Which Is Better Soy Or Lactose Free Formula For Babies?
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at
4:58 pm
There has actually been studies to show that soy can cause swelling in the brains of young children and babies. My son what Lactose Intolerent and I used the lactose free stuff.
Tagged with: Babies • Better • Formula • Free • Lactose • Which
Filed under: Free Baby Stuff
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I’d say soy as soy beans are one of the most healthy foods on the planet known to mankind. Lactose-free might be O.K., but it’s gone under a process to eliminate something that naturally occurs in the milk. Soy is delicious.
lactose free. that is what we have our granddaughter own. she just weighed 3 pds when she was born and couldn’t keep nothing down. she is doing great on this and has gained 4 pounds
Breastmilk or milk based formula is best. If that is not possible both soy and lactose free are good alternatives. Lactose free is great if baby can handle the other milk proteins. Soy is best if baby can not handle any milk proteins. Soy is also good if you have older children with a dairy allergy and do not want to introduce dairy to baby until they are 12 months old. It really depends on the child and the parent.
If you have decided not to breastfeed your baby, then the next best thing is to provide an infant formula. The milk in the majority of infant formulas are based on cows milk, goats milk or soy beans, which has been modified or changed with important nutrients added so that the formula is similar to breast milk in nutrient composition. (It’s not a perfect match because the exact chemical make-up of breast milk is unknown.)
Many different types of milk (other than an infant formula) have been given to babies in the past, but we now know that a lot of these are not suitable for babies and can cause serious health problems.
Infant formula comes in 3 different ways:
ready-to-use (which is the most expensive)
concentrated liquid
powder (which is the cheapest)
When prepared for feeding, according to manufacturer’s recommendations, these different forms of infant formula are equivalent in nutritional content.
There are two categories of formula – ‘Starter’ formulas are designed for babies 0 – 6 months and ‘Follow-on’ formula can be offered to babies older than 6 months.
Apart from the large variety of different brands of infant formulas, found on your supermarket shelves, these is also a range of specialty formulas available for babies with problems associated with prematurity, lactose intolerance, milk allergy, reflux and other more serious conditions.
With the exception of some of the specialty formulas, all infant formulas are made up to provide the same amount of energy (calories) per ounce. As your baby grows she needs more milk, not stronger milk.
There is very little difference between the different brands. When choosing a formula for your baby, the most expensive is not necessarily the best. Regulations on the manufacture of infant formula are very strict in most countries, which means the different brands of formulas are generally very similar in nutritional content. As prices can vary from store to store it pays to shop around.
Some reasons it may be necessary to change the kind of formula that your baby drinks include…
milk allergy
constipation or
lactose intolerance (following a gastro-intestinal infection).
If your baby has any of these conditions she will show definite symptoms. Without symptoms it’s wise NOT to change the type of formula she’s on, unless advised by her doctor to do so.
If your baby is fussy and irritable, it’s tempting to change from one formula to another. However, this doesn’t help. There are many reasons why your baby could be irritable or fuss with feeding, the type (or brand) of formula is rarely the reason or the solution.
You may wish to change from one brand to another because of cost or because a particular formula is easier to purchase. It’s OK to do this, but make sure to check the instructions on the can, as preparation can differ between brands.
If you do change infant formula your baby’s stools (poop) may change in color, thickness and/or smell.
Cows milk based infant formula is developed from modifying and treating regular cows milk. The protein quality is improved and salt levels are reduced. A range of different fats is added and the milk is supplemented with 13 essential vitamins and 11 essential minerals (including iron and calcium).
Cows milk formulas are classified as ‘whey dominant’ or ‘casein dominant’, which describes the main protein type in the formula. Whey dominant formula is easier to digest and is more suitable for babies under 6 months of age.
Although providing the same amount of calories per ounce, casein dominant formula is digested more slowly than whey dominant formula. Many ‘follow-on’ formulas and so called ‘hungry baby’ formulas are casein dominant.
