Name-brand formulas are becoming expensive especially if you are exclusively formula-feeding. Furthermore, during this formula shortage, your main formula could be on recall. That’s why a generic formula will be the best alternative because they have the same basic and quality ingredients as the name-brand formula. Moreover, they are approved by the FDA.
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What are the Generic Brands of Similac Soy Isomil?
There are 3 generic Similac Soy Isomil that can save you money with no health issues :
1- Parent’s Choice Soy Baby
2- Up & Up Infant Formula Soy
3- Well Beginnings Soy
This table shows a comparison of Similac Soy Isomil with its generic brand :
Where to Buy Them?
| Where to Buy? | |
|---|---|
| Similac Soy Isomil | Buy HERE |
| Parent’s Choice Soy Baby | Buy HERE |
| Up & Up Infant Formula Soy | Buy HERE |
| Well Beginnings Soy | Buy HERE |
In soy formula the cow’s milk protein is replaced by the soy protein isolate for babies with Galactosemia or hereditary lactase deficiency (rare): the baby hasn’t the lactase enzyme to digest sugar (galactose) found in dairy products and breast milk.
What I don’t like in Similac Soy Isomil is sugar (sucrose); sucrose is the sweetest sugar existing in any baby formula. Similac uses it to make the carbohydrate easy to digest by the baby.
However, Generic brands of Similac Soy Isomil don’t have sugar in their formulas, the carbohydrate source is corn syrup.
Furthermore, Generic Soy Isomil has Fructooligosaccharide prebiotic (food for probiotics); a happy probiotic will keep your baby’s body healthy and working well.
I have written an article about the best soy formulas in 2022 if you want to check.
How Much Money I Will Save On Generic Brands:
Generally, babies drink 25 oz of formula per day, I wrote an article about how much formula should a baby eat (with a chart). In one month your LO could drink up to 750 oz of formula.
Similac Soy Isomil – 12.4 oz – costs 1.48 $ /oz which is a total of 1110$ /month.
Parent’s Choice Soy Baby formula cost 0.63$ /oz which is a total of 473$.
You can save 630 $ per month on generic Similac Soy Isomil formulas!! that’s 3780 $ in 6 months, and 7560 $ a year.
Related: 14 Easy Ways To Save Money On Baby Formula
What Enfamil Formula is Equivalent to Similac Soy Isomil :
Enfamil ProSobee:
Enfamil ProSobee is the equivalent of Similac Soy Isomil in the Enfamil brand. They have the same basic ingredients (protein source, carb source, fat source) except that Enfamil Prosobee does use palm oil which is a concern for some parents because it reduces fat and calcium absorption which can lead to constipation.
However, it’s not always the case, and many babies drink formula with palm oil and thrive with no health issues.
The price of Enfamil Prosobee is 18.98 $ for a 12.9 oz can (1.47 /oz), and 33.01 $ for a 20.9 oz can (1.58 /oz) the rating is 4.6 out of 5 (717 reviews). You can buy the 12.9oz and the 20.9oz can from Walmart.
What Gerber Formula is Comparable to Similac Soy Isomil:
Gerber Good Start Soy :
In the Gerber brand, Gerber Good Start Soy is the best equivalent to Similac Soy Isomil and could be better because the soy protein is hydrolyzed (chopped a little bit in size to be similar to the protein size in breast milk to make it easy to digest by the baby).
Gerber is slightly different from Soy Isomil in terms of carbs and fats source; Gerber uses corn maltodextrin instead of corn syrup solids (there is no big difference between them). Moreover, Gerber Good Strat Soy utilizes palm oil as a fat source.
Despite these differences, Gerber Good Start Soy is still a good alternative to Similac Soy Isomil.
The price of Gerber Good Start Soy is 18.78$ for a 12.9 oz can (1.46 /oz). You can buy it here from Walmart.
Is It Safe To Switch From Name-Brand To Generic Formula?
