Soya formula for a 6 month old- is it really bad?

[raininginbaltimore]

Dd is just about to turn 6 months. She has severe reflux and CMPI. She has been on Neocate since 10 weeks, but it has never been easy feeding. She has ha a significant feeding aversion, we have has weight loss, energy supplements, medications etc. she also sees a SALT, who cannot find anything anatomical (as well as an ultrasound and barium swallow/meal).

Although we have had reasonable weight gain recently we still struggle sometimes to get her to feed. Some days she takes less than half her required amount, but other days is fine. Feeds can take hours.

Her consultant and dietician have said that from 6 months we could try Soya formula as it is less nasty tasting than neocate. I know I have read things about soya, but I really want feeding not to be a battle. Is soya formula really bad? Will it damage her health?

TBH - I don't know.

We did use soya formula as a temporary measure for about a month with my DS2 but he was happy on Neocate so we stayed with that. And goodness knows what the hell that does to you healthwise.

It's a horrible minefield in which I feel you get no real answers.

BUT keep in mind it's not forever because they grow and then you get to try out coconut milk, oat milk etc... and their diet becomes more food based which is more varied so you feel better about it all.

Sorry to not be able to say " Oh it's fine' or "Oh no it causes this or that or the other' but you really have my sympathy.

It does get better as they get older, honestly.

As far as I know, and I am no expert, the problems with soya formula are, it's full of sugar so very bad for teeth, the proteins are very similar to CMP do a significant proportion of CMP allergic DC will be allergic to it and something to do with it mimicking oestrogen so could affect male fertility. So it probably wouldn't be as bad for your DD as she is female.

There are better tasting hypo formulas than neocate. Pepti junior is one.

The first concern with soya formula is that up to 50% of babies allergic to cow's milk are also allergic to soya. The 2nd major concern is the high levels of phyto-oestrogens and soya formula is not recommended under the age of 6mths by the British Dietetics Association for this reason: www.steppyorks.nhs.uk/presentations/unit-1/PaediatricGroupGuidelineSoyInfantFormulas.pdf
Personally, I would try to persevere with the Neocate if possible as it is nutritionally better than soy formula and to be honest if your DD has been on it since 10 weeks old, it is highly unlikely that the taste has anything to do with the feeding problems you've experienced. Switching to a different formula is more likely to cause refusal due to taste as they get used to whichever formula they're on. Saying that, I have heard that Aptamil Pepti is better tasting and therefore accepted by more babies than Neocate so you might want to consider giving that a go. My DS was on Neocate until he turned 5 and while it was initially really hard to get him to drink it, by the time he was 5 it was really hard to get him to drink anything else! I happen to think that soya formula is just as yucky as Neocate but that's my opinion!