Whole Milk Or Soy Milk For Babies

Babies under the age of 1 shouldn t drink cow s milk soy milk or any other plant based milks and stick to only breast milk or formula with a little water after they start solids.

Whole milk or soy milk for babies.

According to the mayo clinic allergic reactions to cow s milk can range from mild to severe and can include wheezing vomiting hives and digestive problems. Now cow s milk comes in all sorts of varieties. Cow s milk contains too many proteins and minerals for babies stomachs to handle and most plant based milks aren t adequate sources of the many nutrients. If you still wish to offer soy milk to your baby do supplement his nutrition from other dietary sources for his healthy development.

Consumption of soy milk can result in goitre abnormal enlargement of thyroid gland by causing an imbalance in thyroid levels. Whole milk 2 percent 1 percent skim fat free and even lactose free milk. Once a baby is developmentally able to eat finger foods other dairy such as pieces of cheese can be added. Almond milk is a healthy milk substitute but it isn t a good source of calcium unless it s fortified.

If your baby has a milk allergy you follow a dairy free diet or he does not like the taste of cow s milk you can offer a milk alternative such as almond milk soy milk nut milk hemp milk oat milk etc. Some babies can be allergic to a protein found in soy milk. Soy milk can be a sufficient substitution for whole cow s milk after your baby s first year. Even babies who were exclusively breastfed for the first year can usually handle regular cow s milk because they ve been exposed to cow s milk protein in breast milk unless you avoided all dairy.

Because your baby s body is not used to consuming cow s milk the switch to whole milk should be done gradually and you should watch for adverse reactions to the whole milk. Feeding only soy milk to your baby can result in serious nutritional deficiencies in your baby. When you transition baby to milk. Remember to always talk with your pediatrician before making any changes to your child s diet.

Plain whole fat or whole greek yogurt is a good first form of cow s milk protein for babies to try. Avoid the added sugar commonly found in yogurt marketed to babies and toddlers. You may like to use soy milk more as a supplement rather than a replacement for breast milk or whole cow s milk. As per the studies soy milk consists of phytoestrogens that can trigger oestrogen like effects in infants further causing an increased risk of certain health conditions like breast cancer or prostate.

For people with dietary or allergy concerns there are also.