Is there an alternative to cow's milk that's suitable for cereal etc for 6 month old?

[Cydonia]

Hi, DS is 6 months, we're currently waiting for a referral to the allergy clinic after he suffered a reaction to ready to drink formula. He's breastfed and we've started weaning but I'm finding it a pain using expressed milk for his porridge etc. I struggle to express a decent amount, then end up using it in his food so there's not enough for a bottle if I have to leave him.

Can I use soya milk instead? Or something else? I've noticed there is soy formula, would that be better? Would just be about 3/4 oz a day. I would ask the allergy clinic but they don't seem in a hurry to make my appointment!

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

I'm pretty sure you could use soya milk. :)

[DorsetKnob]

We used soya milk and rice milk

[weasle]

I wouldn't and didn't use soy milk. There is high incidence of cross reactivity with cows milk protein. Also I'm not sure what the latest in the phyto oestrogen debate us. I used Kara coconut milk, actually I still have it in my porridge. or you can get a prescription formula but I'm told it is foul tasting. If bf but just a bit for cereal then kara ok think.

[mrscumberbatch]

a1 milk. It's normal milk but with the proteins that most people are intolerant to removed. You can get it in all of the big supermarkets.

[Pancakeflipper]

I wouldn't use soya ( there were ponderings about soya and infertility when we did the great non-dairy milk find). We use oat milk but do ask your consultant/ dietician as its a minefield.

[Lcy]

We used oat milk

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Rice milk is no longer advised for the under 5's due to the levels of arsenic. Rice milk is well within the ADULT guidelines for trace amounts of arsenic, but for a very young child under 5, the levels are too high.

What about Oat milk? Or use a replacement like Nutramigen or Neocate? Especially for a baby of 6 months old, I would have thought one of those would be prescribed?

There's also Karo coconut milk too.

[DancesWithWoolsEnPointe]

My DD3 was intolerant of dairy and soy, so we had lactose-free formula prescribed by my GP while we waited for the allergy clinic appointment. If you can't get that what about goats milk formula, or the lactose free milk at the supermarket?

[Cydonia]

Thanks for the replies, it's a minefield isn't it?! GP wasn't really very helpful, just told me to keep breastfeeding! And I'm a bit clueless still, haven't even heard of oat milk.

I do remember Danni Minogue ( I think it was her! ) mentioning something on telly the other day about A1 and A2 proteins in cow's milk. She said there are special cows that only produce milk containing the protein which most people aren't allergic to. Is that the A1 milk you mentioned MrsCumberbatch?

[Cydonia]

Have just googled, apparently it's the A2 milk which is less 'allergic' but seems to be more for intolerance than allergy.

[freefrommum]

The best milk alternative at that age would be a hypoallergenic formula such as Nutramigen on prescription but while you are waiting for the appointment at the allergy clinic I would definitely steer clear of goat's milk, lactose free milk and A1/A2 milk as none are suitable for milk allergy. I would also avoid soya milk until at least 12 months due to phyto-osetrogens (plus quite a few children allergic to milk are also allergic to soya). As one of the other posters said, rice milk contains arsenic so not recommended for children. Best options are fortified oat milk or Kara coconut milk (available in supermarkets or health food stores).

[greenbananas]

Everything freefrommum said.

Please don't use goat's milk, lactose free milk or A1/A2 milk. They are not suitable for a child with suspected cow's milk allergy.

If you want to feed your DS cereal, your best options are probably oat milk or Kara coconut milk.

You don't absolutely need to give cereal - you could just carry on with breastfeeding and fruit/veg etc. until your appointment comes through. Babies get most of their calories and nutrition from breastmilk until they are at least one year old, so you have a bit of time yet.

[Cydonia]

Thanks, I will have a look for oat or coconut milk when I go shopping. I want to give him cereal just so he has something a bit different from fruit or veg really. I'm a bit scared to give processed baby food or anything else that might be dodgy ( eg fish, eggs ) so thought something like porridge or weetabix might give some variety.
Wish they'd hurry up with my appointment!

[MrsHoarder]

What about potatoes, rice cakes, toast, pasta etc. or porridge made with water?

I'm not an expect on allergy foods to avoid though.

[Cydonia]

He does have mashed potato, but when I tried with ' finger foods ' he wasn't really interested. I might try him again though now he's a couple of weeks older.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Be careful with porridge - I've found that 99% of them contain milk of some sort. I have found ONE in Tesco, a baby porridge but I can't remember the brand - it's in my shopping order, will let you know after 12pm which brand it is.

Organix baby rice cakes are ok, as are the Organix toddler crisps - but only the red, pink or orange ones, as the rest have CMP in.

Some of the baby 'Goodies' stuff is fine, as is the 'kiddylicious' range of baby/toddler snacks.

[vvviola]

We make DD's porridge with water. We just use regular rolled oats, not the quick cook porridge. It doesn't take long in the microwave. Occasionally we mash in banana or stir in a little jam.

For anything else that requires milk, I use oat milk.

She's still breastfed at 15 months, but we're working on moving her on to Pepti junior formula. We've been told under no circumstances should we use goat milk or any of the "mucked about with milks" (paediatrician's words )

[Cydonia]

Think the porridge we've got is from Tesco, it's Organix whole grain banana porridge. There's no dairy in it that I can see, though I am a novice!