Soy Milk or Whole (Cow) Milk?

Soy contains high levels of isoflavones which disrupt hormone balance. I read that it causes reproductive problems when given to babies 6mo & under. It can also cause thyroid problems when consumed frequently. It happened to me. I would stay w/ regular milk or rice milk. My 2 kids have milk allergies & love the rice milk. I get it at Trader Joe's & its organic.

I also remember someone telling me that soybeans are a big part of the Asian diet. However, soymilk is never consumed there b/c its not the same nutritionally as the whole bean.

We have recently started to think that my son may have a dairy allergy. Our doc told us that enriched soymilk is just fine for kids (boys or girls), and that the "myth" about female hormones causing trouble was just that- a myth! (I had heard that it was bad for BOYS!)

In any case, my son likes the enriched Silk so much more than whole milk! Even if he's not allergic to dairy, we're sticking with it. He loves it, and it has all the same nutrients as milk.

***I just wanted to add a response to the concerns about soymilk. This whole issue is still being debated, and many studies that are references on websites are from the late 90's-2003 and were later disproved by newer studies. They have yet to prove any link between the diseases mentioned, and as of now- everything is based on anecdotal evidence. There are a load of websites that also tout the benefits of soymilk! The isoflavones in soy milk are phytoestrogens, estrogen-like hormones found in plants such as whole grains, potatoes, dried beans, and apples. (See babycenter.com.) Does your baby eat those foods? Probably!

I am dealing with this whole question myself, as I contemplate weaning my daughter from nursing as we get closer to her first birthday. She has started drinking unsweetened rice milk, which tastes pretty good and has similar nutrients to cow's milk. I think our choice will be based on "all things in moderation" - I agree with one of the other responses that cow's milk is not really intended for humans, at least not in the quantities that we consume it. I think that we will be giving our daughter a mix of rice and cow's milk. She also consumes other types of dairy to supplement the calcium and fat that she would be getting from cow's milk.

If you do end up giving your daughter cow's milk, please go for organic. I also do organic for other dairy products, produce and meats. Avoiding all of those growth hormones given to the cows is definitely a good thing.

No one really knows the "right" answer, so just do what you feel most comfortable with. Good luck.

It's not the calcium in the whole milk that's of utmost importance, it's the fat for their brain. Look for hormone-free milk. I can't think of which store locally sells it but I bet Honest Weight Co-Op does.

Soy milk is okay but the sugars, even though natural, are a lot to me.

What a quandary this whole dairy milk vs. non-dairy milk is! There's so much conflicting info available, and the research is not nearly conclusive. One doctor tells you one thing, and another tells you something else. How do we best parent in this world of TOO MUCH INFORMATION, differing opinions, and the scary internet???

If you really think about it, humans are not meant to ingest non-human milk. So the difference between animal milk and non-animal milk? I would just make sure it agrees with your daughter's system and has the nutrients she needs, whether you choose dairy or soy or rice or whatever. Our daughter (10.5 months) has a dairy allergy, so she's drinking soy formula (the only affordable non-dairy option on the market). I choose not to spend hours on the internet doing "research" because it always ends up being an alarming waste of time.

So, just make your decision and know it's the best one for your daughter. For me, all other things equal (like nutrients), this decision comes down to money - milk is cheaper, my son can drink milk, so he does. We save the expensive rice and soy products for my daughter who needs them.

If you've been giving your baby formula, you've already been giving her cow's milk (unless you were using a soy formula). If you were okay with that, then the leap to whole milk shouldn't be that big a deal. I agree with other moms, go for organic and hormone-free dairy.

You can visit www.mercola.com for factual information on soy milk. This Dr. has a tremendous amount of articles against soy and really explains why. An option that my pediatrician recommended which is much better than cow's milk is goats milk. I know - sounds gross - I don't know how the taste compares but cow's milk isn't great for kids either. good luck!

Unless there is an allergy, I believe cow's milk is best. We try to only use organic dairy products to avoid the growth hormones and pesticides. If money is an issue, there are non-organic milks that say no growth hormones. It provides necessary fat, calcium and vitamin D. Personally, I do NOT believe the hormone issue with soy is a myth. Soy does contain phyoestrogens, which mimics estrogen. Women with certain types of breast cancer are told to avoid soy.
Good luck in your decision!

I also suggest you go to mercola.com for factual information on soy. I had both of my children on soy milk and after reading the current research I truly regret doing so. Although neither of my children appear to have health issues resulting from it, based on what we now know, I would not do it again. The Japanese eat mostly fermented soy which does not carry the health risks that are associated with other soy products.
I do agree you should use an organic milk product what ever you choose.
K.