7 Best Similac Alternative Formulas: Choose the Perfect Nutritive Formula To Help The Growth Of Your Newborn

To help parents nourish their child, infant, and baby formulas have been used as an alternative to or supplement along with breast milk for a long period of time. And there is hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of the brand Similac when it comes to choosing a formula for their kid. The brand undoubtedly offers healthy nutrition and has been recommended by many parents out there!

But it’s also true that your baby might be reluctant to the Similac alternative, simply either because they don’t like it, or they might be allergic to it! So, how will you know what’s best for your child when there are so many substitute options out there?

For you, some of the best Similac alternative formulas from known or perhaps not-so-known brands, like Enfamil, Gerber, Burt’s Bees, etc., have been gathered. They are all affordable, and each one is filled with essential nutrients and vitamins that your baby needs.

Let’s take a look!

Best Similac Alternatives for Newborn Baby

Choose the best formula based on the preference and adaptability of your child from the above-listed best Similac alternative formulas.

Enfamil Gentlease Baby Formula to Support Brain Development

What is your outlook on a formula made with easy-to-digest nutrients and clinically proven to relieve your baby from the stress of gas, spit-up, crying, or fussiness within 24 hours? The first one on the list is Gentlease baby formula from one of the biggest brand names advised by pediatricians, Enfamil!

Specifications

• The formula is a milk-based powder filled with iron and nutrients like DHA and choline
• 4 cans of this infant formula make up the package
• You will find the weight of each can to be close to 27.7 ounces
• You will get the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit while purchasing it
• Recommended for babies ages 0 to 12 months

The carbohydrate and protein content present here are partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk and protein, corn syrup, which helps reduce the fuss of indigestion and lactose intolerance for your baby. And the dual prebiotics makes them stronger.

With no added sugar or preservatives, this formula has a blend of easy-to-digest protein for babies with delicate digestive health. There are also nutrients like DHA and choline to promote eye and brain functioning. And not to mention, a blend of nutritious vitamins and minerals aids in healthy growth and development!

Lower sugar content, reduced lactose, and more natural ingredients- if these are what you want in your baby’s milk, you can switch to this one!

Gerber Good Start GentlePro Formula Powder (GentlePro Probiotics)

Next up is the Similac pro-advanced alternative formula from Gerber Good Start, the GentlePro advanced complete nutrition. To make this one, the developers have chosen 2′-FL HMO and probiotics that boost healthy bacteria in your baby’s gut and are similar to those present in breast milk!

Specification:

• You will get 6 packs of the powdered item, each worth 20 ounce
• It can be fed to babies ages up to 12 months
• Per 100 calories, 2.2-grams protein content is present
• This is one of the few formulas that contains HMO (human milk oligosaccharides)
• Contains milk, soy, prebiotics, ARA, DHA, etc.

This formula, which is patterned after the complete nourishment and softness of breastmilk, offers perfect nutrition for babies up until the age of 12 months. The gentle recipe includes prebiotics, DHA, and comfort proteins, which are little proteins that are simple to digest for your child’s tiny tummies. And No added preservatives, sugars, or growth hormones is another plus point!

Enzymatically hydrolyzed and reduced in mineral whey protein concentrate makes up the formula, which reduces the discomfort while digesting. Your baby’s brain and eye development are also ensured by the formula, alongside strong immunity.

You can use this as a Similac-sensitive alternative if your baby requires a milder and easier-to-digest drink.

Gerber Good Start SoothePro Baby Formula Powder

Crying, colic, crankiness, bloat, uncomfortable Poops, mild spit-up – these 6 problems that your baby faces are addressed in the SoothePro formula by Gerber Good Start, one of the first and only formulas with 2′-FL HMO and Probiotics!

Specifications:

• You will get a milk-based formula with iron and other essential
• Newborns to 12-month-olds can be fed with this formula
• It comes in a pack of 6 where each one weighing almost 1.2 pound
• If features probiotic L.reuteri and FL HMO(human milk oligosaccharide)
• Made with non-GMO ingredients

This formula contains comfort proteins that are easily digested by the stomach. Moreover, there is a comforting probiotic present too, L.reuteri; this one has passed the clinical test to reduce crying time by 50%. Additionally, to ease your toddler’s fussiness, the carbohydrate blend has 30 % lactose!

