Could giving soy formula be harmful?

For the past month or so I've been giving Lincoln a bottle of formula each night (I BF otherwise) to dissolve his new reflux meds in. I just used all the free samples we had been given when the babies were born. The only samples I have left are Similac Soy formula. Is there a reason I shouldn't give that to him? It is not his main source of nutrition, and he doesn't have milk protein sensitivities---but I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and go buy formula? Thanks.

Reyna

 

This is personal opinion, and this topic can be very controversial -- but I would go buy a milk-based formula.

There are a lot of reports out there about how bad processed soy can be for you, and how it mimics estrogen in the body -- I read that a day's worth of soy formula is like ingesting a whole handful of birth control pills.

If you Google "dangers of soy" you'll find tons of info. It's hard to know what's accurate and what's not, but IMHO, if your kiddo is fine with regular formula, then use that...

 

Imo, i would also go buy formula. If its just the one bottle, it should last quite a bit.

 

There's a lot of conflicting info out there about soy. From what I've read, I've been more convinced by the studies that say that although soy does have phytoestrogens, it has no hormonal effect when digested by the body. This is what personal experience suggests to me too. As a vegetarian, I consume plenty of soy, and have always had normal cycles and had no trouble getting pregnant - if soy were really such a hormone bomb, I should have had problems.

So I totally wouldn't sweat giving a bottle of soy formula here and there.

 

IMO I would go out and buy a milk based formula not only b/c of the estrogen in soy which as pp mentioned is very controversial but more importantly to ME is that the NUMBER ONE ingredient in the soy formula's is CORN SYRUP

DD was on soy b/c of her reflux but she was not eating well AT ALL on the soy so we switched her to a reg milk based formula that DS was on and her eating has improved 100%

I DO NOT like the idea of feeding my kids corn syrup...

that's just my opinion tho

 

Hi there. All I know is that when my son was going through feeding problems the doctor said "Well, soy is our last resort. It's nutritionally inferior." We never had to use it. But my Mum said I always have one bottle of soy formula per day when I was a baby (other than that I was breast fed). Sorry, I'm not much help.

 

My twins are wonderful and thriving on soy formula. For us it has saved my sanity. It has helped greatly with the reflux and so many people get free samples of it that they do not use that I get all the extra.

 

FWIW, our pediatrician recommends soy formula INSTEAD of a milk based formula. He said it was because of problems with allergies. My older DD had soy formula, and my twins have it too (I breastfeed but have to supplement while I'm at work).

B.A.
DD 2-28-05
ID Twin boys born 8-24-07 at 38 weeks

 

I think you should try it and if he has problems (like gas) then you'll know that milk-based is the way to go.

 

My twins have been on soy since they were one month old and are thriving on it. They both had terrible diarrhhea and gas on the regular milk based formula. The pedi said that their was little difference nutritionally between soy and milk based formula. We have no plans to change back.

That said, if your DS is used to the milk based formula, I wouldn't change it just because the change may upset his stomach. Like a pp said, if you are only doing one bottle a day, a can should last you a lont time.

 

I gave my twins soy as a step away from alimentum (reflux issues). It seems to work wonderfully for the reflux and they had been on it for two months, after which I switched back to normal milk-based formula. Yes, it does have corn syrup in it which is bad, but you have to weigh the benefits vs. risks. Anyway in your case you may not want to take risks for something so simple as to wash down reflux medicine. Ask your ped for a free sample of the milk based formula (if what you are asking is if you should go out and spend the money on a new can of formula or not). They usually have free samples and then you wouldn't have to deviate from a purely milk-based diet.

 

We had to switch Emily and Zachary to Soy formula due to gas and diarrhea. They have been on it for a few weeks and it seems to be helping them. If you are concerned about the soy, I would ask the ped. for a sample.

 

Thanks so much for all the input ladies. I appreciate it!!

Reyna

 

they may prefer the taste of milk based.

 

My kids have all been on soy.

 

I dont think that there is anything wrong with SOY. The WIC office here told my sister who breastfeeds her DS that soy is the closest to breastmilk. My DD was on soy until a couple of days ago. She was having very bad reflux issues, collic, very fussy. When we switched her from regular Enfamil to Soy there was a drastic change for the better. She went from being a miserable baby to being very happy. We have just switched back to Enfamil AR (added rice) b/c she is eating every 2 hours round the clock.

 

My older DS was on soy for a milk allergy and he thrived on it. I switched my younger DS to soy last week because he has such bad gas and mucousy poop from the milk based formula. It seems like he is doing much better now. I would go out and buy a milk based formula though if he is doing well on it, since it is closer to breast milk. I wouldn't really listen to all the controversy about soy though if you do decide to use it.

 

this exactly. We can't do the milk based formulas, so we're using Alimentum- the possible risks of soy are too high IMO. But that's TOTALLY my opinion. ;-)

QUOTE(Becca34 @ Jan 23 2008, 06:00 AM) [snapback]585211[/snapback]
This is personal opinion, and this topic can be very controversial -- but I would go buy a milk-based formula.

There are a lot of reports out there about how bad processed soy can be for you, and how it mimics estrogen in the body -- I read that a day's worth of soy formula is like ingesting a whole handful of birth control pills.

If you Google "dangers of soy" you'll find tons of info. It's hard to know what's accurate and what's not, but IMHO, if your kiddo is fine with regular formula, then use that...

 

I sincerely doubt that the FDA would allow soy formula to be sold considering it is being used on the most vulnerable members of society - that being said my 2 were on soy from 2 months because of puking/pooping issues and had no issues - my son hasn't grown boobs yet as a result!

 

QUOTE(mrsfussypants @ Jan 22 2008, 10:27 PM) [snapback]585058[/snapback]
For the past month or so I've been giving Lincoln a bottle of formula each night (I BF otherwise) to dissolve his new reflux meds in. I just used all the free samples we had been given when the babies were born. The only samples I have left are Similac Soy formula. Is there a reason I shouldn't give that to him? It is not his main source of nutrition, and he doesn't have milk protein sensitivities---but I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and go buy formula? Thanks.

Reyna


I mainly breastfeed the babies but have been supplementing with formula (organic soy) to help stock up the breast milk for when I start back at work. I think the question of milk vs' soy is ultimately a personal issue. I choose to not drink milk, or give the babies milk (from cows) because I feel its very bad for them (and humans in general... it creates excess mucus in the body, making it very hard to absorb any nutrients, including calcium!!, among other things like it contains puss and growth hormones that humans shouldn't be ingesting imo). There are studies on soy that give rise to possible issues with estrogen, but like with any study, you will always find a different study that states the opposite, hence why ultimately this is a decision you have to make on your own. I, personally, feel that soy is a much better option than a milk product hands down. The only thing I would make sure though is that any soy product you use, make sure its organic. If it isn't certified organic it will definitely be genetically modified.