4 Month old baby allergic to dairy-weaning advice?

[happysunflower1987]

Hi all, i am new to this site! my baby girl (Macie) is 4 months old and was diagnosed with reflux and a milk allergy a month ago. She had been screaming, her head/face/neck came out in a rash, her tongue swelled, she was constantly being sick so was put on sma wysoy and has ranitadine for reflux. Most of the symptoms improved but her milk intake decreased. She went from drinking 20-30 ounces of formula per day to 16 ounces or less, she was constipated and unsettled and losing weight. I took her to a health visitor and she was horrified that Macie had been prescribed soya formula, as babies so young should NEVER be given soya as they struggle to digest it. Hence the decrease in her intake...so she now has hypoallergenic formula. In the next couple of months i will need to start weaning her, but im not entirely sure where to start! As she is allergic-not intolerant i have to be so careful what i give her and its rather daunting! my other little girl that is now 3years old was intolerant but it wasnt diagnosed until she was 1year old and she grew out of it so i only had to cut out cows milk, cheese etc but could still give her soya....with Macie being completely allergic and unable to have soya products weaning at 6months seems an impossible task! weaning advice please?

[daddys fault]

i would say try one thing at a time for a good few days and you'll probably have to make it all yourself as lots of baby food contains milk. baby rice is fine but so dull. i got a dairy free baby porridge type thing from waitrose. my 2nd now 19 months is also a lot worse than my first who is 3. and now have to read all lables for any trace no sign of either of them growing out of it.

[Copper]

Welcome to the site.

I agree that babies now should not be given soya milk but that is mainly because there is a chance that they will develop a problem with soya.

It is a long time since I weaned a baby so I am a bit out of touch.

If you made things with milk for your first child you can do the same for Macie but use her special formula. I agree with daddy's fault that you will be cooking most things yourself. You will need to allow a few days between trying one new food and another food. This will then help pinpoint a problem food if that happens.

You will need to check every label on everything you want to give Macie. This list on this page of this site is helpful. It does get easier.

http://www.dairyfreeuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=738

If you need help with food alternatives just ask and somebody here will have the answer.

[Copper]

You might be inspired by some items here

http://www.dietaryneedsdirect.co.uk

[Spindrift]

My son was allergic to dairy and couldn't have soya either. I got a Beaba Babycook, which is a brilliant little machine, and made all his food instead of buying jars, many of which he couldn't have. His favourite puree was Sweet potato and cauliflower. As he got older I just adapted known recipes to use dairy free margarine instead of butter and his Pepti formula (and now Oatly Oat Milk) instead of milk. Just keep trying one new thing every few days and look out for a reaction. Are you under the care of a dietician? it might be worth having a chat with the dietician about weaning.