[LisaCA]

I'm trying to figure out what to do with dd as she approaches 12 months old (in july). I suspect she'll be lactose intolerant, and possibly her milk allergy will continue. Right now she's on a 50-50 mix of nutramigen and lactofree baby formula: she toots a bit, belches like a fratboy,and poops 2x a day now, but no major problems like we had when she was born (serious milk allergy). Since I'm a long-term planner, what do we do if she's unable to tolerate lactose free milk when she's 12 months old? I'm hesitant to give her soy milk on any extended basis since I've read many of the concerns about feeding excessive amounts of phytoestrogens to developing babies. I'd rather give her occasional bits of tofu in our food and leave it at that. So what are our alternatives? anyone using any of them? we've thought about goat milk as many have recommended, but I hear that has lactose in it, so the same problem may happen. Also heard of rice milk- sounds gross, but since i don't have to drink it we might try it. would love a few ideas that I can run past dd's doctor in july for our 1 year appointment.

thanks,

Lisa

[gizturbo1]

Try the rice milk. It worked for my son who is allergic to dairy products. He also has asthma and it didn't make him have any episodes like the soy did. Hope this helps some.

[Mom2J]

Have you checked into goat's milk. My brother and sister were both allergic to cow's milk, but goat's milk was tollerated very well. I know it's even carried in some grocery stores. (So you wouldn't have to buy a goat and milk it. )

Mom2J

[MMC66]

For my daughter who is now nine - we used rice mile. I didn't know about goats milk at the time though. Rice milk is really sweet and not horribly nutritious. I actually read a bunch about goats milk yesterday and it seems like a good alternative for kids who can't tolerate cow's milk. Why can't parenthood be easy, sheesh??

Martha

[Mom2J]

I know goat's milk is also very sweet, but it's much more nutritious than cow's milk. (I'll admit, that when our llamas have a cria-baby- that needs to be supplemented, only goats milk is EVER used.) Now, goats milk is fattening, but when it comes to a toddler, if they really don't have a weight issue, then I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

Mom2J

[honu]

My husband has one of the worst lactose intolerance allergies, I won't tell you what happens when he consumes a dairy product, lol! Anyway, he drinks the regular cow's milk with the lactose removed w/o any problems at all. He also occasionally drinks chocolate soy milk because he really likes the taste of a particular brand.

[rtsmom]

Perhaps Tayo non-dairy beverage is an option for her:
http://www.tayofoods.com/win/flash/index.html

Janet

[amyway_j]

Lisa,

You have got to check out Vance's DariFree. I will pm you the link. My son is allergic to gluten and casein (wheat and dairy) and soy. We have used rice milk and almond milk - but the best is Vance's DariFree. It is made from potatoes and has the same amount of calcium as milk in it. It tastes the most like milk and it works wonderfully as a milk substiture in cooking. I can't say enough good things about it. We were so excited when we finally found this product. Anyway - I am off to send you the link.

Amy

[Shoshana]

Xiomara drinks rice milk. The "enhanced" version contains as much calcium as milk, no saturated fat, no cholesterol, no iron (neither does milk), less protein, the same amounts of vitamins A (10%), D (25%), and E (4%), no C (milk does), and it contains 25% of B12 (none in milk). Seems comparable nutrition-wise to milk. I won't put Xiomara on soy for the reasons you mentioned. She gets tofu occasionally.

[momofmykids]

My dad bought some rice milk for my kids and they loved it! All my kids have been lactose intolerant and have done just fine on the Lact-Aid milk that you get at the grocery store. Also, the acidophilus milk seems to be okay for kids who are lactose intolerant. My friend's daughter had to do the Lacto-Free formula and she went straight to the acidophilus milk when off forumla and is still on it at age 9.

Good luck!

[rtsmom]

Like the Vance's DariFree that someone mentioned, the Tayo line is also a potato-based milk alternative.

Janet

[Maria K]

My brother was very allergic to cow's milk when he was a tot (30 years ago). Mom had a lot of success with goat's milk.
- Maria K

[Nevada Jen]

There is nothing that says you have to keep using milk. DD was not a milk drinker so as soon as she was getting enough calories and nutrients from other food we switched to Hansens Juice Blasts (used to be able to get them at Costco). DD's nutritionist was amazed at how all the added vitamins balanced out her needs. SHe didn't even need a multi vitamin if she drank 3 a day.

Jen

[LisaCA]

the only problem with juice is that it rots kids teeth, so they end up having to brush after each drink (yeah, I know, good luck with that!). I'd like her to drink water with most meals, but also something that has nutrients and fats. without those we're more reliant on foods to make up the losses, and I've heard toddlers are notoriously picky and fussy. Maybe an occasional juice...I know I sound like a food nazi, but my mom was and I come to it naturally .

[redhedded]

Lisa, I am pretty much a food nazi myself. My dearest mother allowed us to eat no refined sugar, no white flour and not even good peanut butter, only natural oily gag you peanut butter. I do permit peanut to have juice, 1/3 juic with 2/3 water. For us, because she and I are both veggie and she is really picky, milk is a big source of protein. While it might not happen, Christiane may tolerate milk just fine. Our LA pediatrician, who is lactose intolerant herself, really encouraged me to try milk though dd had drank only soy formula due to intolerance. She said some babes just cannot tolerate milk based formula but later do well with cows milk; plus the inability to drink milk does not often translate to other dairy like cottage cheese, etc. DD loves milk and did fine with it; we drink Horizon. I tried soy, rice and lactaid; she would touch none of them, including Silk, my personal favorite. Further, she is a havarti addict; it is the only kind of cheese she will eat.