Similac Advance: DHA and ARA Fatty Acids Make the Difference
Written: Oct 09 '05 (Updated May 31 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Not as smelly coming out; Lots of valuable nutrients
Cons: Smell; Cost is higher than others; Makes large amount of bubbles
The Bottom Line: This is a very good baby formula with plenty of nutritional benefits.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Similac Advance Infant Formula With Iron |
Providing proper nourishment to a newborn baby is essential for growth and development and there are a myriad of different baby food formulas on the market to fulfill this task. One brand that I am familiar with is Similac, and the type I use most frequently at this point in my baby girl’s young life stage is Similac Advance Infant Formula with Iron, a powdered product that contains DHA and ARA- special ingredients that are also found in breast milk.
Facts About This Product?:
This product is powdered and is sold in a canister- type can. The can is easy to open because it doesn’t require the use of a can opener. Instead, it opens by lifting up a metal tab, pulling it up to the rim of the can, and then pulling it back in the opposite direction to remove.
Preparing this formula is simple. There is a scoop included with each can to help with measurements and a measuring guide on the back of each can that explains how much water to combine with how much formula. To make a 6 oz. (180 ml) bottle, for example, requires three level scoops and 6 oz. of water. All you do is pour the proper amount of warm water into a bottle, add the powder, place cap back on the bottle, and shake well. The shaking dissolves the powder into the water, leaving behind a milk mixture that is ready to drink. Just attach a bottle nipple and you are ready to feed.
Ingredients:
Similac Advance formula with iron is made with the following ingredients: D Nonfat Milk, Lactose, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Soy Oil, Coconut Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Less than 2% of: C. Cohnii Oil, M. Alpina Oil, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Choline Bitartrate, Magnesium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Taurine, M-Inositol, Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Cupric Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Beta-Carotene, Folic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Phylloquinone, Biotin, Sodium Selenate, Vitamin D3, Cyanocobalamin and Nucleotides (Adenosine5 -Monophosphate, Cytidine 5-Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5-Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5-Monophosphate)
Nutrients:
Each 5 oz. serving contains the following nutritional breakdown:
Protein……….2.07 grams
Fat…………...5.49 grams
Carbohydrate..10.56 grams
Water………..133 grams
Linoleic Acid……..1 gram
This formula is packed with vitamins and minerals. The same 5 oz. serving contains 300 IU of Vitamin A; 60 IU of Vitamin D; 1.5 IU of Vitamin E; 8mcg of Vitamin K; 100 mcg of Thiamine; 150 mcg of Riboflavin; 60 mcg of Vitamin B6; .25 mcg of Vitamin B12; 1050 mcg of Niacin; 15 mcg of Folic Acid; 450 mcg of Pantothenic Acid; 4.4 mcg of Biotin; 9 mg of Vitamin C; 16 mg of Choline; 4.7 mg of Inositol; 78 mg of calcium; 42 mg of phosphorus; 6mg of magnesium; 1.8 mg of iron; .75 mg of zinc; 5 mcg of manganese; 90 mcg of copper; 6 mcg of iodine; 24 mg of sodium; 105 mg of potassium; and 65 mg of chloride.
Final Thoughts:
Similac Advance Infant Formula with Iron was the first infant formula I ever purchased and the first formula I have had the pleasure of feeding my baby girl. Found in most all grocery stores and specialty stores, Similac is made by Ross Products, which is division of Abbott Laboratories.
This formula was recommended to me by several different people (wife included) because of one important reason: The inclusion of DHA and ARA. Before I started studying things like this, I had no idea what these chemicals were or what made them important. Now, I know their importance is due to the fact that they are special compounds similar to what is found in breast milk. These fatty acids are also known by their longer names- docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid respectively. They are not as good for a baby as actual breast milk, but they at least offer a close substitute.
Of all the different pros and cons I can discuss about this product, the one that is most evident to me (and that I noticed from the very beginning) is the smell. It isn’t a terrible odor by any means, but it certainly isn’t very pleasant. And I can smell it on my little girl long after she finishes drinking. It only takes a few little dribbles to get the formula on her skin and clothes and the smell lingers there for a long time. I can always tell when I pick her up and hold her with her head on my shoulder. “Yep, there’s that smelly formula scent again” I will often say. At first, I didn’t even realize I smelled old formula. Having little experience in the world of newborns, I thought this scent was a natural body aroma. I was then told that this is the smell from baby formula and it was something I would have to get used to.
When mixing this formula, I have learned several important things. First of all, the formula will not dissolve very well- no matter how hard you shake- unless the water is warm enough. The water doesn’t have to be boiling, but it should be very warm- like hot water taken from a tap, around 120 degrees. If you use filtered water from the refrigerator, you will need to microwave the water first for about one minute per cup in order to get the proper temperature. If it isn’t warm enough, you will know because the powder will clump and will not dissolve properly.
Another thing I have noticed about this formula is that, after shaking, it is common to have lots of bubbles in the bottle. Depending on what type of bottles you use, it is important to eliminate as much of this gas as possible before you begin to feed your baby, in order to eliminate gas getting into your baby’s stomach. I use plastic bottle inserts, so all I need to do is press the plastic tight to eliminate the bubbles.
Even though this formula has an unpleasant smell, I have noticed a few positives when compared to other formulas. First of all, while this formula stinks going in, it doesn’t smell as bad coming out. Put another way, my little girls poopy isn’t as stinky as with other formulas. And this is very important to someone like me who has such a keen sense of smell. Second, this formula seems a little easier to digest. I don’t witness the painful facial grimaces caused by a bad tummy ache with this formula as I have with others. My little girl seems to like this and she consumes it with ease.
This formula is sold in two different sizes: 12.9 ounce (365 grams) and 25.7 oz. (728 grams). One 12.9 ounce can (365 grams) is good for producing about 96 oz. of formula. The small can sells for about $13.50 while the larger can sells for about $26.50. One thing that really bugs me about this and other baby formula is that you don’t get much of a discount for purchasing the larger quantity. With most other consumer goods, the discount for buying a large amount is usually a substantial deduction in per- unit cost. As you can see, with this baby formula, there is almost no savings per unit when you purchase the larger can. The savings is so small that I don’t worry about it. I buy whichever one my budget will allow at the moment.
Overall, Similac Advance Formula with Iron is a very good baby formula to serve your young child. It is recommended for babies from age zero to twelve months. Whether it’s a perfect substitute for the real thing is debatable, and most would agree that no formula is as good as that which mom produces herself. But this formula, with its DHA and ARA, offers a viable substitute, with special nutrients and plenty of vitamins and minerals to help your baby achieve the optimal level of growth and development.
For More Baby Product Reviews, Click on the Links Below:
Baby Formula:
Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA/ARA
Enfamil Lipil with Iron
Similac Advance Soy Formula
Bright Beginnings with DHA/ARA
Baby Diapers:
Huggies Supreme Diapers
LUVS Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
Huggies Diapers
Baby Foods:
Gerber Finger Foods
Gerber Multi- Grain Cereal
Baby Merchandise:
Graco Snugride Baby Car Seat- Windsor
Kolcraft Cuddle ‘N Care Rocking Bassinet
Cosco Alpha/Omega Elite Baby Car Seat
Graco Open Top Three- Speed Swing
Baby Cleanup:
Johnson’s Bedtime Lotion, Bedtime
Huggies Baby Wipes with Shea Butter
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
Johnson’s Bedtime Bath
Recommended:
Yes
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