To worry about calcium deficiency for dairy free ds?

[bobstersmum]

Ds age 5 has had lots stomach troubles for the last couple of years. We were advised earlier this year to cut out dairy to see if it helped. It did so we stuck with it, however we have had no further help from gp regarding his diet or confirming allergy /intolerance. We had an appointment to discuss this and gp told us to continue with dairy free diet, and said that there isn't a test to confirm it. I mentioned that he is getting hardly any calcium as I have not found a vitamin that contains it but he wasn't concerned? Surely ds needs calcium? I am uneasy about totally excluding dairy without any observations, aibu?

Why aren’t you giving him fortified oat / soy milk instead? You do need to take responsibility to do your own research too.

Here is plenty of calcium in things that are not dairy :)

He'll definitely need calcium from other food sources.

Google and you'll get a list.

If you look up vegan nutrition you will get lots of ideas for dairy free foods that contain calcium. Fortified plant milks contain similar amounts of calcium to cows milk, soya milk has had similar protein content too.

You need to take some responsibility for this and do your own research. My son has been dairy-free since a few weeks old, now 2 1/2 and he's thriving, we've managed it all on our own. There are plenty of alternatives to give him.

Dairy is actually a really crappy source of calcium.

It's acidic and leeches phosphorus from the bones. It's not coincidence that the countries with the highest rates of dairy consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Not to mention all the saturated fat and hormones in it.

Plant-based sources are far superior anyway.

DS is dairy free, and has been since he was 3 months. He gets calcium from fortified oat milk, as well as broccoli, hummus, ready brek and nesquik (and plenty of others). Am happy to overlook the sugar in the nesquik as I think the calcium is more important. One small glass of nesquik with oat milk is enough to give 100% rda of calcium.

I use Alpro soya fortified with the same amount of calcium as milk. It’s the one in the orange packet and long life. Unlike some of the other soy milks it doesn’t have added sugar but all the vitamins. It also has the best taste.

Alpro and some other manufacturers have added calcium to their range so it is pretty much equivalent to dairy. If you look at the nutrition breakdown on the packaging aim for 120mg calcium per 100mls.
Don't buy the ranges that don't list calcium .

Yeah thanks for helpful replies, i thought I was taking responsibility by taking him back to the docs for a follow up. I was surprised that in such a young child it has been advised to exclude any food group, dairy is massive and although he eats a good varied healthy diet you will be surprised how little calcium is in even fortified foods. He has oat milk but not very much of it and not every day. I am happy to purchase my own calcium supplement but I thought at least a blood test to monitor basic health would not have been a lot to ask, since he's never ever had one.

My daughter has been dairy free since a few weeks old (now 22 months) and there are lots of other sources of calcium outside of dairy. It's a very old fashioned way of thinking calcium only comes from dairy - we aren't actually designed to eat dairy! Do some research - lots of other foods have calcium in.

@artesia that is a brilliant idea, I will try that, and he'll love it too!

My DD has been dairy free for 2 years and I’m a little obsessed with making sure she gets enough calcium but it’s actually it’s really easy. A quick google will tell you how much calcium he needs per day. Then give him forfeited foods, non dairy yoghurt, bread (Kingsmill 50/50) and non dairy milk. For milk I would go with either oatley barista or alpro growing up milk as they the equivalent of full fat dairy milk. Yes alpro growing up milk has added sugar but it has less sugar than dairy milk.

Make sure he is getting a multivitamin with enough vitamin D in.

My daughter has never had cows milk (vegan) you can get calcium from so many different kinds of foods. Cows milk / the proteins in cows milk are not the best source of calcium.

Soy foods/Tofu, fortified milks like you've mentioned.
Certain nuts, some grains too. Tahini. Chai seeds (we mix things like this into smoothies / make smoothie lollies). White beans, Edamame beans - my toddler loves to snack on those.

Quick googles of vegan calcium sources brings up lots of different ideas.

Mine is older now but we look out for fortified drinks and cereal etc. When he was younger he used to have vitamin tablets with calcium but I stopped seeing these in the shops. You can get some types of Berocca etc that have calcium in so he has one of those every day.

Dairy is also a very good source of iodine, so it’s not just calcium you need to be supplementing.
My daughters are both dairy intolerant, I have managed to find a good calcium supplement and am making sure they get more from other sources. Almonds are a very good source.
Asda’s own brand oat milk (UHT) is fortified with calcium and iodine ( and I think vitamin A and D), but mine won’t drink much of the plant milks either.

Cow and Gate muesli for babies is enriched and good for dairy free Children. Oatly is also good, either the enriched one or the Barista. My child can't have dairy and has never been calcium deficient. Or deficient in anything actually and his diet is extremely limited (crap) due to food aversions.

My child is dairy free, he's fine. Could your doctor not refer you to a dietician for support?