how much bm does 18 month old need

[MudMum]

I'm going back to work full time in Jan. DS has milk allergy so can't take formula but has prescription. He took it pretty well during the daytime until about 2 months ago when he got sickness after sickness and bf'ed a LOT. Now refusing to take his neocate.

Do you think he'd be ok with morning and evening feed? Plus feeding a couple times at night...

Annoyed and worried as the dietician appt that our gp said would be one to two weeks at beginning of nov is not until Jan 15th!

thanks

I've known babies under a year who were happy with two feeds a day. He should be fine. If you get nervous, you could consider other foods with calcium in them - here is a list.

Good dairy-free high-calcium foods include salmon with bones (the tinned kind), spinach, tofu, and almonds.

18 months is quite big. I don't see why that wouldn't be do-able. I'm not an expert though.

The milk allergy obviously makes it a bit more awkward, but presumably there are other calcium rich foods you can add to his diet. Is it just cow's milk [slightly dim about allgeries]?

NQC - thank you for the link. To top it off he's extremely fussy but will look to hide some of those foods and get him onto them.

Unfortunately he also tested positive for soy. Apparently those who are allergic to cow will likely also be allergic to goat milk. Though I put some goat milk on his skin and nothing happened, whereas he gets hives with cow milk or if a sibling kisses him with milky lips. Was going to ask for goat milk test at appt as wouldn't dare let him drink it without medical supervision.

It's so hard and a worry. I do love breastfeeding but feel I'm now doing him harm in some ways as he depends on it and won't take the 'replacement'. Or maybe he will for others.

Thanks for your thoughts

As they get older, a lot of breastfed babies will eat other foods when the mother is not there and the milk is not on offer. I guess it's like settling for a burger when steak's off the menu, even if you'd never have picked the burger if the steak was there!

I think you can get rice milk, or oat milk, with calcium in it. Allergies to those are v rare.

I think children with food allergies and intolerances are often more fussy - can you blame them?

mine has no allergies so can only sympathise, but will quite happily have water and a snack when I'm not about, does usually demand boooby on seeing me though. he's 20mnths and sometimes only has 2/3 feeds a day

Hello,

Yes,I agree, allergy dc's are likely more fussy. It's so awful and stressful because food visibly hurts them, and you've given it to them! I never thought I'd nurse this long but feel like boobs are what makes him happiest and are safe.

Glad for your responses. I know he won't die of starvation, but he still nurses quite often in daytimes. Will happily keep nursing at least twice a day...