Soymilk or Cows Milk

Hi N.,
We don't use cow's milk at all. My 4 year old has a dairy allergy, so we use soy. We never even attempted it with my 19 month old because of the risk of another child with the allergy.

Some people think that "cow's milk is for baby cow's." There are several proteins in cow's milk that humans cannot digest.

There is a lot of controversy about the phytoestrogens in soy. Don't let it scare you. Plant estrogens and human estrogens are 2 totally different things. It has the same name, but they are not the same.

I have a background in nutrition and feel very confident that giving my children (and myself) soy is quite healthy.

My husband also likes the taste of rice milk (I don't), so that may be another option.

There is definitely less fat in both soy and rice milk, so if you choose either of those options after he turns 1, you will be just fine.
B.

I would talk to your doctor. My younger daughter was allergic to milk so she was brought up on soy. We also did all our baking with soy. My other dauhgter was on cow's milk until she was 13 or 14 when she became vegan. I do not believe either of my daughters was lacking in their diets or one was better than the other. They both are healthy teenagers. I think they both have pros and cons and it comes down to what you feel most comfortable with.

Enriched rice milk is another option (as opposed to soy). We give my 14 month old rice milk because he is allergic to cow's milk. But because both soy milk and rice milk have a lot less fat than cow's milk, I think your pediatrician will recommend that you give your son cow's milk -- unless he has an allergy or sensitivity. If you do end up giving your son cow's milk make sure it is organic and hormone free. If you decide to do rice milk or soy milk, you could add fats to his diet through olive oil, canola oil, butter/magarine, avocado oil, etc.

My son has many food allergies, including cow's milk. He doesn't like soy, but drinks Rice milk. To add calories, though, his doctor suggested adding a teaspoon of corn syrup to it.

So, after your child is one year old, and you don't do breastfeeding or formula, that might be an option.
I hope that helps.

N.:

neither is necessary.. water for hydration/ food for nutrition.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

Please talk to your doctor before giving an infant soy milk. There is some new research to suggest that the proteins in soy milk are not good for them. Your pediatrician should have a better idea of what is best.

You should give formula for the first year either way, not milk.

My older son had soy formula, but now that research is suggesting that soy may have a hormone-mimicking effect that might not be great for boys, I would do more research before making a decision.

Actually, neither of these.
Rice milk is another option.