The first years of your baby's life are a critical time for him to get the nutrition he needs for growth and development, so you may find yourself questioning the health and safety of many foods. Substituting soy protein formula or milk for varieties made with cow's milk protein is safe and healthy for your baby as long as you select the right kind of soy milk. Discuss the change to soy milk with your child's doctor.
Birth to 12 Months
Between birth and 12 months of age, your child only needs breast milk or infant formula along with age-appropriate solid foods. Regular cow's milk or soy milk does not contain all that she needs for growth and development. However, she may benefit from drinking formula made from soy protein. If your baby experiences gas, diarrhea or abdominal cramps after consuming formula made with cow's milk protein, she might be allergic or sensitive to cow's milk. Her doctor may recommend switching her to a hypoallergenic formula or one made with soy protein to see if her symptoms improve. Soy formula is fortified with the same minerals and vitamins as formula made from cow's milk protein and will still provide her with what she needs for proper development.
12 Months and Older
Once your child is 12 months old and older, he is ready for regular cow's milk. If he is sensitive to cow's milk or cannot drink it due to a restrictive diet, such as a vegan diet, he can have soy milk instead. According to Babycenter, there is no evidence that soy milk is harmful for children.
Choosing Soy Milk
Make sure your baby has whole soy milk instead of a reduced fat-version. Before two years of age, she needs fat for proper brain development. You can also find soy milk that is fortified with calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D so that it offers benefits similar to cow's milk.
Considerations
If your child is drinking soy milk, make sure he gets plenty of vitamin B12 and calcium in his diet. Soy milk does not contain vitamin B12, and it contains phytates, a naturally occurring substance that can reduce calcium absorption. He can get calcium from broccoli, spinach, yogurt, fortified cereal and juice. Your baby's doctor may recommend giving him a vitamin B12 supplement.
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