Advice on weaning my dairy intolerant ds please

[Jahan]

Ds2 (10 months and bf) is, I think, intolerant to dairy. He comes up in a rash and gets congested if I have dairy and throws up if he's given dairy.
I am going back to work soon and want to wean him off the breast.
Can anyone who's been through similar circumstances tell me what they weaned their 1yr old onto please?
I was thinking of trying goats milk. Anyone done that?

You shouldn't use goats milk. The protein in it is very similar to that in cows milk, which is what children normally react to. When I considered weaning, or at least cutting back bf for dd around a year, the dietician said that breastmilk was first choice, getting her to accept Nutramigen (hypoallergenic formula, but often refused as it's frankly quite rank) was second choice, trying her with Pepti-Junior (another hypo-allergenic formula, more expensive, but more commonly accepted by the child) was third choice, and rice milk (with added calcium) was fourth. So these are your options.

I continued with bf (she's outgrown her intolerance, but is still bf at 2.5) and rice milk for cooking or times when I wasn't around.

It sounds more like allergy than intolerence TBH. DS is intolerent (ie can't process the stuff in his stomach) and it produces more poo related symptoms and stomach cramps. My DS is dairy intolerent and I really wish at age 2 I was able to still give him breast milk, because the alternatives are not particularly attractive or tasty IME. We tried goat's milk and although it was better than cow's, he still reacts and so he can't have it. Someone told me that the proteins in goat's milk are nearly identical to cow's. It is worth a try though.

It is much harder to get calcium and calories into children if they can't have milk. My DS has soya milk on his breakfast cereal but won't have it as a drink. If he did I would be happier. We cook with soya milk and try to give other calcium/fat rich foods like almond butter.

At your DS age you would have to replace breast milk with a formula. You can buy soya formula but I was shocked at the ingredients - first ingredient glucose syrup (ie sugar), second ingredient sugar! You can also get allergen free formulas on prescription but you would need to see your HV or GP first. For your own convenience if there is any way you can carry on BF, even if it is just morning and night with water/juice during the day then breast milk is undoubtedly the best thing for your DS. If you don't want to carry on then you would be best to see HV/GP.

The good news is that most children grow out of this by age 2 or 3. Still waiting here though!

Thanks. The health vistor and gp have been rubbish. The gp told me that he doesn't need dairy and can get calcium in his diet in other forms and the health visitor told me to 'go with your instincts'.
So lots of good advice.

Ah, another triumph for the NHS .

You should avoid soya milk or formula btw, until at least age 2. Lots of reasons why it shouldn't be given regularly before this (causes soya allergy, rots teeth, linked to infertility in later life (esp in boys) etc).

If i were you i would insist on a referral to a paediatrcian. I was in the same situ and my gp and hv were very unhelpful as she was putting on weight. The skin rash and insessant vomiting didn't seem to matter to them.

Once she saw a paed he referred me to dietician etc etc and my dd has neocate milk on prescription. It took a while to introduce the neocate gradually mixing with her old milk, as it tastes foul! Once she had a dairy and soy free diet totally for 3 weeks she was fantastic. It's a pain in the bum tbh at times but we are now used to it and the difference in her skin is amazing.

I would do it all with the support of a paed and dietcian as they do make a difference.

You must insist on a referral, i did, stamped my feet and everything!! Even if it's not dairy allergy then at least you know.

I've avoided giving my year old dd dairy as I'm badly allergic.

When I went back to work at 9 mths I expressed but she refused point bank to drink it at nursery. She happily drinks juice/water in the day at nursery and breast feeds at home.

We use soya milk for cooking etc. She loves soya yoghurts too.

I'd heard that about soya, Cantsleepwontsleep so haven't introduced it to ds.
I give him calcium enriched Oatly as a substitute for his porridge etc but its probably not great for his milk replacement.

I'll go back to the gp and badger her.

Good idea Riven, Thanks. Will try that.

The trouble with most of the milk replacement drinks you can buy is that they don't have much protein or other natural nutrients. That is what a nutritionist told me. So they are fine as drinks like you would give water or juice, but they don't substitute for breast milk or formula under 12m.

Jahan, i went back to work when my DS was a year old and I just bf him morning and night and he drank rice milk or juice during the day.

Soya, rice or oat milk are nood nutritionally adequate to wean a 1 year old onto.

Soya formula and goats milk are not recommended as babies with dairy allergies are very likley to be allergic to soya and goats milk as the proteins are similar, plus soya formula had loads of sugar in so is really bad for teeth.

if you eally want to wean your Ds off the breast then you need to ask for a referral to an allergy specialist and get a prescription for nutramigen, neocate or pepti junior.