Similac Pro Advance vs Pro Total Comfort

Trying to decide between Similac Pro Advance vs Pro Total Comfort, but not sure which is right for you?

Then let us help you decide which is best formula for your baby with our Similac Pro Total Comfort vs Pro Advance review!

Similac is a well-established name in the infant formula market, and they’ve supported moms through those early stages for decades. With a range of formulas available to suit different families, Similac is an excellent choice for new mothers. But how do you choose the right formula for your family?

As two complete formulas made by Similac, there are quite a few similarities between Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort! However, the small differences that set these two apart really influence which formula you should choose. While Pro-Advance offers a better breast milk alternative, Pro-Total Comfort is better for delicate tummies.

To help you navigate these similarities, and the essential differences, in this guide, we’ll take a look at the similarities and differences between Pro-Total Comfort and Pro-Advance, as well as their pros and cons, so you can decide which Similac formula is better for your little one.

And if you love this Similac Pro Total Comfort and Similac Pro Advance review, make sure to check out our guides on best formula that tastes like breast milk, Similac Pro Total Comfort Vs Pro Sensitive, Similac Sensitive vs Pro Sensitive, and Similac Sensitive Vs Total Comfort. Or even our guide on Enfamil Gentlease Vs Similac Sensitive! 

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Similac Pro Advance vs Pro Total Comfort

Let’s start by exploring what Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort offer moms and babies.

All About Similac Pro Advance

All moms know that breast milk is the best thing for their baby, but breastfeeding isn’t always a realistic option. When you can’t provide your own milk, you want a formula that closely mimics the composition of breast milk. This is what Similac Pro-Advance strives to do.

Similac Pro-Advance is modeled after breast milk, to provide your little one with the complete nutrition they need in those all-important early stages. One key component of this is 2’-FL HMO, a prebiotic found in breast milk that supports the developing immune system.

Other essential ingredients include DHA, lutein, and vitamin E. All found in breast milk, these ingredients nurture brain and eye development. Combined with the 2’-FL HMO prebiotic, Pro-Advance provides a similar nutritional blend to the one you can expect to find in breast milk.

Similac Pro-Advance builds on a standard baby formula, so it isn’t suitable for sensitive stomachs. It also contains lactose, which some babies are sensitive to. 

Pros

• Inspired by breast milk, Similac Pro-Advance is a complete feed.
• Contains 2’-FL HMO, a prebiotic found in breast milk that provides immune support.
• Contains DHA, lutein, and vitamin E, a blend that helps the developing brain and eyes, and is modeled after breast milk.
• Free from GMOs and artificial growth hormones.
• Free from palm olein oil, which can limit calcium absorption.

Cons

• Based on a standard formula, Similac Pro-Advance can be tough on delicate stomachs. 

All About Similac Pro-Total Comfort

New babies are still developing their digestive system, which can lead to sensitive stomachs. Similac Pro-Total Comfort is designed to be gentle and easy on the body, to better move through the digestive system, and decrease discomfort.

Similac Pro-Total Comfort uses hydrolyzed proteins to create a gentler feed on young tummies. These proteins have already been broken down, so there’s less work for the stomach to do. 

By using hydrolyzed whey as a protein base, Similac Pro-Total Comfort can also be enjoyed by babies with a food sensitivity. There’s also very limited levels of lactose, a sugar that triggers bad reactions in some children.

If your little one is fussing and crying after every feed, switching to Pro-Total Comfort can help alleviate the problem. And it works fast! In just 24 hours, this formula can reduce fussiness, gas, and crying. 

Pros

• Uses hydrolyzed whey protein for a gentle digestion that’s easy on the stomach. 
• Works fast, and can reduce fussing, crying, and gas in just 24 hours.
• Contains 2’FL-HMO, a prebiotic that supports the immune system.
• No palm olein oil, which can prevent proper calcium absorption.
• Contains an exclusive blend of DHA and lutein, for brain and eye development.

Cons

• Parents have found that Similac Pro-Total Comfort doesn’t mix well, and can cause lumps.

Similarities And Differences Between Similac Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort

On the surface, it might seem like there are only minor differences between Similac Pro-Advance and Similac Pro-Total Comfort. But these small differences determine exactly which formula is right for you. Let’s look at them in detail.

A Complete Feed

As both infant formulas are created by Similac, you can expect a few similarities! You can also expect a similar level of quality. Similac is the #1 infant formula brand fed in hospitals, and has been providing moms with a complete feeding solution for decades.

Whether you choose Pro-Advance or Pro-Total Comfort, you know you’ll be providing your little one with the support they need. So, you can focus on the details to find the right formula for your baby!

