Lactose Intolerance, neocate and weening

[mousemole]

DS2 is L.Intolerant and has been on neocate since 3 weeks. He is now 15weeks old and a whopping 17lbs ! Sleep has become elsuive and he is waking earlier and earlier. Do I need to be careful weening given allergy to lactose ? Is baby rice safe ? Do they ever out grow L. Intolerance ? Would love more sleep but not surprised he is sleeping badly as Neocate seems so watery compared to Aptamil for example. Help please....

hi mousemole,

we were told ds was colicy, after weeks of screaming a diffent hv suggested sma lf (instead of spending a fortune on the colief mixed with normal formula). its just a normal formula. he slept fine as soon as we stopped giving him lactose.

we weaned him normally, using the formula milk in baby rice etc and avoiding cheesy/dairy things.

we kept him on the sma lf until we weaned him onto cows milk when he was 12 months gradually mixing the cows milk with the formula an ounce at a time (for a week) then 2ozs for a week etc. he's fine now and seems to have completely grown out of it.

btw you can buy sma lf in boots or lloyds pharmacy or as tesco's to order it in for you but check how much they are going to charge you as i think its more expensive. its about £6 (prob a bit more now) a tin, but theyre only small tins. We managed to get a prescription for 10 tins from the doctor to help with the extra cost (it being nearly twice as much as normal formula).

Hi Clarevoiant, thanks for that. I have some of that formula in the cupboard. Will give it a go and see if it helps the night time wind. I just dont understand why he is still getting wind on Neocate which has NOTHING allergenic in it. All so confusing. DS1 has reflux and I cant decide which is worse, reflux or lactose intolerance !!

well, I've no experience of neocate (or even heard of it) so i cant comment on it. but all babies get wind, ds used to get it too, sometimes it was just a case of dragging yourself out of bed to shift the wind then back to bed again.

I would check with your child's GP/paed before you try a formula different from Neocate - sometimes the lactose-free formulas have soya in them and a soya intolerance often goes hand in hand with a lactose intolerance.

My neice grew out of lactose intolerance but her's was caused by a nasty bout of gastro-enteritis and she wasn't born with it. I think a friend's son grew out of it, dairy products were gradually filtered in around his 2nd birthday.

Didnt know that about Soya and Lactose so thanks for the warning.

Hi my lad is on neocate (14months old now) been on it for few months after finally being diagnosed allergy to soya and dairy protein. He is still waking in night! its difficult but aslong as well they will learn to sleep for longer (so ive been told) If you have been prescribed neocate you must stick with it unless advised otherwise. We had many problems and ended up with DS in hospital so wouldn't suggest trying anything else. With regards to weaning, your doc should be able to get you app with dietician to help advise. We were offered a sleeping aid! but refused to go that route. Baby rice didn't suit DS at all! belly ache wind all night but found rusks were ok. Hope you get sorted soon xxx

sorry, didnt realise you were prescribed the neocate. yes agree with others, you should see your doctor.