Soy milk bad for children?

Hi All,

DD has eczema. She has had it for 2.5 years now. I have tried her on goats milk, rice milk and she has been on A2 cows milk for 1 year now.

Nothing really improved until i tried soy milk recently and it seems her eczema went away and she stopped getting itchy as much.

Anyway, we went to the docs and he said that her eczema has improved and I said yeh coz she's on Soy milk!

Then he chucked it! he said that soy milk causes pancreatic cancer and early dementure and that no paed would recommend this.

So ... what else can I give DD, if i knew cows milk is a trigger for her eczema but she also doesnt eat much solids (yes i have tried cutting her milk and it hasnt helped)

And why is Soy Milk so bad? i thought it was good for you!

THanks in advance!

I have no idea if there is any actual scientific tests into whether or not soy is good, bad or otherwise.

But here is my story:

I started drinking soymilk when I was about 10ish becuase I am VERY lactose intollerant (as opposed to dairy allergic).

My DD had exactly the same problems and symptoms with dairy as me, and while she is too young to test, my Dr said that if she shows exactly the same symptoms (she really is in *horrible* pain after she has dairy) then to be dairy free is probably best for her.

I used to make my own soy milk at home but now use commerical for P - just for the extra added calcium.

So she's been on soy for ages...and she also has bad eczema when she has dairy....but it's getting much better becuase she has no dairy at all these days.

She refuses to eat cheese, most meat and eggs, so is 90% vegan...it works for her.

It's a personal decision for everyone. I just hate so much seeing her in horrible pain when she has dairy.

I'm not sure exactly what the problem is with soy milk but I have heard bad things about it.
A friend of mine with lactose intolerance made almond milk for herself by blending up almonds with some water until it had the right consistency. Apparently it was pretty nice.
Unfortunately she had to stop as she thinks she might have a nut allergy, but if your DD has no issues with nuts it is something you could try :dunno:

Yeah Almond milk ROCKS but it's expensive to make! I make it at home as a treat for myself sometimes.

Re rice milk too...my dietician at the women's hospital said to never drink it as it's pretty much empty rice water with little to no nutrition, so that's why we don't use rice milk.

Goat milk....never tried it.

DD1 was terrible on dairy, screaming fits, painful runny poo, she bled out of her bottom O.o it was so bad.

She is now thriving on soy. If soy is what it takes, go for it.

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DD1 was terrible on dairy, screaming fits, painful runny poo, she bled out of her bottom O.o it was so bad.

She is now thriving on soy. If soy is what it takes, go for it.

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Very well said.

There is a thread about it... be back :)

Interesting. All my children apart from DS2 have been on soy milk at some stage in their early years. Both of my DD's have been on soy milk due to eczema. If DD2 has any dairy milk she gets the worst nappy rash that it makes me cry :(

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...by-120842.html

Here you go ladies, only just found this recently myself :)

AFAIK lots and lots of soy is heavily treated with pesticides and heavily genetically modified, so use organic and Aussie brands.

I believe some soy has too much iodine....otherwise not sure why it could be bad. Has no calcium, unless added and can have alot of sugar....
I have had my ds on soy the last month -sanitarium essential- added calcium-he has had terrible poos, awful awful nappy rash, screaming and unwellness- if thats a word. But, i think it has made his symptoms worse. I have now put him back onto milk and am cutting wheat. I hope it helps him, maybe there are other things you could look at?
I myself am dairy and wheat intolerant, do you know if you suffer also?
x madame x

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Interesting. All my children apart from DS2 have been on soy milk at some stage in their early years. Both of my DD's have been on soy milk due to eczema. If DD2 has any dairy milk she gets the worst nappy rash that it makes me cry :(

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I hear you! It's blisters and cracks and bleeds and she can't even sit down!

I get skin probs when I have dairy too...'wet' psoriasis, acne, rashes, as well as the usual wind, runs, vomiting and pain that is associated with being lactose intollerant.

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I have had my ds on soy the last month as he has had the awful poos, screaming and unwellness- if thats a word. But, i think it has made his symptoms worse. I have now put him back onto milk and am cutting wheat. I hope it helps him, maybe there are other things you could look at?
I myself am dairy and wheat intolerant, do you know if you suffer also?
x madame x

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It's very common for gluten intollerance to go through families...gluten intollerance commonly skips generations too. My Mum is celiac (sp?), her sister's arent, but her Mum was. My sis and I are not but we need to get our kids tested when they're old enough.

