Colic and soy formula for babies

Many mothers wonder whether soy formula is less likely or more likely to cause colic compared to non-soy formula. Here are some tips to help you deal with this very important issue. Note: always seek help from a physician is colic pains persist for more than a day or if you suspect that it is something more serious than just colic pains.

Colic is a broad term that is used to describe unhappy babies. It is not a specific medical condition - the symptoms of colic may be due to trapped intestinal wind and gas, muscle spasms or neurological pain.

If a baby has more than 3 of the symptoms below (in the same hour) it probably means the baby has so-called colic:

moaning, restless sleep, clenched fists, cramping, refluxing, grunting, pushing, fretfulness, crying spells, wailing, bloating, groaning, arching, evening, fussiness, greenish stools.

You should avoid feeding the baby with any kind of milk except human breast milk or infant formula milk if your baby is less than two years old. Avoid all kinds of cow's milk or goat's milk. Also, do not give soy milk, rice milk, or any other kind of non-dairy milk to a baby under two, unless it is specifically formulated as infant formula for babies.

Soy milk as sold in supermarkets is unsuitable for babies under two years old. When it comes to soy infant formula, there have been reports in the press saying infant soy formula may affect children's sexual development and fertility as adults if they are given soy formula during their first few months of life. Therefore do your utmost to give your baby breast milk only in the first few months of life.

You basically have a choice between soy formula or dairy milk formula. There is no evidence that soy infant formula is more likely or less likely to cause colic compared to formulas that contain whey or casein. Note that some infant formulas may contain a mix of soy and whey protein.

There are special baby-holding positions and stretching techniques that you can use to give the baby relief from colic. To find out how to do this consult a nurse or doctor that specializes in babies, or look for information in a maternity ward, baby clinic, the Citizens Advice Bureau, a public library, or by searching on internet.

The main objective of giving the baby stretching and holding exercises is to alleviate gas and reposition intestines. This also relieves pressure on the diaphragm and lumbar spine. Be gentle with the baby whatever you do, and hold the baby safely with plenty of pillow support.