Mumsnet Talk

i posted this on another thread but then found this one and think its more appropriate!

my 17month old DD has glue ear, and has been on low dose antibiotics for 3 months. Just been back to see the specialist today who has suggested it could be a milk allergy causing her to produce more mucous, leading to glue ear.
I am tempted to try a week or two milk free, but feel she's too little to stop having cows milk, what would i use instead? i dont really want to go back to formula.
Has anyone had experience with this??

I don't know much about milk intollerance but I have a feeling you'd have to cut it out for much longer than 2 weeks to make sure. However DD1, who is no 6.5, has just grown out of having glue ear - I hope. Over the years she's had two sets of grommets and many ear infections and burst ear drums. I also have been told that cranial osteopath can help.

i dont really want to go down the grommets route just yet as shes so little, cranial osteopathy sounds good, she had that done when she was a newborn due to ventouse so might be worth another shot;...

My son has glue ear and it is definitely made worse by cows milk.
We juggle the two at present and when he has a cold revert to goats milk which seems to work.
He has an appt Thurs and I don't know what to do either - grommets seems drastic!

Goat and Soya milk are not first choices as often those with milk allergy are also intolerent to these.

Oat milk is often used, there is a calcium enriched variety (long life section of supermarket) but it is lower in calories than full fat cows milk.

I don't think you would notice a change in the glue ear as quickly as 2 weeks. but you may notice changes in nappies, behaviour, sleep, appetite etc which may indicate an intolerence. However you need to make sure enough calories and nutrients without dairy so doing this under advice of dietician would be best.

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Yes, should have mentioned the formula, it is expensive so gp/paed may not suggest it to start with. Problem is they taste disgusting. We did a trial with oat milk, then challenged with cows milk. Once confirmed we got neonate advance on prescription (Harry is a poor eater though)