Would u keep BFing if your 1-yr-old had milk allergies?

SLH1014 · January 2009

Hi,

I just found out that my 11-month-old has cow's milk allergy, which sucks because I was really looking forward to weaning him after he turned 1-yr-old next month. I'm in sales, and work "in the field" at customer sites. So, very often I find myself pumping in the car between meetings and missing pump sessions because of meetings. It's just become very cumbersom. I was so looking forward to getting back in the gym (I had to take a break from working out because it was affecting my milk supply) I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel to wean my son and get him on cow's milk. Then...I find out that he's allergic to cow's milk!!! So, now the options are to continue to breastfeed or to get him on soy formula. Not that soy formula is so bad, but breastmilk is better. In some small way, I feel like I'm being selfish if put him on formula. What would you do?

shouldbeworkin · January 2009

can you wean to soy milk at 12 mos? That's what I did. My kids can't have dairy and when I weaned DD at 13 mos she went to soy milk. I was tempted to BF a little longer, but I had to be dairy free in order to BF her and I just couldn't do it any longer.

itsmyturn2 · January 2009

You have given yourself to your son for almost 2 years - do not feel a bit guilty about stopping! When I weaned at 6 months that was the hardest part of it all, letting go of the guilt. He'll be fine no matter what you choose - just remember you need to think about your sanity and happiness at some point too!

If I were you I'd wean as planned and use soy milk. ;-)

momofolivia · January 2009

DD has a milk allergy and I have had to abstain from milk products while BFing. We still nurse am and pm.

We moved to soy/rice/almond milk (she takes whatever at this point) for her daytime feedings. No need to go to formula. Just make sure that you are getting enough fat in your baby's diet. We put olive oil in DD's sippys (just a bit, not a lot), and make sure she gets fatty things to eat like cheese and avocados.

I reccommend to talk to your pedi

Angela814 · January 2009

You could always breastfeed part time and wean him to soy milk during the day. I stopped pumping at 12 months. I was just done with that pump. I'm still nursing DD about 3x a day now. She was sensitive to dairy too but luckily I was able to add it back into my diet when she was about 8 months old.

GM&DG · January 2009

Wean to the soy formula 100%! He has a milk allergy so he will always have it, right? That means that at 3 and 7 and 25 he will have to drink a soy product or the like anyway. Please don't feel guilty. Look at how well you have done so far! Good for you for keeping up with the BF for so long. I quit when DS was 6 months and felt so guilty but he is so happy with his bottle and his formula that I have to find the positive and decide I did what I could. Your body needs a break, don't feel guilty! Again, great job getting so far with it!

Meeshe · January 2009

My DD has dairy and egg allergies. I planned to wean to cows milk right after 1st birthday but the allergies threw me a bit. Shortly after though I dropped the daytime feedings, stopped pumping and started weaning to soy milk (we've now added in some rice milk too). I then fully weaned at 14 months. Don't feel badly at all. You don't know how long it will take for him to outgrow the dairy allergy. Hopefully not long but it could take a few years. Feel proud of yourself that you've given so much of yourself for this long!

SLH1014 · January 2009

Thanks ladies for all the support. Yes. i think I will wean him, at least during the day. I can't go on with pumping. Hopefully, my supply will hold up enough to BF in the am before day care and pm after day care. Both the doctor and a nutritionist recommended the soy formula. I think they were concerned with the lack of fat in the soy milk. Thanks, Everyone!

PTKate05 · January 2009

Honestly, I weaned at 6 months because I couldn't handle being milk-free. I love milk and I celebrated with a huge glass of milk and a brownie when he was weaned. We weaned to Gentlease formula and he did okay. When we went to milk, though, he had really sticky non-solid poops up to 6 times every day. We tried soy, but that was worse (watery foul smelling poops). Now he is on lactose free milk and I plan to discuss going to rice milk with the pedi. Don't feel guilty, you can substitute. Congrats for sticking to it for so long!

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