trying to find food ideas..

[nessy]

Hi

I'm ness and my son Ewan is 9 months old, since he was born Ewan suffered with excema and when he switched from breastfeeding and started solids at 6 months old he has has chronic diahorrea, up to 8 times daily and needing fresh clothes every time. My health visitor suggested that maybe he was intollerant to dairy products and advised me to cut them out of his diet 3 weeks ago. I can't believe the change in him, his nappies are so much better and his skin is clear and so soft (something hes never had in the past, previously it was so dry that it was scaly) I am now looking for meal ideas to feed him and thought some of you have lots of experience and advice.

Ness and Ewan

[Copper]

Welcome to the site Ness. I have not had any experience of feeding non-dairy babies so I can't help, but others here will be able to help.

[Dreean]

Hi Ness and Ewan ~ I am glad you found out so quickly your health visitor seems on the ball!!

I haven't had my own child who is dairy intolerant but I do work in a nursery and have looked after a few children who are.

I always find fresh food is best. Plenty of fruit and veg and just no cheese/yogurt/milk based food. Most recipes can be made with alternatives.

Annabel Carmel does loads of fab books with recipes for children which I can really recommend.

Milk wise it would be best to seek professional advice as I am unsure which alternatives are best for a child that young.

Good luck and happy cooking!!

[cnc]

Hi and welcome Ness and Ewan. Again I don't have any children, but just thought I'd welcome you, and am good at recommending alternatives to chocolate, cakes, and ice-cream mostly!!

[matt]

easiest way is to make the meals yourself and just give a liquidized/chopped version of your main meal. that's the way to keep costs down and really know for sure.

welcome to the site.

the tins/jars of baby food should now all say if any dairy in them but it's the more expensive option.

[Pam]

Hi Ness, welcome to the site. At 9 months Euan should still be drinking quite a lot of milk and if you aren't breastfeeding you should ask your doctor to prescribe something suitable - preferably a hypoallergenic formula rather than soya (which can lead to soya intolerance too if used as a total replacement). A referral to see a dietician would be helpful too, though in the experience of most on this site you will learn more here than you will from a dietician.

Euan can eat most of your food if you use dairy free substitutes for butter (use Pure or Vitalite) and milk (soya, oat, rice milk can be used in cooking or add some formula if you won't be eating it yourself) or as Matt said, you can buy pre-prepared baby foods which should be clearly labelled. If you do a lot of your own cooking you won't have any problems but watch out for processed foods as many contain hidden milk - even things like boiled ham can have milk in!

If you are looking for anything in particular just ask, someone is bound to know the answer.

[LouJ]

hi there, personally I am not a fan of Anabel Karmel (due to her views on weaning, I followed teh principles of the UNICEF Baby Led Weaning Initiative) so you could try Antoinette Savill. She has lots of 'free from' books, including one which I think is called Allergy free cooking for kids. I got it, and others, from my library which allowed me to have a good look around before deciding whether I needed to buy:)

[emmaporter]

Hiya, I'm new here too and am mother to my 10 month old son. I'm still breastfeeding, so don't have the problem of what milk to give him, but am having to maintain an entirely cow's milk free diet for myself as well as well as he seems more affected by what I eat than what he eats himself!

I've managed to miss the Karmel train, but am a huge fan of Optimal Nutrition for Babies and Young Children by Lucy Burney. It's an unassuming looking green covered book but is full of useful information and very tasty recipes which all seem to either be dairy-free or have dairy-free options built in. Isaac has enjoyed every one of the dishes I've cooked from it, and is a particular fan of a lovely garlicky lentil dish I found in it. It's great served with some rice or pasta. His dad tends to finish that one off!

I tend to do a big cook every few weeks and freeze individual portions in some really cheap little lidded containers I found in Select n Save. One of his favourites is fisherman's pie which I make with poached cod and a homemade white sauce and top with nice creamy mashed potato. This is probably quite good on the calcium side of things too.