Dairy alternatives

[Gerty1002]

I suspect my DS has some sort of dairy intolerance as he's had horrendous wind since it has been introduced. It could be coincidence of course but would like some ideas on dairy replacements/alternatives for a trial dairy free period. DS is ff so I don't need to cut it from my diet.

TIA

[Gerty1002]

Anyone?

[Gerty1002]

Sorry I should specify he is 6mo, was weaned on puree at 4mo due to reflux but is now eating very well, mainly on finger food but with some spoon feeding with cereal etc.

[GingerMaman]

Which formula is he currently on?

Aptamil Pepti 2 is the dairy free alternative. Ask your GP to prescribe you some. If he refuses, and you live in London, I'd be happy to give you a box.

[Gerty1002]

He is on Cow and Gate Hungry Baby milk. I suspect formula could have caused his reflux but that is under control now with meds and I think reduction in volume.

He is a 99th centile baby so GP pretty much dismisses me if I suggest he is in any way unhealthy. It's very frustrating as I actually think he fed for comfort as a wee baby. Though he was 98th centile at birth anyway.

It's more weaning and proper food I need advice on I think. He loves cheese and cereal with cow's milk but it just doesn't agree with him!

[Gerty1002]

Also thank you for the very kind offer but I'm way up North!

[GingerMaman]

Well cereal you can give him weetabix with coconut milk (karo brand).

For cheese you could try pure goats cheese/halloumi, or just eliminate it from diet.

[GingerMaman]

But if cows milk is causing problems, then formula milk has the most cows milk inside it. You would need to sort that 1st.

[londonlivvy]

You could try offering soy milk and yoghurts for a couple of weeks, just to see if your suspicions about dairy are correct? They don't normally suggest soy as a sole drink before a year but it might be a short term answer. Try www.cowsmilkallergy.co.uk or www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz for more information.

My dd was bf and I had to eliminate dairy (and eggs and soy) from my diet to keep her happy (she had silent reflux) and weaned her onto a special formula (neocate, on prescription from the GP) at six months. Neocate is very very expensive so they are reluctant to prescribe it unless there is no alternative. Dd has grown out of her soy allergy and is now on soy milk at 16mo. Weaning your child onto neocate isn't straightforward as it has a very very harsh flavour and I had to do weeks of expressing and mixing my milk with neocate to gradually get her used to it.

Hope that helps

[londonlivvy]

Soy yoghurts are great. My dd reacts to goat and sheep milk too, so that wasn't a suitable alternative. Coconut yoghurt (ie not coconut flavour yog, but yoghurt made of coconuts, available from health food shops... Flipping delicious but pricey) is an option too.

Milk wise, I would cook with oat, almond or koko coconut milk. The koko stuff doesn't taste as coconutty as the stuff you use in a Thai curry, it's much more subtle, so works better on cereal.

Vitalite is the best marg I've found for baking and cooking as well as spreading.

[ilovepowerhoop]

formula is made from cows milk so surely that would be an issue too

[Gerty1002]

I think I need to eliminate it for a while to check if my suspicions are correct, then maybe the gp will listen. We're up at least every hour in the night with wind so something has to be done.

[ilovepowerhoop]

if you wanted him to be dairy free then you would have to change his formula too or it would be pointless

[Gerty1002]

He is ok on his formula now, could it be because it is processed so his system has learned to cope with it? Or maybe he's reacting to the whey and his hungry baby milk is casein based?

[ilovepowerhoop]

you could just use his formula in cereal then rather than cows milk

[londonlivvy]

I would be surprised if he can tolerate cows milk formula but not cows milk in other forms. Maybe ask a dietician?

I would eliminate entirely for two weeks (different formula, different yoghurts etc) and see how you are. If he is better, then reintroduce one thing at a time (ie formula back to cows milk for two days) and then see what happens.

[hugoagogo]

dd was diagnosed as lactose intolerant when just under a year, she dropped down the percentiles rapidly (from 98 to 25) and had constant diarrhea.

I think it's unlikely that the problem with wind is caused by dairy, could it be he is swallowing lots of air with his food?

[Gerty1002]

I suppose it could be that he's swallowing air but seems too much of a coincidence that he doesn't swallow air and sleeps soundly all night on days he has no dairy other than his formula. I think if tonight is another good night after a dairy free day then I'll ask gp to refer me to a dietician.

[hugoagogo]

How is he today gerty?

Looking back on your posts it occurs to me, that if cows milk based formula agrees with him but cereal and milk does not then it could be the cereal that is the problem and not the milk at all.

[Gerty1002]

Thanks for asking Hugo, tbh he has had some bad nights even when dairy free, but it definitely seems worse with dairy. I am not sure if it was when I have him cereal... there were also instances where it was a bit of cheese or cheese spread on bread. I have wondered if it could be wheat/gluten though so might have to try cutting that out too and stick to plain old fruit, veg and meat for a while.

He also has some more teeth on the way, we had our suspicions and they were confirmed by the dentist this morning, so that's probably a big factor.

[hugoagogo]

You could look on that as good news, if it's his teeth that are bothering him then that will pass.

Having a child with food intolerance is not a picnic and thankfully my dd grew out of hers to some extent, but she still can't drink actual milk at 12; teething though is less of a problem

[Gerty1002]

It just seems to have been going on too long to be teething, but apparently there's four on the way so I guess it could be. Last night was definitely teeth, utter hell and calpol didn't even work :(.

[rootypig]

Tofu is a great baby food. I fry cubes of it for DD in sesame oil. Also beans of all varieties - I cook a batch from dried (usually a mix of black / kidney / adzuki), freeze them, then take a handful out to add to her food as and when.

[rootypig]

Oh and gerty this for teeth: www.boots.com/en/Anbesol-Liquid-15ml_1016835/

Is the only thing that works

[Gerty1002]

Thanks rootypig, unfortunately DS can't have anything with lidocaine in as it reacts with another of his medications. We're relying on a Nelsons homeopathic gel and occasional dose of calpol if desperate. Will have a look out for tofu - our local supermarket is small and terrible so will not have it, but if DS does have a food intolerance I will have to start shopping further afield.

[rootypig]

Oh no :(

In that case are you able to use baby ibuprofen? It may be much more effective. And you can use alongside calpol.