Cows' milk intolerance? and weaning 14 month old...

[totallynaive]

A bit of history, if it helps...

DS was always very unhappy bfing up until he was 18 weeks old. Arching, crying, vomit, pretty much the symptoms for reflux. He was much better when I stopped drinking milk for a while. We also went to see a cranial osteopath, who predicted that his symptoms would ease off as his mobility increased. This proved to be the case. I an still bfing him - though trying to wean him off - and he still needs to wriggle and arch a little during and after some feeds. But he's happy. I have never managed to give him formula as he would spit it out, though admittedly I didn't try very often, and only in the early days.

Having read that gut immaturity has a lot to do with lactose/cows milk intolerance, I had pretty much hoped that I could now help him off the boob with beakers of organic cows' milk here and there, given that babies of his age are supposed to need about a pint of milk of some kind a day, particularly as he still bfs voraciously through the night.

Yet every time this past week that he has gone for the milk beaker we have had very runny poo/diarrhoea immediately after. (Oddly, we don't get that reaction when he eats my homemade rice pudding, which is made with the same milk). He was fine with the milk I gave him on holiday, which was specially treated to remove most of the lactose (though this meant it was more like skimmed milk - you can't get that milk in UK shops). What have parents of babies with similar concerns done? Are there any good substitutes? Is goats' milk worth a try?

I am ttc so expressing is out.

Try Oatly calcium enriched milk.
Dd is cow milk protein intolerant and symptoms are all bowel related.

They are not allowed rice milk under 5. Not sure why!
But I like Oatly brand.

Will try Oatly, Shattered. Thanks for that.

Another vote for Oatly here. :)

You can get milk with most of the lactose removed in UK shops. Some small shops might not carry it but it's called Lactofree (comes in semi-skimmed) and they have a cheese and maybe some other products?

Under 2 years old babies will need a hypoallergenic formula such as Nutramigen or neocate as soya, rice and oat milk aren't nutritionally good enough to replace cow's milk as a main drink. Oatly is fine on cereal and for cooking etc, but not as a main drink until over 2 years old.

Rice milk contains too high levels of arsenic for under 4s.

I have seen lactofree milk in the supermarkets in the UK so it could be worth a try - they do full fat and semi-skimmed

Trixy, children don't need cows milk at all if they have an otherwise balanced diet.

There's also alpro soya 1+ which is specially formulated for children aged 1-3 and Kara coconut milk. Both r fortified with vitamins and minerals making them suitable for a drink. I also use oatly for cooking . :)

Breatmilk is absolutely full of lactose so it's unlikely to be a lactose issue. Far more likely to be cow's milk protein allergy. It may be that your son can cope with milk proteins that have been partly denatured through cooking (e.g., in the rice pudding) or other methods.

Alpro soya 1 plus may suit him (DS is fine with it but not cow's).

Just had a go with Oatly - he wasn't hugely enthusiastic, but found it much less vile than the awful hemp drink I'd tried on him previously. And no allergic symptoms, so that's one less horrific nappy change so far.

Narmada, your tip about the cooking seems quite interesting, and so I think I might experiment on him with the odd beaker of normal milk that has been boiled and cooled, as all the above alternatives to cows' milk that I have found are low-fat and he has just dropped a centile for weight (though I will try the full fat Lactofree as well). Trixy, you sound awfully well-informed; I will look up Nutramigen and Neocate.

And Alpro soya 1. I will have a veritable arsenal of milk substitutes and my DP will open the kitchen cupboard and think I am a loon.

Totallynaive, you might be best to get a referral to have your DS tested to find out whether it is lactose intolerance or an allergy and to a dietician, who would be able to advise you properly on cutting out a major food group.

Bumbleymummy, it is rather more difficult to get a balanced diet when you have an allergy or intolerance and the advice I have been given, and if you search on the allergy boards, that others have been given is that Oatly and the like are not suitable as a main drink under 2, for dairy intolerant or allergic children.

