Everybody will always tell you that the best thing you can do for your little one is to breastfeed them. After all, breastfeeding protects your child from diseases, improves their immunity, etc. However, there is some situation when women can’t breastfeed, whether due to very low milk supply, taking certain medication, health issues and so forth.
Whatever the reason, in such situations, you need to feed your bundle of joy with a formula! Nowadays, we have plenty of excellent baby formula on the market since most manufacturers try to mimic breast milk. However, it’s very important to give your kiddo a dairy-free soy-free formula. Why? Because children can’t tolerate lactose and can even develop an infant milk allergy. Soy, despite some claimed benefits, also is a very poor choice for children, especially those born prematurely, who have poor renal function, or a cow milk allergy. Hence why choosing a baby formula without soy or dairy is a much better option.
But how to know which milk and soy-free formula will be the best for your precious baby? We imagine that it must be super frustrating to spend hours researching and reading about something that you don’t fully understand. But, don’t worry! We are here to help you out! We talked about it with pediatricians, infant nutritionists, and other experts to find out everything about the best dairy-free and soy-free formula. And now, we’d be glad to share these dairy and soy-free formula reviews with you!
Baby formula is manufactured milk designed as a substitute or supplement for breast milk. It is usually made of cow’s milk that has been treated to become suitable for your baby since, again, an actual unprocessed cow’s milk is a very bad choice for your little one.
Some baby formulas come in the form of powder or concentrate that needs to be mixed with water in a baby formula maker. However, there are also ready-to-use versions that don’t need to be mixed. We can imagine that you can be drawn by the idea of buying ready-to-use options for your little one. However, keep in mind that this type is more expensive. Plus, you need to use it right after opening.
The formula, in general, contains all the nutrients that your baby needs to grow. However, it doesn’t come with antibodies that protect it from infection.
Okay so, if you are vegan and you want to raise your child by your values, you may be curious about the soy-based formula. This is also something a lot of parents may consider if it turns out that their child is lactose intolerant.
As you can guess, soy-based formula is made from soybeans. And in terms of the health effects of the soy-based formula, there seems to be a dilemma. Some are saying that since soy-based formula contains phytoestrogens, it can be harmful. Others claim that it shouldn’t be harmful at all, and many have used them for such a long time with no issues. But regardless of the effect, there’s one thing all experts agree on, which is that if your child was born premature or has some other issues (yes, including lactose intolerance), then you need to avoid soy-based formula.
If your baby suffers from colic, the doctor will check for lactose intolerance. And while it is very rare and usually mild in babies, it’s still not impossible. And in case your little one is diagnosed with lactose intolerance, a doctor will recommend you to use non-dairy infant formula.
Many believe that goat‘s milk formula is much better than cow’s. Simply because it is easier to digest and is closes to breast milk. Not to mention hypoallergenic. And one thing a lot of dairy and soy-free formula reviews from users often claim is that goat’s milk formula was a great option to switch to when their children started to have some problems with the dairy formula.
So you may wonder what is dairy-free and soy-free infant formula? In simple terms, this type of formula contains neither dairy, lactose, nor soy. We also call them hypoallergenic formulas. They are made of amino acids, vegetal fats, corn and minerals, and vitamins that are part of any other formula and breast milk. A baby formula without dairy or soy is also called an amino acid-based formula. And when you compare hypoallergenic formulas for dairy and soy intolerance with other options, you see that the biggest difference is that these are the perfect option when your kiddo has a sensitive tummy, lactose intolerance or you just want to introduce them to a safer formula.
Wondering about when to use specific baby formulas? Now is the time to go over some of the reasons why you might want to use the best dairy and soy-free formula.
Intolerance or allergy to some ingredients is one of the main reasons why parents want to use specific baby formula. Babies who are allergic or intolerant to soy can experience diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, and bloating. They can also be excessively fussy. Interestingly, some babies who are milk protein or lactose intolerant can also have problems tolerating soy. In that case, finding a formula for dairy and soy allergy is the best solution.
As you may know, the majority of soy that we have on the market is genetically modified. And most of us try to reduce the intake of GMO food as much as possible anyway. It stands, even more when it comes to choosing the food for our kids. The best way to make sure that the baby is not eating genetically modified food is to look for organic non-dairy non-soy baby formula. Another option is to get a dairy organic baby formula.
While creating our dairy and soy-free formula reviews, we’ve discovered that lactose intolerance is actually quite rare in younger children and often starts later in life. However, if one or both parents are lactose intolerant or allergic, a child may inherit it. As we mentioned, the symptoms of lactose intolerance are cramping, diarrhea, fussiness, etc. But the best thing is to consult a pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis.
Intolerance or allergy to milk protein is a bit different because it is an autoimmune response. It can create allergic reactions like hives, itchiness, and swelling. In rare cases, the reaction can lead to anaphylactic shock, which requires immediate medical attention.
Overall, if you or your partner or even some family members do have lactose intolerance, it’s a better idea to consult with your doctor to rule out the chance of your kiddo having it. And if they do, then you can switch to dairy and soy-free infant formula.
We all want to raise our kids by our values, don’t we? However, while many of us don’t have any specific values regarding food, ethical vegans do. Naturally, they want to raise their kids as vegans from the beginning. So if you’re one of those people, naturally, you would want to consider a non-dairy infant formula.
Okay, most babies won’t have any problem with standard milk formula. However, if you notice some changes like skin irritation or cramping, that can be a reason to concern, and you should contact the pediatrician. Even if it doesn’t seem that bad, always better to be safe than sorry. The doctor will be able to understand the problem and decide whether your little one needs the formula for dairy and soy allergy.
That is all about the best dairy and soy-free formula 2023 for today, folks! As we mentioned, most babies can tolerate cow’s milk formulas perfectly and never experience any issues. Sometimes, however, your baby can be intolerant or allergic to soy, dairy, or both. In that case, the best dairy and soy-free formula would be a perfect choice! It’s also a wonderful vegan option if your baby doesn’t want a regular non-dairy infant formula.
And what are your reasons for looking for a baby formula without dairy and soy?