When is soy milk acceptable?

[alacrity]

My daughter has had only breastmilk until recently. She is 11 months old. I watch two toddlers and both drink soy milk from straw cups. My daughter has been snatching their cups off the toddler table and sucking the soy milk down.

Should I make an effort to stop her or is it acceptable at this point. We use Silk which is fortified and has DHA but I know my breastmilk is probably better I have zero time to pump to give it to her in a cup.

Should I let her have the Silk here and there or definitely stop this now?

If it matters, it does not seem to keep her from nursing since she usually nurses right after drinking the soy milk.

[SuburbanHippie]

Soy is one of the most genetically modified foods on the market. It contains high levels of phytic acid (which robs your body of nutrients) and phytoestrogens that disrupt endocrine function. I avoid soy at all costs. You might want to read up on soy a bit. This seems like a very thorough website.

[hotharmony]

I would say "yes" Soy is fine to give to your LO at 11 months.

[crunchy_mama]

never.

[MountainMamaGC]

We drink soy milk. I checked with the supplier and they do not use GMO soy. I am more concerned with the estrogens from plastics, meat and cows milk than I am from soy milk or even my breast milk. Breast milk is better but if your DD has some soy milk from a sippy and it doesnt bother her then its no big deal. There are all kinds of foods and nutrients with compete and cancel out other nutrients. This is why a diet with a variety of foods is so important and moderation is key.

[alegna]

As a once in awhile oz here oz there I wouldn't worry. I would not give cup fulls for a lot of reasons. The ones mentioned, plus it's really just sugar...

-Angela

[MountainMamaGC]

Also it depends on the kid. Nothing stops my kid from nursing. She will drain a breast after a meal. She has a sippy of water or "milk" or watered down juice and barely drinks 2 oz. She prefers her mama.

[alacrity]

Well we seem to be across the board on this one! Thanks for all your replies.

I have definitely read up about the dangers of soy. We do not drink cow's milk here and never will because we are vegan. I think soy is our best choice especially since it is all we really have available here.

I will just let her keep on milk thieving I guess.

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

never.

http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/ has a bunch of info on soy. Organic or not, modified or not, I'm not a fan of soy.

If you want "milk" drink hemp milk. Hemp is AWSOME!! It's is packed with nutrients.

[alacrity]

soy milk is the only alternative available near me and I can't even afford to buy it regularly so I have no other options. Thank you for the suggestion though.

[Jojo F.]

Hemp certainly isn't cheap but, I think you can order it online. Or another alternative would be to buy a bulk bag of seeds online and make your own hemp milk.

Ooo, coconut milk is really yummy and good for you too

We did coconut milk and hemp milk when I was dairy free.

[alacrity]

We were just recently without a place to live and I just applied for food stamps because we rarely have enough food in the fridge so we are not in any position to order food online. I wish I was because we would eat much better than we do now. I am living WAY below the poverty line babysitting a couple kids so I can stay home with my daughter.

I love coconut milk but right now all I buy is soy when I can since it is available at the grocery store I walk to.