Asked by
Dinesh Kumar
in
Food & Drink
at
4:18 PM on January 24, 2009
A Kumar's Answer
The use of soy-protein based baby formulas are popular with parents.
Why? Some parents think they will help babies with gas, fussiness, or colic. Unfortunately, switching baby formula usually doesn't help these symptoms/ Since soy baby formulas usually cost a few dollars more than cow's-milk based formulas, parents shouldn't be quick to try them unless they need them.
If your pediatrician thinks that a change to a soy formula is necessary for your baby, you can be reassured that they are just as good as other formulas and are readily available wherever baby formula is sold.
These soy baby formulas include:
* Enfamil ProSobee Lipil
* Similac Isomil Advance
* Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA & ARA Soy
* Parent's Choice Soy Infant Formula DHA & ARA (Wal-Mart brand baby formula)
* Bright Beginnings Soy Baby Formula (store-brand baby formula)
* Earth's Best Organic Soy Infant Formula With DHA & ARA
How popular are these baby formulas?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Soy protein-based formulas in the United States may account for nearly 20% to 25% of the formula market." That is surprising, because there are few medical conditions for which a baby should actually need a soy formula. Most newborns and infants who aren't breastfeeding will do just fine on a regular cow's milk-based baby formula, such as Enfamil Lipil, Similac Advance, or Nestle Good Start Supreme.
Pediatricians usually recommend soy formula for those babies who need it, including infants with:
* galactosemia
* primary lactase deficiency - a rare condition in which is born without the enzyme to digest the sugar lactose
* diarrhea and a temporary lactase deficiency (Note: Switching babies to soy formula when they have diarrhea is controversial and usually not recommended)
A soy formula can also be a good choice if a parent wishes to raise their baby as a vegetarian and isn't breastfeeding. Since there are no completely vegan baby formulas, an organic soy formula may be a good choice for vegan parents wanting to raise their baby as a vegan, too.
Soy formula is usually not recommended for infants who have:
* colic or fussiness, since it will likely not be helpful
* a cow milk protein allergy, since many of these infants can also be allergic to soy proteins and should drink an extensively hyrdrolyzed protein formula instead, such as Nutramigen or Alimentum
* a high risk for food allergies and you are trying to prevent them from getting developing food allergies. If not breastfeeding, these babies should likely drink Nutramigen or Alimentum and not a soy- or cow's-milk based formula.
* been born premature, since they can lead to decreased bone mineralization, even when the babies are given supplemental calcium.
Unless there is another good reason to start your baby on a soy formula, if you stop breastfeeding before your baby is 12 months old or need to supplement, you can likely just use a cow's-milk based formula instead of a soy formula.
Is Soy Formula Harmful?
Can soy-protein based formula be harmful? It is clear that it can be harmful to premature babies, but the American Academy of Pediatrics states that "There is no conclusive evidence from animal, adult human, or infant populations that dietary soy isoflavones may adversely affect human development, reproduction, or endocrine function."
Answered at
4:32 PM on January 24, 2009
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