Soy based formula
Strictly speaking soy is not milk as it is produced from whole soy beans or soy protein isolates. When soy based infant formula is made it is supplemented with essential fatty acids, vegetable oils, and carbohydrate in the form of maltodextrins, corn syrup solids or sucrose (sugar). Essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and iron are added.
Soy infant formulas don’t contain cows milk protein or lactose (sugar found in milk) and are intended for babies with particular health problems such as lactose intolerance or cows milk allergy. Approximately 50% of babies who are allergic to cows milk protein will also react to soy protein. These babies may need a special low-allergy infant formula (only available on a doctor’s prescription).
Soy products contain chemicals which act like hormones. They are called phyto-estrogens. Although babies have been given soy formula from birth for many years with no known ill effects, it is not known if these chemicals have any long-term adverse effects on children. (Read more about recent concerns regarding soy infant formula.)
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Healthy full-term infants should be given soy formula only when medically necessary”.
Goats milk has a nutritional content similar to cows milk. In the production of goats milk infant formula the protein quality and salt levels have been improved and a range of different fats, essential vitamins and minerals have been added in the same way as it is for a cows milk formula.
Some babies with a sensitivity to cows milk protein tolerate goats milk formula but babies with a true cows milk allergy are frequently unable to tolerate goats milk formula as well.
If a formula fed baby is at risk of developing an allergy, e.g. if either parent or a brother or sister have an allergic condition (such as eczema, asthma or a food allergy) using a partially hydrolyzed formula may help to reduce the risk of a milk allergy developing. Although soy formula was recommended for this purpose in the past, studies have shown soy formula does not reduce the risk of allergies to any great extent.
Partially hydrolyzed formulas are based on cows milk, but the protein molecules in these formulas have been partially broken down into smaller molecules that should be less likely to cause allergies.
Where a baby has already developed an allergy to cows milk, partially hydrolyzed formulas should NOT be used. A specialty formula, where the protein is more completely broken down, may then be necessary. (Specialty formulas for milk allergies are only available on a doctor’s prescription.)
There are a number of different types and brands of specialty formulas on the market, such as those for premature infants or infants with heart disease, malabsorption disorders, an inability to digest fats or other conditions. Specialty hypo-allergenic formulas are available for babies with Cows Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) or Milk, Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI). In most countries these specialty formulas require a doctor’s prescription.
Children can sometimes develop a secondary lactose intolerance following a gastro-intestinal infection, when the ability to digest and absorb lactose is lost temporarily. A low-lactose or lactose-free infant formula is often recommended for a few weeks, after which time the child can usually return to his/her regular formula.
Infant formulas currently available in the US are either ‘iron-fortified’ with approximately 12 milligrams of iron per liter or ‘low iron’ with approximately 2 milligrams of iron per liter.
Iron is essential for growing babies. For the average baby a low-iron formula is a nutritionally inadequate formula. Unfortunately, these formulas are sometimes used for healthy babies experiencing problems with constipation. Infant constipation is rarely due to an excess in iron.
CAUTION: Although low iron formulas can be purchased over-the-counter in many countries it should ONLY be used on medical advice.
It is best to ask your pediatrician what they suggest.
lactos free more people have a problem with milk, or mild based products, soy is milk based
It depends why your baby would be on it. The lactose free would be best if it is just a lactose intolerance.
breastmilk is best, but you should check with your baby’s doctor before trying any formulas to make sure your baby doesn’t have any dairy or soy allergies. Those are two of the most common food allergies these days, and you need to be aware of the signs before you feed any to your child.
Actually the regular formula with cow’s milk base is the best thing next to breast feeding, however, if your baby is lactose intolerent there is a chance that she may also be intolerent or allergic to soy. You should check with your pediatritian and they can reccomend the type of formula which is best for your child.
first ask your doctor. If your baby is already on formula and having problems keeping it down then lactose free is great but it causes stinky underpants. Soy is better from a more natural sense.