Soy milk or Cow's milk?
By Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14931)
Malaysia
April 14, 2010 11:46am CST
My baby is already 1 year old, and he's still on fully breastfed, and of course some solid food. I am thinking what milk I should give it to him after I've stopped breastfeeding.
Cow's Milk:
I've been hearing some negative comments about cow's milk and it's said cow's milk is for baby cows, but not our babies. Is infant formula milk considered as cow's milk? Is infant formula milk good for babies?
Soy Milk:
I have been always thinking soy milk is a better alternative, as it's more natural. But when I checked with my son's pediatrician last week, and she totally discouraged on giving soy milk, as they are added with a lot of articifial ingredients which may harm the babies. She also mentioned soy milk is harder to digest as compared to cow's milk. I've also read that soy milk doesn't contain enough fats for babies, and this will influence the brain development especially for babies under 2 years old.
So, I am quite confused now. 
What do you think? What do you give to your babies? Or are there other better alternatives?
What do you think? What do you give to your babies? Or are there other better alternatives?6 people like this
19 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 10
When both of my children were ready to be weened, my pediatrician recommended whole cow's milk for them. The reason that this is what they recommended is because it has the fats that the baby's brain needs to continue to develop into a healthy brain. If there is some reason that your baby isn't able to digest cow's milk, then I would recommend soy milk, but only if they have digestive problems with lactose. Your baby is through the important first year when iron and such is needed and that is why they say to move to cow's milk typcially, it is still good for the baby but not fortified with all the things that an infant newborn needs.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
15 Apr 10
My toddler son and my baby daughter have infant soy formula. I know that most babies on formula have a cow's milk based variety of it. Many health professionals are misinformed about soy formula. Provided that it is made by a baby food company it is fine. Regular soy drink for adults might not have the right amount of vitamins and minerals for a baby. We are a vegan family and the Vegan Society gives great advice. Many people are lactose intolerant and some are allergic to cow's milk. Cow's milk infant formula can give some children an allergic reaction. The mom's milk is best for the baby. I hope that you find the right formula for your baby. Good luck.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Apr 10
They may not like the taste of soy milk. As for cow's milk, if you're going to use that, get organic milk. There's a lot of hormones and anti-biotics and things in non-organic milk.
But there are other things you can try as well, sheep's milk, goat's milk, rice milk, almond milk...
@venkatachary (1165)
• India
16 Apr 10
Cows milk is good for babies.In olden days , Cows were given importance and were raised in the good surroundings and so, the cow milk was a very good milk.But , nowadays , the Cows and Buffaloes are made to loiter only near the drainage water and it takes both only in the drainage water. We can not consume the milk of such cows which is health hazard.If the cows are reared in the Good surroundings, then certainly you can give the baby that cows milk.Happy myLotting.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
15 Apr 10
I really don't know what to tell you because a lot of the cow's milk has artificial ingredients and hormones etc as well. When I was a kid my uncle had a farm and he milked the cows and that's what we drank. It was all so simple. I have had soy milk and I still remember the taste....it sucked. Is it better? I don't know anymore. They add chemicals and preservatives to pretty much everything now. Unless you raise it or grow it then you really don't know what is in it now do you? For me growing up, everything was natural...or most of it was. My mom sometimes bought butter but most of the time it came from my uncles farm along with cheese, milk, meat etc. Vegetables came out of the ground and as kids we helped pick them. Berrys, fruits...same thing. Even our junk food was home baked with no preservatives. I to this day can't eat hostess foods or little debbies. I've gotten used to the dairy products and the meats are very sketchy. I think there may be alternatives these days but they are very expensive.
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
if that is what your pediatrician told you then, you should follow to that. when i need something to feed or to do with my son i always ask his pediatrician as well. they know best when it comes on the health of our little ones. i heard before that our pedia was explaining that children with a certain age needs fat to brain development. so you need him to drink milk that is age appropriate. when he is much older then you can introduce soya milk with him. but for the mean time milk that is appropriate with your child's age is better.
@celticeagle (167025)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Apr 10
I would always choose soy milk because it is good for women and helps with their hormonal balance. Soy beans are good for you. I know there are alot of soy products that woman can get to help them with hormonal balance. I was not aware of the problems it would have for kids.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
15 Apr 10
I would try out some of the other kinds of milk before going to soy. I just recently switched over to almond milk after reading some posts on a similar subject and finding out some not so great things about soy. For one soy milks are loaded up with sugar and some other things that make it not something you want your baby drinking all the time.
@raleyfamily (132)
• United States
15 Apr 10
Go with the most natural, pure thing you can give your baby. Nurse as long as he will nurse, then go from there. I've been a mom for 34 years and have ten children. We buy raw cow's milk from a friend, but we don't actually drink a lot of it. We cook with it, use it for cereal, and make butter, cheese and things like that. But I encourage the children to drink water more than anything else, pure water!
I agree with the poster who was warning you about the estrogen in the soy milk.
There is a good tasting alternative, rice milk, but it's really pricey. I say go with the purest milk you can find, but don't drink a whole lot, anyway. Just think - cow's don't drink milk once they are grown! They get calcium from the vegetation they eat. Your children can do the same thing!
@workworkthomas2010 (77)
• India
15 Apr 10
Honestly, I think its best you check with your baby's paediatrician. He is the best advisor when it comes to your baby's health. Never listen to anyone's advise in this matter. The doctors know it best. So should you have any doubts or issues or concerns or any of that sort, doctors are there to help you out. Honestly, I trouble my baby's doctor almost every time. And he knows me so well. There was a time when i woke him up at 1:00 am as my baby was running a high temperature, of course he didn't appreciate it. But the bottom line is consult him for everything.
@jazper26 (56)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
For me I prefer drinking cow's milk because when I am high school before i sleep i will drink a glass of cow's milk and at that time I am basketball varsity member and not just that I am the captain ball of our team I have a big responsibilities on my shoulder as a captain ball of the team so i really need to be physically fit and have an endurance to overcome any kind of training which will be given to us by our coach so. and i don't know also the content of soy milk.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Apr 10
Between the two, I would go for cow's milk. Not only does soy based milk have a lot o artificial ingredients, it has hormones that could be harmful to a male baby. Cow's milk may not be a perfect food for humans, but we've been drinking and using it for thousands and thousands of years.
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
14 Apr 10
i tried soya milk for my kids but they never like the taste...so i give fresh milk for them..and it really good for them
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
15 Apr 10
i dont have a kid but i did watch a doctors show on tv saying that soy milk raises estrogen levels to where it could actually make women more prone to cancer.. with him being a boy i dont know what the affect would be but god only knows what is in EITHER of them!
@kquiming (2997)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
There is another alternative: Vegetable milk. Just read the label first before making decisions to purchase. I'm sorry I can't remember the exact name of that brand of veggie milk. Actually I think it all depends on your baby's needs - some really have no choice but to drink non-dairy milk due to lactose intolerance. On the other hand, I still believe that there are benefits in cow's milk that aren't present in other forms of milk. You may try getting the advice of 2 peadiatricians or more, or from other mothers (but this might only lead you to more confusion). Anyway if I were you, I'll get a 2nd opinion from another doctor. I know for a fact that non-cow's milk is preferrable if your baby suffers from allergies (or if allergies run in the family since the baby's likely to have inherited some of them).
@bananamen1 (442)
• Bulgaria
14 Apr 10
I haven't been read any info about that. But I'd choose baby formula or cow milk. Humans are mammals - that's why it looks more natura; to me to give cow milk, not some beverage made from soybeans.
