Dairy allergy

[wkmmum]

Hi all,

My 5yr old DS has a dairy allergy. We've always known he has it but he's always been able to tolerate a little bit of dairy. The Dr we saw said that we should keep giving him small amounts of dairy and that he should grow out of it by the time he's about 7.

Recently though it's got worse and he now can't seem to tolerate any dairy at all. If he has even a small amount he's the loo and also can't get to sleep. So we've had to eliminate dairy altogether.

I saw the GP and she said she'd refer him to a dietician. But I've just got the appointment (for the end of April) and it's with a paediatrician. I'm sure this'll be fine but in the meantime I'm really worried that he's not getting enough calcium. He drink soya milk (he always has) which has calcium added but he's going through a phase of wanting orange juice instead of milk.

Does anyone know if there's any other way of getting calcium into him? And how much soya milk do I need to get into him?

Has anyone else got any experience of dairy allergy? Feel like I'm completely in the dark again and feeling my way around desperately xx

[winegirl]

All I know is I had a dairy allergy is a child too and I did grow out of it - but I was definately older than 7 and I did get worse before I got better. I remember being at primary school and deciding id like to drink milk as I had never had it - an hour later thre up everywhere.

I know it gets better, its just a pain in the meantime.

Have you asked your GP if you can have some calcium supplements while you wait for your appt to come thru??

[wkmmum]

Thanks WG.

Hadn't thought of asking the dr for supplements. I'll do that xx

[sarjay28 not logged in]

Hi

My daughter had a diary allergy from birth until she was about 5 yrs old and would never drink soya milk or other form of milk, we saw a dietician loads of times and she always mentioned giving her supplements if she thought she needed them but after us keeping a food diary for months she decided that she was most likely getting enough calcium through her diet alone. She is now 11 and is fine, the only time she actually has milk is in her tea or on her cereal because she doesn't like the taste of it! So try not to worry too much.

If you are worried ask the paediatrician when you see them and chase up that referral to the dietician.

Hope this helps.xxx

[wkmmum]

Thanks for your reply. Glad your daughter's grown out of it.

Do you have any idea what foods have calcium in them? In fact, does anyone know how much calcium he should be having? I'm happy to give him supplements but don't want to give him any if he's getting enough calcium anyway xx

[winegirl]

erm... pass? Could you ring your GP for a bit of advice??

[wkmmum]

Good plan! Thanks xx

[sarajay28]

Hiya,

sorry i didn't get back to you straight away. Your son should be getting approx 500mg of calcium per day. Foods that are naturally calcium rich are - Baked beans, broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts, almonds, spinach, rhubarb and salmon and am sure there are others too. You can also get calcium fortified foods like cereals and cereal bars and even things like orange juice but if you look at the labels, they usually say on it. You can even get calcium fortified Sunny D OJ drink!! Things like soya milk and dairy free spreads (like marg) should all have some calcium in them. I think its a case of learning to read food labels (boring and time consuming i know!) and getting to know what your child will eat as well!

I had to do all of the above with my daughter and it is time consuming and a pain in the a*** but as i said she is fine now. We gradually introduced diary very very slowly into her diet and she is fine now.

Please do speak to your gp if you are still worried. Hope this helps.xxx

[winegirl]

WOW Sarajay! You should be a dietician! I never knew that all that veg had calcium in it! (daydreamed thru most biology lectures..)

I certainly grew out of my allergy. Though I can feel a bit ick if I overdo the cheese (my favourite...) or drink milk. But have lots of tea with milk in, chocolate etc with no problems now. Think I was about 10 when I got over it, and the lack of milk never did me any harm (she says..lol)

[sarajay28]

lol thanks WG - i think when you've been through it with a child it kinda sticks with you! Think there is alot more i would need to know before embarking on a new career path! lol

[wkmmum]

Thanks Sarajay - that's really helpful. I didn't realise how many foods have calcium in. He's a brilliant eater and will eat anything so he's obviously getting more calcium than I realised. Don't feel so worried about it now xx

[sarajay28]

Thats great, glad to have helped! xxx