Enfamil vs Similac is the formula question most US parents face, because between them the two brands make most of the formula sold in the country and both are what hospitals stock. Their flagship lines, Enfamil NeuroPro and Similac 360 Total Care, are both complete, FDA-regulated infant formulas that meet the same nutritional requirements. The differences are in the extra ingredients each brand emphasizes, how babies tolerate them, and price. Here is how they compare.
Quick Verdict
Both will nourish a healthy baby fully; the FDA requires every infant formula to meet the same minimums. Enfamil NeuroPro's distinguishing additions are MFGM and DHA, which Enfamil links to brain development. Similac 360 Total Care's are five HMO prebiotics, which Similac links to gut and immune support. In practice, parents choose by which one their baby tolerates, which one the hospital used, and which one is on sale. If a baby is comfortable on one, there is no reason to switch.
Enfamil NeuroPro vs Similac 360 Total Care at a Glance
| Enfamil NeuroPro | Similac 360 Total Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein base | Cow's milk, whey and nonfat milk | Cow's milk, nonfat milk and whey |
| Headline ingredients | MFGM, expert-recommended DHA | 5 HMO prebiotics, DHA, lutein, vitamin E |
| Palm olein oil | Contains | None |
| Sensitive and gentle versions | NeuroPro Gentlease, NeuroPro Sensitive | 360 Total Care Sensitive, Pro-Total Comfort |
| Formats | Powder tubs, refill boxes, ready-to-feed bottles | Powder tubs, ready-to-feed bottles |
| Hospital use | Common | Common; Similac says it is the #1 brand hospitals use |
| Amazon rating | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Price | About $1.60 to $1.80 per oz of powder | About $1.60 to $1.80 per oz of powder |
What Is the Same
Nearly everything that matters. Both are cow's milk based, both contain iron, DHA, and ARA, both are nutritionally complete for the first 12 months, and both meet the FDA's infant formula requirements. A baby fed either one exclusively will get everything they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend one brand over another.
What Enfamil Emphasizes
Enfamil NeuroPro adds MFGM, milk fat globule membrane, a component of breast milk that Enfamil's research links to cognitive outcomes, alongside DHA at a level it calls expert recommended. Enfamil's marketing centers on brain development. NeuroPro Gentlease, with partially broken down proteins and reduced lactose, is the version for fussy, gassy babies and is one of the best-selling formulas in the country.
What Similac Emphasizes
Similac 360 Total Care adds five human milk oligosaccharides, prebiotics found in breast milk that feed beneficial gut bacteria, and Similac links them to immune and digestive support. It is also free of palm olein oil, which Similac says helps calcium absorption and produces softer stools. Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive is the reduced-lactose version for fussiness and gas.
Tolerance
This is the real deciding factor. Some babies are gassier or spit up more on one brand than the other, usually because of differences in fat blends and protein processing rather than quality. If a baby is unhappy on one, switching to the other, or to the gentle version of either, often helps. Give a new formula a week before judging unless there are signs of allergy.
Price and Availability
The two are priced almost identically and both are widely stocked, which matters after the 2022 shortage. Both offer ready-to-feed bottles for the newborn weeks and for travel. Store-brand formulas that mirror each one exist at a lower price and are also FDA regulated.
Who Should Buy Enfamil NeuroPro
Parents who want MFGM and DHA, babies who started on Enfamil in the hospital and are thriving, and families who want the Gentlease option for a fussy baby.
Check Enfamil NeuroPro Price on Amazon
Who Should Buy Similac 360 Total Care
Parents who want HMO prebiotics and a palm olein-free formula, babies who started on Similac in the hospital, and families who want the Sensitive option.
Check Similac 360 Total Care Price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enfamil or Similac closer to breast milk?
Both add breast milk components, MFGM in Enfamil and HMOs in Similac, and both market that closeness. Neither replicates breast milk, and no independent body ranks one as closer. Both are safe, complete formulas.
Can you switch between Enfamil and Similac?
Yes. Switching between standard cow's milk formulas is safe and does not require a gradual transition, though some parents mix them over a few days to ease the change in taste. Talk to the pediatrician before switching to a specialty formula.
Which formula is best for gas and fussiness?
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease and Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive are the two brands' gentle versions. Both reduce lactose and ease digestion; many pediatricians suggest trying one for a week if a baby is persistently fussy on standard formula.
