Editor’s Note
As of May 2022, many formulas have become increasingly difficult to find. Please read our article, What To Do If You Can’t Find Baby Formula, for more information regarding the formula shortage.
Similac has been providing moms and babies with milk-based formulas for over 90 years. Since 1925, they’ve worked hard to use science to provide nutrition while leaving ingredients like growth hormones and palm olein oil out.
Pure Bliss by Similac is designed for that critical time after breastfeeding.
It’s designed for toddlers as an alternative to cow’s milk and full of the nutrients that your growing baby needs to keep developing. This includes critical nutrients for a growing brain and a healthy immune and digestive system.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at the Similac Pure Bliss in this review.
What is Pure Bliss by Similac?
Similac Pure Bliss is not a baby formula- it is crafted for toddlers.
While many authorities recommend making the switch to milk around 1 year, your baby’s digestive system may not be ready to make the switch. Additionally, while milk does have healthy fats and nutrients like calcium, phosphorous, and Vitamin D (which is necessary to absorb calcium), it doesn’t provide the same benefits as the healthy brain and digestive ingredients found in Similac Pure Bliss.
Pure Bliss is made with the same quality you’ve come to expect from the Similac company. They start with milk from grass-fed cows. It’s free of GMOs, growth hormones, and other harmful ingredients.
What You Won’t Find in Pure Bliss by Similac
Even though Pure Bliss starts with cow’s milk, they begin with grass-fed cow milk. Choosing grass-fed over grain-fed means that the cows have a higher percentage of Omega-3 fats (like DHA) that are critical for brain development. Additionally, it’s easier for your toddler to process because corn, soy, and grain (the other popular choices for feeding cattle) can cause inflammation in some people’s digestive tracts. This is especially true for babies. Some other ingredients you won’t find in Pure Bliss include:
- Growth hormones
- Palm olein oil
- GMOs
- Antibiotics
As an added benefit, many parents report the texture/taste is closer to milk and breast milk than many other formulas they’ve tried. This makes it more likely that your toddler will enjoy this drink.
Important Benefits of Toddler Formula
Better Nutrition for Your Toddler’s Development
Even after their first year of life, your baby’s brain, nervous system, and body are still developing. It’s important to provide the nutrition they need during this critical time. Some of the good-for-you ingredients you’ll find in Pure Bliss include:
- Probiotics- Probiotics encourage a healthy digestive system. This is important for ensuring your little one processes food properly and gets as many nutrients as they can from their diet. Even when your child is eating something, they are not necessarily absorbing the nutrients unless they have a healthy digestive system. Additionally, probiotics are essential for immune system health. Research shows that 70-80% of our immune system is located in our gut. By nurturing that environment, you’re giving your baby the best possible chance of fighting off illness and disease.
- DHA- DHA is a common ingredient in prenatal vitamins because of the many benefits for brain, neural, and eye development. Your baby is constantly developing as they grow and formula with DHA provides the support for healthy development they need. This is one of the reasons parents might choose this toddler formula instead of switching to whole milk once their baby turns one.
- Plenty of Vitamins and Minerals- While the first year of your baby’s life is critical for development, they are still growing after one. In addition to physical growth, their nervous system, brain, digestive tract, and body are still developing.
You can see the long list of vitamins and nutrients found in Similac Pure Bliss below. They provide the support your toddler needs for healthy development.
Easier on Your Baby’s Digestive Tract
We’ve already mentioned that probiotics found in Similac encourage digestive health. By creating a healthy environment in your child’s digestive tract, their body processes food better. They also absorb more nutrients from the foods and drinks that go in their body. This is important for ensuring your child is getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary to develop healthily.
As a toddler drink, this is a great transitional drink between breast milk or baby formula and whole milk. It’s designed for younger bellies, so it’s easier to digest.
Concerns About Pure Bliss by Similac
Allergens
Being a milk-based product, this may not be a good choice for babies who have lactose or milk protein sensitivity. It also contains soy ingredients.
