Milk allergy on a 1 y.o. Help!

**lullaby80** · 06-14-2007, 09:11 PM

My son is turning 1 in about a week. Last fall when he was a few months old we were debating which formula to put him on (breastfeeding didn't work) since he got terrible tummy aches and gas from pretty much everything we tried. We finally settled on GentlEase which he has been on since 3 months old and it works great. Around 4 months old he got diagnosed with a pretty bad case of acid reflux and after trying the formula+cereal combo we had to put him on prevacid. Anyway, his wonderful doctor thought that he might have a milk allergy but since his ezcema wasn't breaking out anymore I didn't think about it any longer.

Fast forward to about a week ago. I started adding a tiny bit of milk (like half an ounce) with his formula and his reflux got sooo much worse. He also cries a lot more than usual and has gas and soggy poops. So I'm wondering now, if your child had milk allergies at this age, what did you give him/her as a drink if cow's milk didn't work? Did you do soy milk? Stay on formula? Every bit of help is appreciated. I'm going to talk to his doctor at his 1 year checkup but thought I'd ask around for suggestions beforehand. Thanks!!

**sunshine** · 06-14-2007, 10:23 PM

Well , first off -- I'd find out if it's true milk ALLERGY, or lactose intolerance (HUGE difference), etc. From your description, I'm guessing lactose intolerance. . . but I'd want the doctor to confirm either way.

Then I'd stay on the forumla for as long as feasible --- then maybe try homemade rice milk if cost is an issue.

**cheriede** · 06-14-2007, 11:40 PM

DD#1 had a milk allergy as a baby. When I gave her formula her nose and eyes would start running, she would start rubbing her ears and she would throw up. As soon as we figured out the problem, then we switched her to soy. I breastfed her and gave her soy and she did great. When she reached a year old, I weaned her and our pediatrician wanted her on soy milk. I always purchased the enriched soy milk and she did fine. She stopped drink soy milk altogether when she was about 4 years old. My DD has also outgrown her milk allergy too--like the pediatrician said she would. Of course, she became so use to not having any milk that it's a battle now--that's a whole other story.

**YankeeMom** · 06-15-2007, 09:28 AM

My youngest had a milk allergy. It didn't start until we tried to (gradually) give him cow's milk once he weaned himself off the breast. He would get the wicked gas, the nastiest smelling diapers EVER (and he's the youngest of 4, so I know stinky diapers lol), and the instant he would poop it would start to burn his bum...within seconds.

He was diagnosed with a milk allergy (not lactose intolerant, as Lactaid produced the same symptoms as regular cow's milk) so we switched him to soy milk. He even had to switch to soy cheese because he couldn't tolerate cow's milk cheese. He did fine on the soy. Eventually, around age 2.5 we got the go ahead from his dr to try small amts of cow's milk to see if he was still allergic. He tolerated it and now he can have cow's milk in his cereal, regular cheese, etc. with no ill effects.

Hope this helps.

**cherrie79** · 06-15-2007, 01:00 PM

Almond Milk is also another good alternative. My oldest dislikes milk (by choice, no allergies). I tried soy milk with her, no go. So I tried Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. She won't drink anything else. It's unsweetened and comes in Original, Vanilla and Chocolate. It's lactose and gluten free. Its also enriched with Calcium and Vitamins D and E.

**mom22grls** · 06-15-2007, 01:51 PM

That GentleEase is a low lactose milk based formula. Sounds like he's lactose intolerant. Some *do* grow out of it. My oldest did. My youngest uses gentelease, too, but he can handle small amounts of "regular" milk without tummy problems.

Me, I'd just keep him on the formula for times he'd have milk to drink, and try lactose free alternatives for a while & *slowly* introduce regular milk.

**lullaby80** · 06-29-2007, 01:24 PM

Just an update..

We went to his 1 year checkup and the Dr said to either try some lactose free milk or soy and see what happens. So I went to Costco and got their organic soymilk and he loves it! No tummy problems and the weirdest thing, no more reflux! He used to have formula mixed in with a lot of cereal and now he actually drinks the soy milk without any cereal and doesn't get any kind of reflux. I did some comparisons and it looks like it's pretty much the same as regular milk with less fat. I want him to get the fat from other sources anyway so we're all set. He does eat regular cheese and seems to be fine with it so I'll just try cow's milk again later. Thanks for all your help!!