Soy allergy happens too...so maybe get your little boy tested when he is old enough...in the meantime, it's alll a bit trial and error.

It could also be a preservative or sugar thing maybe? Some commercial soy milks are absolutely PACKED with c.rap and unessescary ingredients....I go for the ones that are basically just soy, water and added calcium...just like a make at home.

It sounds like a consult with a dietician or paed would be a good idea, rather than chopping and changing or guessing.

I was given alot of soy as a child, and I don't think it did me any favours (hormonally). Even if my boys could drink soy (they are both dairy and soy allergic) there is no way I would give it to them. I'm not against all soy products at all, soy in more natural forms is very healthy, but I personally wouldn't be letting a small child drink soy milk. But that's just my opinion, and I'm no expert ;).

Most rice milk is calcium enriched, so that's a start. Sure, it's not the most nutritious milk going round, but there's other ways of filling nutritional requirements than milk ;). It's just nice to have a milk replacement for cereal etc. Oat milk is also nice.

Madamerogers, about half of people with cows milk protein intolerance will also have an intolerance to soy. Sounds like that's your little one. There are other options out there other than dairy and soy, some people have to exclude both.
My eldest DS is worse with soy than dairy.

For the OP, I would be concerned that you think your dd is reacting to rice etc, and wanting to get that checked.

Thanks all.

ZF I glimpsed through the article, will read it thoroughly tomorrow

Yes I know chopping and changing may be bad but I just want to find a solution for dd's eczema, she's suffered long enough and when I thought I found a solution, its doing her more damage :(

Is almond milk calcium rich?

Btw, no allergies run in both our families, dd got the raw end of the stick

YES! Almonds are naturally higher in calcium than cow's milk...one of the best sources, next to broccoli.

And I don't fancy Broccoli milk ;-)

Janie, she didnt react to the rice milk, she hated it so much she didnt drink a drop after a try and cried continuously for milk

With the issues you're having, you might need some assistance, rather than trying to guess on your own. Having done it both ways, trust me, the way with help is easier ;)

Very true janie, but I have been stuffed around too much by 'professionals'

Iv beeen to childrens westmead 3 times, the last time I got fed up with the same story and that they were too busy to give dd an allergy test and perscribed me with steroid creams.
Been to 2 skin specialist, more creams
One chinese herbalist that helps ease the itching but not get rid of it
So after some more research. Thats when I decided to eliminate diary.

I better read up on almond milk now too!

With regards to soy, I give her sanitarium so good, is that one ok?

Hi there
i wouldnt use soy either.. most of it these days is genetically modified, unless you buy the Australian certified organic stuff, and it also intereferes with hormone levels - especially not good for little boys. I make almond milk too - much cheaper than buying it from the shops and really easy to make. you just need to buy a little filter bag, i got mine (x2) off the net for about $10 from raw pleasure website.
What about goat's milk? - meant to be good for people who have allergies to cow's milk. my naturopath recommends it to me as I have coeliac and people with coeliac often cant tolerate cow milk. Goats milk takes a bit of getting used to, but once that's all you have been drinking for a while, you wouldn't even know the difference..
Theres the UHT nanny goat lane NZ brand I sometimes get from the shop, or I just buy fresh stuff that is produced locally.

I personally don't like So Good - even though it tastes good, I think that is the one that has added oil and ****.....they may have changed though...take a look at the carton.

The one with the green label - So Natural - is pretty good/pure. It does have a very natural beany taste though. Palmer doesn't notice the difference and I personally LIKE the beany taste, but if it's not your thing, go for a diff brand.

There's a yummy one with no added crap from asian superarkets that comes in a glass bottle and is dirt cheap, but from memory I think it has more sugar than the other brands.

PS - So Natural is non GM and has an organic variety too.

Dd didnt mind goats milk. I got the green carton one with a goat at the front from the supermarket, fresh milk section.
But it didnt improve her eczema.

Dd hated the organic soy which is browner in colour I think vitasoy organic?

Will definately true almod milk now. My health crazed brother alwaays tells us to eat a handful of raw almonds a day, I shoould ask him why tomorrow

Becuase they are packed full of protein and very little fat...my personal trainer got me into the habit of almond scoffing!

