula together if you feel that your baby responds better to a mixture of one brand with another…
Contrary to popular belief, spitting up or excess gas in your baby is usually not due to the type of protein in the formula.4 Still, switching between brands can help parents see if their baby has any reaction to a particular brand.
via verywellfamily.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which formula to pick?
Besides, if you still require assistance from two brands, try both Similac and Enfamil formula finder to symbol out which will fit your infants.
How can someone know if the baby won’t like the formula?
It simple, if the infant does like the formula will estate from drinking it, if the kid is willing to drink it but end up fussy, therefore, your need to shift to a sensitive stomach formula.
What are signs that the formula is not fitting my baby?
In case your infants become more Gussy, fussy, cry too much, and keep spitting up a lot, you are required to shift to sensitive stomach formula. If your kid develops a rash, it could be another sign you need to switch to a different recipe, probably one without cow’s milk production.
Similac is general, and they tend to lean to sugar-based formula, though the determination behind their inclination could be ease and taste of digestion.
Enfamil tends to utilize quality constituents first, and ingredients that are preferable for each type of their formula. If I were forced to choose between just one brand, I would probably go with Enfamil.