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Soy Formula

Heather - posted on 11/24/2008 ( 3 moms have responded )

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Does anyone know the advantages to using soy based formula as oppose to a milk based formula? My son is 10 weeks old and we are having issue with gassiness and some people have told me to try soy formula. Just recently we had an episode of really bad diarrhea and he had to be put on a special formula for 48 hours that helped to get rid of the issues. It helped out with the diarrhea along with the gas, come to find out it was soy based. I'm not sure if it is something I should just try or if you should only go that route if it is absolutely needed. I'm also concerned about the transition from soy formula to whole milk, will he continue to be on soy milk after 1 year of age?

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Tiffany - posted on 11/24/2008

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Soy-based formula is generally unnecessary unless you're against milk-based formula for ethical reasons (i.e., you'd like to have your child consume a vegetarian diet) or a disorder such as galactosemia or lactase deficiency. Lactose-free formula is not just lactose-free, but is partially digested so it's easier on the stomach.

It's true that infants are rarely lactose intolerant. There's a difference between being unable to tolerate lactose (breastmilk has a large lactose component) and being allergic to cow's milk protein. If an infant is truly lactose intolerant, he has a rare medical condition, as lactose intolerance as we tend to think of it crops up at a later age (3+ years). If your son is allergic to cow's milk protein, he may or may not grow out of it.

I must address this: "This is why nursing mothers are advised to avoid all dairy for a few months while the baby's stomach matures." That's totally inaccurate. If you have no issues with dairy products and your baby does not display any intolerance to cow's milk protein (which for some mothers doesn't even transfer to their milk), there's no reason to not consume dairy products. They're a great way to get protein, calcium, and other vital nutrients, which is especially important to nursing mothers.

Satrina - posted on 11/24/2008

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You could try a different brand of milk-based formula or even a goats milk formula. My son had a problem digesting the protein in cow's milk and the goat's formula was a great alternative. My son is now 2 and won't drink cow's milk but then I nenver have either. Are we really designed to drink the milk of another animal?

Renee - posted on 11/24/2008

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It sounds like your son is lactose intolerant. Doctors will tell you that babies are not lactose intolerant, but after what I experienced with my son, I have a hard time believing their logic.



My son (now age 7) had horrible gas, diarrhea, projectile spit up, and in general a very upset stomach. We switched him to a lactose free formula and he got better.



The advantage of a soy based formula is that babies cannot digest milk products. This is why nursing mothers are advised to avoid all dairy for a few months while the baby's stomach matures. The soy will eliminate the symptoms, but I think so will the lactose free.



As far as having to drink soy milk instead of cow milk at age 1, I don't think you will have to worry about that. My son, at age 1, began drinking whole cow milk with no problem.



My 2 month old son is primarily nursed, but we do give him lactose free formula at night and it agrees with his tummy much better than regular formula.

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