scared of milk allergy - any advice

[blumberg]

My dd is 5 1/2 months and has had to date no dairy based food at all. I am milk allergic and so am paranoid that she will be too. Am getting to stage of needing to introduce cereal and would be much more convenient to use formula than keep expressing for this. What signs should I look for to see if she is allergic? Is there any way of finding out before I try? dr was v unhelpful and said should just try? I have a virtually dairy free diet myself so she won't have had much in breastmilk. My mum can't explain clearly to me what signs there were other than blue poo, as took drs 6 months to admit might be an allergy by which times things were pretty dramatic!!!!

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I wasn't going to give my son cow's milk until he was a year old because of allergies. Now we have had skin test done I'm not going to give it him until we get a negative skin test. I just made rice cereal with water and fruit puree and and today he is having cornflakes with breast milk because my breasts were full in the night and I expressed some off. The longer you leave it without introducing the milk the better that introduction should go IYSWIM. You don't need to put milk on cereal the amount of liquid is tiny anyway. Are you avoiding other allergens as well, such as egg, wheat, tomato, citrus...?

I've tried 7 month old ds on milk ( on his cereal) a couple of times and both times he has a small rash round his mouth within a couple of hours. It could be coincidence, but we're going to leave milk out of his diet for now.
Strange thing is, though, he's OK with yoghurt and his formula is cow's milk based.
Can you try her on a tiny bit?

Be careful before you decide to exclude it long term as the calcium is really, really important. Supplement with calcium if he can't have milk. Others will offer better advice on allergies.

my dh is allergic to egg and fish as well so am going to avoid that as well. is nightmare really. reason yoghurt and formula is ok is because they are already semi digested - and also has to do with which bit of milk you have problem with - can't remember how it works right now but i think if you are lactose intolerant yoghurt is ok, but if milk protein then not - could be other way round though. am hoping that can be ok on calcium front as i have spent whole life eating other calcium rich foods - green leafy things generally. will ask doctor about dietician

I think if you are keeping an eye out you will spot any reaction quickly, and it won't cause any damage.

DS2 was wholly b/f, and didn't have any solids at all until 5 months. Around 7 months he 'mysteriously' started vomiting after most meals. I consulted GP fairly quickly, but no help. After a couple more months I saw another GP, and she connected the onset of the vomiting with the onset of exposure to dairy - I'd completely missed it! So, as I say, if you are looking out for it you should spot any signs!

We cut dairy out completely for 6 months, then gently, gently reintroduced, and he's mostly fine as long as he doesn't overdo it with dairy (he is 4.5 now!). We found fromage frais was what he tolerated most easily for some reason.

Blumberg, this might help:
The US and EU recommendations for prophylaxis of food allergy

It comes from this paper .

Long story short: It seems you should supplement with a hypoallergenic formula (Neocate) or possibly an extensively hydrosed one (Nutramigen). You seem to be really on top of things, but if you have any questions, let me know.

You do not need to introduce cereal at all since you are weaning at this stage. I enjoyed the fact that I mssed out the rice stage when I weaned at 6 months. I started with carrot and potato. You can mix it with water to make it more sloppy. None of my children had formula and only one of them likes milk as a drink.

My DD has quite a severe dairy allergy and if milk touches her skin the skin goes very red and sore looking.

Perhaps you could try the skin test first. I think the problem in trying it by giving her milk to drink or in food is that the more of it she has the more pronounced the reaction will be over time. Therefore if you are going to 'test' then it would seem kindest to do so in as controlled a way as possible.

With my DD even a bit of froth off of a capiccino made her skin react on one occaision.

I didn't give my dd any dairy till she was 12 months. I just mixed cereal with water and some pureed fruit (pear is quite sweet). I gave her margarine on toast around 7 months but otherwise she managed fine with plenty fish/meat and vegs and lots of breastfeeding. I'd hold off the milk for as long as poss if you can (if you are still breastfeeding that is). My dd has perfect skin and can take dairy now although it took her ages to like it! Didn't eat fromage frais till 17 months and still won't eat cheese now.

Is your child milk intolerant, just dislikes some formula's (they are after all human and we don't like everything) or is there a genuine milk allergy. From previous experience demand some tests. They are not painful to your child but please don't go down the route of Soya based formulas. Major tooth decay issues.