Milk Protein Allergy - What to Do at 1 Year Mark?

Most children outgrow a milk protein allergy. My second had it and was on soy formula. At 1, we tried milk, but he still had issues (projectile vomiting). So we did soy milk. At 18 months, he had outgrown the allergy and has since been able to have regular cows milk.

I would avoid soy, but almond milk might be good. I would keep him on formula a few extra months and let him get a little older and than try some new things with him.

I would never choose almond milk. If he already has a milk protein allergy there is a strong likelihood that he could have other allergies. Nut allergies are a biggie so I would not even open Pandora's box and trigger his immune system by introducing almond milk.

There is a huge debate surrounding soy so I wouldn't even go with soy milk.

A pediatric allergist told me that goat's milk protein is very similar to cow's milk protein so I'd avoid that.

I give my milk protein allergic daughter enriched rice milk. You can buy it either in aspectic containers in the cereal aisle at Walmart or in the refrigerated milk section.

I agree with the others that said to stop trying the yogurt and milk. You are triggering his immune system each time and this isn't going to work in your favor.

You'll also need to avoid products that contain casein as this is the protein as well.

You do realize that yogurt and cheese have milk protein (casein) in them, don't you? He was probably tempermental because of the yogurt and cheese you gave him, not the almond milk? Or, if you think his stomach can tolerate digesting cheese and yogurt, maybe he doesn't have a casein allergy after all . . .???

If you would like to learn more about casein intollerance & allergy issues, you may want to read these articles:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=66
http://www.livingwithout.com/resources/casein_free.html
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/what-is-casein/
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/gfcfsf-diet-intro...

I am actually dairy intollerant. I suspected such for a long time - always had digestive issues and really bad sinus issues for most of my adulthood. A doctor of mine suggested that dairy could be the problem so I took myself off of it almost 2-months ago and almost immediately, my problems went away. Because I love cheese and half and half in my coffee, I have slipped a couple of times and I did pay the price for it so now I know I have to be dairy free 100% of the time for the time being.

Hope this answers some of your questions. Good luck with your research.

STAY OFF THE MILK! You must really not understand allergies. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS ALLERGIES A CHILD CAN HAVE. NO YOGURT. Yes he gets an allergic reaction to your experiments.
I kept and milked goats so my children would not be sick and guess what they did not develop allergic reactions nor asthma or eczema.
Today you can go to the store and buy goat milk. Try 2 oz on him or go to an allergist who will test him for it. There are blood tests today.
Next time you have a child breast feed. Milk allergies run in families. They are inherited.

I had the same issue. My son was diagnosed w/ the milk protien allergy at about 8 weeks - blood, mucus and very unhappy little guy. We switched to Nutramigen and it was a new kid and Mom! At one year I tried milk. His excema (spelling?) returned and he got fussy. So we did rice milk (not flavored) and he loved it and did very well on it. It is fortified w/ vitamins and worked well for us. Every 6 mos I'd reintroduce milk. By about two years he was able to tolerant drinking milk, and was able to eat cheese products and some yogurt in moderation about 1.5 years. He is 3 now and fine. IF he does overdo the milk, he does get a rash, but no stomach issues. Good luck. By the way we tried goat's milk and soy, but rice was by far the best for him. Walmart was the cheapest place next to costco.

we were on nutramagen for the milk protien allergy till age 1 and we switched to milk. she does ok with milk as long as she doesnt get too much. we dont do yougrt or cheese... the only milk she gets is 4oz in her nap cup, and 8oz in her bedtime cup. if we give her more she appears to get belly aches but we found a happy place with the amount that she is on now.

My son Is 18 months. I believe he has a milk allergy but never tested him. I had to illuminate dairy from my diet when I was BFing him. I put him on organic toddler soy formula and he is doing very well. It's by Baby's Only. I get it at whole foods. I am concerned about soy but after calling the company, feel better. They sent a large write up about it. This is what they say:

 
I understand you recently contacted our Customer Service Department with a question about soy and phytoestrogens.  I have quite a bit of information on this topic and thought it best to contact you by email so that you have all of the information.  Here goes!
 
There is a great deal of information and misinformation on the Internet related to the phytoestrogens or isoflavones in soy, especially foods containing soy in an infant’s or child’s diet. Research has shown that soy continues to be a beneficial option for children with certain intolerances such as cow’s milk sensitivities and for families who prefer a vegetarian lifestyle.  This is because soy offers complete proteins to help meet a child’s overall protein needs.
 
