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.

He will gradually wean off bm himself as he starts eating more and getting his main nutrition elsewhere and that doesn't mean that he has to start drinking cows milk. Cows milk is not a necessary part of a child's diet. They are not calves! :)

She is trying to wean him off breast feeding.

trying to wean him off that I could now help him off the boob

She hoped that she could be doing that by now by giving him a beaker of milk 'here and there'. That doesn't sound like someone who is going to be giving it as his main source of nutrition. Cows' milk is an easy way of offering fats, proteins and calcium but it isn't the only way. As long as his diet has enough of those things from other sources then he will be fine. (as mentioned in the second article you linked to). She can discuss it with her doctor and keeping the food diary will give a good idea of any areas where he may not be getting enough of something.

I'm not saying this is the only way for the OP to proceed by the way. Other people have recommended other things and if the OP is concerned that her DS isn't getting/won't get enough from his diet then she may opt for something else. I'm mainly just arguing with your idea that children NEED cows milk or formula which they don't but it is a common misconception.

To actually get back to the OP...

You said he seems to tolerate milk if it's cooked (like in pudding). Can he take it in sauces etc? What is he like with yoghurt/cheese?

I think you and I are reading different OPs, she clearly states I an still bfing him - though trying to wean him off , plus the other quotes I have given from her post about trying to wean him off and then talks about ttc, so clearly wants to give up breastfeeding.

OP you can clearly read from the links that Oatly and the like are fine as an occasional drink if you are continuing to breastfeed, but that they are not nutritionally adequate to replace breastmilk or formula while your child is under 2. As I have stated many times you need a referral to a dietician to advise properly and they will probably tell you the official advice to ensure your child receives enough nutrients is to use a formula.

From the NHS link: Infants and children under two years of age should be given a suitable milk/soya free formula to ensure adequate supplies of vitamins and calcium. Your dietitian will advise you as to the most suitable formula for your child.

All I?m trying to do here is point you to the correct advice, I?m not sure what the agenda of others is. Personally I kept breastfeeding until my DC were 2 as I didn?t want to give them formula but wanted to be absolutely sure they were getting enough nutrients (and conceived while bfing btw). Your child, your choice.

The OP isn't suggesting that she is going to immediately stop bf and replace all bm with oat milk (or an alternative). That is what the warnings are about - replacing all milk with one that does not have with same fat/calcium etc without compensating for it in the diet. Can you not see that as long as a child is getting their RDAs it doesn't matter how they get it? If the OPs child can tolerate other dairy such as cheese, yoghurt and manage milk that has been cooked then it will be even easier for her. If she wants to switch onto a dairy free formula then she can but if she doesn't want to, there are alternatives. If a dietician simply tells you that all you can use is formula then they aren't really a great dietician!

Here is a paediatrician saying the same thing ie. that as long as you are making up the difference through his diet, it is ok.

Fwiw I bf both my boys to past 2yo as well (and conceived while bf) so I don't have some hidden agenda as an Oatly rep or something :) we just found it useful to give them on their cereal or in a cup during the day.

Thanks you two. The reality is that I would love to give up bfing, but only because I am ttc. Some people manage this while bfing, but this is too high-risk a strategy for me. My DS eats (some of his) nutritious meals and snacks but must be taking in a lot of breastmilk because he has two very long feeds (night and early morning) and about 3 shorter feeds. To wean him off these I need to be able to keep offering a milk substitute, and I don't want him to lose out on nutrition as he throws half his meals on the floor. Many thanks for the links, btw.

Today he took one look at the Oatly, and did not summon up the enthusiastic response of your dcs, Bumbley, even when I then made him a 50/50 Oatly/favourite strawberry drinking yogurt shake. I guess he is getting fed up with Mummy's ruses to get him off the boob, which are all ultimately evil because they could provide him with a demanding competitor, but I digress...

His gut does seem to tolerate yogurt and cheese, both of which he loves, but he would never eat enough of either for them to make a real contribution to his diet unless I capitulated on letting him have sugary yogurts through the day. But I think that would be going down the wrong route. Re cooked milk, as I think that is ok for him, he won't eat porridge, breakfast cereal or sauces made from a roux, but I could try him on custard made with very little sugar as well as the rice pud.

I'm getting the Alprosoya tomorrow, but I'm also thinking the neocate. Whether he would take formula is another matter...

As far as I'm aware the formulas are only available on prescription. It is possible to get them online but the cost is very high. My dd was on aptimil pepti which is another version of formula designed for cows milk protein allergy and to buy that on line was around £28 a tub :(

It's taken till DD Is 5 to get a cows milk intolerance diagnosis.
At Kings from a consultant.
No one particularly listened to me me until she started school, had milk everyday and constant diarrhoea. Trouble is, it's a bit invasive on the child. There is no simple test, at least not at Kings in London! They can test for lactose but the results are often inconclusive. And if you're white British they are inclined to say it isn't lactose causing an issue.

She had bloods and a 6 week no milk diet with a booklet from a dietician so no real help.
But it made such a diff to her stools.
Consultant seems to think she'll grow out of it. I'm less convinced.

You need to see gp and insist on peadetrician appt if only to get dietician advice on calcium requirements etc

Jus to add she has cows milk protein intolerance. Casein.
It just gives her diarrhoea no dangerous allergic reactions.
She was aneamic though before eliminating milk from diet. Consultant said this was caused by the intolerance.

Bumbleymummy as i said earlier I'm aware you are able to get all you need from a balanced diet, but at 14 months, like the OP's DC there's no way my DS would have taken in enough solids consistently for me to make sure he was getting enough nutrients from diet alone.

It is best to get neocate etc on prescription as it is expensive to buy OTC. For kids over one, they do flavoured neocate in little sachets which might be more palatable for your DS. If you search the archives of the allergy boards on here there's loads of advice on different hypoallergenic formulas and strategies for getting kids used to them.

I also meant to say to be careful with the soya, the proteins are similar to those of cow's milk and it's common for kids to be allergic/intolerant to both, my DS was . There are also concerns with giving too much soya particularly to baby boys as there are studies that show it can reduce their fertility. Again a search of the allergy board archives would give more info.

Hi totally naive, there is lots of great info out there about how much calcium/fat is in different food so that might help to give you an idea of how much he needs and is getting. this is just one for calcium. They need about 500mg per day and 1 oz of cheese provides 300mg and a yoghurt provides about the same. You don't have to buy the sugary ones. There are ones that are sweetened with fruit or you can add honey/fruit to plain Greek yoghurt. Other good sources are sesame seeds (does he like houmous?) and almonds ( you can actually get almond milk but it is a bit expensive). They are good sources of fats and protein too.

Have a read and do try to keep a food diary - you may be surprised at how much of his RDA he is already getting and it will help you decide what to do about milk. I would persevere a bit with the milk, just offering it alongside meals or in breakfast/smoothies etc. with no pressure just yet. It is an acquired taste and of course it doesn't taste as nice as mummy's! :)

this alsI has some good suggestions.