Pediasure

Prices of Pediasure

The average prices per tin for Pediasure in 2022 in Singapore are as follow (based on lowest prices in Loviya):

Pediasure Gold

• Classic Vanilla, 400g: S$22.9
• Classic Vanilla, 850g: S$43.98
• Classic Vanilla, 1.6kg: S$75
• Classic Vanilla, 2.4kg: S$93.88
• Original Sucrose Free, 850g: S$43.98
• Premium Chocolate, 850g: S$43.18
• Fruity Strawberry, 850g: S$41.15

Pediasure Complete

• Vanilla, 850g: S$38.21
• Vanilla, 1.6kg: S$56.33
• Vanilla, 1.8kg: S$76.83
• Chocolate, 600g: S$33.16
• Chocolate, 850g: S$48.46

About Pediasure

Pediasure is part of the Abbott family of milk powder, which also includes other popular brands such as Similac.

Unlike Similac, which has different stages specially tailored to different age groups of children as well as mummies, Pediasure caters to a much wider age group from 1 to 12 years old.

It is NOT recommended for children below 12 months old. If you can, it is best to exclusively breastfeed your baby for at least the first 6 months of life.

Now, you may ask: compared to other stage-specific formula milk, how good is it in terms of meeting the specific nutritional requirements of kids of different ages and at different stages of development?

After all, the cognitive and physical development of a 1-year-old infant is very different to that of a 12-year-old adolescent about to enter puberty. Which corresponds to vastly different nutritional requirements.

Taking Pediasure is like visiting a General Practitioner (GP) when what you really need is to see a specialist doctor.

Well, in a way, you are not wrong.

Its nutritional content is generally lower than that of Similac.

Based on the description of Pediasure on Abbott’s website, one can draw the implicit interpretation that it is NOT meant as a staple nutritional product during your kid’s growing up years.

Rather, it’s meant as a dietary supplement to help ensure your kid has a more balanced, complete diet. This is especially so during moments when your child’s nutritional intake may be compromised, such as when he or she falls sick or is picky about food.

Hence, it’s not too different from the vitamins and supplements you may give your child from time to time. Good to have/important, but not absolutely essential.

(Although Abbott does state that in terms of proteins and key vitamins and minerals, Pediasure can meet 100% of USA Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and Singapore Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) requirements.)

See our reviews below for the different series under this brand.

Pediasure Gold

Pediasure Gold is specially formulated for the Singapore market. This series is gluten free, and certified Halal. In addition, it’s also suitable for lactose intolerance, with 2 of the main ingredients being milk protein concentrate and soy protein.

As with many formula milk brands, it comes with a healthy mix of 34 nutrients to supplement your child’s growth and development in terms of physical, cognitive, immune and gastrointestinal health. Some of the key nutrients include:

• Protein: for cellular tissue building and growth
• DHA: perhaps the single most important nutrient parents always look out for. It’s believe to help in cognitive development (“smarter kids”) and development of healthy vision
• Linoleic acid: believed to help in physiological functions such as healthy heart development
• Taurine: another one that’s believed to have an assortment of benefits such as for the heart, eyes and brain
• Vitamins such as A, B, C to boost the immune system
• Calcium, vitamins D and K: important for your child to develop healthy and strong bones
• Folic acid: frequently prescribed to pregnant ladies for the developing foetus, this is also important post-natal, for your child’s healthy metabolism
• Choline: supports a variety of functions as diverse as cell membrane formation as well as memory and mod regulation
• Pre and probiotics: helps to promote gut health and keep those tummy aches and indigestion at bay

You can get Pediasure Gold in different flavours and packaging, based on your preference:

• Classic Vanilla: the most common flavour. Its available in 400g, 850g, 1.6kg and 2,4kg.
• Premium Chocolate & Fruity Strawberry: available in 850g only
• Sucrose: while the regular version already contains 25% less sugar than the previous version, the sucrose-free one cuts down the sugar content by approximately another 90%. If you want a dietary supplement without the risk of sweet tooth, this may be the choice for you. Available only in 850g.
• Ready-To-Drink (RTD): these are more meant for drinking on the go, and certainly up the convenience factor. Available in Classic Vanilla and Premium Chocolate, and in 6 milk bottles of 237ml.

And if you think the added convenience of RTD comes at the cost of nutritional content, don’t worry. RTD’s nutritional content and concentration is practically the same as that as the regular powdered version. In fact, Abbott has taken pains to highlight that 1 botte of RTD contains:

• 1 chicken breast serving’s worth of protein
• 4 salmon servings’ worth of calcium
• 4 shiitake mushroom cups’ worth of vitamin D
• 2/3 spinach cups’ worth of potassium

How to prepare & feed Pediasure Gold

Each recommended serving is 225ml. The recommended number of daily servings depends on your child’s age, as follow:

• 1 to 8 years old: 2 servings per day
• 9 – 12 years old: 2 to 3 servings per day

To prepare each serving, first pour 190ml of previously boiled, room temperature water into a cup or glass. Next, gradually mix in 5 levelled scoops (using the scoop provided) of milk powder into the water. This is equivalent to 48.6g of milk powder.

Stir well and let you child drink immediately. Any leftover milk is to be discarded after an hour.

PS: Be sure to only use room temperature water below 35 degree Celsius. Any temperature that’s too high may kill off the pre and probiotics in the milk powder.

