To give DD (4) soya milk...

[Feminine]

at school 'milk time'?

The school is fine with it. Apparently the many of her reception class don't like the milk that is provided.

I remembered that sometimes she enjoys the Alpro strawberry carton.

So, she will be drinking one 5 times a week!

I know that the jury is out on soya... is that too much for a little girl?

Obviously I know that with a diary allergy there is little choice. My dd does not have that concern and it made me wonder?

Thanks all :)

[Regards]

Why soya milk, why not ordinary flavoured milk or smoothie? There are some very nice smoothies available or you could make your own using fresh fruit liquidised up with milk.

[BaronessBomburst]

What's wrong with soya? I've missed that one. other than that it tastes foul

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I don't see the problem, I hate milk always have some it's vile and somehow deemed the be all and end all when it's meant for cows not humans :) if she likes the soya let her have the soya. :)

[SoftSheen]

Or you could just give her strawberry or chocolate flavoured cow's milk?

[Feminine]

The soya one is UHT also. Like the school milk cartons. I didn't want to cause a problem in the classroom.

Plus, I know she will drink it.

Our school milk might have got warm back in the 70's but at least it was fresh!

[SuperiorCat]

What caffeine said

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

You can get Alpro soya milk which has calcium added, it has a giraffe on the front. If you're going to do it.

I give that to my DS recommended by our dietician as he has a milk allergy as there's some thought behind kids only on soya developing bad teeth.

Would she not just drink milkshake?

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

That comes in 1litre cartons and is aimed at babies and toddlers. The milkshakes still contain calcium and come in little cartons. The Koko strawberry milkshake cartons are delicious aswell :)

[Feminine]

Thanks all. I will continue to let her take it. Appreciate the suggestions too!

[IndridCold]

Article here about doubts over soya (apologies for DM link, but Joanna Blythman is a good writer). I don't think drinking it would do your DD any harm but personally I wouldn't want to give a young child too much after reading this.

DS didn't really like milk much and never drank anything like the amount he should have done. He did make up for it in cheese consumption though!

[tywysogesgymraeg]

If you're worried about soya, there are other milks you could try: almond, hazelnut, oat, and coconut to name but 4.

[Feminine]

Thanks again for the latest help.

I'm not having any luck finding any other milks, ie almond in small cartons.

I could decant, but it wouldn't be kept cold at school.

would it stay fresh?

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I wouldn't worry about the soya. One carton a day is not going to harm her. It's like anything else, eat and drink too much of it and everything's a problem. Toouch cows milk isn't good either.

Honestly it's fine. :)

[DiaryofaHollandParkParent]

Just a comment about soya being bad for teeth. My dd now 17 has been on soya since a few months old and has perfect teeth - no fillings.

[ThisWayForCrazy]

My 3 year old has been eating/drinking soya everyday since he was 8 months. I am unaware this is an issue tbh.

[PrimalLass]

I wouldn't. Soy is estrogenic.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Dd2 has been on soya milk since a yr and soya yogurts since six months and other milk subs in cooking. Drs/dietitian have never ever mentioned it either.

[trilogyofjuniper]

When mine were little I gave them all sorts of milk (never cows' milk though) - soya, almond, oat - there are many on the market. We all have excellent teeth!

[ThisWayForCrazy]

I believe it's only particularly beneficial for body builders or older males to reduce their estrogen intake.

[SaucyJack]

It'd be fine for her, but I don't think it's fair on the other kids if she sits there with a sugary milkshake when they're supposed to be having a healthy drink.

[ThisWayForCrazy]

Alpro soya contains roughly 9.1g sugars per 100ml and full fat milk contains over 12g...

[cruisepool]

How about these if you would rather avoid soy?

www.realfoods.co.uk/product/25769/koko-chocolate-coconut-milk-calcium-dairy-free-250ml

I shop there and they do small cartons of almond milk too. I am sure my local sainsburys do them too in the uht milk aisle. I was surprised at the variety they had

[ThisWayForCrazy]

• sorry correct info -
  
  Soya strawberry 4.55g sugars in 100ml
  
  Full fat milk 4.7g sugars in 100ml

[Feminine]

saucy I have asked the teacher and she said its all totally fine. I told her to let me know if any children are upset. TBH, many of the class are avoiding the milk as it tastes so bad! I think some others are doing their own thing.

Its not really a milkshake, so no bold tempting packaging IYSMIM :)

I'm not actually too worried about the sugars, although grateful to see them ~ Thanks. DD is a slight build and has a healthy diet for the most part.

I'm going to check those links , thanks cruise :)

[Misspixietrix]

Ds is lacto intolerant he has the alpro soya cartons I bring in. OP I use to get the Big cartons and the Teachers would put it in a Cup for him but then the kids were kicking off wondering why he got to have his in a Cup/beaker and they didnt! I buy the vanilla cartons as they dont have plain in the carton with straw Types. It looks more like his friends then so they dont have a meltdown and Ds dont feel left out as he gets to have the 'same' thing as his friends. Its a case of trial and error with soya some of the stuff I wouldnt Feed to a dog is foul and others are actually quite yummy!