Remember that it is okay to begin introducing soy milk to your baby between 6 months and one year as long as they are still getting a majority of their nutrition from breast milk or formula.
Both whole milk and soy milk are not recommended under a year of age. After age 2, children can continue on either low fat cow's milk or soy milk. So, in this case, it is perfectly fine to use soy milk as an alternative to cow's milk, especially if there is adequate dairy intake through cheese and yogurt."
Milk alternatives should not be given before 12 months. Fortified soy beverages are the only milk alternative that help meet a child's recommended dairy needs. Choose one that is unflavored and unsweetened. Your child does not need added sugars.
How much soy milk is okay? The recommendations for milk are the same across the board, whether it's cow's milk, soy milk, pea milk, or something else. 16-20 ounces is the maximum I'd recommend, which is about 2-2.5 cups per day, for children ages 1 and up.
The only plant milk that meets this criteria is soy milk. This is why unsweetened, full fat, fortified soy milk is the preferred and recommended plant milk for toddlers.
Can babies have oat milk? As with nut milks, oat milks are not recommended as a complete replacement for dairy or soy milk for children under 5 years. Oat milks are low in fat and protein, which toddlers need for healthy growth and development.
Bottom line – best non-dairy milk for toddlers
My first choices for most toddlers following a plant based diet would be pea or soya milk. Oat milk is ok but only if a dietitian has suggested that your toddler can meet their needs from the rest of their diet. Remember to avoid nut milks, coconut milks and rice milks.
Soy milk in moderation (1 to 2 cups a day) is a good alternative for children over a year old who won't drink milk, are lactose intolerant, or are allergic to cow's milk. However, some children are allergic to the protein in soy. Although most children eventually outgrow a soy allergy, it may persist into adulthood.
What's the best type of milk for toddlers? The best type of milk for (most) 1-year-old children is whole cow's milk, which contains more fat than reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent) or nonfat (skim) milk.
Like any other food, soy milk may not be accepted by your child right away. To help with the transition, you can try mixing it into more familiar milk, like breastmilk or formula, and let them drink from a bottle, sippy cup, or regular cup.
This is because 50% of infants with cow's milk protein allergy may also have cross reactivity with the soy protein. Use of tree nut milk, including almond and cashew milks, have become increasingly popular. Rice and oat milk, as well as hemp milk, are also possible alternatives.
Be sure to buy whole soy milk, not the low-fat or nonfat versions, because fat is important for brain development in children under 2. (If your child has a family history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or obesity, however, her doctor may recommend beginning low-fat milk at an earlier age.)
In many cases, soy allergy starts with a reaction to a soy-based infant formula. Although most children eventually outgrow a soy allergy, it can persist into adulthood. Often, signs and symptoms of soy allergy are mild, such as hives or itching in the mouth.
Risk is increased in children consuming high amount of soy
But soy contains estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones that can adversely affect the immune system. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of soy formula for infants because of these isoflavones, even if a child has diarrhea.
You should know that the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends a combination of solid foods and breastmilk or formula for children under 12 months. Only after 1 year do they suggest introducing whole cow's milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that toddlers drink whole dairy milk since they need the fat for proper development of their brains and nervous systems.
Soya formula is suitable from 6 months but only under medical supervision. Soya formula is made from soya beans, not cows' milk. It's occasionally used as an alternative to cows' milk formula for babies who have cows' milk allergy.
Soy milk fortified with calcium carbonate and vitamin D is the best milk alternative for your toddler. If you cannot use soy, pea milk would be the next best alternative. Avoid giving your toddler almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk or rice milk as they are not appropriate substitutions for cow's milk.
People with breast cancer People with a history of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer should not drink soy milk. This may be because soy contains phytoestrogens, which act like estrogen and can make these cancer cells grow faster.
Soy Products Contain Too Much Estrogen
Furthermore, being that soy is an anti-nutrient it can lead to and/or exacerbate growth problems and learning disabilities in children.
Toddlers can drink almond milk once or twice a day in between periods of breast-feeding or eating their other foods, but only when they are over 12 months old. Almond milk is made of finely ground almonds and water. Other ingredients may include thickeners, sweeteners, and flavorings, such as vanilla.
Soy is a good source of low-fat and plant-based protein. It is cholesterol-free, has less saturated fat than cow's milk and lowers the LDL in the body. Cow's milk, on the other hand, has more calcium than natural soy. Calcium, as we know, helps to build bones and prevents osteoporosis.