Key Differences Between Similac Pure Bliss and Pro-Advance
| Key Differences | Similac Pure Bliss | Similac Pro-Advance |
|---|---|---|
| Milk Source | Grass-fed cows from family-owned Irish farms | Standard non-GMO source |
| Main Ingredients | Nonfat milk, whey protein concentrate, lactose, high oleic safflower oil, soy oil, coconut oil | Nonfat milk, whey protein concentrate, lactose, high oleic safflower oil, soy oil, coconut oil |
| Nutrients for Brain Development | Contains DHA and ARA for brain and eye development | Contains DHA, lutein, vitamin E, and 2′-FL HMO for brain, eye development, and gut health |
| Prebiotics | Contains Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) | Contains 2′-FL HMO |
| Additives | No artificial growth hormones, antibiotics, or palm olein oil | No artificial growth hormones or palm olein oil |
| Gluten | Gluten-free | Gluten-free |
| GMO | Non-GMO | Non-GMO |
| Fats and Oils Source and Content | High oleic safflower oil, soy oil, and coconut oil, approx 5.6g of fat per serving | High oleic safflower oil, soy oil, and coconut oil, approx 5.6g of fat per serving |
| Whey:Casein Ratio | 48:52 | 48:52 |
| Overall | Superior formula sourced from grass-fed cows in Ireland | Formula enriched with 2′-FL HMO for added immune support |
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This article compares two popular Similac Infant Formulas: Similac Pure Bliss vs Similac Pro Advance.
We will analyze their ingredients and nutritional information to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Let’s get after it!
Related read: Similac Pure Bliss vs 360 Total Care Sensitive
Our Short Answer
This comparison is one of the most evenly matched we have ever written.
Both formulas are extremely similar, but there are two fundamental differences.
On the one hand, Similac Pure Bliss uses milk from free-range cows on farms in Ireland.
On the other hand, Similac Pro-Advance adds 2′-FL HMO, one of the most beneficial prebiotics for babies.
With this information, if we had to choose one for our baby, we would choose Similac Pure Bliss.
We believe that when it comes to nutrition, the source of ingredients is the most important factor to consider, especially in infant nutrition.
That said, it is for this reason that we recommend you take a look at the alternatives below before you make your decision.
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Overview of the Two Formulas
Similac Pure Bliss: No artificial hormones, antibiotics, or palm olein oil. Made with non-GMO, grass-fed cow milk from Irish farms. Contains DHA and ARA for brain and eye development—kosher, halal, and gluten-free options.
Similac Pro-Advance: Incorporates 2’-FL HMO for gut health and immunity. No artificial hormones or palm olein oil. Non-GMO and gluten-free. Focused on complete nutrition and development in line with breastfed infants.
Similac Pure Bliss
One of the standout promises of the Similac Pure Bliss formula is the absence of artificial growth hormones and antibiotics. It’s made non-GMO and without palm olein oil, a common and controversial ingredient in plenty of other formulas.
This formula starts with fresh milk from grass-fed cows in family-owned Irish farms, ensuring high-quality control from source to bottle.
Pure Bliss contains DHA and ARA, fatty acids also found in breast milk, promising support for brain and eye development.
It satisfies various dietary needs, being both kosher and halal, and free from gluten.
Similac Pro-Advance
Pro-Advance incorporates 2’-FL HMO, a prebiotic that nurtures the beneficial bacteria in the gut, to strength the immune system. This special ingredient is inspired by the prebiotic found in breast milk.
Similar to Pure Bliss, Pro-Advance is free from artificial growth hormones and is non-GMO.
A highlight of this formula is that it also abstains from using palm olein oil which promotes excellent calcium absorption and promotes strong bones.
For parents with a gluten intolerance concern, you’ll be pleased to learn that Pro-Advance is certified gluten-free.
Though it is not explicitly mentioned whether Pro-Advance is kosher or halal, it is intended to provide complete nutrition, aiming to bring a baby’s development in line with that of a breastfed infant.
Nutritional Composition
Protein Content: Both use nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate. Pure Bliss uses milk from grass-fed Irish cows, making it the preferable choice for protein.
Carbohydrate Content: Both use lactose, mimicking breast milk, without fundamental differences except for the source of the milk.
Fats and Oils: Both formulas use high-oleic sunflower, soy, and coconut oils. Similar fatty acid profiles, including DHA and ARA, offer comparable benefits.
Protein Content
Similac Pure Bliss and Similac Pro-Advance contain 2.07 grams of protein per 5.3 fl oz and 5 fl oz, respectively.