Immune Support

Newborns and young babies are vulnerable, as they’re still developing their immune system! To help your little one grow healthy, Similac have included 2’-FL HMO in both their Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort formulas, for added immune support.

2’-HL human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) is a prebiotic that’s found in breast milk. It helps to nurture and strengthen the immune system. By using 2’-FL HMO, the formulas are closer to breast milk, and offer your little one a more robust feed. 

Easy Digestion

It isn’t until around 6 months that the digestive system finishes developing (which is when you can start introducing solid foods). In those early months, the stomach is much more sensitive, and can struggle with digestion.

To help with this, Similac Pro-Total Comfort uses partially hydrolyzed whey proteins. These proteins are broken down, so they’re smaller and more easily digested. Essentially, they’ve already been partly digested, so they put less stress on the stomach. 

Similac Pro-Total Comfort also uses whey protein, instead of nonfat milk. Again, this protein is easier for the stomach to digest. It’s also a reduced lactose formula, suitable for babies with a lactose sensitivity.

Similac Pro-Advance, on the other hand, uses nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate. These larger proteins can be a little more work to digest. For most, it won’t be a problem. But sensitive stomachs might struggle with the bigger molecules. 

Ease Fussiness, Crying, And Spit Up

For babies with sensitive stomachs, the wrong formula can lead to fussiness at feeding time. Crying and spit up are both common reactions to a formula that doesn’t sit right in the belly.

Similac Pro-Total Comfort can ease these symptoms, thanks to the hydrolyzed proteins used in the base. It also gets to work quickly. Within just 24 hours, you can potentially see the symptoms easing.

For many babies, Similac Pro-Advance won’t cause fussiness, crying, or any negative side effects. However, sensitive stomachs might struggle with the larger proteins of the formula, and find it puts a distressing strain on the tummy. 

You may also like our guide on the best formula for spit up and gas!

Brain And Eye Development

Similac Pro-Advance uses an exclusive blend of DHA, lutein, and vitamin E to support the development of the brain and eyes. These 3 ingredients are found in breast milk, and are considered important to these early growth stages. 

Using DHA, lutein, and vitamin E (as well as 2’-FL HMO) makes Similac Pro-Advance a formula with a close similarity to breast milk. Breast milk is the best thing we can give our babies, but when breastfeeding isn’t possible, Similac Pro-Advance is a good substitute.

Similac Pro-Total Comfort contains a blend of DHA and lutein, which are also supportive of brain and eye development. This isn’t quite the same complex blend that you’d find in Pro-Advance. However, these two ingredients are an important part of breast milk, and can nurture healthy growth.

For Strong Bones

A large part of breast milk consists of fatty acids. To accurately mimic this composition, formulas use a blend of vegetable oils. This blend often includes palm oil, or palm olein oil.

However, palm olein oil has been shown to limit calcium absorption, which is necessary for developing strong bones. It’s also been linked to constipation. 

Both Similac Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort are free from palm olein oil. This promotes strong bones, and can help prevent tummy troubles. 

On the subject of things not included in these formulas — Similac Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort are both free from GMOs and artificial growth hormones. 

Price

There is very little price difference between Similac Pro-Advance and Similac Pro-Total Comfort. Both options are more expensive than the standard formulas, but less expensive than premium options. 

Similac Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort are both available for bulk buying. This can be a good way to save money, but we recommend making a smaller purchase to start with. This way, you can see if your baby likes the formula, before committing to a massive tub!

Final Thoughts On similac pro total comfort vs pro advance

Similac Pro-Advance and Pro-Total Comfort are both complete infant formulas at a similar price tag. So, how do you choose between the two?

We love the breast milk mimicking formula of Similac Pro-Advance. Packed full of ingredients such as 2’-FL HMO, DHA, and vitamin E, this formula helps babies at the time they need it most.

However, for babies with sensitive stomachs, Similac Pro-Advance might cause upset. Similac Pro-Total Comfort, with hydrolyzed proteins for easier digestion, is a better choice for those who fuss after feeding. And like Pro-Advance, it comes with 2’-FL HMO, DHA, and lutein.

Making the right choice when it comes to infant formula can be a case of trial and error, but we hope this guide will help you out! Both formulas have their advantages, so consider the unique needs of your family when making the choice.

And if you want to check out any more of our guides, we recommend checking out these guides on does baby formula expire?, how to keep baby bottle warm at night and how to warm bottles on the go. Or even our guides for the best bottles for tongue tie, and best baby bottles for reflux.