Children need the right nutrients for proper growth and development. They get these nutrients through breast milk and formula during the early years, but meeting the nutritional needs of fussy toddlers and older children can be tricky. Thus, you may consider getting nutritious milk drinks such as AptaGrow and PediaSure after consulting a nutritionist or your pediatrician.
Selecting these milk drinks for your child can be tricky. Therefore, here’s a detailed comparison of the tried-and-tested AptaGrow and PediaSure milk drink powders to help you choose the one that best meets your child’s needs.
Both of these nutritious milk drinks are formulated to help your child absorb nutrients better and support growth and development. PediaSure uses a system called Nutri Pull to attract nutrients and retain them better. AptaGrow powder, on the other hand, has prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which are a source of food for your gut’s good bacteria (probiotics), which support gut health and nutrient absorption.
AptaGrow Vs. PediaSure: How Are They Different?
AptaGrow and PediaSure milk drink mixes contain beneficial ingredients and essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, DHA, biotin, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins. Both powders help boost immunity, support growth, and aid brain development, but you’ll find some differences in their ingredients, certain benefits, nutritional values, price, and packaging.
Here are a few notable differences between the two nutritious milk drinks.
- AptaGrow powder has DHA, iron, folic acid, iodine, biotin, and choline that help support brain development. PediaSure has linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, choline, taurine, magnesium, and biotin.
- AptaGrow includes a unique blend of prebiotics–GOS and FoS–which are a source of food for good bacteria that support gut health and help with nutrient absorption. PediaSure contains FOS and lactobacillus acidophilus, which support gut health.
All About AptaGrow Milk Drink Powder
AptaGrow by Nutricia (Danone–Europe’s No.1 Company in Milk Formula for Children, according to Euromonitor)* is a scientifically formulated drink that helps with a child’s overall growth, promotes brain development, and strengthens the body’s defense mechanism. Enriched with calcium, zinc, iron, and multiple vitamins, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and K12, it helps enhance a child’s immunity and promotes faster growth. The drink powder contains a distinctive blend of prebiotics, such as FOS and GOS, for improving gut health and promoting nutrient absorption. It also has DHA+ that helps support brain development and improves eye health. Moreover, its low-calorie and low-fat formulation supports healthy weight gain and makes incorporating it into a child’s everyday diet easy.
Price (at the time of review):
₹560 (400g)
How Often Should I Use It?
You may give a glass of AptaGrow drink to your child once a day if they are over three years old.
Pros
- Contains 37 essential nutrients
- Offers 14g of protein and 362 kcal of energy per 100g
- Dissolves quickly
- Supports faster bone mass gain
- Supports faster weight gain
- Helps increase bifidobacteria (good bacteria) levels
- Supports cognitive development
- Helps boost immunity
- Low-fat formula
- Contains DHA for brain function and eye health
- Available in vanilla and chocolate flavors
Cons
- Shelf life may be shorter than expected
All About AptaGrow Milk Drink Powder
Buy On AmazonAll About PediaSure Milk Drink
The PediaSure milk drink by Abbott is formulated to help with a child’s growth and meet their nutritional needs. It has growth nutrients, such as arginine and vitamin K2, which help enhance bone health and support growth during early childhood and pre-teen years. Additionally, the powder has the Nutri Pull system, a combination of ingredients like vitamin D, vitamin C, and casein phosphopeptides, to ease the process of absorbing nutrients. The drink also contains FOS and lactobacillus acidophilus, which support digestion and improve gut health.
Price (at the time of review):
₹840 (400g)
How Often Should I Use It?
You may give the PediaSure powder drink to children aged two years and above once or twice daily or as recommended by a nutritionist.
Pros
- Contains 37 essential nutrients
- Offers 14.5g of protein and 452 kcal of energy per 100g
- Clinically proven to increase height and weight
- Boosts immunity and brain function
- Helps improve digestion
- Supports healthy bone development
- Supports catch-up growth
- Has a smooth texture and dissolves easily
- Available in vanilla and chocolate flavors
Cons
- Some may find it sweeter than expected
- Some might find it expensive
All About PediaSure Milk Drink
Buy On AmazonKey Ingredients Of AptaGrow And PediaSure
| AptaGrow | PediaSure |
|---|---|
| Skimmed milk powder, maltodextrin, sugar, GOS, cocoa powder, nature identical flavoring substances, FOS, docosahexaenoic acid powder, stabilizer (guar gum), vitamins, minerals, taurine, inositol, DHA. | Skimmed milk protein, sucrose, edible vegetable oil, maltodextrin, cocoa powder, FOS, color (caramel powder), medium chain triglyceride oil, natural flavorings, L-arginine HCL, minerals, casein hydrolysate, vitamins, M-inositol, taurine, lactobacillus acidophilus. |
AptaGrow Vs. PediaSure–Final Thoughts
Meeting a child’s nutritional requirements can become challenging once they have transitioned from breastfeeding or formula. Moreover, some children have sensitive stomachs or allergies, making the task even more difficult. These milk-based drinks, AptaGrow and PediaSure, are formulated by experts and enriched with nutrients, vitamins, and other quality ingredients to support your child’s growth, boost immunity, and aid brain development. They also contain quality ingredients that support gut health and are scientifically formulated to ensure maximum nutrient absorption.
Winner
AptaGrow and PediaSure drink powders are scientifically formulated and contain essential nutrients required for a child’s growth and development. They also have distinct nutrient absorption systems. We love the AptaGrow drink for its quality ingredients such as FOS, GOS, and DHA and the PediaSure drink for its Nutri Pull system. AptaGrow has lower added sugar than PediaSure, and in terms of pricing, AptaGrow is slightly more economical than PediaSure. We suggest you consult a doctor or nutritionist before choosing any of these drink powders for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main differences between AptaGrow and PediaSure?
Both AptaGrow and PediaSure provide essential nutrients to the child, but they have some differences in their formulations. For instance, PediaSure contains FOS and lactobacillus acidophilus, while AptaGrow has FOS, GOS, and DHA. Also, both have different nutrient absorption systems and nutritional values. For instance, AptaGrow has lower added sugar compared to PediaSure.
2. Are there any age restrictions for using AptaGrow and PediaSure?
While the PediaSure powder is recommended for children aged two years and above, the AptaGrow powder is recommended for children aged three years and above.
3. Can AptaGrow and PediaSure replace regular meals?
No, AptaGrow and PediaSure are not meal-replacement drinks. However, since they contain essential nutrients required for a child’s overall growth and development, they may be taken as supplemental drinks. We suggest you consult a doctor or nutritionist and review the ingredient list before choosing one.
*Euromonitor International Limited, Dairy Products & Alternatives 2023ed,
Groupe Danone in the growing up milk formula category (for children aged 13 months onwards), value sales RSP, 2022 data. Nutricia part of Groupe Danone
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