Going dairy-free for the sake of a breasfed toddler

[PrettyCandles]

I've been advised to try ds2 on strictly dairy-free diet, and been told that I should do the same myself as I'm bfing him. But, at 20m, just how significant would my 'input' be to him? He has a bfeed at least twice a day.

[mummypig]

I think it's worth it. After a few weeks you could try reintroducing dairy to your diet and see if it makes a difference. But tbh if you are preparing dairy-free food for him it's easier to have the same stuff yourself, isn't it? Also if you go the whole hog it's likely that he will grow out of it quicker than if his diet is just almost dairy free.

Ds1 used to react even if all I'd had was a yoghurt that morning. Once we worked out what was happening both of us were dairy-free for quite a while. Plus I avoided dairy while pg with ds2 in the hope that it would prevent ds2 having the same intolerances. I got used to it -so much so that my diet is pretty low in dairy products even now. Ds1 is 6 and appears to have grown out of his reactions. Ds2 doesn't have food sensitivities (as far as we know) so although I know this is purely anecdotal, as far as I am concerned it was worth it.

[PrettyCandles]

How did he react?

[Tapster]

My DD who is 19 months has an egg allergy, its not that serious her only reaction is hives. But even now with only two feeds a day she reacts if I eat anything with egg. Just a spot or two but definitely a reaction. After 12 months of not eating cake, it does add to me thinking of weaning her completely. So yes I think you need to go dairy-free yourself and if you don't want to do it then you will need to wean him. You do get used to your new diet quite quickly.

mummypig - I'm ttcing no.2 , and I've had mixed reactions from the doctors about whether I need to avoid egg to try and stop the next child having an egg allergy - do you have any information on this?

[Snozcumber]

I would definately ditch the dairy!! I have 2 very dairy intolerant dd's. When we started dairy free, we all did it. It made my life easier eating it and shopping for it. (Plus I'm a bit scatty and could never remember to cut it out of their's) We have a dairy free house, and soon discovered that I am dairy intolerant too. Finally found a cure for those migraines!! The main advantage for us is that dd's now 3 1/2 and 2, never question what they are eating, as it isn't different to them, and dd1 will quite happily tell anyone "No thanks, I can't eat chocolate, cow's milk makes me sick! I have special chocolate"

Advice on allergies and intolerances whilst pregnant, I was told, "if you are an allergic/intolerant family there is probably little help in avoiding a substance, or exposing a child to it in the womb! However, the placenta is not as protective as we would all like to think and if eating something makes you feel more unwell, it may be because it is making the baby feel more unwell"

HTH anyone
Sympathy Pretty Candles, I remember thinking the world was gonna end having to shop dairy free. There are lots of things to trip you up like, sausage rolls, sandwich meat, biscuits. All the junk really, I don't think we ever eat so well.

[PrettyCandles]

I've cut out all obviously dairy foods (the only thing I really miss is cheese), but I'm wondering whether it's really necessary for me to cut out things that just contain small amounts, very low down in the list of ingredients.

We;re using up all the forbidden foods, so eventually we'll all be dairy-free, apart from milk and ice-cream for dh and ds1, but it's really difficult for me not to snack on the 'contraband'.

[mummypig]

hi sorry it's taken me a few days to get back to this thread. I think if you are going to do it, it's best to do it really well and completely cut out all dairy products. If it helps then, like I said, you can try reintroducing foods, the 'safest' ones first like cheese and yoghurt.

Ds1 was an extremely colicky baby and would scream and scream and nothing would comfort him. He also had 'loose' poos and would sometimes develop a little rash around his eyes and mouth if he'd eaten something forbidden (although this happened more with soya than milk). Oh yes and he had infantile eczema too but not to a great extent. It was the screaming and poos that were fairly clearly linked to my dairy consumption.

I haven't seen anything conclusive about avoiding food during pregnancy. I did for ds2 but I am currently pg with ds3 and not really avoiding dairy... having said that I don't have much in my diet anymore in any case.

I have been told that taking probiotics in the last trimester and during breastfeeding can prevent babies from developing atopic conditions - but having looked into it, the research on this seems inconclusive too. There is a clearer case for probiotics preventing eczema, but not so clear for other atopic conditions like allergies or asthma.

And I agree with snozcumber - our diet was far healther when we had to avoid cow's milk and soya! Between the two you basically avoid all processed foods and end up eating more fresh food or making things from scratch.

[PrettyCandles]

Yes I suppose if I'm going to do it I may as well do it properly. It's just that it's so easy do make the effort for the LOs - for myself I just want to grab convenience stuff.

[trixymalixy]

It definitely makes a difference cutting out dairy when you are bfing.

My Ds would scream when feeding when he was little and cutting out dairy and eggs stopped that.

Now he is 16 months it doesn't make so much difference as he only bfs before bed and in the morning. His excema gets bad and he scratches if I have the odd slip up.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

If you've been advised to try a strictly dairy free diet, as you say in your OP, then it is essential to give it up totally in your own diet. It's a bit of a PITA, but you soon get used to it. I did it for around 18 months for dd. Sympathise with the loss of cheese though.

[mawbroon]

My ds (2.8)is intolerent to dairy, but is absolutely fine with my breastmilk.

I wonder if you should maybe try your ds on dairy free first, and then if no improvement (give it a couple of weeks) then go dairy free yourself.

Have you been told to avoid goat's milk too? I have put ds on goats milk after about 8 months completely free, and he can tolerate it fine. I have really found that it has broadened the dishses that I can cook for him (he is allergic to egg as well) and he is taking great delight in having things like macaroni cheese and pizza again.

[mawbroon]

Sorry, that sounds like I am implying that my breastmilk is dairy!! MOOOO. I forgot to mention that I am not on a dairy free diet (or an egg free one for that matter) but I appreciate that there are varying levels of intolerences.