In 2006, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institute of Health, and the Center for the Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction (CERHR) of the National Toxicology Program convened a meeting of key pediatric nutrition and medical experts to review the use of soy formulas in infancy and addressed many of the concerns about soy and phytoestrogens.  This prestigious group was unable to conclude, after exhaustive research and reviews of the medical and scientific literature, that soy products, including soy infant formulas, were unsafe or presented risk to reproductive and developmental health.  The panel called for continued research on the role of soy in human health.(1) 
 
Since that time, CERHR has determined that there were new publications related to human exposure or reproductive and/or developmental toxicity that had been published since the 2006 evaluation. CERHR held a meeting in December of 2009 to review these new data and issued its final report in 2010 reconfirming that "there is minimal concern for adverse effects on development in infants who consume soy formula."(2)    

 Furthermore, a clinical report co-authored by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition and titled, “Use of soy protein-based formulas in infant feeding,” states the following: “In summary, although studied by numerous investigators in various species, there is no conclusive evidence from animal, adult human, or infant populations that dietary soy isoflavones may adversely affect human development, reproduction, or endocrine function.” (3)
 
Also, a study from the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center compared growth, development and health of breast-fed children with children fed soy formula or milk-based formula.  Preliminary results indicate the feeding of soy formula to infants supports normal growth and development.  The authors further state “early exposure to soy foods, including SF (soy formula), actually may provide health benefits rather than adverse effects, e.g., improved body and bone composition and prevention of breast cancer.” (4)  This Center continues to study use of soy in infancy and has published additional reports showing no affect on reproduction. (5)
 
References:
1.  http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/genistein-soy/soyfor...
2.  National Toxicology Program.  "Final CERHR Expert Panel Report on Soy Infant Formula."  Washington, DC: National Toxicology Program Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, January, 2010. 
3.  Jatinder Bhatia, Frank Greer, and the Committee on Nutrition. “Use of soy protein-based formulas in infant feeding,” Pediatrics 2008; 121; 1062-1068.
4.  Badger, TM, et al, "The health implications of soy infant formula," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009; 89(suppl):1668S-1672S.
5.  Gilchrist, JM, et al, "Ultrasonographic patterns of reproductive organs in infants fed soy formula: comparison to infants fed breast milk and milk formula," Journal of Pediatrics, 2010; 156(2):215-220.
 
I continue to monitor the scientific literature for updates on use of various proteins, including soy, in infant infants.  Please be assured that we take great care in selecting proper and safe organic ingredients for use in young children.
 
R., I hope this information addresses your question and please feel free to contact me again if you should have any additional questions or concerns.
 
Best Regards,
 
Diane Wilson, RD, LD, MPH
Registered Dietitian
Nature’s One, Inc.
8754 Cotter Street
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(888-227-7122)
____@____.com
www.naturesone.com
 
The above information is for education purposes only and should not replace personal medical care.  For specific medical care and advice, please see your healthcare professional.  The information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.  For the most current information, refer to www.NaturesOne.com. 
 

I also agree that you should really find a way to consult with a doctor, even if it is not your original pediatrician. Does your son currently see a doc at all?

My son is severely allergic to dairy and cannot have anything containing any cow's milk/whey/casein at all. He becomes very sick if he does.

Our pediatrician, allergist, and a nutritionist all recommended soy milk, which is what we use. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding soy, but they felt it was his best option. He is allergic to many nuts, so we didn't want to try almond milk. Rice milk generally doesn't contain enough protein.

I would not give your son yogurt and cheese anymore without consulting a doctor. Allergic reactions can worsen with repeated exposure and I would hate to see him suddenly have trouble breathing, swollen lips/tongue, and other reactions beyond the stomach problems. It does sound like he has not yet outgrown the allergy.

If you ask 10 people this question, you will get 10 different answers. You really need to consult with a doctor.

You can keep him on formula for a few more months and simply NOT give him milk. Milk is not a staple or necessary item to have. You can get calcium from MANY veggies and fruits. Also - organic cow and goat milks tend to have less allergic reactions.

Some great mainstream all organic brands are Organic Valley, Stoneyfield Farms (yobaby yogurt, soybaby soy yogurt, organic milks and cheeses), etc.

I know money is short, but isn't this sort of
like the rule against taking some one else's
prescription? You never know what is exactly
the right fit. You could go to the doctor who has
your son's file and be honest. or:Perhaps you
could call the health department and fine
a free service. Often what comes for free
is the best.

You can try giving him Enfamil soy toddler formula. Call Enfamil to ask for checks, coupons, or samples to help with the cost. A lot of my friends give me their Enfamil checks because they know my daughter has to drink their soy formula.

Allergy tests aren't always accurate -- especially at such a young age. At this point, you would probably know better than the doctor whether or not foods containing milk protein are bothering your son or not. Good luck to you!

As you can see from the variety of conflicting advice on this topic, please make an appt with your pediatrician. It doesn't matter that he/she is not the same one that diagnosed your son. You need get your son's records from the previous Ped and discuss all these issues with the new Ped. It may or may not be necessary to do another allergy test, but you definitely need some professional nutrition advice because there are so many alternative choices these days.

Milk is NOT what is used to be.

