How to Introduce Solid Soy Foods in Baby’s First Year 

In the first year of life, babies move from drinking breastmilk or infant formula as their only source of nutrition to eating a variety of foods from the family diet. There are a lot of important food transitions happening at this time.  
 
Learn which soy foods are appropriate for a growing infant and use these guidelines to help clients introduce solids during baby’s first year. 
 
*The information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your pediatrician or a qualified healthcare provider to determine the best approach for your child.  

Feeding Baby During the First 6 Months: Breastfeeding or Formula 

During the first half of an infant’s life, babies need breastmilk or infant formula to meet their nutritional requirements for growth and development. For babies with a dairy allergy, soy infant formula is a healthy choice. A 2018 review found no abnormalities in human development when babies consumed soy infant formula.¹ Additionally, another large study of babies from South Korea found no differences in neuro-development when they were fed soymilk formula versus cow’s milk formula.² 
 
Soy infant formula appears to be a safe, nutritionally complete option for babies in their first year of life, and it’s the only plant-based, non-dairy infant formula option available. A soy infant formula is an option for infants who have a milk allergy or intolerance (although babies with dairy allergies have a higher chance of also being allergic to soy), or if a family wants to follow a plant-based eating pattern.³ 

Introducing Solids to Baby at 6 Months 

No matter the dietary pattern a family follows, and with ongoing breastfeeding, several soy foods can be introduced when babies begin complementary foods around 6 months of age, whether they’re using a spoon or a baby-led weaning approach. It’s desirable to introduce soy at this time as it may help prevent the development of a soy allergy. 

Feeding by Spoon 

Spoon feeding, or spoon-fed weaning, involves feeding baby soft, mashed, or pureed foods with a spoon by a parent or caregiver. Encourage your clients to start with a thin puree and build up the consistency as the baby adapts and learns to eat. They can always change the texture by adding more (or less) breast milk or infant formula.

Try: 
• Silken or soft calcium-set tofu pureed with vegetables or fruit, or mixed with fortified infant cereal
• Steamed and mashed shelled edamame pureed with fortified infant cereal or pureed vegetables
• Soy yogurt mixed with pureed fruit. 

Feeding with Baby-Led Weaning 

When using baby-led weaning, an unstructured weaning method that encourages babies to feed themselves with limited help, ensure foods are well-cooked, soft, and cut into shapes that babies can easily grasp in their palms or hand. Encourage your clients to introduce flavors by adding aromatics, herbs, and spices. Avoid salt and seasonings with sodium like soy sauce.  

Try: 
• Firm tofu cut into long rectangular shapes, or “fingers” 
• Steamed edamame crushed with a finger or fork-mashed  

Finger Foods at 8 Months and Beyond 

When baby demonstrates a pincer grasp (using the thumb and pointer finger to pick up small bits of food), self-feeding takes off. Clients should sit with baby while they eat to monitor for choking and experiment with the following: 
• Small, diced pieces of soft calcium-set tofu 
• Steamed and mashed soybeans (you may flatten them with your finger) 
• Small, diced pieces of tempeh 
• Soy yogurt served in a bowl with a baby spoon (let baby self-feed)  

Feeding Baby After Year 1 

As baby grows and self-feeds, encourage your clients to try steamed edamame, seasoned or marinated tofu stir-fried with vegetables, or a smoothie made with soy yogurt and fruit. Unflavored soymilk is appropriate to offer after a baby turns one. 
 
Get the facts on soy, like whether soy is a complete protein, by visiting our Nutrition and Research hub. Recommend this powerhouse ingredient to your clients with resources from Soy Connection. 
 

References  
1. Testa, I., Salvatori, C., Di Cara, G., Latini, A., Frati, F., Troiani, S., Principi, N., & Esposito, S. (2018). Soy-Based Infant Formula: Are Phyto-Oestrogens Still in Doubt? Frontiers in Nutrition, 5, 110. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00110 
 
2. Ha, E. K., Lee, S. W., Kim, J. H., Shim, S., Kim, Y. H., Song, J. Y., Koh, H. Y., Shin, Y. H., & Han, M. Y. (2021). Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants Fed with Soy Formula: A Retrospective, National Population-Based Observational Cohort Study. The Journal of Nutrition, 151(10), 3045– 3052. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab229 
 
3. Savage, J. H., Kaeding, A. J., Matsui, E. C., & Wood, R. A. (2010). The natural history of soy allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 125(3), 683– 686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.12.994