Question Bees!
Xander is allergic to milk (*cry*), so I can't give him regular yogurt. He's only 9 months - is it okay to give him a soy-based or nut-based yogurt at this age (like coconut milk yogurt)? I ask because the guidelines suggest not introducing nuts until 2+, so does that mean I should avoid coconut or almond milk too???
This Mama is confused!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Is it a cows milk allergy only, or could you do goat or sheeps milk?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: I honestly don't know. The allergist just said "milk" and didn't mention goat or sheep at all! Gahh
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I'd clarify, and I would also ask if they have diff recommendations for tree versus ground nuts.
honeydew / 7916 posts
Although coconut is classified as a tree nut for food labeling purposes, it's actually a fruit containing a seed, and allergists swear it's uncommon for someone with a peanut allergy to have a coconut allergy (I have both but have read research proving that it's rare). Every time someone asks the question in Allergic Living, the answer is always "go ahead and feed your peanut allergic child coconut".
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@looch: Good idea.
@spaniellove: Good point! Allergies are such a pain!
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
I have heard really really really scary things about eating soy in general, but especially giving it to babies 
Apparently they are banning soy formula in other countries because of the effects on kids. I have heard good stuff about coconut milk though!
ETA - Link to a couple articles http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/tragedy-of-soy-formula
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx
pomegranate / 3872 posts
LO has a mild dairy intolerance. I just don't give any kind of yogurt. At this age I think it's more important to give them good foods that don't bother them. Its not like they know what they're missing! (I certainly do and enjoy my share of coconut butter and almond milk!) If she continues to be intolerant as a bigger kid I'd consider substitution foods. I'm not planning on giving any soy though.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Lion: I was actually JUST talking to someone about soy and how bad it can be for you! I guess it's one of the most genetically engineered crops?? So I think I'm leaning towards other forms of milk (coconut, almond, rice), but I wasn't sure when I could/should introduce these things to Xander!
@JerricaBenton: Yeah, you're right! I guess there's no rush! I just saw @Mrs. Hopscotch's post about toddler meals and how yogurt was one of the things her child eats and I was all "I want to give Xander yogurt!" But I guess waiting makes more sense!
honeydew / 7687 posts
I have read the same things about soy an estrogen that @Mrs. Lion: posted. I'd do almond or coconut yogurt!
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Adira: My LO has MSPI and I plan to discuss this with her Ped as she'll be starting solids soon. My pediatrician is not SUPER updated on the latest information but I'm seeing more articles like this one that say there's no reason to wait to introduce potential allergens and you can introduce between 4-6 months. Since Xander is older, I see no reason why you wouldn't let him try a little almond yogurt or almond milk or coconut products and see if there's a reaction.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
@Adira: oh I hear you! It would be easier if we could introduce yogurt and cheese! I just try and remind myself that all food is still new and exciting to LO and hopefully we'll have lots of time in the future to introduce that stuff (hoping both our LOs grow out of it!)
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Adira: also, have you tested soy products with Xander yet? 30% of kids who are allergic to dairy are also allergic to soy.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Anagram: I had actually read another article somewhere that said there was no evidence that showed waiting would limit the chance of a child being allergic! That's why I felt comfortable introducing yogurt at 8 months. Of course then we had to go to the ER, so now I'm scared!!!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Anagram: I haven't tested soy. I'll have to double-check the items I've given him, but I don't think he's had any soy, so I'm not sure if he's also allergic to that or not!
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Adira: yup, you might want to check any packaged foods like puffs to see if there is soy lecithen.
I read in another thread that your LO has eczema and my LO also has it when I eat dairy or soy (it pops up mostly on her cheeks and her legs). When I eat 100% clean, no restaurants or anything, it totally disappears. She eats a LOT more, too. Before she was diagnosed she would only eat about 19 oz a day, but now she eats 28 oz or so a day. The only bad part is she slept better before (I guess because she never felt hunger because her tummy was upset). When she started getting hungry, she started waking up more at night to eat, but her weight gain has been great the last month so it's been worth it to me.
Just some things I've learned recently. =)
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Anagram: Interesting!! Xander does have eczema and it's totally possible that it's caused by my dairy intake, but the allergist said since his eczema seems so mild, I didn't need to cut out milk unless I wanted to try it and see if it helped clear it up! So far I haven't bit the bullet!
BUT he seems to be a decent eater. Before solids, he was eating about 25-30 oz of BM a day. And now he nurses in the morning (my guess is he ingests about 7 oz BM) and takes three 6.5 oz bottles of BM PLUS about 5-10 oz solids. So I'm guessing it's not bothering his tummy too much!!
pear / 1563 posts
I was researching feeding coconut to my LO and found this on wholesomebabyfood, which seems in line with what @spaniellove: said. I want to cook some of LOs food in coconut oil, so I think I'll give it a try:
persimmon / 1479 posts
@Adira: When you took Xander to the allergist they determined that his reaction was to milk, but didn't have you cut it out of your diet? What kind of testing did they do to determine his allergies, I ask because we have been dairy free for 10 months now and LO's 1 year appointment is coming and we will do some kind of testing to see if it is just dairy. We were lucky and haven't had a problem with soy though:)
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@mrsmenow: They did a skin prick test to test his allergy to milk, but that was the only test they did and didn't test if he was allergic to anything else. They want us to return in a year to do a blood test.
As far as my diet, he said that my consuming dairy could (and probably is) causing Xander's eczema, but since it's so mild and can be controlled with creams, it's up to me whether I remove dairy from my diet or not. My continuing to consume it COULD help Xander build a tolerance to dairy...
honeydew / 7916 posts
@Revel: Cool link! And yep, I'm allergic to both coconut and palm...they're probably more related to each other than to nuts.
persimmon / 1479 posts
@Adira: Thanks! I am so nervous to reintroduce dairy, my LO got another Childs snack at daycare a few weeks ago and reacted pretty badly still and she is about to turn one in a couple of weeks. It seems we aren't any closer to out growing it. I miss cheese so much, lol.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@mrsmenow: The allergist showed us a chart about milk allergies and outgrowing them. When they do a blood test, they get a number which tells them how allergic you are (but doesn't indicate the severity of one's allergic reaction). Even children that aren't very allergic, only about 50% of them outgrow it by age 2. But the majority of them outgrow it by age 6. And for kids that are VERY allergic, only about 50% outgrow it by age 18. So unless you have a blood test done to determine HOW allergic your child is, you won't really know their chances of outgrowing it.
Allergies suck.
pomelo / 5258 posts
FWIW - LO's allergist advised waiting until 18 months for almost all of the big 8 allergens. She said she would advise the same for ALL babies and allergen testing won't change her mind. Ugh. I know daycare will screw up and give her something anyway. They already asked DH if salmon is fish.
I've been working with coconut and almond milk "yogurt" and one important consideration is they don't provide the protein found in dairy yogurt. Check the label of whatever you buy and make sure it meets whatever needs you're trying to fill.
(edited to use nicer language, not a lot of sleep last night)
coconut / 8430 posts
My LO has a dairy sensitivity and my pedi recommended coconut yogurt. We get ours from either Trader Joes or Whole Foods. It's expensive
I think if you are concerned about the protein, there is Greek style So Delicious coconut yogurt which has more protein.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Corduroy: What are the big 8 allergens? And good point about the dairy-free alternatives not having the same nutrients! I'll have to look into that more!
@sunny: I didn't even THINK about what nutrients Xander might be lacking by not being able to have cow's milk! What a mess!!! I'll have to look into the alternatives and maybe vary his diet to make sure he's getting everything he needs!
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