Soy milk is generally used as an alternative for dairy milk, but in some cases infants are allergic to both kinds of milk. Sometimes, the body mistakes soy as a harmful substance and tries to fight it off and this leads to allergies. Soy milk allergy in infants is noticed at around 3 months, but most children outgrow this by the time they are two years of age.
It is important that you avoid the use soy as a first food option unless advised by the doctor. If a mother is breast feeding and the baby is allergic to soy, she will also have to avoid eating soy products during the entire term of feeding the baby.
There are many symptoms of soy milk allergy. These include acne, rashes, itching, swelling, hives, nasal congestion, asthma-like symptoms, shortness of breath, anaphylaxis, fever blisters, colic, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, fever, weakness, nausea, and low blood pressure. A soy milk allergy usually appears a few hours after the infant is exposed to milk. There are many different kinds of rashes that could indicate that your baby is allergic to milk. The common types of rashes to look out for are hives, acne, and eczema; that can occur on any part of the baby's body. However, a soy milk allergy rash is mostly concentrated around the baby's mouth.
The first thing you need to do is confirm if your baby is allergic to soy milk. You can do this by consulting your pediatrician. If an allergy is confirmed, avoid feeding your baby soy milk and soy-based products. If you are breast-feeding, then you will need to avoid these products as well.
Here is a list of some soy and soy-based products you should avoid. Check labels when confused as to whether a product contains soy.
Despite your best efforts, you may still come into contact with soy (or accidentally feed your child soy) as some companies fail to mention the use of soy products on the box or their website. In the event of an allergic reaction, it is best to contact your doctor immediately for effective treatment.
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