Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

DS has been diagnosed with a milk allergy and has been on alimentum. I asked my ped if I can just put him on soy since obviously it's so much cheaper (I am in the process of trying to get the alimentum covered by the insurance co but they want him seen by an allergist first). My ped is saying not until he is seen by the allergist because "there's lots of differences between alimentum and soy".

Has anyone run into this before? What do you think? TIA!!!

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

A lot (but not all) of babies with a true milk allergy are also allergic to Soy. It took my DD almost 3 years to outgrow her Soy allergy.

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

Alimentum is still milk based but the protein is broken down already. If he has a milk allergy then depending on how bad his allergy is will depend if he can stay on it or not. Some kids just have a sensitivity, some can't tolerate the obvious dairy and milk based products and some kids can't have ANY products that have any trace of milk or milk derivatives. A lot of infants who have severe milk allergies are also allergic to soy and are usually put on Neocate which is an amino based milk. Your ped. might want to see what the allergist suggest after they do some testing.

My DD has a milk and egg allergy. She can't have the obvious milk and egg but she can have certain products that have these ingredients. It depends how much is in it and we only really know what she can have by trial and error. I BF so I had cut out all dairy and didn't eat soy because I didn't like it but she didn't have an allergy to it. If I FF then I would have put her on soy.

Message edited 5/8/2009 8:07:07 AM.

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

Thanks ladies. Do you know what they do at the allergist? They've already tortured my poor kid and drawn lotsa blood/done the rast test (I think that's what it's called).

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

hey there!

my son had the same problem
i was told and read that soy is not good for boys due to the estrogen in it.
prior to switching to the alimentum my ped. asked to try NEstle Good Start Supreme. it has comfort proteins that were broken already. which was our saving grace! different baby and has been problem free ever since!

good luck!
chrissy

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

sorry I am no help with the allergy part of your question...however, DD is on Alimentum and it was covered by my ins. when my FMLA ended and we had to switch to DH's ins. (so I could stay on mat. leave) we used up the stash from ins. and then we had to buy some. Honestly, I bought it off craigslist. I found another teacher (couple actually) with twins in the area. They were so nice and we found out we knew similar people. They had stored it properly and it wasn't set to expire for a while. They were very nice and we got it for $3 per bottle of RTF. It is something to consider if you have to stay on it and buy it.

Re: Alimentum vs. Soy (Milk Allergy ?)

Ah, thanks for the Craigslist tip!!! I didn't even think of that!!!