Soy Formula - Concerns

gk30

My 9 month old used to be on Alimentum and then I switched over to Similac Soy Formula about 2-3 months ago.  He seems to be doing well on the formula, but I was reading some things on the internet yesterday that concerned me about soy.  Has anyone been told NOT to use soy formulas by their pediatrician?  And if so, did they say why? 

 I got the feeling that my pedi didn't really approve of the soy formula but when I asked her what the cons of using soy were, she just said nutrients aren't absorbed as well when using soy.  But many articles on the web state soy formula is the equivalent of giving your baby birth control pills!  Any thoughts?

Dunkin

I personally do not buy into any of that stuff... Pedis usually prefer the milk protein based formulas first, because they are more easily absorbed into the body.  But my son was allergic to milk, so we did soy formula for him, and he was more than fine.

rebus82

B has been on soy formula since he was a couple days old. At first as a supplement, then it quickly became his main source of nutrition until I stopped BF at a month (supply never came in no matter what I did). No one at the hospital batted an eye when we said we wanted him on soy nor did our pedi. He never said anything about it being an issue, and we did not present ourselves as BSC people who were totally opposed to dairy if it was healthier. I personally think soy has its faults, but I don't think dairy is without its own set of problems.

I think if the choice is a bit of excess estrogen for the first year, or the child's stomach being ripped apart by dairy it can't handle, I'd take the soy.    

niki81

I used soy formula with both my girls for several months. My pedi had no problems with it. I eventually switched them over to a milk-based formula before offering them cow's milk at 12 months.

GeminA1

DS has a milk protein allergy and has been on soy formula per pedi's rec

katypresson

We switched DS over to Soy formula at 5 months old.  He had a bad case of diarrhea and pedi recommended soy until he got better.  I just kept him on it, since he seemed to spit up less.  We're transitioning him onto whole milk now and he's doing just fine with it.  Pedi didn't seem to care one bit that I kept him on soy.

gk30

Thanks, I appreciate the responses.  Just needed a sanity check.  I know the internet can tell you whatever you want to hear, so it's a little confusing.

sandyk51306

We had DD on Similac soy (Isomil) from the time she was about 2 months old until last week. Before 2 months old I BFed her, and she was miserable any time I ate dairy (she had reflux pretty bad and the dairy was aggrivating it). The pedi suggested we try soy as a cheaper alternative to Alimentum, and it worked great for us. DD has been gaining weight and thriving, so as far as I can tell, it's been fine. We only stopped it and went to milk-based formula in anticipation of going to whole milk. So far so good.

And for what it is worth, both of my sisters and me were on soy formula exclusively as kids (and this was back in the 80's) and we all turned out fine. I'm sure soy formula has only improved since then!