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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that vegan/soy based formula is not the right thing to feed a growing baby

139 replies

Wingingthiswholething · 02/08/2019 16:36

Obviously in an ideal world breast milk is the better option. Some people chose not to BF, some people can't, some people struggle with milk production so mix feed. All fine. I prefer a fed baby.

But I've recently become aware that vegan formula is a thing. It is dairy free and plant based.

Surely this isn't enough to feed growing babies?

I don't really know a lot about it so am going to have a read out of curiosity, but I'm not remotely convinced that it is...well...a good idea. Same as feeding a dog a vegan diet.
Fair enough have your own dietary preferences, but is it wise to push that on an infant?

Aware this might be a triggering post. And I understand why some people don't like the dairy industry. Just very surprised that this is fed to babies.

OP posts:
DannyWallace · 02/08/2019 16:38

A lot of babies have milk protein intolerance/allergy.

Are you sure it's not the milk for that, and they're just jumping on the "plant based" buzz word for advertising?

Ringsender2 · 02/08/2019 16:40

My DS had wysoy formula after weaning at 1 yr. He is allergic to dairy (I had to cut out dairy from my diet when BF).

Non-standard/ allerginic formulas still have to comply with the nutritional requirements.

So, YABU

(Just standard rice milk or soya milk etc is not sufficient for under 2s IIRC)

KipperTheFrog · 02/08/2019 16:41

DD2 had to have a dairy free formula (mix fed) because she had a cows milk protein allergy. For her it was absolutely the right thing to feed her. A cows milk based formula made her really ill.

BeanBag7 · 02/08/2019 16:41

I think soy formula is mainly used for lactose intolerant babies/children.
I'm sure it has all the added vitamins etc the same as dairy infant formula.

cuppycakey · 02/08/2019 16:42

My DN had soy milk as a baby due to allergies. She is absolutely fine.

Nothing for anyone to get their knickers twisted over.

HalyardHitch · 02/08/2019 16:42

I thought soya wasn't good for children or men

newtlover · 02/08/2019 16:43

if it's marketed as baby formula (in the UK) it must be nutritionally suitable and complete, that's the law

however, I recall that the soy based formula I used briefly in the 80s had some beef fat in it Shock

Cohle · 02/08/2019 16:43

YABU, I imagine a great many (most?) babies being fed dairy free formula suffer from allergies rather than it being a dietary preference on their parent's part.

If you "don't really know a lot about it" then why is your first impulse to criticise other parents?

MamImHere · 02/08/2019 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Troels · 02/08/2019 16:43

My youngest had Soy formula from about 6 weeks, recommended by the paediatrician, she thrived, we introduced dairy around a year slowly with no problems.

alltoomuchrightnow · 02/08/2019 16:45

I'm not a fan of soya full stop but that's because I've got thyroid disease and it's the worst thing for it.
I always thought it was the worst thing for middle aged women as they use it for hot flushes then their thyroid breaks down and they wonder why it's even harder to lose weight (this is what happened to Oprah Winfrey)

Reallybadidea · 02/08/2019 16:45

I thought soy-based formula wasn't recommended unless needed for medical reasons because it contains oestrogen-like compounds?

Original poster
Wingingthiswholething · 02/08/2019 16:45

Sorry I should have been clearer.

I know some people that are currently on an anti-formula public rant, because it is made from cows milk. They don't have children so it's nothing to do with allergies, just their views because they don't like the fact that a lot of humans consume milk from other animals.

Obviously if you have a child who is allergic then it is completely appropriate to feed them dairy free formula.

OP posts:
InTheHeatofLisbon · 02/08/2019 16:45

A lot of babies have milk protein intolerance/allergy

DS2 had prescribed formula for that.

If using dairy free formula is because of an allergy/intolerance, fair enough.

Cutting out major food groups to appease adults opinions is selfish, ridiculous and shouldn't be acceptable.

Original poster
Wingingthiswholething · 02/08/2019 16:47

Cutting out major food groups to appease adults opinions is selfish, ridiculous and shouldn't be acceptable.

This is what I am referring to, not babies with allergies at all

OP posts:
InsertFunnyUsername · 02/08/2019 16:48

YANBU. I wouldn't choose it for my baby (unless allergies/intolerance obviously)

Original poster
Wingingthiswholething · 02/08/2019 16:49

How can you be unconvinced when you admit to not knowing much about it? Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Because I've always been taught that dairy is a major food group and wouldn't understand an adult removing it from a baby's diet unless it was medically necessary/made the baby poorly, aka, because they choose to eat a vegan diet themself.

Xxxxxxx

OP posts:
aliensprig · 02/08/2019 16:50

Some serious Daily Mail ignorance going on in this thread Hmm

You know what else isn't good for growing babies? Milk meant for baby cows - hence why so many infants (and adults) have dairy allergies.

Soya is perfectly fine to give to babies and children - that's why this formula is widely available: www.smababy.co.uk/formula-milk/wysoy-infant-formula/
Some babies depend on it if they are lactose intolerant and their mum can't breastfeed.

Please, please educate yourself and stop mindlessly believing everything the tabloids churn out. The dairy industries pays A LOT of money to spread false information about vegan alternatives - think about why that might be. (Clue: it's not because the alternatives are bad for you...)

InTheHeatofLisbon · 02/08/2019 16:50

This is what I am referring to, not babies with allergies at all

I know OP, it was actually clear in your post so I'm not sure why allergies were brought into it.

There's evidence that soy is not good for male babies, or males in general.

I think people who remove food groups from their children because it fits with their wants are spectacularly selfish individuals not considering the needs of their children.

DS2s diet needed careful management up until he grew out of CMPA at 3, to ensure he was getting everything he needed from his diet. It was hard work, but a necessity and he missed out on a lot, and we had to be hyper aware when at other people's houses/out for a meal.

Why anyone would do that to their child without a medical need is beyond me.

PopWentTheWeasel · 02/08/2019 16:50

Is this not just the formula made for FF babies with CMPA?

Skittlenommer · 02/08/2019 16:50

The purpose of cow's milk is to turn a 65-pound calf into a 700-pound cow as rapidly as possible. Cow's milk is baby calf growth fluid, I think it’s outrageous it’s still fed to human children.

I know lots of healthy bouncing plant-based/vegan babies who are thriving. A vegan diet is just as awesome for babies as it is for adults. There are lots of YouTube videos of such children too which are very informative.

EKGEMS · 02/08/2019 16:51

Soy formula worked for my child as he couldn't tolerate cow milk protein so I find your view ignorant

InTheHeatofLisbon · 02/08/2019 16:51

Soya is perfectly fine to give to babies and children

There is direct evidence to contradict this, and also why there are alternatives available on the market to give to babies with allergies. DS2 never had soy substitutes.

EKGEMS · 02/08/2019 16:52

Soy formula worked for my child upon advice of his pediatrician as he couldn't tolerate cow milk protein so I find your view ignorant

aliensprig · 02/08/2019 16:52

Cutting out major food groups to appease adults opinions is selfish, ridiculous and shouldn't be acceptable.

Dairy is only a "major food group" because farmers want to sell it to you. Otherwise millions of vegans of vegans would die of calcium deficiency. Which they don't.

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