Advice needed re dairy allergy

[MrsAlwaysRight]

We are currently waiting to be referred to allergy clinic as DD2 7.5 months appears to have an allergy to dairy.

Reactions include hives and swelling where food comes into contact with her skin and also makes her nose run.

Initial reaction was to banana porridge and she has subsequently had reactions to yoghurts and cheese and other items which contained milk and whey powder.

GP thought it was likely to be related to the banana but after the other reactions I think it must be dairy related.

I was just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to recommend any dairy free (and preferably soya free) products that are readily available that I can try while we are waiting to have further tests.

Many Thanks

Hello, DS (6.5mths) is dairy intolerant - I replace any butter with Vitalite spread and any milk with Oatley. We're waiting for a dietitian appt too but it's taking forever. I've been making scotch pancakes with Oatley and currants/banana/apple and some own brand Rich Tea biscuits are dairy free if you want a quick snack. Organix rice cakes obviously are fine. Not sure what sort of products you're looking for, I've been dairy free since he was 3 mths cos if I eat dairy he throws up for the next 24 hrs or so (ebf)

If you want to just avoid dairy (and soya?) and your DD is only so young, can you just feed her fruit & veg, bread, meat, sauces cooked from scratch? Lots of baby food also has no dairy - rice cakes, breadsticks, jar foods, snacks. Just check the packaging.

What milk does she have? (Are you bf?). Has she shown any reaction to this? Can you use it with cereal / cook with it?

If this lasts for any significant period of time you need to make sure she is getting enough calcium. When my DS was diagnosed allergic to dairy at 5.5m, I was ebf so went dairy-free myself for 3 months until I got him onto non-dairy formula (Neocate) for going to nursery and took huge calcium supplements to supply both him and me.

Also - reactions can be suddenly worse after the initial exposure so please get some Piriton in the house (and carry around with you) in case of a serious reaction, and don't be shy to call an ambulance if her breathing gets affected.

Thanks Chulita I should have been more specific re products! I've heard of Oatley but haven't found it in my local Sainsbury's, have a big Tesco in next town so may try there. Thanks for spread recommendation.

Does anyone know if there are any dairy free yoghurts? I've had a look on the internet and see that there are some made from Coconut milk but I'm not sure if they are available in this country.

It's frustrating having to wait so long for appointments as we've just been told to stick with what we know she can eat without a reaction which is basically fruit, vegetables and rice cakes! So somewhat limited.

I am still breast feeding her and have not cut dairy out of my diet as I don't see any reaction in her when I have dairy products.

TIA

Catilla thanks for reply. GP has prescribed Piriton for her.

I have tried using expressed milk mixed with cereal but she spat it out and screwed up her face as though I was trying to poison her!

How did you find getting him onto Neocate as I hear it is harder to get older babies to take as it tastes so disgusting.

DD had Neocate for a while and loved it, she didn't seem to notice the switch.

I've not found any dairy and soya free yoghurts. Our big Sainsbury's does Oatley as does the Tescos, otherwise Holland and Barretts stock it.

If you actually think about it dairy isn't that hard to cut out. DD lived on yoghurts and cream cheese but DS so far has more carb based things. He has lots of fruit/veg but also muffins/biscuits/pancakes/toast/casseroles/risotto (without the cheese) so it's not that bad really!

We managed to change DS1 to Neocate (from rice milk) at 18 months by mixing a small amount in at first and then very gradually increasing the proportion of Neocate (you could do this with expressed milk).

Thats good to know that you've managed to get older babies/toddlers to drink it. DD2 won't even take expressed milk at the mo. She is starting to get the hang of a beaker so will maybe try some expressed milk in that.

Will also check out Holland and Barrett.

Thanks for all the replies, it all seems a bit overwelming at the moment. So good to know that its not too bad!

Can I also ask has your whole family started using the dairy free products or just the child and those of you that are breast feeding?

Getting onto Neocate was very slow - but then he was reluctant to have the bottle at all! I guess nursery helped (I wasn't there as an alternative!) but I think you just have to keep on offering it. Eventually he took it an I think carried on until 2.

Out of interest, does she have eczema? My DS did and it cleared up significantly when I went dairy-free... I concluded that the dairy was diluted enough in my milk not to give him a strong reaction, it was still affecting him.

No-one has mentioned PURE spread as a butter substitute, which comes in various types including without soya - this is useful. My DS was a complete bread monster - still does love crumpets, pitta, muffins etc. and happily eats them plain or just with butter! He also used to have mashed banana and then dry cereal (Cheerios) for breakfast, never mind about milk there, the quantities are only small.

Good luck, I hope you get your appointment soon!

DD was 14 mths when we tried her with Neocate but she's always been a milk fiend. DH and DD are still eating dairy, just DS and I are off it. I stir it in once we've got ours out and if milk needs to be cooked into it I use Oatley. PURE spread is a good alternative, I forgot to mention it because we can't get it in any of our (5) supermarkets.

As catilla said, there are plenty of options.

I was a bit when I realised I had to cut out dairy but nearly 3 months on it's second nature.

Good luck!

My DD (now 3) went onto neocate at 8mths with no problems.

She is also dairy/soya free.

M&S do a white loaf of bread that has no dairy or soya in...

We use the pure spread as mentioned earlier but have also discovered tescos value marg is dairy/soya free

Also tescos do a angel layer cake (looks a bit like a battenburg cake) which is dairy/soya free although it does have egg in...

Thanks for other replies.

I managed to get a few bits at the supermarket to try: Vitalite, Oatley milk and some dairy free bread.

Catilla yes she does have eczema but its fairly mild. DD1 also has it but without food allergies and both DH and I have eczema so not sure if its related to me having dairy or not.

Kara coconut based milk is quite good. It's available at larger tesco and located where the soya milks are.

Tesco also do dairy free/soya free bread. oat topped and multi grain.

There's a brilliant dairy free/soya free range called So Delicious. Yoghurt, ice cream. Unfortunately only available in the USA

Thanks for latest replies.