Totally naive, I don't know if it's any help, but my DD became lactose intolerant after a really nasty virus when they were 18mo (I don't know if your son was unwell beforehand?) We tried all sorts but the Lactofree range was a godsend - rice milk/soya milk/goat's milk etc all gave her a badly swollen stomach & the most revolting nappies. The Lactofree range also has cream cheese, hard cheese, yoghurt & ice-cream & most of the supermarkets stock it - Sainsbury's regularly has offers on the milk, too.

She's 3 and a half now and we're starting back on goat's yoghurt & ice cream. The paediatrician said to reintroduce dairy by letting some yoghurt ferment well in the fridge & try it gradually - and that most children tend to grow out of it by the time they're 4. It's got much better for us recently - she seems to be tolerating goat's milk now & loves it.

We also found we had to be really careful with solid food after weaning - things you'd never think contain milk (mayonnaise, sausages etc) have dairy in them. And dairy-free chocolate a bit of a swizz for the lactose-intolerant - good plain choc (eg 70% solids) doesn't have dairy & is easier to find (and often cheaper).

And baking birthday cakes much easier using Trex rather than working out oil ratios (though use 20% less than the amount given for butter).

I don't know how much use any of this is but as this was, for us, hard-won information thought I'd share it with you in case it was of any use.

Trixy, you can have a perfectly balanced diet without any dairy at all. I had cow's milk protein intolerance as did both my boys so we have had a bit of experience dealing with it. There is a calcium enriched version of oatly and as long as the child is eating well and getting plenty of fats and protein from other sources then it shouldn't really be a problem but of course the OP should check it out with her GP to be sure.

Totally naive, it may be a good idea to keep a food diary for a while so that you can give the doctor a good idea of what he is/isn't getting. They should be able to highlight any areas of concern for you.

Bumbleymummy, I'm sure you can, but if you get proper advice from a dietician, they do not recommend Oatly etc as a main drink for under 2s.

Perhaps if their diet isn't otherwise balanced trixy but if the milk isn't acting as their main/only source of protein/fats/vitamins etc then it shouldn't be a problem.

Over 2 when kids are fully on solids Oatly etc will be fine, but under 2 as the OP's DS is then it's not.

Why exactly trixy?

Because they are not nutritionally complete. read here

Why are you so insistent on Oatly?

and here

a dietetics source

Yes, which is why I have said several times that they would need to be getting fats/protein/vitamins (and calcium unless it is enriched) from other sources. Some 14 month olds have practically weaned themselves off bm by that stage and are eating full meals and not being topped up with formula. The milk is simply offered as a drink alongside their food. The OP is still bf at the moment so offering him oat milk during the day is not giving it to him as him as his main milk anyway.

Btw a formula website isn't exactly an impartial source of info when it's promoting the need for its own product. I'm not insisting on oatly anyway - I mentioned it once. Why are you pushing formula?

From your second source:

" If you decide to skip whole cow milk, should ensure your child receives calcium, fats, proteins and vitamins and minerals from other natural sources. Offering your toddler these "milks" as an occasional drink should not pose any adverse health risks as long as you realize that these drinks are not enough to provide optimal nutrition.

You should consult your pediatrician and/or a pediatric dietician to discuss ways to ensure that your infant or toddler receives the nutrients crucial to his or her healthy development."

Which is why I recommended keeping the food diary to take to her doctor to discuss.

I am not pushing formula, I am trying to point out what the official advice is, counteracting irresponsible advice that Oatly is a good enough alternative to cow's milk for an under 2, which according to the links I have given it is not.

It even says on the sides of some of the cartons of alternative milks not suitable under 2!!!!

Trixy, the op is still bf. she doesn't need to give any other milk AT ALL if she doesn't want to. Cows milk is a bm substitute (and not a great one either) Her son is drinking a bit of milk from a beaker and she asked for alternative suggestions to cows' milk for that. Oatly is a perfectly good drink to be having alongside his meals from a beaker. He could have water if he wanted! If his diet is balanced and he is getting all his nutrients from his food and bm then it really doesn't matter what he drinks. It is not his main source of nutrition. No one is advising that she feeds him oat milk and nothing else!