how much 'non dairy' milk a day for a 1 year old

[Bexybear]

Hi

Im trying to wean DS off his morning and evening bf but have no idea how much milk he should he be having a day.

He is allergic to cows so has a couple of small bottles (120ml) of Nanny goat formula during the day and soya milk with his musli.

Not sure whether to give him soya or more formula? anyone got any experience of this...?

Hi Bexybear - it depends how old your DS is really. If under 12 months I would give more formula if over 12 months I would give more soya. I found out my DS2 was allergic to milk at 8 months. He was fully bf until 12 months and then introduced soya milk at 12 months - including soya yoghurts etc. My rule of thumb with my children is that they need to have a cup of milk at breakfast and with nighttime dinner. They also have a serve of either cheese or yoghurt each day. My ds2 is two next week and now tolerates cows milk cheese and yoghurts every 2nd day.

Forgot to say he still does not have cows milk as a "drink" only in the cheese and yoghurts.

I would continue with the formula - soya milk isn't properly nutritious for infants until about 2 years old, and there are other reasons for avoiding lots of soy on other threads.

Ds is 2.5 and recently stopped breastfeeding. I have only introduced an extra 100ml of soy milk into his diet, and an extra piece of cheese or yoghurt each day.

The quantity your ds needs will depend on his age, the rest of his diet etc. I presume if he is having 2 bfs and 2 bottles he is still quite young.

bobbybob - my information from my allergist was that goats milk has a very similar protein structure to cows milk and could eventually lead to a similar allergy. The only thing I have seen about avoiding lots of soy is if it is genetically modified. The milk I buy isn't. Sorry - you have me in a panic as I have used soy since 12 months because my ds2 was allergic to cow and goat's milk formula/milk products etc. Please don't tell me that besides the milk,wheat,fish,egg, nut allergies I now have to worry that I have fed him soy for one year.

I was thinking more of the threads that talk about oestrogen - but I haven't read them in any detail.

I think soy from 12 months is very different to lots of soy younger (which bexybear's child may be). Also with as many allergies as your child mymama - you have to feed them something!

Formula is less allergenic than "real" milk because of it's processing.

Hydrolized (spelling)? milk has the protein structure altered so if your child is intolerant of milk protein like mine and me, this is also an option.

mymama you obviously have to feed your child what you can. Still nut allergy levels are higher in those given soya milk ( doesn't mean it causes it but worrying as they are the same food group). Soya is quite a common allergen and children given it can develop allergy to soya. Also there is concern about the oestrogen effect of soya on males, even if the effect is probably quite small. Therefore where a child can have goats milk its better than soya. Goats and cows milk have very similar structure but they aren't identical so there are quite a few children who tolerate goats milk but not cows. There are unfortunately more who react to both but as bexybear is one of the luckier ones sticking with formula even on muesli would be my preference if he was mine.

Hi all,

Thanks for the tips

DS is 13 months.

Id read about the soya/oestrogen issues and also the label on the soya carton says 'not suitable for children under 2' which gave me a bit of a fright... though im sure its fine in small quantities...

Im happy to continue with nanny goat as thankfully he doesnt react to it and also loves goats cheese - It just friend's non allergic babys are all moving on to cows milk now and i wondered if i should be cutting back on the formula.

bexybear

Keep giving the formula - your ds has special dietary needs, and soy milk is not a complete milk for infants under 2. It is fine in small quantities - but the formula will have more nutritional value.

Just out of interest - do you want to stop bfing - or is that because you feel pressure from the same friends? Some of my friends were bfing their 2nd child before Ds was weaned! But it did give me 2.5 years of not worrying about his calcium/soy intake.

when was he last tested bexybear? If his problem is milk allergy rather than lactose then he will almost certainly outgrow it sometime in the next 2 years. He ought to be recalled sometime for repeat testing. Unless the guidance has changed it used to say anyone could use formula until 2 anyway.

Tatt have to admit DS has never been tested - I diagnosed on the basis of red blotchy face, watery eyes and a wheezy cough after giving him formula at 6 months..Tried cows milk a couple of months later and the same thing happened... Does that means milk allergy or lactose intolerance?

probably irresponsible but I wasnt sure a GP was going to help much and am just hoping he will outgrow it - was going to try milk again at about 18 months but having read the replys think maybe i'll wait till he is 2. I havnt tried cheese or yogurt yet either

bobbybob - you are right - why stop bf? ...Its complicated and probably should be the subject of a different thread but partly im not sure about my milk supply anymore... perhaps I'll carry on for a few more months though

With a 13 month old - honestly you can feed morning and night and your milk supply will continue - well actually for ages if I am anything to go by. We were doing don't offer don't refuse at the end and sometimes he would go 3 days and come back to it.

Trust me, your milk supply is excellent after 13 months, and it is a stress free way to ensure calcium and other good stuff are going into your ds.

bexybear red face/ watering eyes would suggest allergy, wheezing intolerance. When you are ready to try something else try live yoghurt or cheese, both cause fewer problems than milk itself. The bacteria in live yoghurt digest the lactose and the processing of milk into cheese reduces the allergens.

But if you're happy to go on breastfeeding more people think they have supply problems than actually have them Maybe go on feeding but try him with a bit of goats or sheeps milk cheese for extra reassurance?

Thanks all

think i'll BF for a while longer and ive just discovered nanny goat do follow on milk...its stupidly expensive...but weve got some. I might wait a bit longer before doing the cheese and yogurt trial!

Normal nanny goat formula would be fine - it doesn't have to be follow on, they just make that because they can advertise it!

back again - been camping for a few days with the DH and the kids. I guess I just have to hope the soy hasn't affected him as even formula gave him hives and vomiting. blossomgirl - the hydrolized formulas I looked at said if child has already "reacted" to cow's milk they were not suitable. Must differ from brand to brand??? I am so bl@#dy sick of allergies anyway. I just wish wish wish wish they would go away!!! (sorry having a day as it is his birthday tomorrow and I wish I didn't have to cook EVERYTHING from scratch).

mymama - think of it - no kids running around hyped up on e numbers. A lot of cooking, but make double quantities and freeze some for a picnic!

I know, healthy and all of that. I have all of my party recipes down pat. I am lucky that my other two kids are not fussy and love gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free choccie cake.