The soothing blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and comfort protein promotes soft tools in your baby and reduces colic and spit-ups! This non-GMO milk-based formula has no artificial ingredients or growth hormones and is totally safe!

If your baby is sensitive to lactose, you can use the Gerber SoothPro as an alternative to Similac Pro sensitive.

Enfamil Infant Formula (Milk Based Baby Formula with Iron)

Omega-3 DHA and choline, 2 key brain-nourishing nutrients for your baby, as well as a blend of 2 prebiotics to boost your baby’s natural immunity, make up this beast-milk-inspired Infant formula from Enfamil! Let’s look at some of its features.

Specifications:

• The infant formula is a milk-based powder with iron
• It features 4 cans of the formula, each being 21.1 ounce
• You will find nutrients like DHA and choline in the formula
• It can meet your baby’s nutritional needs for the first 12 months
• No additional sucrose, corn, chemical growth hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) here

Nonfat milk, whey protein concentrate, and lactose- are some of the ingredients found in this milk-based baby formula. And you will be pleased to know that there are no additional table sugar (sucrose), chemical growth hormones, corn, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) present.

This nutritional formula is designed to address the nutritional needs of infants up to the age of 12 months. Two key brain-nourishing nutrients for your baby, Choline and Omega-3 DHA, as well as a blend of two prebiotics to boost your baby’s natural immunity, is included here!

For milk with less added sugar and a gentler formula, you can go with the Enfamil Infant one!

Enfamil Enspire Gentlease Baby Formula

Up next is the Enspire Gentlease formula from Enfamil. Formulated with MFGM components as well as Lactoferrin, two essential components found in breast milk, the brand claims that this is the closest formula to breast milk they’ve ever created for easing fussiness and gas!

Specifications:

• It is a milk-based powder drink filled with iron
• Contains 4 – 1.81 pound refill boxes
• You will find Lactoferrin and MFGM components here
• While purchasing, you’ll get a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit.
• Suitable for babies aged from 0 to 12 months

This non-GMO baby formula has been designed to provide comprehensive nourishment through their first 12 months. It is prepared with easy digestive protein chunks, and you will find the lactose content reduced to 20% for sensitive babies. Corn syrup solids, partially hydrolyzed nonfat milk, and whet protein-lipid concentrate are some of the vital ingredients.

Two important components that you will find in breast milk, Lactoferrin, and MFGM, are included in this gentle formula. This makes it one of the preferable breast milk alternative formulas designed for a baby’s crying, gas, or fussiness. Lactoferrin works on immunity, while DHA and choline work on brain-building!

This is one of the best Similac pro-sensitive alternatives if you want a sugar-free, easy-to-digest, and vitamin-filled formula!

Else Plant-Based Complete Nutrition Formula for Toddlers

Prepared with 92% whole plant ingredients, there is this plant-based alternative to soy formula and cow’s milk! This organic nutritional drink from Else was developed to help your child grow in a healthy way.

Specifications:

• It is a plant-based organic formula
• Come in a pack of 4 where each one weighs 29 ounce
• You will not find any gluten or corn syrup in the powder
• There is also no soy or dairy included in the formula
• The organic ingredients are USDA certified meaning there is no genetic modification or added antibiotic, hormone, or preservatives

Dairy-free, GMO-free, soy-free, corn-syrup-free, gluten-free- if your child has lactose intolerance or dietary restrictions, this plant-based formula is the one that can help your toddler for the first 12 months. Organic almond butter, organic tapioca, and organic buckwheat these plant-based ingredients that make up the major of this vegan formula.

It is USDA-certified organic which means it has been farmed and processed in accordance with federal criteria for soil quality, animal treatment, insect management, and the use of additives. So you can rely on the safety of this formula! Plus, the fiber, minerals, and vitamins are in abundance in the formula as they come from whole food.

Overall, for babies who need special care in a dairy-free way, this formula is the one you can rely on!

Burt’s Bees Baby Organic Baby Formula

Looking for an organic formula that is comprehensively nutritive and consciously modeled after breast milk? The final one on today’s list is the Burt’s Bee baby organic formula, which has been clinically proven to ensure that your kid gets the desired nutrients for growth!

Specifications:

• It features a milk-based powder with essential vitamins and iron
• You will get 4 packs of the formula each worth 23.2 ounces
• The age limit for consumption is 0-12 months
• It contains DHA with no hexane extractions
• The formula is made with USDA-certified organics which means there are no added hormones, preservatives, antibiotics, or genetic engineering.