The source of protein for both is nonfat milk and whey protein concentrate.
Nonfat milk is rich in casein and whey protein. As for whey protein concentrate, it is easily digestible and can be a good source of essential amino acids for infants.
The only difference in protein content is the source of the milk.
According to Similac, Pure Bliss uses milk from grass-fed cows from Irish farms. This makes Pure Bliss a better option than Pro-Advance regarding protein.
The whey-to-casein ratio is the same in both formulas: 48:52.
Carbohydrate Content
The carbohydrate content of Similac Pure Bliss and Similac Pro-Advance is 10.7 grams and 10.5 grams per serving, respectively.
Carbohydrates are babies’ primary energy source, supplying the fuel they need for physical activity and brain development.
The dominant carbohydrate in these formulas is lactose, derived from nonfat milk.
Lactose is the main carbohydrate source in both formulas, which is exactly what we like to see in standard formulas.
Lactose is the main sugar in breastmilk, which makes it the perfect carb for babies (only those who do not have any lactose sensitivities).
The only real difference is, again, the source of the milk, making Pure Bliss our favorite choice.
Fats and Oils
Babies require a higher fat intake than older children and adults, so it’s crucial to consider the fats and oils in the baby formula.
Both Similac Pure Bliss and Similac Pro-Advance contain 5.6 grams of total fats per serving.
Their fat sources include high oleic sunflower, soy, and coconut oil.
High oleic sunflower oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, while soy oil contains polyunsaturated fats. Both types of fats are good for heart health.
On the other hand, coconut oil is high in saturated fat, more specifically, lauric acid, which is also found in breast milk and has antimicrobial properties.
Both formulas have the same fat profile, avoiding palm olein, using the same oils in the exact quantities, and adding DHA and ARA from the same sources.
Since fats are not derived from the milk, there is no real difference unless they use whole milk instead of skimmed like Kendamil does.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Similac Pure Bliss uses Galactooligosaccharides (GOS), common in formula.
Similac Pro-Advance contains 2′-FL HMO, mimicking breast milk’s prebiotics, making it a superior choice.
Neither formula has probiotics.
Even though adding prebiotics and probiotics is not essential in baby formula nowadays, many formulas include them because they can be beneficial for some babies.
Similac Pure Bliss uses Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) as its main prebiotic. These are the most common prebiotics used in infant formula.
Similac Pro-Advance goes a step further and adds 2′-FL HMO. This dual prebiotic is designed to mimic the ones found in breast milk. HMOs or Human Milk Oligosaccharides are the best kind of prebiotics for babies.
This difference makes Pro-Advance a better formula regarding prebiotics.
There are no probiotics in either formula, however.
Best Places to Buy Similac Pure Bliss and Gentlease
Similac Pure Bliss
Buy Similac Pure Bliss at Target
Buy Similac Pure Bliss at Walmart
Similac Pro-Advance
Buy Similac Pro-Advance at Target
Buy Similac Pro-Advance at Walmart
What are the best alternatives to Similac Pure Bliss and Pro-Advance
While Similac Pure Bliss and Pro-Advance are high-quality formulas, we believe there are better options in the market.
These are our recommended alternatives:
Kendamil Organic: This is our top choice, predominantly for its usage of whole milk and real Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), which simulate those found naturally in breast milk. This European brand also stands out for not using palm oil and for its organic certification, assuring quality. *Read: Kendamil vs Pure Bliss
Bobbie: We rated this our favorite US-based brand for its simple and pure ingredients list. It adheres to high EU standards and provides both prebiotics and DHA for brain development. Bobbie advocates for organic ingredients and avoids syrups and palm oil. *Read: Bobbie vs Pure Bliss
Holle: Praises for Holle emphasize its commitment to the purity of ingredients and standout organic certification—specifically, Demeter, a globally recognized biodynamic certification. This German brand has steadfastly dedicated to sustainable agriculture and ethical farming practices. *Read: Holle vs Similac
HiPP: Finally, for those babies who might require specialty formulas, we recommend HiPP. They provide excellent blends of prebiotics and probiotics and lactose reduction options. HiPP is also known for its organic and sustainable sourcing of ingredients. *Read: Hipp vs Similac
Last Words
We hope this comparison between Similac Pure Bliss and Pro-Advance has helped you make an informed decision.
As always, we recommend you to read more about the alternatives mentioned above before you make your final decision.
If you have further questions, leave a comment, and we’ll get back to you in less than a day.
Happy feeding!
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!
