Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

I posted about a week ago about stopping milk for my DD who always has diarrhea. I just have a feeling she has smoke kind of food intolerance going on or something, and that was the easiest thing to eliminate to see if it helped.

In the meantime, how did you know what your child was sensitive to? Bloodwork, etc? Did your ped help, or did you go to some other specialist?

Also, if your child has a dairy allergy, what milk do you give? I have been researching various milks a bit. Coconut milk looks like a possible option, but I see concerns about packaging, etc. I am definitely concerned about calcium, protein, etc, also...

TIA!

Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

My ds has a lactose issue. He was a different kid when we gave him milk. So we did lactaid and recently switched to soy. There is no need for cows milk as long as they get calcium from other places.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

We just put dd back on milk after an early milk protein allergy. Prior to this introduction, I alternated between coconut milk and almond milk (one higher in calories, the other in protein). FYI, trader joes carries coconut yogurt. And silk makes almond yogurt.

In terms of testing, we had dd at a GI doctor by months old because the regular formulas (including nutramigen) was wreaking havoc on her. She couldn't sleep longer than a 20 minute stretch wo pooping or painful gas, poops were all mucus. GI doctor did a stool sample and there was blood in it, after nutramigen for 3 weeks, so he concluded that her system couldn't tolerate the milk proteins. We went on an rx formula. 3 weeks later, stool sample was blood-free.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

I also wanted to add to make sure you are getting good fats from other places (ie avocados, olive oil).

And she liked the trader joes coconut milk (in dairy section) best! We did the refrigerator-needed cartons, not the metal cans.

Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

I found coconut milk to have lower calories and fat than a lot of the other options. I give organic soymilk since it seems to have the highest protein, fat, etc. You could also try lactaid or goat milk before going completely nondairy.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

Thanks everyone.

DD has been on lactaid milk for a very long time, so that's why I just stopped milk for a few days to see if it is dairy and not just lactose.

I am concerned about calcium and whatever other nutrients she was getting from milk. She doesn't eat anything else - cheese, yogurt... She does like broccoli and I think that has calcium?

Also, I have read some concerning things about soy, and DS has nut allergy so I would prefer to not have almond milk in the house. I am trying to do my research, just a little confusing!

Message edited 12/28/2013 10:50:14 AM.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

Posted by mrandmrs12

Thanks everyone.

DD has been on lactase milk for a very long time, so that's why I just stopped milk for a few days to see if it is dairy and not just lactose.

I am concerned about calcium and whatever other nutrients she was getting from milk. She doesn't eat anything else - cheese, yogurt... She does like broccoli and I think that has calcium?

Also, I have read some concerning things about soy, and DS has nut allergy so I would prefer to not have almond milk in the house. I am trying to do my research, just a little confusing!

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

Posted by mrandmrs12

Thanks everyone.

DD has been on lactaid milk for a very long time, so that's why I just stopped milk for a few days to see if it is dairy and not just lactose.

I am concerned about calcium and whatever other nutrients she was getting from milk. She doesn't eat anything else - cheese, yogurt... She does like broccoli and I think that has calcium?

Also, I have read some concerning things about soy, and DS has nut allergy so I would prefer to not have almond milk in the house. I am trying to do my research, just a little confusing!

Message edited 12/28/2013 11:00:39 AM.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

Yes this is true. Unless you have a dairy allergy (meaning a true IgE response) you will not test positive on allergy testing (either blood or skin testing). My DS had both blood and skin testing and tested negative on both. The dairy protein intolerance is not immune mediated (as in allergic type reaction) , it is a reaction in the gut itself that is an intolerance to the size/type of protein. This causes inflammation in the large intestine and ensuing colitis (mucoid and or bloody/soft stools). My DS did have both of these symptoms (started at 12 weeks) that resolved when dairy was removed completely from his diet (cooked and noncooked dairy sources). At 18 months he STILL gets diarrhea/diaper rash/excema if given any dairy products or even foods made on shared equipment). We went with soy milk and use enriched "Soy Dream" as some of the other soy milks can be dairy contaminated (crazy!) and caused him diarrhea still. We also use Earth's balance butter as a replacement spread/for baking/cooking etc. Good luck, it is frustrating for us. Supposedly MOST kids outgrow this sensitivity but I don't know with us since it seems DS is so sensitive.

Re: Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

They tested DD's stool and found blood which means she has a milk allergy. She is only 4 months so hopefully she grows out of it. She is on allimentium formula.

Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

My dd has a dairy intolerance. I realized it when she was about 4-6 weeks old. She was fussing a lot after bottles. Clearly uncomfortable and aputting up a lot. After every reflux med under the sun and then developing explosive diarrhea everyday 4 times a day. i finally decided to change formula and lave her on zantac. I switched to alimentum and she was on that until 18 months when we transitioned to almond milk.

My dd has no food allergies. Bloodwork came back negative. I did try milk at 15 months and she started getting diarrhea and bad gas again. So i stopped.

She can tolerate yogurt and cheese. Just not straight milk.

Moms with little ones who have food sensitivivities like dairy, gluten. Please come in, again

DD drinks hemp milk, and she loves it! It is made from hemp seeds and has Omegas in it. If you are concerned about calcium you can always supplement. Also, avocados are great for some added healthy fat. If you want to do coconut milk, go for the canned kind . That is true coconut milk. The native forest brand has BPA free cans. I would steer clear of soy milk.