This is not necessarily a problem with the formula itself, however, you’ll want to be aware of your babies allergies before making the switch to this formula. If your child experiences gas, bloating, or changes in their bowel movements, you may want to speak to their pediatrician about the potential cause of these changes.
Overall Cost
Baby formula is expensive. One of the pros of breastfeeding and the reasons that parents look forward to the one-year birthday is because they can make the switch to milk.
Even though you are paying more than you would for milk, the overall cost of Pure Bliss is comparable to other brands on the market.
Additionally, in my opinion, the extra you pay for toddler formula is worth the peace of mind knowing that you’re doing what is best for your baby. This contains vitamins and nutrients that you cannot find in cow’s milk, making it the best nutritional choice.
Similac Pure Bliss vs Enfagrow Toddler Transitions
The Enfamil company is another that has had a good reputation with parents for decades, which is why lots of people like to compare Enfamil vs Similac.
Their Enfagrow Toddler Transitions has a lot of the same good ingredients as Similac Pure Bliss including probiotics and DHA.
One major difference is that Enfagrow is not GMO-free. Although their label lists them as not using GMO-products, they state that traces can be found in their products. The trace amounts are not necessarily an issue, however, it shows the labels are not as transparent as some other formula brands.
Something else to note is that this does contain corn syrup solids, whereas Similac Pure Bliss does not. This makes the formula have a different consistency. While some toddlers might not mind the bubbly texture from the Enfagrow toddler formula, others prefer the consistency of Pure Bliss, which is closer to breast milk and cow’s milk.
Similac Pure Bliss vs Gerber Good Start Toddler Drink
Like Pure Bliss, the Gerber Toddler Drink has a lot of the same good ingredients. They are full of probiotics for digestive health, DHA for brain and eye development, and plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Both toddler formulas are also GMO-free.
One of the major differences is that this does not start from cow’s milk. The first ingredient is whey powder. Additionally, this drink contains palm olein oil. Palm olein oil has been studied and found to make it harder for your child to absorb the calcium they need for healthy bone and teeth development.
FAQs About Similac Pure Bliss
Does it matter if cows are grass-fed?
One of the problems with the label ‘grass-fed’ is that it’s not regulated by the FDA. This means that even dairy cows that are only let out to pasture a few times a month can be called ‘grass-fed’ on product labels. According to the Similac website, however, their cows do graze outside for most of the year because of the warmer climate.
The major benefit of grass-fed is that the cows are happier. Happier cows mean a better immune system and less of a need for antibiotics. It’s also a good choice for the eco-conscious parent.
Does it matter if my baby’s formula is GMO-free?
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are a highly controversial topic in the world of organic foods today. Some people are vehemently against GMOs in foods while others say it doesn’t matter.
Crops like soy and corn are among those commonly grown from genetically modified seeds. These modifications often make them resistant to pests, more tolerant to changes in climate and herbicides, and increase overall crop yield.
Currently, some of the studies of GMOs point to potential increase in allergens, exposure to antibiotics, and even a greater risk of cancer. Research in the 1990s showed that the way crops were engineered could cause allergies and regulations were put into place for GM foods.
For example, soy crops modified with Brazil nut DNA causes a reaction in people with tree nuts. As you don’t have any information about how a crop is modified, it’s hard to tell if it is safe.
Put simply, more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of consuming GM foods. When it comes to your baby, it’s best not to take the risk. Many formulas and baby foods on the market are already GMO-free.
Final Word
I really appreciate the transparency of ingredients in this product. It has plenty of vitamins and nutrients, including probiotics and DHA that have big benefits for a growing toddler.
Pure Bliss by Similac Toddler Drink is also easy-to-digest and has a smooth texture close to milk or breast milk. Of course, what matters most is how your baby’s body adjusts to the switch and if this is the best choice for them. It worked well for our family.
Hopefully, this Similac Pure Bliss review has helped you decide if it’s the right choice for your toddler, too.
