Question
Can an 8-month-old baby drink soy milk and mix it with formula? The baby currently consumes 300 milliliters of milk, 360 milliliters of specially prepared soy milk, and 12 grams of formula daily. Additionally, 25 grams of packaged formula and 50 grams of homemade rice porridge are included. The baby’s bowel movements seem normal lately (there were constipation issues when not drinking soy milk, with harder stools), and the urine is no longer yellowish. However, some online sources say that drinking soy milk is bad for a baby’s stomach at this age, which makes me unsure what to do. Moreover, there is also a claim that soy milk is not suitable for storage in a thermos, but I feel that the soy milk made with a soy milk machine in the morning, stored in a thermos until afternoon, does not seem to have gone bad. Should I continue giving the baby soy milk?
Answer
It is not recommended for children under one year of age to consume excessive amounts of soy milk. Soy milk contains more calcium and plant-based proteins, but these plant-based proteins have lower bioavailability and are not suitable for long-term consumption by infants. It should be boiled gently for a while before consumption to destroy harmful substances present in raw soy milk. Formula milk contains higher levels of calcium that is easier to absorb and is very beneficial for the baby’s growth and development. It can also be considered to let the baby intake some colostrum to enhance disease resistance and boost immunity.