Soy yogurt

Soy yogurt can be offered from about 6 months. Soy is a common allergen, so be careful when introducing it.

Where it comes from

Soy is native to East Asia. Tofu, soy milk, and tempeh are staples in China, Japan, and Korea. Culturing soy milk with probiotic bacteria works much like making dairy yogurt. It gives a plant-based option with a familiar tang and texture.

Nutrition

Soy yogurt gives some healthy fat, plus iron and protein from plants. Fortified kinds add calcium, vitamin D, and B12, all useful for growth and bones. Some brands contain live bacterial cultures that may help digestion. Look for live active cultures on the label.

Choose plain, unsweetened soy yogurt. Read the label, since it may hold other allergens.

At six months, serve in a bowl for hands or on a pre-loaded spoon. At nine months, let baby try to take the spoon alone. At one year, leave the spoon on the bowl edge and let them try on their own.

Soy yogurt is soft, so the choking risk is low. In theory, any food can cause choking.

Serve it for your baby's age, set up a safe eating space, and stay close while they eat.

Soy yogurt is made from soybeans. Soy is a common food allergen in infants. The product may hold other allergens too, so read the label carefully.

Fewer than one child in a hundred is allergic to soy. Reactions are mostly mild, though severe ones have been reported. About 70 percent of allergic children outgrow it by age 10.

When introducing

Soy yogurt is a good way to try soy with no other allergens mixed in. Give a small amount for the first few meals and watch the reaction. If all is well, raise it slowly. After a successful start, keep it in the diet twice a week when possible.

Related conditions

Among small children whose cow's milk allergy is IgE-mediated, roughly 10 to 14 percent react to soy as well. In non-IgE milk allergy the figure can be 30 to 50 percent. If your doctor told you to avoid both milk and soy, skip soy yogurt too.

A child with soy allergy may also test sensitive to peanut. If peanut is already eaten without trouble, no need to stop it. People with birch pollen allergy may get short-lived mouth itching. Soy can also cause a delayed allergy called FPIES. Its sign is repeated vomiting and diarrhea starting hours after eating.