Similac vs. Enfamil: The Formula You Should Be Using for Your New Baby

Baby formula brands are wide ranging from organic to store brand. I’m here to help you decide which to feed your infant, similac vs. enfamil.

I have used both, I used Similac with my first born and Enfamil with my second. Here are the reasons why, and why I switched with my second born. Answering the ever pressing question, Similac vs. Enfamil.

*Disclaimer: links may be affiliate links meaning I may receive commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase using the link

When my daughter was first born, I had planned to exclusively breastfeed, as formula is very expensive and I felt the pressure of “breast is best”.

I felt that pressure from everywhere. Society, family, friends, scientific data, other mothers, etc. The pressure that I had to breast feed because “that is what is best for your infant”.

Let me first start by saying, FED IS BEST.

It truly, in the grand scheme of things, does not matter if you choose to breastfeed or formula feed, or even both. Just feed your baby. That is all anyone should be worried about.

Anyways, back to Similac vs. Enfamil.

When my oldest was born, I had a hard time breastfeeding and my milk supply hadn’t come in yet.

I was told by doctors that it could take a few days for milk to fully come in but the colostrum would be fine for her.

We spent the night in the hospital that first night after she was born and it was fine, she was fine, everything was routine.

Then we got home the following evening and basically she was hungry. But nothing had come in yet in the milk department.

I tried. I cried. I stressed my body out.

I was starving my daughter because of fear.

Read that again…I was so filled with anxiety as a first-time mom that I just HAD to breastfeed that I didn’t think to have formula on hand and my daughter went over 24 hours without eating more than a few ounces.

I felt more devastated about that and finally at 6 am Wednesday morning (she was born on a Monday), I sent my brother out to get formula.

I told him to grab Similac because that was what my mom friends said to get and what happened to be the first thing on Google that popped up.

I sent my brother with a photo and told him to GO!

After I made that first 1 oz bottle, she was finally content. The screaming and crying finally stopped.

She had been crying and fussing all night long, would take a pacifier for a little bit and fall asleep for 10 min increments.

I tried breastfeeding during all of this. Nothing came out.

After she got fed, she was content and was completely fine. I then realized, she was just HUNGRY! I was basically starving her because of my own issues with what people would think.

I vowed that day to not care and not let anyone tell me “breast is best”.

So my oldest was bottle fed, I had tried to breast feed but I would only produce about 4 oz every 3 hours. I was not making enough supply for her demand.

So she was basically bottle fed her entire baby stage and I am okay with that. She is now a healthy, energetic, loving 4 year old and has had zero issues.

Now, she did completely fine with the Similac. She loved it, it didn’t upset her stomach. It worked. We got ours at Target and would just buy the refill packs since we just dumped those into our Baby Brezza (review on that here!)

It ran us about $42 for a 2 pack. This lasted about one month.

So we spent around $40-$60/month on Similac. Not too bad but still it adds up as the months go on.

When my youngest was born, I wasn’t concerned with the whole breastfeeding thing. I had formula on hand for when she came home and even brought a small to-go pack for the hospital just in case. And I did NOT CARE!

I knew I was going to have the same breastfeeding problem. And I did, but I did end up being able to produce more with her than my first probably because my body was less stressed out about it.

Anyways, when we used the Similac with her, she refused! She did not like it. It hurt her stomach, she would get awful gas pains.

But I did the same thing with my oldest. Just goes to show, every baby is different and prepare for it.

Thankfully I had signed up through some website or email when I was pregnant the second time, and ended up getting free samples of both Similac and Enfamil.

Click here to sign up for Enfamil free samples and coupons!

Click here to sign up for Similac samples and coupons!

Instead of wasting it, I kept both brands and I’m thankful I did.

Because in the middle of the night (always when the issues arise), she was in pain from the Similac. So I said okay lets just try the Enfamil brand and they had ended up sending me their sensitive formula and I’m so thankful for those free samples.

She loved the Enfamil. It didn’t hurt her stomach. She wasn’t in pain, no gas issues, nothing.

So she became an Enfamil baby.

Both brands I loved during the time I was using it.

I will say, Enfamil seems to have more options in forms of variety. They have sensitive formula, plant-based formula, spit-up prone formula, milk-allergy formula, etc.

They have options like to-go singles packets for travel (read about how those came in handy here), ready-to use pre-mixed bottles.

Similac also has pre-mixed bottles if you are a Similac fan.

Honestly, I probably would have continued using Similac if my youngest didn’t have such an aversion to it. Although Enfamil has more selection.

I had no issues with Similac. It just didn’t work with my second and that is okay. Just goes to show every baby is different and to be prepared to try many brands.

Similac is a bit better deal.

For a 23.2 oz container of their basic Similac Pro-Advanced formula, it costs $28.99. While Enfamil costs $28.99 for 20.7 oz container of their Neuropro formula.

So a bit more in the Similac than Enfamil for the same price point.

Similac also has different types of formula for sensitive stomachs and gassy stomachs, and organic formula, but that is about it. They don’t have as many options as Enfamil.

Overall it all just depends on your baby and what they like. I would recommend if you are pregnant or just had your baby, signing up to receive the free samples (linked above).

The samples are decent sized, not just a one-feeding type sample, like small containers so you can truly test it out.

Comment below if you are a Similac or Enfamil mom. To my surprise, I am both now!