Yeah I hate Vitasoy too!

Don't think we get easily get fresh goat milk in WA...I've never seen it!

oops, sorry just seen after I re-read your post that you already tried goats milk - sorry it didnt work to help clear up the eczema.. maybe the almond milk would be good to try.. and someone else mentioned oat milk which is really yum, but not a great idea if any chance your bubs might be allergic to gluten..
angelaartstudent - there are 2 brands of fresh goat milk Im aware of that are availalbe in WA - 1 made in gidgegannup and 1 from busselton - i think a seasonal thing only available at certain times of the year. i have seen it at online coles, IGA Wembley, fresh markets like Herdsman/the boatshed/Carine Glades, and organic food stores..

DD2 abnd i both drink oat milk, its calcium fortified,
we had DD2 allergy tested last week by a private paed.

Have you seen a dermatologist for her eczema? It might not be an allergy-related issue at all and fiddling around with diet might not be the ultimate solution either. But you really need to make the effort to have her properly allergy tested. I know it is a huge PITA to fight with Dr to get them to listen to you, but it really needs to be done if you are to find out for sure what is her trigger. At her age she does not need dairy as a diet staple either. There are plenty of other food sources that are calcium rich that you can give her instead and totally avoid the dairy altogether. Personally I think non-fermented soy is evil and should be avoided at all costs.

What's the youngest they can get allergy tests? I keep getting told that P is too young.

she should be more than old enough by now.

why arent my docs nor the hospitals readilly able to give allergy tests?
Ive been asking my docs for years and he keeps telling me they are useless =(

I guess a child who is screaming in pain, puking, has the runs, is livid with tummy troubles, wind and a rash is not considered a priority becuase there are kids out there who are anaphalactic (sp) and REALLY need to get their allergies sorted FAST. However I am anaphalactic allergic to walnuts and pecans and had a horrible time getting tests for it and etc...and becuase I am an adult, I don't get an epi-pen as I am considered to be "old enough to know better than to eat nuts".

The last time I had a major reaction to pacans though was a really uncomforable and dangerous one - and a total accident! I had NO idea there were pecans in what I ate (couldnt taste or see them)...I felt my tongue tingle and swell, then my mouth, then my throat, then I couldnt breathe and my lips went blue...Mum was there and ended up calling an Ambo who said "wtf? Why don't you have an epipen?"

But anyway...I have gone out on a tangent....back to soymilk talk :-)

Im definitely going to try almond milk. Just got a recipe off the net that looks quite easy

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What's the youngest they can get allergy tests? I keep getting told that P is too young.

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She shouldn't be too young at all.. DD2 is 10.5mths now and she was tested roughly 3mths ago.
DD1 had the skin ***** test done at 12mths of age.

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Im definitely going to try almond milk. Just got a recipe off the net that looks quite easy

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Just make sure you buy raw almonds, not roasted. :-)

If you want to go all out, go Organic. Awesome creamy taste.

As I said, I'd drink it every day if I could afford to buy the almonds all the time! :-P

Maybe i should start drinking it too as im not a fan of milk in general but i love almonds .. esp in chocolate lol.

Thanks for the tip!

You *will* need a GOOD blender though.

I have a Vita-Mix, which has an engine powerful enough to run a small boat, but they are very exxy. However, it's my holy grail, as when I was living predominantly Raw Vegan, it got used multiple times a day.

A large processor would also work...but it'd again need to be a good brand. I have a mini cuisinart (becuase I had the blender so didn't need a giant one) and it's the best I've ever used...I think you can get them up to a 16 cup capacity (mine is 3 cup). The damn thing will grind raw macadamias to a powder!

You basically get what you pay for I reckon.

If you don't have a strong enough appliance for your Almond Milk, it won't grind them enough and it won't be creamy when you strain it...it'll be all watery.

Experiment with adding some stevia/sugar/other sweetener and some vanilla if you like it sweet...add cocoa or *gasp* ice cream syrup hehehe for choc almond milk...boil it with whole spices to make THE BEST chai tea I've ever had...use it just like you would normal milk...but make it right, or youll think it's gross (and you won't break down the almonds enough and won't get all the goodness out of them).

man sounds like making it is an art!

I will give it a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Somehow i hope it doesnt turn out like the rice milk (ie watery eeekk!)

I think the secret is just to whiz it for longer than you think.