Generic formulas are approved by the FDA as they use the same quality ingredients as the name-brand formulas, also they are recommended by pediatricians. Therefore, it is safe to switch from a known brand to a generic brand formula without being afraid of health issues. However, make sure you pick the right type of formula.
For example, the best generic brand of Similac Soy Isomil must have soy protein isolate as the protein source and must be lactose-free. The other things are optional like palm oil, sugar, and prebiotics…
How to Switch to a Generic Formula?
There are two ways to switch to a generic formula :
Switching for financial reasons :
For this reason, the switch is made gradually by mixing the old and new formula until the baby gets used to the taste, start by mixing 3/4 old and 1/4 new formula, if the baby likes it and there are no health issues move to half-and-half, and so on until your baby drinks 100% new formula.
« I usually recommend families don’t switch often. Let time unfold and give your baby a chance to settle in. Don’t react to every single poop. Give your baby a week or two on a formula before you give up or reach for a new can » says Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson pediatrician and chief medical officer of SpoonfulONE.
you may see some bad reactions, it’s not a concern until they last over 10 days, then switch to another generic formula. it may take one week for the baby to adjust to the new generic formula.
Therefore, it’s better to buy small cans until your baby likes the new formula and shows no bad reactions.
You should stop feeding the new generic formula if you see blood in your baby’s poop or breathing trouble.
I wrote an article about what does soy formula poop looks like? if you want to read.
Switching Cold Turkey :
During formula shortage, your main formula could be on recall and you are obliged to switch to another formula cold turkey, but is it fine?
Switching to a generic formula cold turkey is safe, don’t be afraid to make this switch because all formulas of the same type have the same basic and quality ingredients. As I said, they should be of the same type. For example, the right type as Similac Soy Isomil must have soy protein isolate as the protein source and must be lactose-free.
Can You Mix Generic And Name-Brand Formula?
Yes, you can mix and match generic and name-brand formulas as long as you are following standard mixing instructions. However, make sure they are of the same type. For example, you must switch from Similac Soy Isomil to a formula that has soy protein isolate and must be lactose-free.
Related: Best 7 Generic Brands For Similac Sensitive Formula (Cheap!!)
Exchange Size For Similac Soy Isomil 12.4 oz :
As a WIC beneficiary, an exchange size will be applied to your WIC formula balance, it will vary depending on the size of the formula you want to buy. This table shows the exchange size of all alternative Similac Soy Isomil.
“Please note that due to availability concerns we have added larger container sizes than what is typically WIC approved. If you are purchasing a larger container size, you will notice that your WIC benefits will appear to remove more formula than may be expected. This is due to the container size. You will still receive a similar quantity of formula.” source: portal.ct.gov
To understand better this exchange size, I will give you an example:
- A person has 6 cans of Similac Soy Isomil (12.4 oz cans) on his benefit balance.
- He purchases 2 cans of the Parent’s Choice Soy Baby Formula (22.0 oz can).
- The remaining cans of Similac Soy Isomil he will have is 3.
| FORMULA ISSUED (ON EWIC CARD) | Similac Soy Isomil 12.4 oz |
| FORMULA BALANCE (ON EWIC CARD) | 6 cans |
| FORMULA PURCHASED | Parent’s Choice Soy Baby (22.0 oz can) |
| CANS PURCHASED | 2 cans |
| EXCHANGE SIZE | 1.5 |
| TOTAL CANS TAKEN OFF EWIC CARD BALANCE | 2×1.5=3 |
| REMAINING SIMILAC SOY ISOMIL BALANCE | 3 cans |
Conclusion:
These are the generic Similac Soy Isomil formulas that will save you money and help during this formula shortage. Moreover, they are safe and have solid research behind them. Also, it’s fine to mix generic and name-brand formulas in case you want to stick with the old formula. The bottom line is that they are live and pocket savers!!
If you have tested one of these generic brands, tell us your experience with it so that other moms can make a better choice.