I am a family wellness coach and here are two of the sources that I trust:

http://www.formerfatguy.com/articles/dont-drink-milk.asp

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=milk&k=milk

Do your due diligence. My children are 15 and 12 the only “milk” in our house is almond milk.

If you want a healthy option: www.BestbreakfastEver.com My clients have chosen to feed their children the healthiest option available, instead of milk or formula. Check it out.

PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF. Things are not as they seem.

We had a similar issue with our son (milk causes him to have severe eczema) so we have him on rice milk with an added calcium and vitamin D supplement which we add to our morning fruit and veggie smoothies. We use the organic unsweetened version from Trader Joe's which tastes very similar to formula and breast milk. Our pediatrician also sad that almond milk is fine to give him too.

Hello, You really should talk to your son's pediatrician. My son, who is 41 now had an allergy to milk products and we put him on soy. He did much better with that. However, there are so many other options these days. Have you applied for WIC? You will be able to get certain foods and milk products through them.
Another thing I would like to say is that it shouldn't matter whether you have private insurance or medical, your pediatrician should be willing to treat your baby the same.
Good luck with your precious son.
K. K.

My son is 5..he doesn't like the taste of milk..when he was one...i still breast fed and i gave him formula..keep giving him what you're giving..almond milk is great..lots of other foods are loaded w/ calcium..honestly milk really isn't that fabulous for humans..i'd try it out if you really want him to drink it..maybe start with non fat.. milk hasn't been an option for us..b/c like i said..my son doesn't like it..he will drink chocolate milk on occassion..he's strong and healthy..just google calcium foods..and make sure your son gets those.

My daughter has had a milk protein allergy since infancy. She did not get bloody/mucusy poop but eczema -- everywhere till she scratched bloody spots on her arms and legs. After testing we found she is allergic to peanuts (anaphylaxis), eggs and fish as well. I would not suggest almond milk if there is even the slightest chance of a tree nut allergy! Allergic kids are usually asked to not even try peanuts or tree nuts until age 3. We tried soy milk for my daughter at 12 mos but she HATED it -- so we do Rice milk (Rice Dream - you can buy by the case at Costco -- much cheaper than the supermarket). She also eats rice cheese, silk live soy yogurt (not all of the soy yogurts are milk culture free --- but that one is), Tofutti's Better than Cream Cheese on toast, etc. She is now 3.5 (will be 4 in July). She is still allergic to milk. Some kids will outgrow it by a year or two but others not till 5 or 6, if at all. We keep our fingers crossed, but every now and then we let her eat something with real cheese in it to see what happens...she inevitably breaks out in eczema within a few days. Good luck! See an allergist -- our pediatrician doesn't do allergy testing but refers the kiddos to a pediatric allergist to do. You can do simple back scratch for the top 8 food allergens that takes like 15 minutes-30 minutes. There is also a blood draw choice that is said to be more accurate though you might have to get an order and take your kiddo to a hospital to have it drawn, given how young he is.

My son had a milk intolerance that we figured out at about 3 months. He was on soy formula until a year and although we did give him small amounts of cheese and yogurt, he didn't have the same strong reaction as he did with regular milk. At a year, our pediatrician said to give him milk and see what happens. I forget the exact statistic, but I think it was 80% of kids who have a food allergy under 12 months, are allergy free after 12 months. We started on whole milk slowly and he didn't have the severe excema and mucus that he had had when he was a baby. I honestly think you should give him milk. I get that you don't want him to suffer needlessly, but I think you should also figure out if he still has issues. You'll figure out pretty fast if he's still intolerant, then you go to plan B. Most people I know say that Almond milk tastes better than soy, but if your son is already on soy formula, he may transition to it easily. Hang in there, it's hard, but I'd say figure it out first!

Hemp, Coconut, Almond, Rice - those are the options in the stores and in the order of nutrition value. What's good about these as well is that you can price shop them to save money as they come in boxes and don't get stored in the refrigerator until you open them.

Go to http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/gfcfsf-diet-on-a-...
This is where I send all parents when they find out their child has a food allergy. Lots of great information on hidden sources, replacements, recipes, etc. Also know that some vaccines have dairy in the ingredients as well so take the time to read the package inserts before your child gets any shots.

It is a minor blessing that your child has this as the 'regular' milk has so many things wrong with it and has been a false sense of nutrition for us to drink. Too many hormones and antibiotics have made that industry a danger for human consumption.

BTW - do NOT replace with soy. Soy is even worse than milk as it is genetically modified and has been proven to be a hormone disruptor.

Everyone - try the SO Coconut products. Coconut milk is very healing for the gut as well as having the best kind of fat for our brains. We get ours at Sprouts. There are yogurts, different flavored milks, a 'soy' sauce made out of coconut sap, sugar. All yummy and good for the tummy.

Forgot to add - Daiya Cheese, the best on the market for replacing dairy cheese. Comes in a 'mozzarella' and 'cheddar' variety.