Confused about cow’s milk alternatives

[Hope54321]

Hey guys,

2 different health visitors have given me conflicting information.

One had said it’s ok to give alternative milk such as rice milk in my 10 months old’s porridge. Another health visitor has said to do so after 1 years old.

My baby has oat milk with his cereal and porridge.

No to rice milk under age 5 due to arsenic levels
What is his main milk drink?

Are you using a fortified oat milk as oat milk is low in fat and other nutrients?

@dementedpixie

No to rice milk under age 5 due to arsenic levels What is his main milk drink? Are you using a fortified oat milk as oat milk is low in fat and other nutrients?

This is exactly what I said to the health visitor regarding rice milk, surprisingly they don’t have a clue.

I am giving him the oatly version.

He is breastfed generally, but is decreasing his intake as expected.

Soya milk is a no until 1, but then you can use that.

Alpro do both a soya and oat milk that is fortified for children. My two love the soya one (giraffe milk as they call it)

If its only in food its fine; same with cows milk

HV are notoriously crap with allergies. If the have CMPA then you should be referred to an paediatric dietitian. No rice milk before 5 years, other alternatives milks can be give in food from 6 months and as a drink from 5 years. You want a milk which is forfeited with calcium (none of the organic ones are) and iodine. The alpro soya and oat growing up milks have twice as much iodine as oatley barista.

My little boy can’t have dairy, I used oatly in his porridge/cooking from weaning. Alpro also do an oat growing up milk now which my little boy likes to drink (he’s 15 months now so has it as a main drink) xx

We use oatly too. It's perfectly OK to use from 6 months in food. And as I drink from 12 months. We use it exactly the same as someone else would use cows milk.

As he's still breastfeeding this is fine, don't worry about it. The fortified oat milk or almond milk is likely best. Soya could also work if no allergy to it. Rice milk is likely fine in small quantities as well.