14 Month Old Allergic to Dairy and Peanuts

A food allergy diagnosis can seem so overwhelming, but you will survive. My oldest son was diagnosed at the same age as your daughter and is also allergic to dairy and peanuts as well as beef. He is now 6 1/2 and seems to have outgrown an egg white allergy. I found the best way to handle it was to get as much information as possible so I felt in control of the situation. Read up at foodallergy.org. REad every food label twice - it's easier now that companies are required to clearly list common food allergens. Milk shows up in many, many foods. It also depends on which proteins in milk your daughter is allergic to. Some kids can have milk in baked goods, as the protein they are allergic to is killed in the cooking process. My son is allergic to all proteins, so we had to completely eliminate all traces of dairy from his diet. Kosher labeling can make things easier - if it says kosher parve it contains no dairy. One of my biggest challenges was finding foods that were comperable to what other kids were eating at parties, etc. so my son didn't feel left out. Whole Foods, Mrs. Greens and other natural markets carry a wide selection of treats, chicken nuggets, soy yogurts, dairy free margarine, etc. I bake my own cupcakes and freeze them so I am ready for any unexpected party at school or birthday. There are some great cookbooks out there with baked goods recipes that are huge resources for me. My favorite is the Dairy-Free, Egg-Free Kid Pleasing Recipes & Tips by Theresa Kingma. You can now get it on Amazon. Amy's makes a dairy-free veggie pizza that we bring with us to birthday parties when pizza is served - I sometimes add vegan soy cheese to it and my son loves it. You just need to be organized and think ahead. The first time you are caught in a situation where your child can't eat anything is miserable. But if you are always prepared with something for your child, she will not feel left out and you can go out and do things as most people do. My son is older, but I have always given him input in what he eats. He chooses his own lunch everyday and if we are going out to eat and I need to bring something safe for him, he decides (from a small selection) what it will be. That way he feels more in control and is happy with what he has. Good luck and remember you are not alone and you and your daughter will be okay!

I was allergic to EVERYTHING as a baby. I just found out my son is allergic to peanuts. I was more concerned he was allergic to milk though b/c I thought that would be harder to control - but it IS controllable. Theres so many products on the market now that are dairy free. Check out these products: http://www.cherrybrookkitchen.com/

I started looking at them b/c of the peanut free factor and b/c they are easily found in my local shop rite. If you are lucky to live near a whole foods market, trader joes or wegmans, I think you'll have even more choice - I do not, so I was happy to find these in my local store.

I'm not sure how much you've been reading labels up to this point, but almost everything has an allergy warning on it for dairy, wheat, gluten, nuts, etc so thats helpful.

Theres also some good allergy websites out there that are a good support and that you can get cute items like stickers or bracelets that say things like - Peanut Free, Please don't give me anything to eat without checking with mommy, etc" I don't know the site off the top of my head, I usually check search online and my favorite ones come up quick.

Take a deep breath - you know you can handle this - you and your daughter are not alone! Good you know now so you can be in control of it!

I just read Marion's advice - I agree - if a food doesn't have a clear allergy label on it, I just don't buy it anymore!

Also I just searched - Heres a couple sites that may help support you:
http://www.allergicchild.com/peanut_allergy.htm
http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/food_allergies....
http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/index.html

HI,
My daughter as well has food allergies, milk, egg and soy at 14 months. We knew this at 6 months, when the formula was not right. You will get use to it. It is hard to read everything, take things a long with you and worry when you are not around. Just talk with the day care so that you are all on the same page. Also, keep notes and a journal when you shop. I pretty much know what she can and can't have now. It is hard when your mom is older and out of comission. It will get better. My parents barely see my daughter so be thankful she watches him/her. It takes a little practice a bit of hard work, but it gets better. Take care and good luck. We go back in March and maybe she will have out grown it.

Sounds like you're dealing with a lot right now. We are checking my daughter for a dairy allergy and while I've found it challenging (but I used to cook in a vegan co-op so I am familiar with it), I am in love with new food labels! Right now I don't have time to deal with reading lists of ingredients, so I only buy products that have the allergen listing (i.e., Contains: wheat, soy, and milk). If milk is on the list, I don't buy it. If it doesn't have the allergen list, I don't buy it for her either. I just don't have time right now to learn all the terms that could be in the list that might be dairy - I'm sure this worries you too. When cooking, you can replace milk with soy milk or rice milk; butter with margarine (check that it's labeled "vegan" or dairy free). In place of cheese, you can use a substitute but it's usually not very good (in my opinion), but also kids don't seem to notice. Also, you can give her chunks of tofu instead of chunks of cheese, like for a snack with crackers. Ritz crackers are dairy free. So are generic cheerios, the ones we get. Stonyfield farms soy yogurt is NOT dairy free though! (but it says so right on the container).

