Feeding your baby a Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort formula for one year can be expensive. Whereas, generic formulas are cheap and have the same quality ingredients as name-brand formulas. Also, they are approved by the FDA. Therefore, I recommend you switch to generic brands to save money.
In this article, I’ll be covering the 6 best generic Similac Total Comfort formulas and I’ll do a comparison between them. Also, how to switch to a generic brand, stay with me.
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What are the Generic Brands of Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort Formula?
There are 6 generic Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort formulas, that you can switch to with no health issues and save you money:
- Always My Baby Gentle
- Parent’s Choice Gentle
- Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort
- Tippy Toes Gentle
- Up & Up Gentle Non-GMO
- Up & Up Complete Comfort
Where to Buy Them?
| Formula | Where to Buy? |
|---|---|
| Similac Total Comfort | Buy HERE |
| Similac Pro Total Comfort | Buy HERE |
| Always My Baby Gentle | Buy HERE |
| Parent’s Choice Gentle | Buy 12 oz Buy 21.5 oz |
| Parent’s Choice Gentle (34 oz) | Buy HERE |
| Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort | Buy HERE |
| Tippy Toes Gentle | Buy 21.5 oz Buy 33.2 oz |
| Up & Up Gentle Non-GMO | Buy HERE |
| Up & Up Complete Comfort | Buy HERE |
Protein hydrolysate or hydrolyzed protein is closer to breast milk protein because it’s broken into small pieces to make it easy to digest for the baby’s intestine. In contrast, cow or soy milk protein is not suitable for babies with dairy intolerance because the size of the protein is bigger.
The only difference between Total Comfort and Pro Total Comfort is the 2’FL-HMO prebiotic existing in the Pro version. So, the generic brands are the same for both of them.
I have done a full comparison between Similac Total Comfort and Pro Total Comfort if you want to check.
Similac Total Comfort has partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein with no casein.
Similac doesn’t use palm oil in its formulas but does use sugar which is annoying.
The Best One?
The best generics of Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort, to begin with, are Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort and Up & Up Complete Comfort because they have the same protein source (partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein) and do haven’t palm oil as the fat source which is great. Furthermore, these two generic brands don’t use sugar and have 2 prebiotics (2′-FL HMO and Fructooligosaccharide).
« HMOs are special prebiotics found naturally in a mother’s breast milk. They are the most abundant solid ingredient in breast milk after fat and carbohydrates. In breastfed babies, HMOs are scientifically shown to positively affect the microbiome. » says nutritionnews.Abbott
I did a full comparison between Similac Sensitive Vs. Similac Total Comfort if you want to check.
How Much Money I Will Save On Generic Brands:
Generally, babies drink 25 oz of formula per day in the first 6 months, 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 Total Comfort – 12.6 oz – costs 1.43 $ /oz which is a total of 1072$ /month.
Up & Up Complete Comfort formula costs 0.67$ /oz which is a total of 502$.
You can save 570$ per month on generic Similac Total Comfort formulas!! that’s 3420$ in 6 months, and 6840$ a year.
Related: 14 Easy Ways To Save Money On Baby Formula
What Enfamil Formula is Equivalent to Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort :
1- Enfamil Gentlease:
In Enfamil Formulas, Enfamil Gentlease is the equivalent of Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort because they have partially hydrolyzed protein except that Enfamil Gentlease has partially hydrolyzed nonfat cow milk plus whey protein concentrate solids (soy) (60% whey and 40% casein).
They have the same fat source except that Enfamil Gentlease has palm oil which is annoying to some parents.
I did a full comparison between Enfamil Gentlease and Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort if you want to check.
Palm oil reduces calcium and fat absorption which makes the stool a little hard and can lead to constipation. However, it’s not always the case, if your baby is gaining weight and has no pain during BM; don’t be concerned about it.
The price of Enfamil Gentlease is 18.26 $ for a 12.4 oz can (1.47 /oz), and the rating is 4.8 out of 5 (3589 reviews). You can buy it HERE FROM WALMART.
2- Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease:
Enfamil NeurPro Gentlease is also an equivalent of Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort because they use almost the same basic ingredients, except that Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease has extra features.
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease’s protein source is composed of partially hydrolyzed nonfat cow milk plus whey protein concentrate solids (soy) (60% whey and 40% casein), and whey protein-lipid concentrate (a source of MFGM), the ratio of protein-casein is 60:40 which makes it easy to digest. The whey protein is digested quickly by the body. whereas, casein is not.
They have the same fat source except that Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease has palm oil.
Enfamil doesn’t use sugar in its formulas, contrary to Similac.
