
Why use soy formula?
If for whatever reason you can’t give your baby breast milk or cow’s milk formula, soy is the next fallback. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the following as the only reasons you should choose soy formulas over cow’s milk-based formulas.- Your baby is lactose or milk protein sensitive
- Your baby has a true milk allergy
- Your baby has congenital galactosemia
- You are raising your baby in a vegan or vegetarian family
Pros and cons of soy formula

Pros of soy formula
- Soy formula is considered safe – A 2001 university study compared the difference in 811 adults – 248 who were fed soy formula with 563 who were fed cows milk formula as infants. No statistically significant differences were found across 30 outcomes in regards to general and reproductive health. The researchers concluded that the findings were reassuring in regards to the safety of infant soy formula.1
- A great alternative to allergies – If your baby has a lactose intolerance, milk protein intolerance or true milk allergy then a soy-based formula can provide an alternative.
- Relief from constipation – Many parents report that swapping over to a soy formula reduced or eliminated constipation in their baby.
- Prevent reflux and gas – If your baby’s gas and reflux are linked to a dairy intolerance then swapping over to
- plusA plant-based formula option – While there are no 100% vegan baby formula options, soy formula is dairy free, which means you can avoid supporting ethically dubious dairy industry.
Cons of soy formula
- Soy allergies – Soy formula is not suitable for infants with a soy allergy.
- High in sugar – As I will discuss below, soy baby formula typically contains more sugar than cow’s milk formula.
- Can contain corn syrup – Check the ingredients! Some brands of soy formula use corn syrup as the sweetener, which is not suitable for babies with a corn allergy. Fortunately, there are many soy formulas available that use allergy friendly sweeteners.
The sweet side of soy formula
If you currently have soy formula sitting in your pantry, take a look at the first ingredient. Chances are that it’s a sweetener.Common sweeteners found insoy formula include:
- checkGlucose Syrup
- checkGlucose Syrup
- checkBrown Rice Syrup
- checkCorn Maltodextrin

Best soy baby formulas
Below I will cover some of the best and most popular baby formulas on the market. Note: Just because one soy formula doesn’t work for your baby doesn’t mean that another will do the same. The ingredients of each brand can differ dramatically with many parents reporting that one brand worked better for their baby than another. YMMV.Premium soy formula – Similac Soy Isomil

Ingredients
Corn Syrup Solids, Soy Protein Isolate, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Sugar, Soy oil, Coconut Oil, C. Cohnii Oil, M. Alpina Oil, Beta-Carotene, Lutein, Lycopene, Fructooligosaccharides, Calcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Choline Chloride, L-Methionine, Taurine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ferrous Sulfate, M-Inositol, Mixed Tocopherols, Zinc Sulfate, D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Hydroxide, Phylloquinone, Biotin, Sodium Selenate, Vitamin D3, and Cyanocobalamin. While it may be a little more expensive, many parents report that Imilac Soy Isomil worked better than any other soy Powder on the market, especially in babies that have previously rejected soy formula because of the taste. Similac is also the most commonly used formula in hospitals. A claim that no other soy formula can back up. Similac believe they have the perfect formula and have actually trademarked it under the name OptiGRO. You will not find this specific blend of ingredients in any other soy formula, designed specifically to nourish the brain, eyes and support growth. A premium soy formula that comes at a price.Most popular soy formula – Gerber Good Start Soy

Ingredients
Corn Maltodextrin, Vegetable Oils (Palm Olein, Soy, Coconut, and High Oleic Safflower or High-Oleic Sunflower), Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Sucrose, Less than 2% of: Calcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Calcium Citrate, M. Alpina Oil, C. Cohnii Oil, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Soy Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbate, Choline Chloride, Inositol, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Phylloquinone, Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, L-Methionine, Taurine, L-Carnitine Gerber is one of the best-known baby food brands in existence. With brand recognition like this, it’s unsurprising that Gerber soy formula is the most popular on the market. Many parents swear by Gerber Good Start Soy as the formula that stopped their baby’s gas and fussiness. Gerber is also one of the few brands to offer both a baby formula and a soy formula for toddlers. The Gerber Good Start Soy Stage 3 is suitable for 9 -24 months, to accommodate your baby’s changing dietary requirements. Check it out, here.Organic Soy Formula – Earth’s Best Organic Soy

Ingredients
Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Soy Protein, Organic Palm Olein Or Palm Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic High Oleic (Safflower or Sunflower) Oil, Organic Soy Oil, Mortierella Alpina Oil, Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, L-Carnitine, L-Methionine, Mixed Tocopherol Concentrate, Soy Lecithin, Taurine, Calcium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Cupric Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium Chloride, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Selenite, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Choline Bitartrate, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Inositol, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine, Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Cholecalciferol, Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytonadione. One of the few soy-based organic formulas on the market. USDA certified organic, only organic soybeans are used that have been produced without prohibited pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Earth’s Best rounds out the formula by adding Omega-3 DHA and Omega-6 ARA fatty acids, special nutrients that are found in breast milk and clinically shown to boost mental and visual development in babies.Pediatrician recommended soy Formula – Enfamil ProSobee

Ingredients
Corn Syrup Solids, Vegetable Oil (Palm Olein, Coconut, Soy, and High Oleic Sunflower Oils), Soy Protein Isolate, Calcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Mortierella Alpina Oil, Crypthecodinium Cohnii Oil, L-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3, Riboflavin, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Vitamin B6 Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Inositol, Taurine, Vitamin E Acetate, L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Palmitate. Another premium soy formula, Enfamil is actually the leading formula brand recommended by pediatricians.1 However, I could not find whether this specifically referred to the ProSobee soy formula or the range of Enfamil formulas in general. That said, there is no denying that Enfamil’s soy-based formula is popular with many parents because it is gentle on the stomach, helping to reduce gas and fussiness. Like Similac, Enfamil has trademarked its own unique soy-based formula mixture. Specifically formulated to help boost the 4 areas pediatricians check for most – cognitive, motor, communication and social skills.Cheapest soy formula for babies – Parent’s Choice

Ingredients
Corn Syrup, Soy Protein Isolate, Palm Olein, Coconut Oil, High Oleic Oil, Mortierella Alpina Oil, Crypthecodinium Cohinii Oil, Lutein, Fructooligosaccharides, Calcuium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Choline Bitartrate, L-Methionine, Taurine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, Mixed Tocopherol Concentrate, Zinc Sulfate, dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Hydroxide, Phytonadone, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Beta-Carotene, Cholecalciferol, Cyanocabalamin, Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Trivasic Calsium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Manganas Sulfate, Potassium Bicarbonate. If you are on a tight budget then cost will play a huge part in which soy formula you buy. When it came to low-priced soy formula, Walmart’s own Parent’s Choice was by far the most affordable. Working out to be just over 8 cents per fl oz, Parent’s Choice soy formula makes for one economical baby meal. And the best part is that you can grab it off the shelf of your local Walmart. Don’t live near a Walmart? Order it online!Sample soy formula – Baby’s Only Soy Organic

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