Soy milk formula vs milk based formula?

Question

Soy milk formula vs milk based formula?

Answer 1

According to Mom Beat, a website for journalist moms, milk-based formula -- in general -- is better than soy-based formula.  Here is the post:

Soy formula vs. cow's milk formula. Which is better?

Posted by Noelle Crombie, The Oregonian July 16, 2008 06:00AM

Categories: Food and Nutrition

Parents who give their babies formula have a lot of options. Organic dairy formula. Soy formula. Even goat's milk. (A naturopath I spoke with said she met a dad once whose kid was allergic to all of the above so he gave her sheep's milk and cheese instead.)

All of these choices made me wonder which is best? Is soy formula better for your baby than cow's milk formula? What about goat's milk formula? (An internet search didn't turn up any sheep's milk formula.)

So I called an OHSU professor and pediatrician, and a naturopath and asked what advice they'd give parents who are considering soy formula. (Both emphasized that breast milk is the best choice for babies younger than 6 months old.)

The bottom line: Unless your baby is allergic to dairy products, it's best to stick with cow's milk formula. Soy offers the same benefits as dairy formula. It doesn't have any added nutritional value, and it's spendy.

Dr. Marnie Loomis, a naturopath at the National College of Natural Medicine, said there's a lot we don't know about soy. That so much of it is genetically modified raises concerns, she said, only because it's not known what effect GMO products have on our health.

"That is something parents might want to be aware of if they are going to switch to soy," she said.

Dr. Tara Schwab, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at OHSU, agreed that parents are better off sticking with dairy formula unless a baby has a milk allergy. Schwab said parents should start out with cow's milk formula before considering switching to soy.

For vegan parents, Schwab said soy milk is a fine option. Babies won't miss out on anything but parents should be prepared to shell out more for it.

"It doesn't add a benefit to make up for the expense," she said.