Trialing dairy

[bureshsf]

i have a question for those with experience in trialing dairy with their DC through their breastmilk. I have read some people start eating cheese and yogurt and gradually add more dairy and some say drink whole milk and a lot of it right away. So I was wondering what the experts here recommend. Thanks

[kjbrown92]

How old is the child? I'd say give THEM the milk, a little, and see what happens. Because once you ingest it, then if the child does react, you have to keep feeding them the "tainted" milk until it gets out of your system (for some, it's a couple of weeks).

[changingseasons]

How old is your babe? Kathy's idea was a good one if it's old enough to eat solids. Also, I wouldn't test it directly if you think it's a true (IgE/anaphylactic) allergy- you should only do that under the supervision of an allergist. But for an intolerance, you can definitely test at home.

For trialing it yourself, you want to do straight milk- at least one full cup per day (for 4+ days or until you see a reaction.) You don't want to start small and build up, it's better to see right away if it's going to cause a reaction or not. Otherwise you might not see a reaction right away and think it's ok, only to find out weeks later that it's not. And then, like Kathy said, it can take quite a while to get out of your system.

[bureshsf]

He is 13 months. I do not know if he has a problem with dairy. He got really severe diarrhea at around 2 months and the doctors said it was a virus but that he might have had an allergy to something in my breastmilk too since he had green stool for 2 weeks before the diarrhea got bad. I had him tested at an allergist at about 3 months after he was sick and he did not have a reaction to anything. I assume that if he a problem with something in my breastmilk, he would still be positive at that time.
I thought it would be safer to try it through me first, but you are saying give him whole milk for a week then if he is okay with it then dairy is good.

[kjbrown92]

So you've been off milk all this time, correct?
I'd give it to him once, and see how he does, then wait a few days before giving him more. If it's an intolerance, it could be a delayed reaction, and the more you give him before the reaction, the longer it's going to stick around, if you know what I mean.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by bureshsf

I had him tested at an allergist at about 3 months after he was sick and he did not have a reaction to anything. I assume that if he a problem with something in my breastmilk, he would still be positive at that time.

The majority of children that have issues with dairy have a dairy intolerance, not a true dairy allergy- so it won't show up on standard allergy tests.

For a babe that young, I would start a trial really carefully- put some milk on his cheek- wait 15 minutes. Put a little on his lip, wait 15 minutes. (This is just in case it is a true allergy.) Give him a sip or two, wait another day to try more. I don't think I would start with a full cup for a small babe, especially if he hasn't had dairy for that long. That would definitely make reactions obvious, but might make him really miserable too. If you were going to trial it through you, I would suggest that YOU drink a whole cup though, just so that you know a good amount is getting through to your breastmilk.

There really aren't any hard and fast rules for doing this- it's what you feel comfortable with for yourself and your babe. Good luck!

[bureshsf]

Thanks for the information. Yes, he hasn't had dairy since last December. He was on Elecare for a fews months until I transitioned back to breastmilk. I will try milk with him and just do a sip @ first.

[luminesce]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

So you've been off milk all this time, correct?
I'd give it to him once, and see how he does, then wait a few days before giving him more. If it's an intolerance, it could be a delayed reaction, and the more you give him before the reaction, the longer it's going to stick around, if you know what I mean.

Definitely give it 4-5 days before trying the new food again. Ask me how I know this.

DS has reacted as soon as 1 day (apple!) but as late as 4 days.