Vegan baby - worried about allergies

[Milsta]

Hi there -

I’m currently just 12 weeks pregnant, but planning ahead for when our first baby arrives next year!

DH and I have been vegan for about 9 and a half years now and we both have always been sure about raising our future children vegan too (until they are old enough to choose otherwise, if they ever do).

I plan to breastfeed initially, however I have been learning more and more about weaning (for when the time comes) and we are super torn about this decision. So I wondered if any other vegan families had any thought/experiences when it comes to this..

I have read quite a bit of research on how, when weaning a baby, introducing common allergens frequently and at an early stage can reduce the risk of them developing these allergies. We had always thought we’d never give our baby animal products from birth, but we are now having doubts as to whether this is a responsible choice in terms of developing allergies.

Even as long-term vegans, mistakes occasionally happen. E.g. food at a party mislabelled as ‘vegan’ when it actually contains milk. Or travelling abroad to a country that doesn’t have the same understanding of veganism and unknowingly likely consuming some level of milk or egg within a dish.
For my husband and I, we have never had any medical issue with this sort of thing making us sick, as we had grown up eating milk/eggs. Obviously we’d be unhappy about it but it was never dangerous.

However, if our baby never eats milk/eggs/etc., they are at a higher chance of developing an allergy and we may not know to be careful with these allergens.
For example, if they have never consumed milk and then one day accidentally eat something at school, a friend’s birthday party, on holiday etc., we wouldn’t have allergy medication ready because we wouldn’t know they were allergic?

I know this is probably just me overthinking things, I really hope it all makes sense, I just feel so conflicted about this. I am really passionate about veganism and hope to instil positive compassionate values in our child.. but I also don’t want to be doing something to put them at risk.

I know it is completely our choice at the end of the day, but wanted to hear some thoughts that cover both sides of the dilemma so I can make an informed decision.

Anyone else been through this and have any stories to share?

Thanks so much!

I reckon you’ll do brilliant!

I can already see how much you want the best for your child and I have no doubt whatever you do you’ll be a brilliant mum!!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you! 😊

Definitely introduce dairy and common allergens like eggs and shellfish.

When DD had an allergy appointment for lactose intolerance (she was lactose free until 3 with periodic trials of it, then gradually introduced it as her reactions to it decreased) we were told that the worst thing for milder intolerance like hers was avoiding it long term, as the body then doesn't get used to digesting it. He said about a country (I think china?) Where dairy isn't a common part of diet in young children and that there was a huge percentage of adults who are lactose intolerant because of it compared to people rasied on western diets.

My vegan baby has just started having his first solids. I’ve decided not to introduce vegan allergens as for it to be an effective preventative measure I think it needs to be consistent over a few years, and I don’t think realistically I would keep up with it. I can completely understand why you would though.

Personally I feel the risk is low enough that I’m not going to worry about it.

He was premature and couldn’t breast feed for a month or two, during that time we gave him cow formula. Since then he’s been breast fed with the occasional vegan plant milk top up. We’ve tried a few and Sprout from Australia has been the best for us - if definitely tastes the nicest!

Good luck!

if you can make it work, why not. I am not vegan. But i wouldnt mind eating with someone who was.

Does honey exploit bees? That’s the main thing that confuses me about veganism - it is a totally natural by product, the only food that doesn’t ’go out of date’ bees produce it following their cross-pollination activities.
how on earth is that exploitative??!!!

Because you're taking away something they have made for themselves.

@Milsta You feed your child in line with welfare guidelines. The NHS website will be a starting point, and your home visitor will be able to advise further on optimal nutrition for a child.

Oh, and veganism is “opt in”, not “opt out”. That’s why we humans evolved with stereoscopic vision and canine teeth.

As a pp said OP, you need to see a dietician. My kids are vegan and we got great advice the dietician we saw. I wouldn’t listen to random mumsnetters, especially when so many are so obviously anti vegan. It’s nice of them to drop by and give us their ‘expert’ advice and passive aggressive comments though. Always a joy. 😂

lol,,,,,oh….Our household was vegan when we had kids so it was opt out in our house, which our kids were able to do if they wanted to when they were old enough to make their own choices around food. They have never wanted to opt out though.

You gotta love these comments.

Don't place too much faith in a dietician appointment. We have been referred to about 7 dieticians across both DC and they have only ever given us leaflets. They have never given any helpful advice e.g. if I say my dc are allergic to dairy they say "have soya, here is the soya leaflet" and then I say but they are also allergic to soya "here is the almond milk leaflet then" ah but they can't have almond milk at nursery "here is the oat milk leaflet" ok but youngest seems to get diarrhea on oat milk. "...erm ok. Here are all the leaflets I have given you. See you in 6 months"

I know multiple families whose children have been vegan since birth. Some are now in their late 20s & others still children but none have any unusual health issues or allergies.

Veganism.
Veganism.
Veganism.

Aren’t animal byproducts verboten in veganism, and breast milk definitely falls under that definition.

Some vegans won’t eat avocados, for crying out loud.

Don’t feed a baby a vegan diet. It’s not good for them, it’s only good for you.

I don’t think anyone is claiming to be an expert.
People are simply giving their opinion.

I have a couple of friends that are vegan and my only word of caution is that their children’s diets are high in UPF and they are very slight and smaller than average for their age. I think being a vegan is great for adults but less so for young kids. My friends are great vegan cooks and have still met (typical) toddler resistance to their food so I know food is a constant source of stress for them. I think if you can introduce dairy and eggs in their diet they can be mostly vegan when young and then can make a decision when a bit older

It's really shocking to me that people don't understand veganism to the point that they think feeding your child your own breast milk is not vegan.

Yes, but you do not get that huge side helping of moral rectitude when eating a non-vegan diet.

Could you not find a farm shop which sells free range eggs ( from a verified farm where the hens are indeed running around but not in contact with cockerels)

Dear god, some people are weird.
You have actively chosen to come on to a thread on the vegan board simply to disparage people choosing a vegan or plant based diet. You accuse them of seeking 'moral rectitude' as if living by an ethical or moral code was a bad thing.
OP didn't post on a thread about how to roast a joint of lamb trying to shame meat eaters. But you chose not only open this thread but then post a snide comment. 🙄

Okay, fair enough. It’s the vegan board and I should have paid more attention to that. Mea culpa.

That said, can a baby be a vegan? Or are they a child borne of vegan parents?

Have you ever met a baby? What a weird comment 😂

Why do bees produce honey?

To feed vegans…? 😀

No lovely, your own breastmilk, that your body produces to feed your own baby, is not an animal product.