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease has a prebiotic: 2′-FL HMO, which is a plus for Enfamil. Furthermore, it has MFGM (milk fat globule membrane) that has a lot of benefits for your baby, it protects against some infectious diseases. Also, it has some cognitive benefits (brain development).
The price of Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease is 27.98 $ for a 19.5 oz can (1.44 /oz), and the rating is 4.6 out of 5 (3358 reviews). You can buy it here from Walmart.
There is a ready-to-feed version that cost 9.12 $ for a 32 Fl Oz bottle (0.285$ / fl oz), you can buy it here from Walmart.
Related: Best 6 Generic Brands of Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
What Gerber Formula is Similar to Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort :
Gerber Good Start Soothepro:
Gerber Good Start SoothePro is the best equivalent to Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort in the Gerber brand, the protein in this formula is partially hydrolyzed 100% whey; the protein is broken a little bit in size to be similar to the protein size in breast milk.
Gerber Good Start SoothePro has the 2′-FL HMO prebiotics and Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) probiotics that have a lot of benefits.
Gerber Good Start SoothePro does use palm oil as a fat source which is a concern for some parents.
Gerber Good Start SoothePro has corn maltodextrin as a carbs source like Similac Total Comfort; the best part is that Gerber doesn’t add sugar or sucrose which is great!!
Gerber Good Start SoothePro is available in two sizes; 30.6 oz which cost 36.49 $ (1.19 /oz) which is a good deal, and a size of 19.4 oz which cost 29.53$ (1.55 /oz).
Related: Best 6 Generic Brands of Gerber Good Start Soothepro Formula
Is It Safe To Switch From Name-Brand To Generic Formula?
Yes, it’s safe to switch from name-brand to generic formulas because they are approved by the FDA and have solid research behind them. Moreover, pediatricians recommend using generic formulas during this formula shortage. Also, they have the same nutrient value and the same quality ingredients.
You must choose the right generic formula, especially for non-standard formulas. For example, the right generic formula for Similac Total Comfort must have hydrolyzed 100% whey as a source of protein and should be lactose-free.
How to Switch to a Generic Formula?
There are two ways to switch to a generic formula :
Switching for financial reasons :
In this case, you could switch gradually to get the baby used to the new formula, by mixing the old and new formulas. In the first week, give your LO a bottle of three parts old and one part new formula until your baby gets used, then go to half-and-half, and so on until your baby drinks bottles with 100% of the 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.
It can take up to 1 week for the baby to adjust to the new formula. If bad reactions persist over 10 days, switch to another generic formula or go back to your old formula until you find a new one.
It’s recommended to buy a small generic formula can until noticing that the baby shows no bad reactions.
Pediatricians recommend stopping feeding the new formula to the baby if you see bad reactions such as blood in the baby’s poop or breathing trouble.
Switching Cold Turkey :
Due to formula recall, many parents couldn’t find their favorite formula. Thus, the only way to switch is the cold turkey transition.
Generic and name-brand formulas are almost the same because they have the same basic and quality ingredients, Therefore, you can switch formulas cold turkey with no fear, babies are doing great. just make sure you switch to the same type of formula. For example, you must switch from Similac Total Comfort to a formula that has hydrolyzed 100% whey protein 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 Total Comfort to a formula that has hydrolyzed 100% whey protein and must be lactose-free.
Related: Best 7 Generic Brands For Similac Sensitive Formula (Cheap!!)
Exchange Size For Similac Total Comfort 12.6 oz :
“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 formulas 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 7 cans of Similac Total Comfort (12.6 oz cans) on his benefit balance.
- He purchases 2 cans of the Up & Up Complete Comfort formula (29.8 oz cans).
- The remaining cans of Similac Total Comfort he will have is 3.
| FORMULA ISSUED (ON EWIC CARD) | Similac Total Comfort 12.6 oz |
| FORMULA BALANCE (ON EWIC CARD) | 7 cans |
| FORMULA PURCHASED | Up & Up Complete Comfort (12.6 oz cans) |
| CANS PURCHASED | 2 cans |
| EXCHANGE SIZE | 2 |
| TOTAL CANS TAKEN OFF EWIC CARD BALANCE | 2×2=4 |
| REMAINING SIMILAC TOTAL COMFORT BALANCE | 3 cans |
Conclusion:
Generic Similac Total Comfort & Pro Total Comfort formulas will save you money and help during this formula shortage because there are many choices. Moreover, it’s fine to switch to them either gradually or cold turkey because they have the same nutrient value quality ingredients your baby need, and they are recommended by pediatricians.
Furthermore, your baby will get the 2′-FL HMO prebiotic on some generic brands for half the price.
If you have problems with palm oil, Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort and Up & Up Complete Comfort formulas will be the best choice for your baby.
If you have tested one of these generic brands, tell us your experience with it so that other moms can make a better choice.
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.