Similac Advance vs Sensitive - Which Baby Formula Comes Out on Top?

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Keith Lindner is a devoted dad, doting husband, tech nerd, a research expert and a certified Infant Feeding Technician. With 10+ years of consumer research and product management experience, he became passionate about finding and building products that improve his family's life and fit their lifestyle preferences. He loves sharing this info with other parents to help make life a bit easier during those first few years of life.

Main differences between Similac Advance vs Sensitive

The main differences between Similac Advance vs Sensitive are:

Similac Advance is a milk-based formula, whereas Similac Sensitive contains milk protein isolate instead of milk.
Similac Advance is for babies without sensitivity to lactose, whereas Similac Sensitive is specially created for babies who are lactose intolerant.
Similac Advance contains 11g lactose/100kcal, whereas Simila Sensitive 0.1g lactose/100kcal.

Things to Think About Before Buying Your Baby Formula

Nutritional content

The first six months of your baby’s life are some of the most crucial. It’s important therefore that the right nutrition is administered during this time. When it comes to protein, you don’t want to give your infant too much as it could lead to obesity later on in life. Aim for around 10g of protein per day when your child is 0-6 months old.

Carbohydrates are essential for your child’s growth and development. 95g per day is about enough for your infant and should provide them with plenty of energy while helping to maintain healthy body weight.

Types of formula

As you’re probably aware, the formula comes in two forms: ready-to-drink and powder. Ready-to-use formula is best suited to newborns if you’re choosing not to breastfeed. They’re easily digestible and can be given to your baby anywhere and everywhere.

The powdered formula is best for babies over 6 months. If your baby is allergic to cows’ milk then soya alternatives are available. Powdered formula is the most economical and lasts much longer than ready-to-drink options. It does take a little more time and effort to mix up though.

Ingredients

There are two main ingredients found in some baby formulas that are considered to be controversial. These are DHA (Omega-3) and ARA (Omega-6). While both ingredients are good fatty acids that help the brain and nerves develop, they are not naturally found in a baby formula like they are in breast milk. Instead, they are usually processed with hexane, which can be toxic in high doses.

Be aware of this ingredient when you look for your formula. While they are usually found in baby formula in only very small doses, it’s important that you are aware so that you can have a think about whether you are comfortable feeding it to your baby.

Your baby’s age

It’s really important to choose a baby formula that fits your child’s age range. This should be clearly displayed on the label, but each one will be specially formulated to include the right nutrients for each stage of your baby’s life.

Iron-fortified

If your baby isn’t being breastfed at all, then look for a formula that contains iron. You’ll want to feed them this ingredient from birth until they are 12 months old. This is important because boosting iron levels in the blood can prevent anemia.

Similac Advance vs Sensitive – An in-depth Comparison

At this point in our guide, we’ll be going into more detail about each formula. This includes the pros, cons, and key features that you’ll find important, allowing you to make a decision about which one is best for your baby.

Similac Advance Overview

Similac Advance is packed with key nutrients to help your infant thrive. This includes Lutein, which helps eyes grow strong and healthy, and Vitamin E – an essential part of your baby’s health. It also contains 2’-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide.

You might not have heard of this (this ingredient isn’t too well known), but it’s an immune-boosting prebiotic that naturally occurs in breast milk. Similac claims that it’s backed by more than 15 years of extensive research and adds another layer to Similac’s already proven immune support.

Similac Advance – or any other formula in their repertoire – doesn’t contain artificial growth hormones. This means that the dairy ingredients come from cows that haven’t been treated with hormones for advanced growth. Many parents prefer this.

Another great thing that we should mention about Similac Advance is that it’s available to purchase from a variety of drug stores and grocery chains. This means that if you run out in the middle of the night, you should be able to find some in the early hours of the morning.

As with any baby formula, your baby might not take to Similac Advance straight away. It’s also quite expensive compared to other brands, which is important to consider if you’re looking for something long term. It’s also not necessarily the best option for newborns as it doesn’t quite have all the key ingredients they’ll need. This formula is better suited for babies aged 6-12 months.

Features:

A nutritionally complete formula, which provides nutrients and vitamins for babies up to 12 months old.
As close as possible to breast milk in terms of nutrients.
It contains 2’-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide. This is an immune-boosting prebiotic found in breast milk.
Available in a 1.45 lb or 12.4 oz powder formula, or 1 qt ready-to-feed bottle.
The #1 brand chosen by moms (Total US infant formula, all outlets as of 3/31/2018, Nielsen data).

Similac Advance Powder Baby Formula | Walmart

$17.94

Similac Advance Infant Formula is a nutritionally complete, milk-based formula for your baby's first year with all ingredients carefully selected to meet our high standards

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Pros:

Provides enough nutrients needed to replace breast milk for your baby’s first year of life.
The powder formula dissolves completely and quickly when mixed with the right amount of water.
It tastes a lot like breast milk.
It contains Similac Opti-Grow. This is Similac’s own mixture of DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E. All of these provide enough nourishment for your baby’s health and development.

Cons:

Not all babies’ stomachs take to the formula straight away.
It’s quite expensive compared to other brands.
Similac Advance doesn’t provide all the vitamins your baby needs from age 6 to 12. Similac Advance 2 is a better option for very young children.

Similac Sensitive Overview

Similac Sensitive is designed for sensitive tummies, fussiness, or gas issues caused by an intolerance to lactose. The formula contains milk protein isolate instead of milk, meaning that the lactose has been removed. This makes it suitable for babies with an allergy to dairy, including cows’ milk.

Like Similac Advance, the Similac Sensitive is made with vitamin E and lutein. This is to ensure babies grow up to be healthy and strong. It also contains 2’-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide. Overall, Similac Sensitive is designed to mimic the taste and texture of breast milk to ensure your infant ingests all they need for a healthy start to life without compromising on the quality of their food.

Similac Sensitive also contains iron. This is a key ingredient for newborn children in the first year to stop them from developing anemia. And for your own ease, you can get the formula in either a powder or ready-to-drink format. The latter is especially handy if you’re on the go or need something easy to grab during busy times of the day.

There have been some instances where Similac Sensitive has been known to cause constipation. This is quite rare but will depend on your baby’s tolerance. Keep an eye on how they react and if the problem persists, seek professional help.