My daughter who has just turned one, had severe reflux when she was a newborn. She had to be NG tube fed until she was 6 months old, is on a very hydrolysed formula, has questionable diary intolerance and is still heavily medicated for her reflux on omeprazole.
She is still under gastro consultant care and will be for a while.
Aside from all that, she is doing well, growing and now that she is moving onto solids does not appear to have a bad allergy to dairy. We have never however given her full on cows milk.
At her last hospital appointment last week with her consultant, we discussed weaning her off her formula. She still takes a lot - she is behind on weaning due to her slow start. Her consultant said that we absolutely shouldn't go straight from her formula to milk in one go. Although she hasn't shown an intolerance so far, 'neat' milk regardless of a dairy allergy, would be too much for her delicate stomach to handle. A grown up with bad reflux struggles with milk!
So we discussed mixing her formula with increasing amounts of milk over a few weeks. See how she goes. Gently, gently. No probs -easy, makes sense absolutely fine!!
Take her to nursery. Inform them. They say - no. We don't do that. Our nursery manager is of the opinion that you shouldn't mix formula and milk. No explanation as to why, just that she doesn't. Unfortunately it was my husband who did the drop off. He said look, you know what we are doing at home, what we want you to do. I'll leave it to you. ( he is trouble by he way....)
I get a phone in the afternoon. Jemima has been sick. I said, what has she had. They had given her neat milk - not much, but not mixed in her formula.
I was LIVID. I go and pick her up and really go for it. I said I don't care what the manager thinks. We have told you what we want doing, based on consultant advice and you went against that based on non medical opinion. How do you know you haven't made her ill?
We left it and I took her home. She went back in today and they have given us a paper to sign to say we are happy to have formula mixed - insinuating we are in the wrong and doing something off piste.
Needless to say I haven't signed it. I feel very strongly that they have behaved appallingly. As a parent if I ask you to treat my child in a way that is not harmful or dangerous - you do it. Even if you wouldn't do it yourself and don't agree. You do it. It is my right as her parent. Regardless of the fact it is backed up by medical advice, it is my choice. I could be making the decision to mix formula and milk based on advice from a fairy who came to see me in a dream, and as her parent my decision is correct and should be followed.
I have said I want documented reasoning behind their opinion before I do anything further. But I can't calm down. I'm so cross.
Does anyone have any advice or thoughts? I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance xx