This ultra-gentle formula promises to give your baby complete nutrition for the first year and fulfills the FDA and USDA standards. Some of the ingredients included here are Omega 3 DHA, Omega 6 ARA, organic partially hydrolyzed whey protein, organic lactose, organic coconut oil, and organic soy oil. All these nutrients are non-GMO with no added preservatives.

Vitamins A, D, E, K, and calcium in the formula work together to make the child stronger. DHA helps in vision and brain development, and the easy-to-digest proteins help to reduce the crankiness of your kid. There is gluten, sensitive start, or artificial ingredients present here, which makes it a healthy drink.

This formula has gained a great level of acceptance among infants and newborns; it’s quite good nourishment at a reasonable price!

Similac VS Enfamil Which Baby Formula Is Better?

It’s difficult to pick between Enfamil and Similac. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

For example, if you want less sugar in your baby’s milk, Enfamil has more options. Similac, on the other hand, offers a wide choice of lutein-rich products without the use of palm olein oil which some babies are sensitive to.

Again, each one has a different purpose of fulfilling. As for Enfamil, the Enfamil Infant works to give overall nourishment alongside helping in brain building. Again, the Enfamil Gentlease helps to relative gas, spit-ups, and crankiness in your child by reducing tummy trouble.

For Similac, the Similac Advance helps in brain and eye development and growth. And the Similac Pro Advance gives you everyday nutrition.

To sum up, deciding on the right formula totally depends on your baby’s digestive health. Whether you should go with Enfamil or Similac can be decided through the trial and error process, and then you can choose the formula which addresses most of the digestive issues of your baby!

What Can Be The Problems With Choosing A Baby Formula?

There is no infant formula that can be declared the best or perfect. Rather, you have to select the special one for your child after extensive research. Of course, your pediatrician can help in this case. Some of the problems you might face while choosing a baby formula and their solutions are discussed.

Choosing the right formula for babies with allergies:

If your baby has a food allergy or milk allergy, you can feed him/her a standard protein formula; you should look for an extensively hydrolyzed or amino-acid-based formula. Again, for babies who have lactose intolerance, you can select soy-based baby formulas

Homemade infant formula:

It is not recommended to go with homemade infant formula as it may not contain the right amount of certain nutrients, and may be too little, or too much, which can lead to some serious health conditions.

Low-weighed babies:

Soy-based formulas are not suggested for babies who were born with low weight.

Buying the formulas online: 

Be cautious while purchasing formulas online through a third-party distributor, as they might not be genuine.

How to Choose The Best Formula For Your Baby

Before choosing a formula for your baby, you should keep in mind that there’s no perfect formula. However, there are a bunch of healthy options you can try. Mainly you need to check for the ingredients and their impact on your kid.

Observe the protein-based ingredients:

 A healthy baby can take standard protein formulae like the one present in Enfamil Infant, which includes nonfat milk or soy protein. However, some children show discomfort while digesting standard-sized proteins. In this case, they can go with partially hydrolyzed protein, just like the one is Gerber Goodstart SoothePro.

Check for the carbohydrate source:

A lactose-based formula is a good option for your baby. However, if he shows signs of indigestion, you can switch to reduced lactose or a formula with glucose sugar like corn syrup, glucose syrup, or so.

Other nutrients:

DHA, ARA, MFGM, and HMO are some of the additional nutrients that help in the mental development as well as growth and nourishment of your child. However, if one or two are missing out, there won’t be much problem.

There are some other factors you should consider. Like, avoid palm oil-based formulas if your child has constipation. And, go with whey-content-rich formula if he has the tendency to spit up often. Finally, consulting your pediatricians before choosing one is always appreciated!

Final Words

Finding a good baby formula for your baby can be as challenging as it is vital, especially with so many alternatives and varieties.

Before selecting the perfect formula for your dear baby, you should always consider your pediatrician’s advice. Ensure that you are buying the perfect protein and carbohydrate-content-based formula. Also, check for allergen information on the pack or jar. Finally, make sure to avoid broken cans or bottles and look for the expiration date.

As a matter of choosing a formula associated with your precious child’s comfort and proper nutrition, here’s hoping you will select the best Similac alternative that your baby is contended with!

FAQs

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