Soya milk for 11m old DS, does this seem right?

[NineUnlikelyTales]

Hi

My DS is intolerent to cow's milk products and barely tolerates small amounts of goat's milk products. I had a dietician appointment last week to discuss his diet after 12m.

DS is currently exclusively fed EBM as I couldn't BF direct. I set myself the target of doing it for 12m, after which I hoped he could have cow's milk but of course now he can't.

The dietician suggested I use soya milk. I thought that soya milk was not suitable for infants - am I wrong? I use soya milk in cooking myself as I don't like cow's milk, so it's not a problem but I don't want to use it unless it is 100% safe.

His alternative was to use apple juice on DS breakfast cereal "to add calories" instead of milk, which stunned me a bit as surely this would be incredibly sugary and there would be no calcium in it?

To be frank, this guy did not fill me with confidence for a number of reasons and I'd like your opinions as I know a lot of MNers have children with allergies.

Thanks

My daughter drank soya based baby formula from 3m to 18 months because of the same reason. You could always try that. She is now 8 years old and has had suffered no health problems due to this.

You can try the different types of soya milk and if he tolerates that. I have found that Waitroes does powdered soya milk and also powdered goats milk.

There is also a type of cows milk called lacto lite which has all the lactose...the bit kids might be allergic to taken out. you can get it in Tesco and Waitrose round here and dd who I have on goats milk seems to be able to take some of that.

DD was breast fed until 15 months and then suffered from terrible stomach upsets and sickness and I tried her on a variety of stuff until I found one which is suitable but even then we still have the occasional bouts. She is now 20 months

Hi, I think you should simply ask for a second opinion with a different (pediatric) dietician. You see, not even professionals know everything! Be persistent until you feel you can be confident with advice you have been given. Good luck :-)

soya milk is a common allergen and is linked to higher rates of nut allergy. There are also concerns about the hormonal effect on young boys and the amount of sugar it contains. So it ought to be a last resort.

If your child tolerates goats milk their problem is not likely to be lactose (which is in goats milk as well as cows milk) but cows milk protein intolerance. There are special formulas which are processed to make them les allergenic. Pepti Junior is one of them and according to friends more acceptable to kids than nutramigen and neocate.

tatt is right, the apparently oh-so-healthy soya is an allergen, and one should use it wisely. It would not be my choice.
Interestingly, a little Greek mythology here: it was the goat that fed(nursed)God Zeus. Things like that always make me wonder. Have you seen a different dietitian?

Message withdrawn

today in Holland & Barrett a young couple were buying osteocare for a young child on the recommendation of the shop assistant. Just thought I'd mention it for everyone worried about their child's calcium intake as the box said suitable for young children.