Key Differences Between Similac 360 Total Care and Pro-Advance
| Similac 360 Total Care | Similac Pro-Advance | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein Source | Nonfat Milk & Whey Protein Concentrate | Nonfat Milk & Whey Protein Concentrate |
| Carbohydrate Source | Lactose | Lactose |
| Fat Content | High Oleic Safflower, Soy, & Coconut Oil | High Oleic Safflower, Soy, & Coconut Oil |
| Prebiotics | 5 Types of HMOs | 2’FL HMO |
| Probiotics | ❌ | ❌ |
| Artificial Growth Hormones | ❌ | ❌ |
| GMO Ingredients | ❌ | ❌ |
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This article aims to compare Similac 360 Total Care vs Similac Pro-Advance, to help you understand the differences and benefits of each and ultimately make an informed decision for your baby.
Let’s get after it!
Our Short Answer
Before we tell you the winner, these two formulas are sisters.
They have exactly the same nutritional profile, with the same sources of ingredients and identical amounts of macro and micronutrients for all practical purposes.
That said, the winner is Similac 360 Total Care for one simple reason: the prebiotics it uses.
While Pro-Advance adds 2’FLMOs, Similac 360 goes further and adds 4 other types of HMOs, all found in breast milk.
These prebiotics are very beneficial for babies’ microbiota, so it is for that simple reason that Similac 360 Total Care wins this comparison.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Similac 360 Total Care contains 5 HMO prebiotics, supports the immune system, brain development, and digestive health, and is free from artificial growth hormones and GMO ingredients.
Similac Pro-Advance includes 2′-FL HMO, supports brain and eye development, and is free from artificial growth hormones and non-GMO.
Similac 360 Total Care
Similac 360 Total Care is made with an exclusive blend of 5 Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) prebiotics structurally identical to those found in breast milk.
These prebiotics support immune system, brain development, and digestive health.
The formula is also free from artificial growth hormones and GMO ingredients.
Similac Pro-Advance
Similac Pro-Advance includes 2’-FL HMO, a type of prebiotic found in breast milk.
This formula contains an exclusive blend of DHA, Lutein, and Vitamin E, essential for your baby’s brain and eye development.
Similar to Similac 360 Total Care, this formula is also free from artificial growth hormones and it is non-GMO.
Nutritional Composition
Similac 360 Total Care and Similac Pro-Advance have the same protein content from nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate.
They use lactose as the carbohydrate source and have the same fat content from high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil.
Protein Content
For both Similac 360 Total Care and Similac Pro-Advance, the source of protein is nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate.
In 100 Cal (5 fl oz) serving, Similac 360 Total Care provides around 2.07g of protein.
Similarly, Similac Pro-Advance provides the same amount of protein per serving.
Both formulas are exactly the same regarding protein. Their whey-to-casein ratios are also the same (48:52).
The perfect ratio would be 60:40, with more whey protein than casein since it’s faster and easier to digest and it aligns more with breast milk.
Carbohydrate Content
In Similac 360 Total Care, the primary carbohydrates are sourced from lactose (thethe sugar present in milk). The carbohydrate content per 100 Cal (5 fl oz) serving is around 10.5g.
As for Similac Pro-Advance, the carbohydrate source is also lactose. Likewise, it provides 10.5g of carbohydrates per serving.
Same as with protein, the carb content in both formulas remains the same.
Both use lactose only; no starches, corn, or maltodextrin added, which is what we want to see in a conventional formula.
Fats and Oils
Fats are essential in a baby’s diet due to their role in brain development, energy supply, and absorption of certain nutrients.
In Similac 360 Total Care, the primary fats and oils are derived from high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil, contributing to the total fat content of 5.6g per 100 Cal (5 fl oz) serving.
The fat sources in Similac Pro-Advance are the same, coming from high oleic safflower, soy, and coconut oil. The content of fat in Similac Pro-Advance also amounts to 5.6g per serving.
Another draw in fat content, with both formulas using the exact same fat profile and oil blend.
We love that there is no palm oil or palm olein, but we would have loved to see rapeseed oil instead of soy oil.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Both Similac 360 Total Care and Similac Pro-Advance contain prebiotics, such as HMOs and 2’FL HMO, respectively, to support a healthy gut environment.
360 Total Care goes further and adds 4 more HMOs than Pro-Advance.
However, neither formula includes probiotics.
Even though not all formulas have them, probiotics and prebiotics play a crucial role in an infant’s digestive health.
Similac 360 Total Care contains Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), prebiotics structurally identical to breast milk, designed to contribute to a healthy gut microbiota.
Similac Pro-Advance contains 2’FL HMO, a specific prebiotic also found in breast milk, intended to foster a healthy gut environment.
While these formulas contain prebiotics, neither Similac 360 Total Care nor Similac Pro-Advance contains probiotics.
Best Places to Buy Similac 360 Total Care and Pro-Advance
Buy Similac Formula at Warlmart
What are the best alternatives to Similac 360 Total Care and Pro-Advance?
While Similac 360 Total Care and Pro-Advance are two of the best formulas made by Similac, we think that there are better options.
Regarding baby nutrition, we think organic is the way to go, even more so during the first year.
Kendamil Organic: Our absolute favorite, Kendamil Organic, uses whole milk and real HMOs derived from actual breast milk, giving it an edge in the nutrition department. It’s the only formula on the market to do so and prides itself on being free from palm oil, fish oil, and GMOs. *Read: Kendamil vs Similac
Bobbie: Bobbie is our go-to US brand for its simplicity and the use of organic ingredients. Embracing European standards, Bobbie provides an American alternative that promises a ‘less is more’ approach to infant nutrition. *Read: Bobbie vs Similac Pro Advance | Bobbie vs Similac 360
Holle: Known for its natural and wholesome ingredients, Holle is a high-quality organic formula with a Demeter certification, the highest certification for biodynamic agriculture. *Read: Holle vs Similac
Hipp: Popular amongst parents for its specialty formulas and easy-to-digest ingredients, Hipp offers tailored nourishment for your baby’s needs. Whether you’re looking for a hypoallergenic, comfort, or anti-reflux formula, Hipp has a variety of options available. *Read: Hipp vs Similac
Conclusion
Similac 360 Total Care is the winner, thanks to adding more HMOs than Pro-Advance.
Both formulas offer a complete nutritional profile and the ingredients we want to see in conventional formulas.
We always recommend looking at the organic alternatives above since there are healthier and better options.
We hope this comparison between Similac 360 Total Care and Pro-Advance has helped you make an informed decision.
See you around!
We’re Maria and Alberto, a married couple and educators who are nutrition enthusiasts. Even before we had kids, we were already crazy about nutrition.
We’d read scientific articles, watch videos from nutritionists, and spend hours listening to nutrition podcasts.
Today, we continue doing this, but in a different way, as we’ve learned to sift through the noise and trends. Nutrition, like any other field of knowledge, the more you read and learn, the more you develop a comprehensive understanding of reality, and that’s what has happened to us.
Before having our first child, we focused on learning everything we could about child nutrition, using the same techniques we had already employed, backed by our extensive knowledge in nutrition.
Our mission is to help other parents with their children’s nutrition, to help them become the best versions of themselves.
If we are what we eat and drink, which is absolutely true, let’s do it right!
