Formula Options - Need advice

irishnicki

Hello-- My daughter is now 7 mo. old and we figured out she has a dairy allergy a few months back.  She breaks out in hives.  I cut out all dairy and eggs and drank soy milk since she was breastfed.  This past month I started weaning her onto soy formula.  We mixed her bottles half and half though she did have a full bottle (4 oz for her) a few times and drank it all.  Now she is completely on soy formula and is drinking only about 2-3 oz each bottle.  She will cry and push it away.  But then eat 2 containers of baby food.  So she is hungry but won't drink milk.  There have been a few times she will drink a bottle but it's struggle every time.

 I'm curious are there any other options besides the hypoallergenic formula?  Could she drink enriched rice milk now or does she have to be 1 yr old?  We are struggling to figure out if she just doesn't like the taste, if it's due to teething or if soy is bothering her as well.  Before we figured out her dairy allergy she wasn't eating very much either and the only reason we figured it out was because of the hives and if any dairy touches her she breaks out immediately.  She has no hives from the soy but definitely isn't interested in her milk unless she is absolutely starving.  But she's eating solids like a champ!

 Anyone have any ideas on if she can drink any other formula or milk?  I'd appreciate any advice.  Thanks! 

browneyedgoil

a lot of times, i think 60% of children who have a problem with dairy also have a problem with soy. she may have an intolerance to it. have you tried Alimentum? The milk proteins are supposed to be broken down so most kids can handle it. My daughter didn't do well on that & we have to be on Neocate. Both Neocate & Elecare have no milk or soy in them at all. 

imimahoney

I was just about to say most dairy allergy babies also can't tolerate soy. 

Lo has been on nutramigen for 6 weeks now but we are moving on to Neocate because he is still reacting. We are hopeful that his allergy would be gone by age 1.

I would talk to your pedi about non-formula options.  

SaranJonathan

She needs formula until a year. Rice milk is lacking in protein, fat, calories and nutrients. I would try Alimentum or Nutramigen. 

Good luck 

triplenine

As pp said try alimentum or nutramigen...DS was on it and I put dd on it. If ur scared of the price, talk to your insurance company. Mine covers is and I just picked up my 29 quarts today for $35! Btw soy was the wrst for DS...he was so constipated it was awful!

irishnicki

Thank you everyone for your advice! The LO seems to be doing a better the last few days with it. Starting soy formula full time while teething and having a fever makes for some unsuccessful feeding times. She is enjoying much better. But I'm still keeping my eye on her for an intolerance. Thanks!