Pediasure Complete

The sister brand across the Causeway is Pediasure Complete, which caters to the Malaysia market.

It is actually very similar to the Singapore version, consisting of 38 key nutrients for your child’s critical growing up years. Hence its popularity with parents in Singapore, many of whom buy it online for the cheaper prices.

The “Triple Growth System” (Height, Energy & Immune Function) is underpinned by nutrients such as arginine, calcium and vitamin K2. The latter two help to strengthen bone development, while arginine, which is also present in Pediasure Gold, is an amino acid vital for blood circulation.

The brand also claims that, from results of children studies spanning 25 years, Pediasure Complete can bring about the following predicted benefits:

• Improved appetite within 4 weeks
• Visible improvement in weight and height growth within 8 weeks
• Visible improvement in overall health within 16 weeks
• Sustained proportional physical growth within 48 weeks

These are rather bold claims, and its worth noting that the studies were conducted from a relatively low baseline, on children who were at risk of nutritional deficiency in the first place.

Nevertheless, Pediasure Complete, as with Pediasure Gold, can be considered a useful supplement to help your child maintain his or her nutritional intake, especially during bouts of illness or undereating. However, at the end of the day, a well-balanced, healthy diet as well as a regular, consistent meal routine are still paramount for your child’s all-round growth and development.

Pediasure Complete is available in the following flavours and sizes:

• Vanilla: available in 850g, 1.6kg, 1.8kg
• Chocolate: available in 600g, 850g

Pediasure Gold vs Complete

It’s a well-known fact that formula milk sold in Singapore is generally more expensive than the equivalent in Malaysia.

And the age-old debate comparing the nutritional value of formula milk from both sides is almost as old as formula milk itself (okay just kidding).

So how does Complete fare against Gold in terms of nutritional content? Is the Singapore version really “better”? Here are our findings for some of the key nutrients:

Protein

Both contain 13.87g of protein per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Draw

DHA

Both contain 21mg of DHA per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Another draw

Linoleic acid

Both contain 4.17g of linoleic acid per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Yet another draw

FOS (source of dietary fibre for better bowel movement)

Both contain 2.06g of FOS per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Yes, yet another draw

Taurine

Both contain 33.3mg of taurine per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Okay this is getting boring. Another draw

Vitamin K (total)

Both contain 35.5mcg of total vitamin K per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Yawn. Draw again.

Folic acid

Gold contains 119mcg of folic acid per 100g of milk powder, compared to 111mcg for Complete.

Verdict: Gold has a slightly higher concentration of folic acid.

Choline

Gold contains 145mg of choline per 100g of milk powder, compared to 139mg for Complete.

Verdict: Gold wins, by another relatively insignificant difference.

Calcium

Gold contains 579mg of calcium per 100g of milk powder, compared to 463mg for Complete.

Verdict: Gold has 25% higher calcium concentration.

Iron

Both contain 6.48mg of iron per 100g of milk powder.

Verdict: Draw.

As you can see above, in terms of key nutrients, nothing really separates Gold and Complete, except for the calcium concentration. 

Is this worth the generally higher prices for Gold? That’s for you to decide.

There are other sources of calcium such as sardines, bread, leafy green vegetables and soya milk.

Potential downsides & side effects of Pediasure

Pediasure is no doubt a useful secondary nutritional source that can help in your child’s “catch-up” growth.

However, beyond the nutritional benefits, hype and marketing, there are potential downsides and possible side effects to your child consuming it that you should consider, which may not be immediately obvious.

• The sugar content in such formula milk, together with the sugar intake from other dietary sources, may exacerbate or precipitate health or weight issues for your child. Examples include dental problems and overconsumption of calories leading to weight gain and even early puberty.
• Ironically, Pediasure may even have the reverse effect, by affecting your child’s appetite for the usual staple foods. Depending on the time the milk is given, it can make your child feel too full for the next main meal. Your child may also develop an unhealthy preference for such sweeter beverages.

The above was probably why the sucrose-free version was introduced.

• The soy protein present in the milk may also cause gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating, constipation or nausea, especially if consumed in high amounts together with other fibre-rich foods. This is especially so when your child’s gastrointestinal and digestive functions may not be that developed yet.

That said, one thing that the brand has verified is that Pediasure products do not contain any artificial growth hormones.

Quick and easy price comparison for Pediasure in Loviya

As the Health Promotion Board in Singapore always tells us, eat all foods in moderation.

And we suppose this applies to formula milk as well. Use it as a supporting cast to your child’s primary dietary sources. A well-rounded, healthy, consistent eating habit, with lots of plain water, should always take precedence.

If you decide to get Pediasure Gold or Complete for your child, you can check out Loviya for the best prices and promotions from trustworthy and reliable online marketplaces, merchants and sellers in Singapore.

These include well-known names such as NTUC Fairprice, Shopee, Lazada, Amazon, Qoo10, Watsons, Guardian, Redmart, EAMart. And more!

These merchants and their sellers offer different promotions for different products at different times, so it can be a real hassle to constantly keep up with all the different bargains.

By using Loviya to compare prices, you can save money, time and effort, which can instead be spent on your precious little ones!

PS: We will end with a fun fact – you can even make milk shake with Pediasure! Just check out the recipes online!