I hope this helps you get through the next few weeks. Sure, things could always be worse and we always should be grateful for what we have, but I *never* think those reminders are helpful when I have a problem that needs solving, or even just want to complain a little. Happy holidays to your family! You will get through this!

I have 2 girls (5 & almost 11) and believe me the most important thing to do is give yourself credit for taking on everything that has come your way. My oldest was the hardest w/health issues. Pediatrician couldn't believe a baby having colic through 9 months (not to mention my mom died 3 wks before her birth), then it was the ear infections (had tubes put in @ 17 mos), then problems from potty training her too soon (went to ped-gastro @ 20 mos), then strep for years so they removed her tonsills in 3rd grade, she hemmoraged then dehydrated because she was afraid of bleeding again if she ate then the worst was she fractured her growth plate in her ankle when she was in 3rd grade so this past april fool's day they attempted surgery but she vomitted during procedure & almost lost her (her lungs filled up w/fluid) but they were then successful w/the surgery 2 wks later. Being a mom is the hardest thing I have ever encountered, but the most important thing is realizing that we have it within us to do it. My sister-in-law who has no children can't believe all that goes along w/children. Just take things slow and pick and choose what you are really going to focus on. What is there that you can do absolutely nothing about, if anything let those things go. Sometimes people kid around w/me about never catching a break - if I looked at life like that I would've been belly up years ago. All that is handed to us is managable if we take things a little at a time. My latest battle was my husband being diagnosed w/cancer on 9/11 - we thought we were in the clear by the most recent procedure and would be able to enjoy the holidays, well he got a call thurs telling him that the cancer must've spread according to the labwork. Life isn't always fair, but you know what - keep talking to people - that is how I make it through things. And as hard as it's going to be we will do our best to make it the best christmas for our girls, because no one knows what next year may bring.

I'm not trying to take your focus off of your problems by reading about someone you don't even know about - i'm just offering you some strength to realize that this too shall pass. I was diagnosed bipolar in 1993 & sometimes people think that i'm just going to snap because of it all - i would love to, but i can't - my family needs me. keep your chin up and anytime you need someone, i'm here. Best of luck to you.

M.,
Take a deep breath, close your eyes for a split second, and relax. You will get through this. Being grateful is a cultivated activity - sometimes you need to count a blessing or two before it hits - yes this could be much worse, but I am still cutting the mustard! I have three or four varieties of mustard, but they're all being spread on the bread, so to speak. Sounds silly, but it won't be forever. You will make it, and your babies and family will be better for your love, care, attention, and work.

Good luck!
M.

I have mainly emotional advice for you, because my son doesn't seem to have any allergies. But still, I can empathize. You are going through a lot right now!

It's the holidays, and you are dealing with so many new challenges all at once. Try to find some time over the next few days to just breathe. Keep talking to your husband about how you feel, and take a really long bath. Once you feel like yourself again, then you can tackle your nervousness about the allergies!

Just a heads up: I was vegan for 4 years when I was a teenager. There are a million yummy ways to eat without dairy, and who needs peanuts anyways? :) Find some good cookbooks on dairy free baking (often you can just substitute soymilk in cakes and breads, and it tastes just the same!).

The whole mom thing- that's rough on you. Add in daycare for the first time, and WOW. Cut yourself some slack. It's a lot to deal with! (I won't even go into getting your poor daughter those blood tests. Wasn't that the worst??)

Have a good holiday. You need a break!

My son is 22 months and is allergic to dairy and peanuts/tree nuts as well. I understand what you are going through. I was very upset when i found this out, but then put things into prespective. The allergy is more of an inconvience/annoyance to you then anything else. She is healthy and that is the most important thing. You just have to be very careful as you already know, ready labels and find food that are diary free. They are everywhere...i go to many different stores a week getting my sons food but i dont have a choice...i feed him soy milk, soy cheese, even soy yogurt and pizza. I make sure to have food and snacks that are good for him with me, i am a walking supermarket, and i usually take all my foods with me when we eat out, which is not often. They have a great website www.divies.com that makes cupcakes, cookies that are nut and diary free. good luck!