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Children's health

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Original poster

Intolerance advice please!

14 replies

Rose138 · 15/09/2018 13:50

Due my little ones nappies (nicest way I can put it!) our doctor thinks he has an intolerance to something. He will be 1 years old in a few weeks. Our doctor has told me to keep a food diary for six weeks and to cut things out ie dairy, citrus for 1-2 weeks and then reintroduce. I’m looking for advice please! Surely I can’t cut out all foods in the above timeframes so shall I just go for the common intolerances? Does anyone know what these usually are for infants? I’m worried about removing dairy as he loves cheese and yogurt-what should I substitute with? Should I remove milk at the same time as dairy? He is currently on formula but has cows milk over his cereal and will in a couple of weeks be going on to cows milk from formula as he will be 1. I just want to make sure I’m doing this correctly as I want to identify what he is intolerant too-if anything- but don’t want to remove key nutrients out either, if that makes sense! Thank you so much in advance.xx

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Original poster

Rose138 · 15/09/2018 13:54

Just to add after reading over-I know milk is dairy but a friend said I should remove cheese and yogurt and butter but milk after this to check for lactose intolerancy? But I’m thinking I shoud probably remove milk at the same time as butter, cheese and yogurt? xx

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KatnissMellark · 15/09/2018 14:00

Your friend sounds confused and your doctor rather unhelpful....

If you are going to exclude dairy that needs to include milk. Dairy allergies are usually to the protein, and this is in its purest (and most 'harmful') form in milk. Cutting out cheese and butter but not milk will do no good at all. Formula is also cows-milk based so if it is a cow's milk allergy, he will react to this too.

What are his nappies like? Is this a new issue? Have you introduced any new foods? Have you noticed a pattern? I would advise keeping a food and nappy diary and seeing if there is anything you can pick out as the potential issue. If he has tolerated cow's milk, including formula up til now it would be unusual for this to be the issue.

Has he recently had any antibiotics or medications? These can affect the gut bacteria and cause gastro issues. With my DS (who has several allergies) I always give a pro biotic alongside antibiotics and for a week or two after as he has a very sensitive stomach. You can buy them in boots or on Amazon.

INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 14:01

The doctor should have prescribed some dairy free formula like nutrimagen if the intention is that he cuts out dairy. Note that goats milk formula still has milk proteins that are a common allergen. It's difficult to buy dairy free formula or replacement milk without it being soya which many children are also sensitive to.

Two weeks isn't long enough to do an elimination diet and reintroduce things in a meaningful way so like you have suggested I'd remove the common gut irritants like dairy, citrus, wheat, soya, eggs, for a few days until the nappies improve and then try reintroducing just one of the food groups; if nappies still fine after a few days you may have time to then reintroduce one other before you see the doctor. Keep a diary of food eaten and symptoms to take back to the doctor.

KatnissMellark · 15/09/2018 14:09

Great advice above from @INeedNewShoes. When eliminating dairy try to find Oatly barista. It's an oat based milk alternative with similar nutritional values to blue top cow's milk. I weaned my son off the breast at 11.5 months and put him onto this...of course it's meant to be a year but they don't magically change overnight on their first birthday- A few weeks before one won't make a difference if he's eating well anyway and much better than trying soya which is another common allergen. You can buy it in Tesco. There are also substitute cheeses available (violife is probably the most popular) and coconut yoghurts (though these can cause loose/explosive nappies- they do for my son). Also if you do exclude dairy be aware of his calcium intake- he should be on a supplement daily which includes vit D too. And ready break/own brand finely milled porridge is packed full of calcium and a good way to start each day knowing they've had a good dose of it if they're not getting milk/cheese/yogs.

INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 14:57

Current advice is breast milk or formula until 2.

I agree that Oatly is great. I make DD's porridge with it and use it in cooking (she has a dairy allergy). I'm pretty sure though that it doesn't have as much protein in it as cows milk or formula and it has salt in it so I'm not sure I'd be 100% comfortable using it for all DD's milk feeds.

However your post has given me some useful reassurance that I should be ok to leave a bottle of oatmilk for DD instead of expressed breast milk on occasion when I'm going out which means I can finally wave goodbye to expressing!

KatnissMellark · 15/09/2018 15:04

Wow in surprised by that. All health professionals I've spoken to have said cow's milk or alternative from one, including ds paediatrician and dietician.

KatnissMellark · 15/09/2018 15:18

Where are you getting that info from @INeedNewShoes? I can't find a source. Interested to know though as directly conflicts with what I've been told. Oat milk was recommended as DS main drink by his dietician from 1 year old and she was more than happy for him to transition a couple of weeks earlier.

Original poster

Rose138 · 15/09/2018 15:20

Thank you all so much!
Yes I felt our doctor was not particularly helpful!

He has always been full of gas and lots of nappies from birth to 6 months but I know this can be normal in newborns. When I introduced foods from 6 months I felt he was going a lot in a day and always very loose. I spoke to a health visitor after my doctor dismissed me at that time, who said about keeping a food diary. I took this back to my doctor but she said she was not concerned as he was a good weight and meeting his milestones. I had to kick up a bit of a fuss when I went back this week as I said I know there is something. He will be in pain lots of time until he goes and like I say they are always very loose. Any other suggestions what this could be if not an intolerance?
All my doctor said was after keeping the diary if nothing was identified he would be referred to a dietician but I’m not sure what they would then do? xxx

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INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 15:31

I've been Googling and it looks like the advice has changed (or I was misinformed). There does seem to be a consensus that toddlers need milk drinks up until the age of 2 but that cows' milk instead of formula or breastmilk is fine.

I thought it would be interesting to compare cows milk and Oatly as this is something I haven't properly done before. I'm just going to upload a photo from my phone in a sec...

INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 15:32

They compare favourably apart from in fat and protein content...

INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 15:35

Rose - sorry that I've slightly gone off on a tangent!

On your question, yes I do think your DS' symptoms could be caused by an intolerance. I would push for a referral to your nearest allergy clinic. DD had skin prick tests at around 9m old which helped to narrow things down a bit.

INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 15:39

@KatnissMellark - sorry for the misinformation! I'm sure our local HV are stating the breastmilk or formula until 2 but they quite often seem to give conflicting advice!

Can I ask what volume of Oatly you give DS in a bottle? I'd like to start giving DD some bottles that are oat milk.

I'm still BF DD at 18m (having originally planned to only BF up to roughly 6m!) because of being under the impression it was that or formula to 2 years! I think I'm going to start weaning her off completely and give her Oatly instead.

Original poster

Rose138 · 15/09/2018 15:45

That’s ok!

My doctor said there is no need for an allergy test as he would have symptoms like a rash and I would know if it was an allergy. I disagreed with her as I said I feel his symptoms cause him pain and upset and that it has been ongoing but she dismissed me. Should I ask again and state I would like him to have an allergy test? I know some allergies would cause a rash as she said but surely not in all cases.xx

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KatnissMellark · 15/09/2018 21:23

@INeedNewShoes no worries, I have no doubt HV have given you wrong info, the ones I've met have unfortunately been v hit and miss. At 18 months I wouldn't introduce a bottle...totally your choice of course but at some point you'll have to take it off them so with DS at 11.5 months I went straight to a cup. He has a Tommy tippee free flow and I just fill it and give it to him. He usually drinks a full one morning and evening and will sometimes ask for more during the day which I always give.

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